just bought 2011 SR5 need advice

[8borerifle]

This vehicle is in almost as new condition with 46000 miles. Here are a couple of questions I have. It has the 270 HP v6 and part time 4wd. It does not seem to have near the power of my old 2004 v6 4Runner even though it has a lot more horsepower. What is up with that? Also I noticed that there is no way to lock the center differential like I could with my 2004. Am I missing something! Well, one more thing, it seems to stutter a little when I start out instead of a smooth pull. Thanks so much for your help!

 

[Jack19]

The power is there but the gas pedal does take some learning on your part.

270 HP is at 5600 rpm, pretty high, and the 278 lb-ft of torque at 4400 rpm. More sports car like than I expected, but manageable once you get accustomed to it.

 

[BobsTrail]

As another member said "push it and it will go", it gets it's power in the higher rev range.

No center diff, that's on a limited. You have a 2 speed transfer case. When in 4wd the front and rear are locked together. Not good for dry pavement, good for off-road.

 

[3wbdriver]

When you put it in 4Hi or 4Lo it will lock the transfer case (center diff) to give equal power to both axles. I am assuming your 2004 is a full time 4wd system (AWD) which allows slippage between front and rear axles. Those only lock the center when you put them in 4hi or 4lo. Different transfer case setup.

The current models are setup to "learn" your driving style and adjust shift points accordingly. I don't know enough about the previous 5th gens to know whether they have this capability or not. Or the previous owner may have driven like a little old woman. Mine seemed kind of boggy when I first bought it. It zips right along now, but I have had a corresponding loss in MPG from the sportier driving style.

 

[Sac State]

I could only lock the center dif in my 03 V8 sport. The V6 had part time 4wd like we have in the 14 SR5 and Trail. The V8 was AWD, the V6 part time.

 

[8borerifle]

Thanks guys, that explains it. My 2004 v6 had part time 4wd and you could lock the center differential by pushing a button. Evidently the 2011 is like the 1999 Toyota 4Runner that I had as it also had a lever to put into 4wd like the 2011, that effectively was a "locked central differential". You could not drive that very far on hard ground and was so indicated in the owners manual. The 2011 manual doesn't caution about driving on hard pavement, though! As to power, the 2004 had much more bottom end response, could be the tune has changed to move the power band up in the rpm range.