sales of V8 4Runners dropping?

[leftyrb]

I have been to a few dealers, looking to see a new V8 Limited. The dealers I approached do not bring in V8 models, as they say the public perception is more to the V6 for improved fuel economy. I understand that this circumstance has been ongoing for awhile, as they still have some 2005 models for sale. I suspect the trade in value for my V8 model may have dropped a bit.

I wonder if sales of the V8 Runner are dropping, or is this just a local issue?

Rick

 

[Falls]

My dealer goes in swings from what I can tell. Sometimes they got a boat load of V8s and the next shipment will be V6s.

Big trucks and SUVs with V8s seem to be fine over here. I would'nt trade my V8 , when my lease is up in 2 years I cross that bridge when I get to it.

Depends on what gas prices are I guess. Right now they are low here 2.15 per gal. if they go up to 3-4 per gal. I can see people wanting the V6 even though gas milage is pretty much the same or close to it.

 

[JP4RNR]

Since you reside in Canada, how much is gas in Canada? In the US gas prices have eased quite a bit so I do not think that has slowed sales down of the V8 atleast in Southern California where gas prices are the highest at an average of $2.35 a gallon for 87 octane regular Unleaded. The cheapest gas in the U.S is $1.30 a gallon

My 04 had a V6 and now I am driving a V8. There really is only a 1-2 MPG difference and sometimes under certain driving conditions where the mpg for the V6 and V8 were identical I found.

 

[AlexJet]

My local Toronto dealer sells only 1 out of 3 as V8, so it's 1/3. V8 demand is dropped here. 2003 V8 on the dealer lot cost the same as V6.

JP4RNR, gas price in Toronto right now is Cdn 0.84 per litre (US 2.87 per gal).

 

[Koz]

All truck sales are down, PETRO!

Koz

 

[beirish]

I wonder if the gas mileage is really as close as many say. I get around 22 mpg, mostly all city, with my V6, and my brother gets the same, maybe even a little better, due to his crappy tires. My old Tundra got like 17 in the city. Not sure what the V8's get in the runner, but I consider 5 mpg quite a bit of difference.

 

[leftyrb]

Gas prices here in my area of BC is about 89 cents/litre.

The dealer was aware of the Transport Canada 2 mpg difference V6 to V8, but she said it was the 'perception' of the V6 as being more economical. For those of us towing trailers, the V8 with weight-distributing hitch offers another 2,000 lbs capability.

 

[down_shift]

Test drive them both.....

Not to start a flame war, but I picked the V6 over the V8 because I saw no real benefit for the V8. The V6 drove more light and nimble and at ~ 240hp, it was light years more powerful than my 190hp 96' Isuzu Trooper. Plus the V8 was an extra ~$1300, requires extra insurance, more fuel, etc. Now if I was towing something, that would be a different story.

BTW - the Trooper got ~ 16mph and the 4Runner gets 20.7mph with the exact same driving. Nice work, Toyota!

 

[Falls]

All truck sales are down, PETRO!

Koz

I totally agree , but what actually confuses me is why are the mfg. coming out with bigger trucks and more larger powerplants in them.

Granted there is the Hybrid crap ( which IMO is BS ) but thats not going over as well as any of them would have liked either , not to mention the add'l cost of the Hybrid vehicles and how long you have to drive them to even break even on the cost.

 

[Koz]

I totally agree , but what actually confuses me is why are the mfg. coming out with bigger trucks and more larger powerplants in them.

Granted there is the Hybrid crap ( which IMO is BS ) but thats not going over as well as any of them would have liked either , not to mention the add'l cost of the Hybrid vehicles and how long you have to drive them to even break even on the cost.

The best/most selling vehicle in the US TODAY is the 1/2 ton pickup, mostly due too needing a work/business vehicle. No matter how much gas costs there will always be this market. What you will see change is turbo diesel power in this vehicle. Toyota has a twin turbo in the waiting.

Koz

 

[beirish]

Re: Test drive them both.....

Not to start a flame war, but I picked the V6 over the V8 because I saw no real benefit for the V8. The V6 drove more light and nimble and at ~ 240hp, it was light years more powerful than my 190hp 96' Isuzu Trooper. Plus the V8 was an extra ~$1300, requires extra insurance, more fuel, etc. Now if I was towing something, that would be a different story.

BTW - the Trooper got ~ 16mph and the 4Runner gets 20.7mph with the exact same driving. Nice work, Toyota!

