Official picture of 2010 4runner!

[Kmvreter]

Actually, I see it more of a marketing tool. You want a V8, pay more to get the GX470 cause if the 4Runner is available in V8 with a lower price than the GX470, then sales of the GX might go down. At least that's my reasoning.

See this thread for the debut of the new Toyota Prado (GX sister): http://www.toyota-4runner.org/showthread.php?t=54890.
Link to Toyota: http://toyota.jp/landcruiserprado/
It has the V6 or I4, no V8. ToyTech99 said earlier "It's a good thing 4Runners don't come with whiny, high revving engines. Leave those to the econo-boxes buzzing around." Does that make the Prado, and possibly GX, an econobox? This is what the new GX will be based on except for the Lexus trim. Did the previous Prado have a V8? Is this a sign of things to come (or not in the case of a V8?) Toyota is listening to their marketing and general consumers. They aren't listening to the die hards on this site. No V8 cuts them out of a market segment (including tow vehicles.) I think they'll come around in a future model refresh.

 

[ToyTech99]

ToyTech99 said earlier "It's a good thing 4Runners don't come with whiny, high revving engines. Leave those to the econo-boxes buzzing around." Does that make the Prado, and possibly GX, an econobox? .

Not at all. SUV and truck engines are not "whiny, high-revving" engines, despite the number of cylinders they have. Even the new I4 will not be whiny or high-revving. Remember when Mitsubishi put their I4 truck engine into the Starion/Conquest and then turbocharged it? It was an extremely strong engine, built with truck architecture in mind, not very high-revving and certainly not whiny at all. But sure, most smaller engines have to rev higher to make their power, but I can guarantee you that the new 4Runner I4 will not be like the high-strung I4s that we see in econoboxes and little sporty cars.

BTW, my response was to the guy who was suggesting that the V8 is the only choice to avoid a "whiny, high-revving" engine. Of course that suggestion is wrong, which is why I said it's a good thing Toyota doesn't put such an engine in the 4Runner.

 

[ToyTech99]

No V8 cuts them out of a market segment (including tow vehicles.) .

Well, lets wait and see what type of towing limits Toyota puts on the new 5th gen. At this point, I don't think anyone knows for sure. As it stands now, the difference between a V6 and V8 (4th gen) tow capacity is just 2500 lbs, which is not a very big difference. And it would probably be even less had Toyota decided to equip the V6 with the weight-distributing hitch that comes with the V8. I wouldn't be surprised to see Toyota put the better hitch on the 5th gen and then increase the tow rating with the new, more powerful V6 in the 5th gen.

Either way though, I don't see enough of a difference even in the current tow ratings. Quiet honestly, if I had something heavier than 5000 lbs to tow, I would probably consider a fullsize vehicle (truck or SUV) to tow it anyway. The margin between 5000 and 7500 is too slim to make a difference to me. So I don't think Toyota is abandoning the market segment for those who tow, even if the 5th gen has a lower tow rating then the 4th gen overall. Just my opinion...

 

[Kmvreter]

... which is why I said it's a good thing Toyota doesn't put such an engine in the 4Runner.

I understand and agree. But die hard V8 lovers see any 4 banger as whiny. I personally think the V6 is plenty of engine and agree with you on the 99%. Bottom line is it's all marketing.

 

[ToyTech99]

I understand and agree. But die hard V8 lovers see any 4 banger as whiny.


.

Well, I guess it's all relative. My buddy owns a V10 Viper. He thinks the Corvette V8 is a whiny little engine.

 

[crunner]

Does anyone know the specs on this new joker?

 

[snap315]

I find it funny that Toyota decided to not offer a V8.

Chevrolet has run into the opposite problem with their new and excellent Camaro. Chevy expected about a 50/50 split between the RS (V6) and the SS (V8) in sales.

That is not what happened.

The ratio is currently about 80/20 with the V8 being the 80 percent. :wow2:

Chevy has decided to slow production and sales of the SS (V8) by about 50-60% to help the sales of the V6 catch up. This is mainly due to the Governments CAFE requirements.

So, apparently folks buying a vehicle like the Camaro don't want the V6 nearly as much as they want the V8. Part of that is because of how the new Camaro is viewed. It aint no Prius for sure! People aren't buying it to commute or get groceries. They aren't comparing the fuel efficiency to a Corrolla. They want it for PERFORMANCE and the best bang for their $$$.

To bad Toyota is aiming the upcoming 4Runner at another segment... Soccer Moms!

:bash:

 

[ToyTech99]

To bad Toyota is aiming the upcoming 4Runner at another segment... Soccer Moms!

:bash:

Soccer Moms? Nah, Soccer Moms these days want crossover SUVs like Nissan Muranos, not body-on-frame live axle 4Runners.

But if you're going to make an argument that the 5th gen is more Soccer-Mommish than the 4th gen, then I'm sure you can keep going in the direction by saying the 4th gen was more Soccer-Mommish than the 3rd gen, and so on down the line.

The Jeep guys are saying the same thing about the Grand Cherokee. Now for the 2011 model, it's not only unibody (as other years prior), but it also lost it's live rear axle and went to fully independent suspension. So be glad that the 5th gen still retains its frame and suspension, which makes it a very rare bird in terms of midsize SUVs. Soccer Moms will stick to cute-utes and crossovers, I'm sure. I think the new Honda Pilot and new Nissan Murano are probably the most prolific soccer mom mobiles in my neck of the woods.

 

[Thai]

As it stands now, the difference between a V6 and V8 (4th gen) tow capacity is just 2500 lbs, which is not a very big difference.

The margin between 5000 and 7500 is too slim to make a difference to me. So I don't think Toyota is abandoning the market segment for those who tow, even if the 5th gen has a lower tow rating then the 4th gen overall. Just my opinion...

Remember, the tow ratings are not always accurate to how the vehicle actually performs with a load. For example, the 3rd gen 4runner can tow 5000 lbs too. However, at 5000 lbs, the 3rd gen is in the grandma slow lane and huffing & puffing and will have a lot of trouble with any slight inclines. A 4th gen V6 can also only tow 5000 lbs, but i am pretty sure that it can tow the 5000 lbs with a lot more ease. Of course, a V8 4runner can tow that 5000 lbs with even more ease, esp. up inclines or at high altitudes.

If you had 5000 lbs of stuff to tow, then i think that one's viewpoint about V6 vs. V8 vs. I4 will be totally different than someone who does not tow at all. IMHO, if you're towing (any significant load), then there is no substitute for the bigger engine, regardless of what the ratings say.

So, ratings are one thing...how it actually performs in real life is another.

 

[ToyTech99]

Remember, the tow ratings are not always accurate to how the vehicle actually performs with a load. For example, the 3rd gen 4runner can tow 5000 lbs too. However, at 5000 lbs, the 3rd gen is in the grandma slow lane and huffing & puffing and will have a lot of trouble with any slight inclines. A 4th gen V6 can also only tow 5000 lbs, but i am pretty sure that it can tow the 5000 lbs with a lot more ease. Of course, a V8 4runner can tow that 5000 lbs with even more ease, esp. up inclines or at high altitudes.

If you had 5000 lbs of stuff to tow, then i think that one's viewpoint about V6 vs. V8 vs. I4 will be totally different than someone who does not tow at all. IMHO, if you're towing (any significant load), then there is no substitute for the bigger engine, regardless of what the ratings say.

So, ratings are one thing...how it actually performs in real life is another.

Yeah, I understand that. I'm just saying that I'd be looking elsewhere if I had to tow more than 5000 lbs. Most likely I'd be looking at something fullsize with a much higher tow rating. As it is now, I've only towed jet skis and snowmobiles, nothing heavier. If I had a 6500 lb boat/trailer, I'd much rather tow it with a bigger vehicle than a 4Runner, but that's just me.

 

[Thai]

Yeah, I understand that. I'm just saying that I'd be looking elsewhere if I had to tow more than 5000 lbs. Most likely I'd be looking at something fullsize with a much higher tow rating. As it is now, I've only towed jet skis and snowmobiles, nothing heavier. If I had a 6500 lb boat/trailer, I'd much rather tow it with a bigger vehicle than a 4Runner, but that's just me.

Yeah, but you just said 99.99999999% of people really don't need a V8! (Sorry, just trying to stir the pot!)

Another point to consider is that the bigger engine vehicle will have a higher payload. For example, as it stands now with the 4th gen, a V8 can carry about 200+ lbs more than an equivalent V6 model. Then, you add in the higher towing capability and you have a significant difference between the two models (V6 vs. V8 4th gen). These differences may be enough to sway some buyers to the V8 and away from the 5th gen.

I am not really in anyone's camp, but i can see why some (many?) people love the V8 4runner...there are signficant differences b/w the two powertrains to differentiate them more than what you have stated.

 

[Thai]

Oh yeah, and if the 5th gen is heavier (curb weight) than the 4th gen, then your payload difference b/w a 5th gen and a V8 4th gen is even greater!

 

[ToyTech99]

Yeah, but you just said 99.99999999% of people really don't need a V8! (Sorry, just trying to stir the pot!)

Yes, but I was talking about the V8 in a 4Runner. I'll admit that if I were towing a big camper or a very large boat, or a horse trailer, I'd rather have a much bigger vehicle with at least a V8 or even better--a diesel engine.

Another point to consider is that the bigger engine vehicle will have a higher payload. For example, as it stands now with the 4th gen, a V8 can carry about 200+ lbs more than an equivalent V6 model. Then, you add in the higher towing capability and you have a significant difference between the two models (V6 vs. V8 4th gen). These differences may be enough to sway some buyers to the V8 and away from the 5th gen.

Payload figures into tow ratings too. It's the same thing as looking at GVWR, no? I wouldn't want to load any 4Runner up to the max rating and then hook up a trailer that also weighs in at the maximum tow rating. That's just a recipe for disaster as far as I'm concerned.

I guess my point boils down to this-- 4Runners are either light or medium duty tow vehicles at best, regardless of the engine under the hood. They are by no means a heavy duty tow vehicle. For my purposes, the difference is towing ability between a V8 and a V6 is insignificant. Maybe I would think differently if I had 6000 lb or 7000 lb trailer instead of a 5,000 trailer. Then again, if I had an 8000 lb trailer, then I wouldn't be towing with a 4Runner no matter what.

 

[jlmilligan]

I have the V8 and I love it. I would however like to see 20 mpg every once in awhile. I have read alot of nagging and *****ing about the "no V8" option when it comes to towing. For what I tow, the V6 would be fine. If you need to tow 7,000 lbs the V8 can do it with the right hitch. That is the argument anyway. I, however, would NEVER do it. I tried towing a little over 5k once and the engine handled it flawlessly, the truck however did not. It did alright and I managed. But if I was towing that much weight all the time I would not be buying a 4Runner. I would have a Sequoia in my yard. I towed 6k in my brothers Tundra and that was much easier.

So here is my argument to stir the pot. Quit your *****ing, this truck isn't made to tow 10k lbs. If you want to tow that much, getting a bigger engine isn't the answer. If you can't afford the correct vehicle to safely pull your toys then you can't afford your toys. If it was just about engine size then you could realisticly tow a 7k lb boat with a V10 Viper. Let me know how that works out for you.

And yes I am wearing NOMEX. Bring on the flames :bluejump:

 

[ToyTech99]

I have the V8 and I love it. I would however like to see 20 mpg every once in awhile. I have read alot of nagging and *****ing about the "no V8" option when it comes to towing. For what I tow, the V6 would be fine. If you need to tow 7,000 lbs the V8 can do it with the right hitch. That is the argument anyway. I, however, would NEVER do it. I tried towing a little over 5k once and the engine handled it flawlessly, the truck however did not. It did alright and I managed. But if I was towing that much weight all the time I would not be buying a 4Runner. I would have a Sequoia in my yard. I towed 6k in my brothers Tundra and that was much easier.

So here is my argument to stir the pot. Quit your *****ing, this truck isn't made to tow 10k lbs. If you want to tow that much, getting a bigger engine isn't the answer. If you can't afford the correct vehicle to safely pull your toys then you can't afford your toys. If it was just about engine size then you could realisticly tow a 7k lb boat with a V10 Viper. Let me know how that works out for you.

And yes I am wearing NOMEX. Bring on the flames :bluejump:

Wow, you must be my alter ego. I agree 100%

 

[snap315]

I never mentioned towing as why I prefer a V8 powered 4Runner over the V6.

I don't tow anything but I still went with a V8 over the V6. One of the reasons is that the V8 doesn't have to work as hard as the V6 to do the same thing, which makes it QUIETER.

Reviews of the V8 powered 4th Gen 4Runner often mention it's "silky smooth and quiet power" and that is one of the reason I went with a V8. I drove a V6 powered one and while it performed very well, it was louder under moderate or heavy acceleration.

BTW... those numbers for the upcoming V6 don't look great IMHO. An Acura MDX has a more powerful and efficent V6.

5th Gen 4Runner V6: 268 hp / 273 lbs-ft torque
Acura MDX V6: 300 hp / 270 lbs-ft torque

And just wait until the Ford Ecoboost engines start showing up! The GTDI V-6 will be rated at approximately 340 hp and 340 lb-ft of torque!

Now THAT is a V6 I could live with!!

 

[Thai]

So here is my argument to stir the pot. Quit your *****ing, this truck isn't made to tow 10k lbs.

I don't think that anyone is arguing about towing 10k lbs. My point is that if you're gonna tow anything of significance (2000-5000 lbs), then the bigger engine makes your life easier, again esp. if you have to go inclines or live at higher altitudes.

Oh yeah, don't forget, the V8 powertrain was made for a luxury vehicle (TLC and LX)...while the V6 is made for 4runner specifically...this may explain why the V8 is so much smoother and quiet.

 

[eskimochaos]

I don't think that anyone is arguing about towing 10k lbs. My point is that if you're gonna tow anything of significance (2000-5000 lbs), then the bigger engine makes your life easier, again esp. if you have to go inclines or live at higher altitudes.

Oh yeah, don't forget, the V8 powertrain was made for a luxury vehicle (TLC and LX)...while the V6 is made for 4runner specifically...this may explain why the V8 is so much smoother and quiet.

Its not may, it is the reason the V8 is more refined, quite, and smooth. Not too mention how much torque it has below 1800rpm or how it has an iron block or.....countless other things that make it completely different/better.

 

[LV4R]

They are currently engineering how they are going to fit the 5.7 into the gen5. It will be offered in 2011

Disclaimer: This statement might be complete bs

 

[NoDak]

Really? That's strange. You'd think that having a finger hole in the door AND an interior release latch would definitely invite warranty repairs because of gas jockeys who inadvertently think the gas door opens without being released from inside. I've always thought that's why vehicles with an inside release don't have a finger hole on the gas filler door. Having both is inviting problems! LOL

up north during the winters, i would have died to have a finger hole to pull on when the inside release was pushed and the door was ice over and no way to pull open the door. this would solve that very issue with melting ice collecting in the gas door area.