Lets group E-mail Toyota demanding V8

[sandcrawler]

I have been waiting years for the end of the 4th Gen. 4Runner because I found the interior to be so ugly and feminine that I could not stand it. I always like the tailgate on the 4th gen but that was all. The new T4R is a VAST improvement, but I was hoping for something closer to the FJ Cruiser look.

that's funny, because i emailed Toyota to thank them for not making it look any more like an FJ. IT IS NOT NEEDED! :naughty:

but seriously, everybody has their opinion. i think an optional v8 would only expand the universe of potential buyers for the 5G. one person's "needed" has nothing to do with it—unless you tow, of course. i traded in my 93 4runner for my current 06 SE V8. for me, it's hard to square the notion of the 4runner getting bigger and heavier and then making it exclusively available with an engine whose "improved" power and torque only come at a higher RPM. i won't even get into the whole torsen argument here…

just sayin'

 

[JBgotM]

I emailed them to thank them for NOT offering the V8. IT IS NOT NEEDED!

Maybe you choose to drive a full size SUV to the mall and grocery store and not actually use the capabilities, but some of us USE it.

The towing capacity went down from 7k# to 5k# meaning LESS functionality. When towing about 5k#, I find my V8 to be just enough that I don't want a bigger engine.

Its a shame that Toyota is making the 4Runner weaker and less functional than the previous model. Its got more toys to distract the driver, but less capability to do what it was designed for. Its a shame.

Maybe this can be a compromise... make a twin turbo V6. It would be easy to give the torque of the V8, and the fuel economy would be marginally less than the n/a V6. I highly doubt you will see Toyota do this, but as a market trend, you will see alot of downsizing with turbos in the next few years (thanks CAFE:nono.

 

[nighthawk]

I emailed them to thank them for NOT offering the V8. IT IS NOT NEEDED!

I don't care for the V8, but I know others want it. I just wouldn't email them asking for it, but I certainly wouldn't email them thanking them for not offering it either. I think that's just uncalled for. If you don't want a V8, just don't buy one if it's offered. I sure hope people aren't emailing them thanking them for making no more manual transmission in the 4Runner. That is the only thing stopping me from getting a 4Runner. Heck, I'd even get the 4 cylinder model if that was the only way I can get a manual 4Runner.

 

[gjmack3]

I just finished leaving a rather lengthy letter on the website. Now, let's hope that an actual human reads these, and there will be some sort of positive result.:boxer:

 

[elemint]

The V6 can tow 7k lbs. Heck I would not have a problem towing 10K. We live in a society that is so spoiled that they need to have ever over blown number they can get. I have seen micro vans carry 22 people and luggage in Africa, but here a Massive SUV is to small for a family of 5.

 

[sandcrawler]

The V6 can tow 7k lbs. Heck I would not have a problem towing 10K.

um, Toyota states a different tow rating. but by all means, tow away!

 

[02SE]

The V6 can tow 7k lbs. Heck I would not have a problem towing 10K. We live in a society that is so spoiled that they need to have ever over blown number they can get. I have seen micro vans carry 22 people and luggage in Africa, but here a Massive SUV is to small for a family of 5.

5000 lbs. That's the tow rating.

Anyway, overloading a truck beyond what the manufacturer advises is probably a great idea.

:biggrin2:

 

[M1911]

The V6 can tow 7k lbs. Heck I would not have a problem towing 10K.

The tow rating for the V6 is 5k, not 7k. There is no way I would tow 10k with a 4Runner, even a V8. I'd want a fullsize pickup with a longer wheelbase and wider track to tow that much.

 

[progress4m]

I emailed them to thank them for NOT offering the V8. IT IS NOT NEEDED!

