So you don't buy a 4R for mpg I was told......Rant

[nglayton]

I was talking about dumping my 4R to get the most I can before the value really tanks and I said I would like better mpg.......

Break down:

Owned for 20 months:
Mileage: 88410
4420 miles per month driven
245 gallons @$2.45 avg each month of ownership.

So, $601 a month in fuel. which is a $40 fill up every three days ish......

If I drove that much for personal use, i would look at other options as well.
4K+ miles is a lot, 88K in 2 years is crazy, I am just now rolling up on 90k for my 2011.

Luckily, my job pays me for mileage and it pretty much covers all the costs associated with my vehicle. (Even 1/2 the mods I've done!!)

Have you considered a Highlander Hybrid? Roughly the same body size and space, supposedly they get not quite double the gas mileage you are getting now.......

 

[1engineer]

If I drove that much for personal use, i would look at other options as well.
4K+ miles is a lot, 88K in 2 years is crazy, I am just now rolling up on 90k for my 2011.

Luckily, my job pays me for mileage and it pretty much covers all the costs associated with my vehicle. (Even 1/2 the mods I've done!!)

Have you considered a Highlander Hybrid? Roughly the same body size and space, supposedly they get not quite double the gas mileage you are getting now.......

My wife just got a new Highlander. In the first 3K miles it's averaging about 24 mpg overall. There are so many things about that vehicle that are just wrong lol.

 

[mscot]

May I ask what you do that requires that much driving and why your employer isn't covering some of those costs or they are not a write-off?

 

[smokeatrr]

There are cuvs that get 30 mpg and have the cargo space you need. Your vehicle is just transportation. I enjoy my 4runner, but I think if I were you I would be shopping for something new. I drive 25k+ a year and have worn out a few civics and a corolla. I bought the 4runner with the knowledge I would be soon retiring and I was tired of people riding my rear bumper. Good Luck on your decision.

 

[Tacticool]

Definitely a logical question

I drove a lot more living in Chicago and had an x5 diesel. Drove phenomenally in the city, was way faster and more powerful, still got me out into muddy hunting fields, gravel quarries, and was the best snow car I ever had bar none.

I have had some fun vehicles but everyone has pluses and minus' as do all cars.

If you're looking at new cars/trucks a z71 Colorado getting 20/28 would be nice. Jeep gc diesel is anecdotally a total pos. Subaru crosstrek with a rack gets great gas mileage and has like 9.7 inches ground clearance. Ram ecodiesel gets great mileage and is cavernous inside. If I needed better mileage I'd own one of these cars.

 

[blakjack23]

My wife just got a new Highlander. In the first 3K miles it's averaging about 24 mpg overall. There are so many things about that vehicle that are just wrong lol.

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION], whats wrong with them? Curious since we might start looking at those soon to replace my wifes Camry.

 

[Brickwall's T4R]

Am I the only on here that DID buy the 4R for the gas mileage??:lookout:

Coming from a pair of Jeep Wrangler Rubicons (one on 35s with 4.88s), and a lifted LC80, I'm happy with the fuel mileage. I've posted on here before, Ill average 20mpg to a tank on the highway. My Jeeps averaged closer to 15mpg and my LC80 closer to 14mpg.:cry2:

I'm with you, I stepped down from a 5.7L Hemi to the 4L V6 and though I may fill up just as often those fill ups are $20 to $30 less.

 

[chillfancy]

First off, you said you get 18.9 MPG on 80% highway driving with 34x10.5 BFG KO2s. If you had some more economical tires on your vehicle, you could get the ~21.2 I would average with 80% highway driving.

You could get a 4CYL Colorado 4WD Diesel (or the Canyon) and average mid 20s, at least until you put bigger tires on it.

Displacement: 169 cu in, 2776 cc
Power: 181 hp @ 3400 rpm
Torque: 369 lb-ft @ 2000 rpm

Cargo volume: 41 cu ft
Curb weight: 4855 lb
EPA city/highway driving: 20/29 mpg
C/D observed: 22 mpg

If you're only getting 18mpg out of your 4Runner, you will only get 20 (maybe 22) out of that truck.