I thought the exact same thing... only I was coming from a Tundra and had just sold my boat. That's why I went with the V6.

 

[007Runner]

Re: Test drive them both.....

Not to start a flame war, but I picked the V6 over the V8 because I saw no real benefit for the V8.

I don't know how you could say that. I took two long test drives with each engine which also included a long steep grade. The V8 was silky smooth more powerful and very quiet compared to the V6. The long steep grade really made the V8 shine with the extra torque the engine was able to provide. The difference in power was very noticeable.
The V8 also comes standard with a transmission and oil cooler plus a weight distributing hitch. Permanent 4 wheel drive is also a plus but you can operate the V6 in the same manner.

 

[beirish]

Re: Re: Test drive them both.....

I don't know how you could say that. I took two long test drives with each engine which also included a long steep grade. The V8 was silky smooth more powerful and very quiet compared to the V6. The long steep grade really made the V8 shine with the extra torque the engine was able to provide. The difference in power was very noticeable.
The V8 also comes standard with a transmission and oil cooler plus a weight distributing hitch. Permanent 4 wheel drive is also a plus but you can operate the V6 in the same manner.

You were also test driving a 2007 I assume. IMHO, when I bought mine in 2005, I didn't see a noticeable enough difference in terms of my every day driving from the V8 to the V6 and I was coming from a V8 Tundra. This past summer when I was going to replace my wife's car I went and drove a 2006 V8 4Runner for the hell of it. I drove a new V8 and thought that it was noticeable faster than my V6. I think that the addition of VVTI and other enhancements made from 05 to 06 did make a difference, but that's just my opinion. I also drove an 04 V8 limited which seemed slower than mine. The transmission changes and VVTI seem to have made a bit of difference. I will give you the V8 sounds much better, I do miss that.

 

[down_shift]

Just to clarify my points, yes, there is no question the V8 has tons more low end torque. It was just that for my driving style, the V8 simply felt to heavy in the front. It felt and drove like a truck and I was not looking for a truck. Where the V6 in the Sport (that comes with the hydraulic stabilizing suspension gizmo standard) felt not only fast/peppy/whateveryouwanttocallit, but felt much lighter and more nimble. Thinking all of this comes from the lighter front end and not having to drive around in 4x4 all of the time. I won

 

[007Runner]

Vehicle stability control would have kicked in long before you could make a statement like that about under steer.

 

[Falls]

Not a biggie ......after driving both the V8 & V6 it was no question and a no brainer for me. V8 !

I hate full time 4x4 , but after driving this 4R in rain and bad weather its fricken awesome. Sticks like glue and handles like on rails.

The Hydralic/handling stuff your talking about is Xreas and its std. on sport V6/V8.

Understeer......lol

Not knockin the V6 at all , great truck & motor combo. I would'nt hestate to buy one. I just liked the power and torque of the V8 and it being so much smoother and quietier.

It all depends on what works for you , neither one is a bad thing and you cant go wrong IMO.


I personally don't care about insurance and gas , so no matter to me . The difference is so insignificant.


Koz, ........twin turbo deisel :bigok:

 

[down_shift]

Vehicle stability control would have kicked in long before you could make a statement like that about under steer.

LOL. I am not talking about skidding where the stability control kicks in.

During routine hard and aggressive driving (lots of twisty 2-lane roads in my area) you have varying degrees of over steer, neutral, and under steer all the time. Nearly every production vehicle is setup with under steer so Joe public does not spin and wrap themselves around a tree the first time they let off the gas in a corner. Manufacturers would rather that you

 

[TRBenj]

Re: Re: Re: Test drive them both.....

You were also test driving a 2007 I assume. IMHO, when I bought mine in 2005, I didn't see a noticeable enough difference in terms of my every day driving from the V8 to the V6 and I was coming from a V8 Tundra.

Just FYI, the VVT-i V8 debuted in 2005 and remains unchanged through 2007.

 

[Falls]

Manufacturers would rather that you

 

[down_shift]

Learn about what you speak.

Sorry, but I know quite much about it. To break it down to a level that perhaps you can understand, the amount a car understeers can be measured in the number of degrees more the steering wheel have to be turned per G of lateral acceleration. The higher the number the more the car understeers. One of the most neutral cars out there is the Nissan 350Z at 19 and the MX-5 at 21. Corvette Z06 is 28, Adui S4 is 35, and the BMW M3 is 36. Give Toyota a ring for the the 4Runner values. I would suspect the V8 with the fulltime 4x4 to be 6 degrees higher than the V6.