Lets group E-mail Toyota demanding V8

harper7

harper7

Senior Member
Sooooooo many people on this forum of 37,000 plus members want the V8 back in the 4runner. So.... why don't we as a group let Toyota know how we feel.Can't hurt!

I have already e-mailed them demanding the V8 and Torsen to be brought back if they want my future business. It took about 5 minutes,if that!! I put in my sig De-V8 indicating that I took the time to let them know how I feel about it.Down below is the link for YOU to let them know in case they do listen to complaints.

Email Toyota

For the first question(SUBJECT)I chose the second one: I would like to tell you about my experience with

Under Topic:VEHICLE
Under Sub Topic : Future Models or Specs ,Pricing Availability
That will take you to the next page , make sure the Subject is 4RUNNER and you only need to fill out the *'d lines.
It takes a couple of minutes is all and It's FREE!!

Complain Away to the ones that matter:dammit:

Let's make a difference. Power of the 4Runner Forum.:hatsoff:
 
Last edited:
Register to hide this ad
I don't care if it has a V8 or not. I've wrote in complaining about not having a manual tranny available. I've done that to Toyota Canada. They don't seem to care.
 
I think there's a reason the v8 is gone. Probably several. Sure they want to funnel buyers with larger budgets to the Sequoia or GX. They also want the boat towers and soccer moms in the more expensive Sequoia. When they finally replace it, maybe in the mid refresh, it could be a diesel.

How cool would a diesel, manual transmission 5th gen be?
 
i think it's a great idea to send Toyota feedback (of all stripes) on the new 4runner: everyone on the board (may) benefit by having their voices heard, and Toyota benefits by getting constructive criticism from folks who know the product best.

i've already written them myself—and will continue to do so. hope other people on the board do the same.
 
The 310hp/327 ft.lb torque 4.6L V8 engine with the 6 speed tranny is what they should offer.......and have the Trail Ed. and SR5 with the Torsen center differential on 4x4's .:bash:

This is a review of the 4.6L engine in the Tundra .
2010 Toyota Tundra 4.6L V8 Engine Review - Four Wheeler Magazine

<a href="http://s420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/?action=view&current=129_0908_03_z2010_toyota_tundrav8_e.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i420.photobucket.com/albums/pp282/gharper60/129_0908_03_z2010_toyota_tundrav8_e.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
 
Last edited:
Ed Rooney said:
I think there's a reason the v8 is gone. Probably several. Sure they want to funnel buyers with larger budgets to the Sequoia or GX. They also want the boat towers and soccer moms in the more expensive Sequoia. When they finally replace it, maybe in the mid refresh, it could be a diesel.

How cool would a diesel, manual transmission 5th gen be?
Click to expand...
It would be cool, but it won't happen. Toyota was developing a diesel for the Tundra, which is a much bigger seller. Toyota publicly stated that they were canceling that project. Given the small number of 4Runners sold, the economics just aren't there.
 
Don't need a floppy-bed Tundra, don't need a barge of a Sequoia. Need a just right 4Runner with a 4.6 V8. If Toyota wants my next purchase they had better put the 4.6 into the 4Runner.
 
Toyota sold only about 10,000 units of the last 4th gen so the market for 4Runners is smaller than ever so the sales will definetly have to increase for the chances of a V8 showing up again but I could see a manual tranny being offered and I'd take that before I'd take a V8. I don't think Toyota is really interested in selling the 4Runner to the mass market anymore and will be more of a niche vehicle like the FJ and will cater to that market more unless sales jump up over 50,000 units which is still far short of the 100,000 4Runners sold in the late '90s.
 
RonMAIDEN said:
Toyota sold only about 10,000 units of the last 4th gen so the market for 4Runners is smaller than ever so the sales will definetly have to increase for the chances of a V8 showing up again but I could see a manual tranny being offered and I'd take that before I'd take a V8. I don't think Toyota is really interested in selling the 4Runner to the mass market anymore and will be more of a niche vehicle like the FJ and will cater to that market more unless sales jump up over 50,000 units which is still far short of the 100,000 4Runners sold in the late '90s.
Click to expand...

I agree. I think the 4runner will be a niche vehicle. The general public is not buying rugged 4wd trucks anymore. Crossovers like the RAV4 will remain popular, and now it looks like the general public is going for "hatchbacks" with 4wd and high ground clearance, like the BMW X6, the Acura ZDX, the new Accord Crosstour, Subaru Outback, etc.

Anyway, I don't think the 4runner needs a V8. I think Toyota did the right thing by giving a choice between a 4cyl and a powerful 6. Its an SUV, not a sports car. How much more power does one need than 270 hp? My V6 has 235 hp and its plenty powerful. The new economy is making people downsize, and fewer and fewer people own large boats, campers, etc, that would necessitate the need for a V8. In my neighborhood, I'm seeing the boats leaving peoples driveways along with the F250s and Tahoes and they are being replaced by Foresters and Equinoxes. I think Toyota, who always seems ahead of the curve, has recognized this.
 
I love Toyota products, and I have for years. I think it's interesting to read these comments about the 4Runner becoming a niche offering. Are we subconsciously conceding the fact that the 2010 4Runner has less mass-market appeal than previous versions? Sure, there is less market in general for body-on-frame SUV's now than in the 1990's, but does that mean Toyota should be giving up on a model that has stood the test of time in that market segment?

Assuming that the 4Runner is intentionally aimed at a niche market, I'm not sure which market that would be. Upscale off-roading? 4Runner is certainly a notch above FJ in terms of creature comforts. But if that's the goal, why doesn't the Trail Edition have the center diff? And why leave out the manual transmission option? There are a few things about the different trim levels that make you scratch your head and ask "why Limited and not TE" or vice versa. Could the market be the "posers" (like me) who really don't leave the pavement but want a well-made 4x4 anyway for the snow? Not without a center diff, which now leaves the Limited as the only choice. I'm pretty sure that Toyota's marketing people would say that I belong in a Highlander rather than a 4Runner. I don't want a Highlander!

I'm afraid that the 4Runner is heading for a niche market not only for market conditions but also for lack of marketing and design effort. Sure, Toyota gets kudos for manufacturing a lower number units that they will realistically sell. The question remains, could they sell more if they defined their target audience clearly and then went after it?

Finally, note that the "niche market" theory applies to FJ, Sequoia, Land Cruiser, and maybe the Venza as well. FJ is clearly aimed at an off-road market, although it's had setbacks with questions about frame durability. Sequoia and Land Cruiser are both beautiful body-on-frame SUV's that are way too expensive for most car buyers. Frankly, I'm a little surprised that the LC is still sold in the United States; I figure that if a buyer has that much cash, they might as well head to the Lexus dealer for the LX version. How many niche products can Toyota afford to sustain going forward?

I like the e-mail idea that started this thread, if nothing else to give Toyota some feedback about the market that's out there. We do know that they read this forum, but maybe e-mails will take a different path through the company.
 
Last edited:
I think you guys should really be spending your time emailing the federal government about their new CAFE standards, rather than Toyota.

You will see a lot more of this across all brands due to these new standards, it is misguided to blame Toyota for the impact of the new CAFE rules.
 
BlairB said:
I think you guys should really be spending your time emailing the federal government about their new CAFE standards, rather than Toyota.

You will see a lot more of this across all brands due to these new standards, it is misguided to blame Toyota for the impact of the new CAFE rules.
Click to expand...

Please explain your statement.Not sure where you came up with that.CAFE is a joke with loopholes and trade offs pushed back til 2016-2020.The new idea is to raise fuel taxes by $.75 a gallon so WE will stop buying gas guzzlers. That will teach us!!

By the way the new 4.6L v8 only gets 2mpg(16-20 ,17-22) less then the current V6,with a 18mpg avg vs. 19mpg avg.
E-mail Toyota !!!

CAFE.... Read the part that says:
New CAFE credit trading provisions!!Toyota benefits the MOST!Because they are one of the greenest automakers.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
Last edited:
harper7 said:
Please explain your statement.Not sure where you came up with that.CAFE is a joke with loopholes and trade offs pushed back til 2016-2020.The new idea is to raise fuel taxes by $.75 a gallon so WE will stop buying gas guzzlers. That will teach us!!

By the way the new 4.6L v8 only gets 2mpg less then the current V6.
E-mail Toyota !!!

CAFE.... Read the part that says:
New CAFE credit trading provisions!!Toyota benefits the MOST!Because they are one of the greenest automakers.
Corporate Average Fuel Economy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Click to expand...

Well the new idea of raised fuel taxes (which makes more sense than a mileage standard IMHO) doesn't influence product planning decisions made years in advance. You may think CAFE is a joke, but I guarantee you that the governments push towards better fuel economy is influencing Toyota and other manufacturers.

Additionally, Toyota had trouble selling their last V8 4Runner in any volume (hence why the 2009 did not come with an option for a V8) and had to be nervous about selling them in the future in the face of escalating gasoline costs.

I understand the frustration of not having the option to have a V8, but I am sure this was a decision that Toyota did not take lightly.
 
Last edited:
harper7 said:
By the way the new 4.6L v8 only gets 2mpg(16-20 ,17-22) less then the current V6,with a 18mpg avg vs. 19mpg avg.
E-mail Toyota !!!
Click to expand...

How are you able to make this comparison? By comparing a GX to a 4Runner?
 
Last edited:
Thanks for starting this. I emailed them using your suggestion asking for a manual transmission again. My 99 SR5 with manual won't last forever. I like the added control the 5 speed manual provides in snowy conditions. It is available in the Tacoma so it should not be a big deal to offer it again in the 4Runner. May not be profitable to them causing them to have another option, but it would show customers that they listen and care. Customers are the best advertisers.
 
I think we are lucky they didn't cancel the 4Runner completely. Sales are in the toilet and fuel prices will only increase. The days of the full frame SUV are definitely limited.

People who want a V8 or a manual transmission are just dreaming. The demand is NOT there. I would say that you would have a better chance getting Toyota to buy/develop a "clean" diesel.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Members online

No members online now.
Total: 872 (members: 0, guests: 872)

Forum statistics

Threads
278,312
Messages
3,554,083
Members
248,016
Latest member
Advally Service

Share this page

Trending content

Back
Top