 

[T4 Leaf]

OP...looking cool and having great off-road capability (TRDP) have always been terrible investments... nothing new.

But, that can also get chicks (sometimes) and boost self esteem, and those cannot be measured with any tools that we have currently. Chicks and self-esteem can reduce the costs of other items...as in, you may not need the new suspension/snorkle or a Russian bride?

This reminds me of the "boat"...the 2 happiest days in a man's life...purchase of.... and sale of the boat.


this is tongue in cheek btw

 

[wfo9]

snyde comments, here? LOL

Honestly, some of it is just part of the fun.. Most are not that serious about it, but yes some are over the top and condescending for no good reason. I've had plenty of disagreements with folks that I would probably get along with great in real life. And yes, I have also been part of the problem at times. It is a bit contagious.... you will start doing it a bit too after some time of being harassed. Not saying it is right... just don't take it all as a face to face conversation. I have to tell myself that often.

If you wanted actual advice you would have to give more specifics... The 4r is not efficien (it is extremely outdated in technology), but it has other versatility and reliability pros that can't be beat for some.

If you have to go offroad and need high mpg for hwy... I would see if you could get by with the colorado duramax (not the zr2). The zr2 has awesome offroad capability with decent mpg, but the hwy mpg is significantly less than the regular version which will do 30mpg.

The problem is you simply can't have it all. High clearance up front equals high wind resistance.... Good offroad tires equals higher rolling resistance. I think most zr2 duramax owners are seeing 21-24. That is about as good as you can get on a highly capable off-roader.

 

[Sled Driver]

Range is more important to me than MPG, personally (although MPG is certainly a factor in that). It's annoying to make a detour to find a gas station and pay $buku/gal in the middle of nowhere.

I know jerry/scepter/rotopax cans look cool and all, and show the world that you are a true overlander (as does the beard, and roof rack/ladder, and hi lift, and...), but in truth they are a pain in the ass to actually use.

My brother has an aftermarket aux fuel tank in his 100 series LC and it's dope. Too bad there isn't something for the 5th gen (that I know of).

In any case, just about anything with a modern drivetrain (debatable in the 5th gen's case :lmao can get decent mileage if you drive like the accelerator pedal is attached to a landmine.

 

[Ryan1975]

I don't understand your rant.

1. You bought a vehicle that is advertised to get 18-21 mpg.
2. It performs as advertised.
3. You drive a lot of miles so you buy a lot of gas.

Where's the rant?

The 4Runner is designed to not only go on road, but off road as well. It is one of a very few vehicles designed to do this, so there are additional compromises and one is efficiency. You knew this I'm sure.

If you want to get rid of it then I totally understand, but even if you get a Prius you are still going to be spending a ton for fuel.

Good luck. Best thing for you is probably a Highlander but it only gets about 20% better fuel economy. Nothing else will have the room of the 4runner unless you get a minivan.

I want a minivan

 

[Ryan1975]

Oh btw - live in Monument / Work in Denver - 70mi a day and while I'm not at 88k like you, I'm at 59k as of yesterday - purchased on 12/19/15

 

[Brandon_Reed]

So, I ask all of you who say "I didn't buy a 4R for MPG and I don't care what the mpg is" how many of you would continue to drive a 4R if they had to fill up every three days and they needed the room of a 4R and a car would not work due to the cargo room needed?

You seem to be implying that on a daily basis you drive a ton of miles offroad with a lot of cargo.. I assume cargo since you're considering a pickup as a replacement.

I gotta ask though, how are you averaging 18mpg?

If in reality you are putting those miles on the highway and don't actually use the offroad capability of the 4runner on a daily basis a prius has 65.5 cubic feet of cargo space, the 4 runner has 89, could you live with 24 less cubic feet of cargo space for nearly 3x the fuel economy?

 

[Heavy_GD]

So, I ask all of you who say "I didn't buy a 4R for MPG and I don't care what the mpg is" how many of you would continue to drive a 4R if they had to fill up every three days and they needed the room of a 4R and a car would not work due to the cargo room needed?