That was definitely uncalled for…
IF do not want V8 get a V6 or I4 (for 2010 model), but some people need V8 for towing or just want V8 to have smooth and powerful powertrain. So this is about having option and not forcing you to buy something you do not want \need.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Toyota only sold 10,000 runners last year and how many are probably going to see major towing duty? Likely less than 1% so towing capacity means little to Toyota and like I've said maybe the 5th gen isn't for everybody now that the sales aren't there and Toyota is narrowing it's market focus.

 

[dwulffusa]

5000 lbs. That's the tow rating.

Anyway, overloading a truck beyond what the manufacturer advises is probably a great idea.

:biggrin2:

That old Hilux probably has a million miles on it, and has been treated that way for most of it!

 

[Thai]

Toyota only sold 10,000 runners last year and how many are probably going to see major towing duty? Likely less than 1% so towing capacity means little to Toyota and like I've said maybe the 5th gen isn't for everybody now that the sales aren't there and Toyota is narrowing it's market focus.

But, the big question is...Is Toyota narrowing its market focus on the RIGHT demographic??? Is the off-roading crowd enough to sustain the 4runner's sales?? FJ was popular for a year or two before tanking in sales...and that was for the off-roading crowd, right? And the FJ was truly "back to basics" and it flunked badly. So, is Toyota doing the right thing here?? Is going after the Xterra and Wrangler crowd a smart move while having an MSRP that is about $5000 higher??

Just wondering...like you RonM, i am happy with the 5th gen evolution, but i can see why many people are now showing their displeasure with this evolution. In your (and my) eyes, this is Toyota going back to basics...but in others, it is the cheapening of a relatively high-end midsize SUV without much of a price cut. (4runners have always been a step above the competition in quality with a price that reflects such quality.) As noted by you, the prices have increase only a small bit which is good, but then again, the quality (and equipment) cuts are obvious and somewhat drastic in the 5th gen.

Lastly, i sure hope that Toyota has made the 5th gen tougher not in image alone but in hardware! I really hate to see fender bulges and rusting frames on the 5th gen!:cry2:

 

[074.0Runner]

Maybe instead of *****ing about a gasoline V8, email them about building a 4 cyl diesel.

 

[M1911]

Maybe instead of *****ing about a gasoline V8, email them about building a 4 cyl diesel.

I'd love to see a 6-cylinder diesel, but it is just not happening here in the US from Toyota, unfortunately.

 

[JBgotM]

Maybe instead of *****ing about a gasoline V8, email them about building a 4 cyl diesel.

I'd love to see a 6-cylinder diesel, but it is just not happening here in the US from Toyota, unfortunately.

A Diesel engine would have torque vs fuel economy benefits, but with the ever increasing emissions regulations, the cost of producing a Diesel engine is going up quickly.

There is already a bit of trending of some types of applications looking to go back to gasoline simply because of the cost of Diesel after-treatment. Don't get me wrong, Diesel is not going away, but its adoption won't be as widespread as some think.

Gasoline is just easier and cheaper to meet emissions, and as I said before, you will see downsizing with turbos as a market trend.

 

[02SE]

That old Hilux probably has a million miles on it, and has been treated that way for most of it!

Quite possibly. It still made me laugh. :lol:

 

[RonMAIDEN]

But, the big question is...Is Toyota narrowing its market focus on the RIGHT demographic??? Is the off-roading crowd enough to sustain the 4runner's sales?? FJ was popular for a year or two before tanking in sales...and that was for the off-roading crowd, right? And the FJ was truly "back to basics" and it flunked badly. So, is Toyota doing the right thing here?? Is going after the Xterra and Wrangler crowd a smart move while having an MSRP that is about $5000 higher??

They still are offering softer versions like the base,Limiteds and SR5s still will be for the more street going crowd and the TE for the more adventurous types so I don't think they are alienating a big section of the market and with only 10k sold last year it's obvious the family/soccer mom market has shrunk with 4Runners which is the bread and butter of sales so Toyotas figures it's still worth to produce the 4Runner in smaller numbers but I bet you'll see sales back over 30,000 units in the next couple of years.

