Looking at the 2007 4Runner

C

Chicago-Spike

New member
Hey all, the wife and I(and our new baby boy too) are looking at the 4Runner as our new vehicle/baby hauler. We were at first thinking of a Lexus GS350 but we have found getting his car seat into out XTerra is far more easy than any car. Especially our BMW330xi! The Bimmer is very small in the backseat, and we tried the 5 series and is no bigger in the cabin. So I then suggested we get another SUV and I've always liked the 4Runner. Even wanted one way back in the 80s when I bought my first car, an 86 Toyota Supra. We traded that in on the 2000 XTerra with over 200,000 miles on it(and not one day of trouble on the Supra either!) We like the Limited with the heated leather seats(warm butt, and easy cleaning) but am a tad stuck on wether the 8 cylinder is really that much better than the 6. The 6 gets better mileage, obviously, but the 8 can tow my motorcycle a little eaiser if I need to tow it to Florida for bike week in February.

So, is the 8 the better way to go?

Thanks :)
 
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Why don't you drive both and then make a decision. You will notice immediately that the V8 is quieter, smoother, and more refined. There is a very good reason why that the V8 costs more than the V6.
 
Another big difference is that the V8 powertrain is full-time 4WD, whereas the V6 can be put in a 2WD mode.

The difference in gas mileage is marginal. The V6 is only 1 MPG better per EPA estimates, and maybe 2 MPG if you drive very conservatively. If you feel that getting mileage around 17/20 (EPA rating on the V6) is bad, then the 4Runner may not be the best choice period. But if the gas mileage is OK with you, then I'd take the V8 (at 16/19 EPA) for the additional power and smooth acceleration.

It's a great ride; I'm very happy with mine.
 
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You can't go wrong with either engine. The reason I went with the V8 is for fulltime 4WD and the fun of driving a vehicle with a V8. You should definitely test drive both trucks because it all comes down to personal preference. If you are not going to tow with the 4Runner and do normal driivng, the V6 will be more than enough.
 
The V8 engine comes with a weight distributing hitch from the factory, and the V6 does not. Also the V8 engine comes standard with an oil and transmission cooler, the V6 does not.
 
I have the V8 as well. I've towed my 2 motorcycles w/ it many times & have been extremely pleased w/ its performance. Unless I look in the mirror, I don't even know the trailer's back there.
 
Actually, 007, V6 4runners do come with oil coolers. The only thing that they are missing is the tranny cooler, which can easily be added aftermarket for cheap. And the aftermarket cooler (Hayden) is exactly Toyota spec.
 
I would go with the V8. I drove both, bottom line is, you get what you pay for!!! You already drive a BMW 330 xi, so I figure gas mileage is no biggie for you, or you would have not bought an all wheel drive bimmer... (I had a 1992 525 ix in Germany and that thing was a tank with horrible gas mileage, but the all wheel drive came in handy many times...)

Good luck

Cheers
:beer:
 
Thanks guys, this is why I love boards like these. I belong to another board, http://www.vtxoa.com/forums/index.php and have over 24,000 posts so you can see my expertise is in V-twin and some V-4 engines. The fuel mileage is not of great concern as some have said. I do love the Bimmer, great drivers car, it's just a tad small in the cabin for a car seat. I am going to Toyota today to bring a 4R home for the wife to see(not good to drag a 1 month old out in the cold) My local dealer said that this was no problem for me to drive it home, nice guy. I'll report back later and will likely become a somewhat regular poster here. :)
 
The V8 does not come with a WDH. Even though they list it as a "weight distributing hitch", that is not what it is in the towing world. You must purchase a WDH hitch separately.

Shame on Toyota for misleading people with their terminology. There are other words they could use to explain the difference between the V6 & V8 hitches.

Good luck on your search.
 
JungleJim said:
The V8 does not come with a WDH. Even though they list it as a "weight distributing hitch", that is not what it is in the towing world. You must purchase a WDH hitch separately.

Shame on Toyota for misleading people with their terminology. There are other words they could use to explain the difference between the V6 & V8 hitches.

Good luck on your search.
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You are absolutely correct, I just researched this and discovered what a WDH really is:

Weight-Distributing Hitch: This type of hitch has an attachment that slides into the receiver to redistribute the weight on the tongue. The hitch usually has two spring bars, one for each side of the trailer, to lift and apply leverage to the tow vehicle. This redistributes weight from the rear axle to the front and improves vehicle stability while towing. Intended for heavy loads.