I would either negotiate a fuel card, or suck it up and get a separate car for fuel mileage and not carry so much stuff at once.

You posted this yourself:

I travel with 300-400lbs of kit/swag and I can still avg about 20 mpg.

With those numbers, there it not much to complain about.

Here is the full post for others:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/216017-4runner-best-sales-rep-vehicle.html

Why a 4Runner and not a TDi? Well, a car just go where I need it to go for pleasure, work and where I live, 4wd is mandatory. I live at an elevation of 9600'. And we get snow until mid May.

My first work road trip after I broke it in was so much more enjoyable than the the past ride... It was so much quieter and better with the high winds out here in the west. I could drive for 12 plus hours and not be totally worn out. The Jeep was fine for 8-9 hours a day, but those last few hours to 10-12 were horrible.

The 4Runners headlights are much better than the Jeep, and with my new E2 light bar, I will report how it is in the back country.

I travel with 300-400lbs of kit/swag and I can still avg about 20 mpg. My best tank has been 434 miles. A 413 mi tank was from Missoula to Ennis to Billings with work stops. I have that logged on another site.

I plan on doing a western slope (CO) trip next week for a little over 1200 miles and I may sleep in it a night or two.

Typical load out:
Engel Fridge, Cot, Kit, SWAG, Beer, for camping on the road.

 

[Toffees]

I would either negotiate a fuel card, or suck it up and get a separate car for fuel mileage and not carry so much stuff at once.

You posted this yourself:



With those numbers, there it not much to complain about.

Here is the full post for others:

http://www.toyota-4runner.org/5th-gen-t4rs/216017-4runner-best-sales-rep-vehicle.html

 

[1engineer]

[MENTION=66316]1engineer[/MENTION], whats wrong with them? Curious since we might start looking at those soon to replace my wifes Camry.

For starters you cannot control all aspects of the vehicle. Take headlights for example: There are basically two positions for full operation, manual and automatic. In manual mode, you have to turn on the headlights and automatic mode it turns them on for you at dusk. Fine so far right? In both modes you decide when to use high beam or low beam, now get this, except the sensor decides if high beams are rreeeeaaaalllllyyyy needed. Example: A car is coming towards you and you have it on high beam. The sensor picks up the headlights and auto dims the headlights, when the car passes the light goes back to high beam.... except when it doesn't. I have blinded some drivers for a few seconds. I have needed high beams and not been able to use them because of reflection of lights off a railroad crossing sign. Do they work? Sure, after a fashion, but they absolutely don't function like I use my headlights. So maybe it's just dumbass me lol.

Auto stop at red lights and in traffic is a *****. Yes, they give you a button to turn that feature off. No, it won't stay off and you only remember to hit the button when it kills the engine going through a drive through lol.

Radar cruise control.... need I say more.

Truthfully, for 95% of the people interested in a vehicle like this it is perfect. Just drive it. It won't let you back over something, it will auto brake if you forget, reminds you if you cross a line, rides good, comfortable, has all the bells and whistles and will be reliable and dependable forever. Tons of interior room too.

However, that vehicle has no soul... none whatsoever. My new Tacoma, even though it has the same 3.5 engine, has a soul. It has a six speed manual transmission, is not really quiet, rides like a truck and you have to do everything yourself. I love it because you have to drive it and never get bored. You have to pay attention. It has a personality. The 4Runner has a soul too, even though it is a more subdued one than the truck. The Highlander? None.

 

[nb rob]

I'm a bit confused by this post....
You're upset because someone talked shit?

Can't you ignore them, instead of posting it on the one place that has more shit-talkers than anywhere else?

 

[chillfancy]

...I gotta ask though, how are you averaging 18mpg?

He's running 34x10.5 BFG KO2s.

 

[Ryan1975]

I'm a bit confused by this post....
You're upset because someone talked shit?

Can't you ignore them, instead of posting it on the one place that has more shit-talkers than anywhere else?

Uh this place isnt that bad. I could drag you to some deep dark corners of the internet if you’d like.