Real world prices for SR5s and TEs aren't as high as some of the early numbers were suggesting since people are already reporting under $35k prices for 4wd SR5s and TEs going for under $37k which really isn't too much diff than what my '99 stickered ($35,800ish) for and remember a fully loaded 4th gen tops out near $45,000 so prices really aren't much different and I bet they will settle more once supply meets demand and so far Toyota is selling 5th gens quite briskly.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Just wondering...like you RonM, i am happy with the 5th gen evolution, but i can see why many people are now showing their displeasure with this evolution.

Honestly the only place I see people complaining about the lack of a V8 or multi-mode T case is on this web site, and that's because this is overwhelmingly a 4th gen 4runner website (the polls posted in the poll section show that over 50% of the people who responded have 4th gens.)

Those of us who have 3rd gens or older are, for the most part, happy that Toyota is returning the 4runner to its roots.

Mall crawlers who don't go off road and need AWD can still get a Highlander or a Rav-4, people who tow trailers can still get a Sequoia, and people who like to shift their own gears can get a double-cab Tacoma. The number of potential customers who don't fall into one of those demographics is tiny, and Toyota has made a business decision that makes sense IMO.

 

[Thai]

They still are offering softer versions like the base,Limiteds and SR5s still will be for the more street going crowd and the TE for the more adventurous types so I don't think they are alienating a big section of the market and with only 10k sold last year it's obvious the family/soccer mom market has shrunk with 4Runners which is the bread and butter of sales so Toyotas figures it's still worth to produce the 4Runner in smaller numbers but I bet you'll see sales back over 30,000 units in the next couple of years.

Although the SR5 and Limited are softer versions, you have to take into account the cost cutting in these models relative to the past generations. And it is this demographic (general public) that Toyota may lose some customers due to their obvious cost cutting.

I don't think that it is the 4th gen's fault that sales went downhill...this is the case with all SUV sales. Do you really think that simply adding the TE will makes sales go up to 30k???

Remember, the 4runner is just coming out...therefore, the demand right now exceeds supply. The fact that you see discounts ALREADY means that either supply is rapidly catching up to demand or it has surpassed it by now! In this economy, there is no way that the 5th gen will be a popular seller for Toyota.

 

[dwulffusa]

Honestly the only place I see people complaining about the lack of a V8 or multi-mode T case is on this web site, and that's because this is overwhelmingly a 4th gen 4runner website (the polls posted in the poll section show that over 50% of the people who responded have 4th gens.)

Those of us who have 3rd gens or older are, for the most part, happy that Toyota is returning the 4runner to its roots.

Mall crawlers who don't go off road and need AWD can still get a Highlander or a Rav-4, people who tow trailers can still get a Sequoia, and people who like to shift their own gears can get a double-cab Tacoma. The number of potential customers who don't fall into one of those demographics is tiny, and Toyota has made a business decision that makes sense IMO.

Where else would you see them complaining and venting, or supporting how fantastic they think the product is?
I havn't seen a motoring journalist say one thing about the part time 4WD on an SR5 yet, but then I havnt seen one test an SR5 yet...

Maybe I am a tiny minority, but in a V6 with multimode I use fulltime 4WD whenever it rains. The confidence and safety that the improvement in traction this provides you with is a big deal for me. For example needing to pull away quickly to merge or enter a street in 2WD will easily spin the wheels when wet due to lack of weight on the rear wheels (driving 1 up). This is countered by traction control - which cuts power until it finds traction again, so you're a sitting duck for a second or two. In 4WD I have never managed to get it lose under these conditions and accelaration is immediate due to the traction afforded by the weight over the front wheels. This is really the only reason I want multimode or fulltime 4WD.

I dont want a Highlander, I do go offroad. If I were desperate for a manual I would get a Tacoma (but dont really want a truck, and I would think its ride is less comfortable on the highway), but I think an auto makes more sense in a vehicle with a decent amount of power and torque, and alot more sense offroad.