Toyota really should call it a class lll hitch, as this is what it really is.
 
I was tossed at the time of purchase. I tow very little and when I do its usually a pretty big tractor,but that was not even a factor in my decision because both the 6 & 8 would pull it ( just like your bike),nor was the extra money, nor was gas milage because they are so close I consider it the same

Basically I just liked the V8 smoothness, quietness , torque curve , hp , I just like the power of a v8 and my wife knew that so when I was tossed she was the one who ruled out the 6 knowing I ultimately would not be happy in the long run.

I didn't like the full time 4x4 of the v8 though , that was my hang up. After having the full time 4x4 I friggin love it ! Its handling in bad weather is incredible with decent tires. Wet , snow , sleet , slush..... I just haul butt,and it feels so stable and premium traction is always there.
 
The V8 Limited also comes with an auto levelling rear suspension that is not available on the V6 (at least here in Canada). I am looking forward to towing my travel trailer this summer.
 
The auto-leveling rear suspension is optional on the 4Runner in the U.S.; it comes with the X-REAS option on a V8 Limited.

It's standard on the Lexus GX.
 
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Well, took them both for a ride and the 8 is a nicer ride than the 6, that is settled. Now comes the "Limited" issue. Seems, "Limited" is appropriate as it is very hard to find one. Now, this may be a blessing in disguise. I like the look of the Sport model and the XREAS suspension and the big bonus with the Sport(in my mind anyway) the ability to go between 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive. I like having that option. But, I also like heated leather seats, nav system in dash is also nice. My dealer has shown me that they can do those for me(at an extra cost) and it would still be @ $6,000 less than the Limited. They can also find a lot more Sports so I could have the new truck in a few days, rather than the 3 months I was told for the Limited.
What to do now :bouncy:
 
Chicago-Spike said:
Well, took them both for a ride and the 8 is a nicer ride than the 6, that is settled. Now comes the "Limited" issue. Seems, "Limited" is appropriate as it is very hard to find one. Now, this may be a blessing in disguise. I like the look of the Sport model and the XREAS suspension and the big bonus with the Sport(in my mind anyway) the ability to go between 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive. I like having that option. But, I also like heated leather seats, nav system in dash is also nice. My dealer has shown me that they can do those for me(at an extra cost) and it would still be @ $6,000 less than the Limited. They can also find a lot more Sports so I could have the new truck in a few days, rather than the 3 months I was told for the Limited.
What to do now :bouncy:
Click to expand...

I've got a newly purchased V8 Sport. It's AWD all the time.

Get the Eight... it's a much smoother engine!
 
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Sport comes std. with Xreas suspension.

On the limited either XREAS or Rear leveling suspension comes std. ( i'm not sure which ) but I don't think its both.

V6 = 2wd/4wd hi range/4wd lo range selector with locking center differential and ATRAC in front and rear axles.

V8 = Full time 4wd ( not awd ) and 4wd lo range selector with locking center differential and ATRAC in front and rear axles.

This is the way they are all made. If you want to have the option of 2wd as a selection you have to get the V6.

There is a difference between all wheel drive and full time 4 wheel drive. All wheel drive ( like in a car or a soccer mom type SUV ) have no transfer case to select hi or lo ranges and the traction system is totally different.

Hope that clears a few things up. You wont regret the V8 and the full time 4wd .... awesome combo.
 
Falls said:
On the limited either XREAS or Rear leveling suspension comes std. ( i'm not sure which ) but I don't think its both.
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In the U.S., neither is standard on the Limited. If you get the X-REAS option on a V8 Limited, then the auto-leveling rear suspension is included in the X-REAS package.
 
Climb14er said:
I've got a newly purchased V8 Sport. It's AWD all the time.

Get the Eight... it's a much smoother engine!
Click to expand...

My bad, I should have specifically mentioned it's 4WD with 4Lo as was pointed out rather than AWD (when I was referring to all four wheels moving).

Afterall, I'm in the business that deals with 4WD drive lines virtually all the time, and these also include 4 x 6 and other ones as well.

I definitely should have watched my typing.

;):
 
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