Need help with purchase - Gen 5 Trail vs Gen 4 Limited V8

[codyaustin5]

I have owned both as well and I would probably go with the 4th gen v8. I miss my 06 sport v8. Also it seems the 4th gen had more room than the 5th. If the '13 runner doesn't come out with the 4.6v8 I will probably trade it in for something else.

 

[Ryan1975]

I had an 08 V8 Sport Edition. Ex-Gf did me the courtesy of getting drunk / high and wrecking it while I was out of town. I sold it last summer and now I just purchased a new '12 TE.

I haven't driven my TE yet (delivery next month) so I can't compare them, but I'm anxiously waiting.

 

[Jeeves]

OK! Thank you all for your help! We went with the 08 Limited V8 in Nautical Blue - 35,000K on the clock. Looks like it was garaged, tires look fantastic, all very clean. An added plus for me, it was rigged for trailer brakes. Oddly, the hitch showed little or no wear, so I don't think it was used extensively to tow.

The Trail looked really nice as well, but in the end we went with 1) price and 2) luxury features of the Limited vs the offroad capacity of the Trail. Both drove well, but the 08 feeling a little more solid from a build perspective.

Anyhow, thank you all for your great feedback - I took a lot of it into account while considering the vehicles. Please don't kick me off the 5th Gen board.
:roadkill:

Best,
-Raj

 

[gray street]

As long as you got a runner your an ace in my book. Congrats on the new ride. I always liked that color blue.

 

[ejason]

I have a 10 Trail now and used to own a 06 v8 sport ed. I like the trail, but miss the v8 drivetrain. Not that the newer v6 isn't good. Its just that the v8 was so smooth and powerful. My gas mileage isn't that much better, if thats a consideration.

 

[RonMAIDEN]

I own neither gen but the 5th gen TE I would take hands down since I prefer the looks over 4th gen's cherubic darth vader styling and having the TE's off road goodies is a huge plus if you venture beyond the beaten path. IMO the 5th gen is a return to a more truck like offering and I see a bit of the 3rd gen styling in the 5th gen thus my biasedness.

If you tow alot I can see the V8 being a plus but otherwise I think the 5th gen is a better choice.

 

[phillyd2]

Good luck with your new truck. Now get the hell out of here :hatsoff:

 

[Jtraskell]

Now, how do you really feel philly2?

 

[4Run4YourLife]

OK! Thank you all for your help! We went with the 08 Limited V8 in Nautical Blue - 35,000K on the clock. Looks like it was garaged, tires look fantastic, all very clean. An added plus for me, it was rigged for trailer brakes. Oddly, the hitch showed little or no wear, so I don't think it was used extensively to tow.

The Trail looked really nice as well, but in the end we went with 1) price and 2) luxury features of the Limited vs the offroad capacity of the Trail. Both drove well, but the 08 feeling a little more solid from a build perspective.

Anyhow, thank you all for your great feedback - I took a lot of it into account while considering the vehicles. Please don't kick me off the 5th Gen board.
:roadkill:

Best,
-Raj

Congrats! I loved my 4th Gen (racked up over 200k miles) which is why I purchased another 4runner ('12 Limited). I am very happy with it too.

If the 5th Gen had a V8 option I would buy it, but the V6 power is there. I have come to appreciate the fuel economy due to the muted throttle response. It was off putting when I first test drove it though.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

Congrats! I loved my 4th Gen (racked up over 200k miles) which is why I purchased another 4runner ('12 Limited). I am very happy with it too.

If the 5th Gen had a V8 option I would buy it, but the V6 power is there. I have come to appreciate the fuel economy due to the muted throttle response. It was off putting when I first test drove it though.

The gas mileage is the same from my experience. My freind has a 2012 SR5 with 265/70/17 tires and I have a 2003 V8 with the same tire size. After a day of off road and traveling when we gas up at the end of the day we both used within a dollar of gas. This was with both of use starting on a full tank. I will get 16.0 mpg and he will get 16.1 generally. And he is always complaining about wanting more power in the 2012.

 

[sandcrawler]

not my experience. average 18 (predominantly city) with my 2010. E-load tires, roof rack, frequent stops.

 

[Antman]

Good luck with your new truck. Now get the hell out of here :hatsoff:

Don't worry about him, Jeeves. We can't take him anywhere. :nono:

 

[RandyDaytona]

Would I buy a 5G with a V8 if I could? Way.

If the 5th Gen had a V8 option I would buy it,

Attention Toyota 4Runner Design Team...

(and you can add me to this list, too)

 

[gray street]

why not a v10 like my friends excursion

 

[4Run4YourLife]

The gas mileage is the same from my experience. My freind has a 2012 SR5 with 265/70/17 tires and I have a 2003 V8 with the same tire size. After a day of off road and traveling when we gas up at the end of the day we both used within a dollar of gas. This was with both of use starting on a full tank. I will get 16.0 mpg and he will get 16.1 generally. And he is always complaining about wanting more power in the 2012.

I have had a different experience after 7,000 miles. I avg 19.5-21 on my daily 60 mile commute (80/20 highway/city). Mostly city driving nets me 17-19. Mostly highway driving will net me over 22mpg. I could barely do that with my 2wd V6 4th Gen.

I would agree that it "feels" underpowered, certainly compared to the V8. Compared to the 4th Gen V6, the power is the same. It is pushing the gas pedal that is different.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The gas mileage is the same from my experience. My freind has a 2012 SR5 with 265/70/17 tires and I have a 2003 V8 with the same tire size. After a day of off road and traveling when we gas up at the end of the day we both used within a dollar of gas. This was with both of use starting on a full tank. I will get 16.0 mpg and he will get 16.1 generally. And he is always complaining about wanting more power in the 2012.

Other than 50 miles each way on the highway this was almost zero highway miles. Mostly off road in the desert on some higher speed graded roads and some more difficult side trails on more than one occasion. Each trip is around 8 hours.

 

[stanleybb50]

OK! Thank you all for your help! We went with the 08 Limited V8 in Nautical Blue - 35,000K on the clock. Looks like it was garaged, tires look fantastic, all very clean. An added plus for me, it was rigged for trailer brakes. Oddly, the hitch showed little or no wear, so I don't think it was used extensively to tow.

The Trail looked really nice as well, but in the end we went with 1) price and 2) luxury features of the Limited vs the offroad capacity of the Trail. Both drove well, but the 08 feeling a little more solid from a build perspective.

Anyhow, thank you all for your great feedback - I took a lot of it into account while considering the vehicles. Please don't kick me off the 5th Gen board.
:roadkill:

Best,
-Raj

Congrats! So few of us Nautical Blue's on here.

 

[scanny]

I would agree that it "feels" underpowered, certainly compared to the V8. Compared to the 4th Gen V6, the power is the same. It is pushing the gas pedal that is different.

Just few hours ago I had to fast merge in the highway so I really hit the pedal. When I glanced on tachometer it was 5000 rpm. Man I didn't feel any lack of power, actually I didn't expect to be pushed in the seat that hard : ) Never drove 4Gen V8, but 2006 Explorer V8 seemed to have less accelerating power than 5gen T4R. Need to take a ride in 4Gen V8 to compare I guess : )

 

[Park]

I think the 5th gen actually has more horsepower.

 

[Ttn333]

The 5th gen looks better. Don't need more horse when ya flexing. Just need to look good. :uzi: :gun4: