Hi. I am thinking about looking for a v8 4runner. I was looking at the FJ but those price are just so high still. Plus I can use a v8 for to tow my mr2 to the track. I currently own a 96 Camry which I drive the **** out of it with 69 miles each way to work. For the winter I put on my set of winterforce. I think my Camry is going to last me another 10 years so I am loving it. My wife drives a 2002 Rav4 which I like but too small for me. I feel like the Camry has more space. I have one kid and one on the way and I would like something bigger to go to the park, travel, etc. How are v8 4runner liking their rides? Am I expecting too much from the v8 4runner? I don't want a truck, I got a minty 83 Toyota 4x4 I drive around on nice days. I hate the fact people call me to move their stuff in my 83.
Thinking of buying a V8 4runner
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V8Limited4wd
New member
i love mine... you wont regret it if you can find a low mileage 04-09 v8 4wd. I know I will be keeping mine until it falls apart.
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I found this one. I really like the two tone color. Plus it's not so bad on the price. Kind of high mileage though.
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Sport Edition 4WD Moonroof - Immaculate!
2003 Toyota 4Runner V8 Sport Edition 4WD Moonroof - Immaculate!
I have an 05 SR5 4.7 V8. CPO vehicle from Toyota. Only owned it for a week so far but I have put 500 miles on it from holiday travels. 54K miles on the odometer. I am getting about 18-19mpg's on the freeway at 65-70mph. 4Runner says I'm getting 21.8mpg on the dash with the last tank but my calculations put it at 18.6mpg. So far, I'm figuring mpg for city driving can be in the mid teens but a heavy foot puts it close to 10mpg easy.
If you are going to commute as much as you do with a 4Runner....I say you look at the V6 (lots of people claim 22+mpg on the highway). It has a timing chain (instead of my timing belt) which 'can' mean less maintenance as miles are traveled.
My dad has a Tacoma with the V6 and he pulls their boat so the MR2 won't be a problem with a tow package.
But if you can afford the extra gas, the V8 pulls/accelerates smoother and sounds better....torque is nice. I do not drive that many miles and thats how I justified my purchase lol
If you are going to commute as much as you do with a 4Runner....I say you look at the V6 (lots of people claim 22+mpg on the highway). It has a timing chain (instead of my timing belt) which 'can' mean less maintenance as miles are traveled.
My dad has a Tacoma with the V6 and he pulls their boat so the MR2 won't be a problem with a tow package.
But if you can afford the extra gas, the V8 pulls/accelerates smoother and sounds better....torque is nice. I do not drive that many miles and thats how I justified my purchase lol
chaz
New member
looks in decent shape, & is the rare color, but if u really r interested in having the v8, the 05 has a little more HP. u can check year to year chages here> 2003-2009 Toyota 4Runner: Overview - Consumer Guide Automotive
FourEyedWilly
New member
Man I gotta say, that's a nice looking 4R for the mileage. I bet you could get him down to 9,500. He's got FJ rims on it, so that tells me this 4R was his baby as he took an interest in it. Might want to ask what else he's done.
Casper421
New member
X2 :iagree: Great ride, amazing engine, extremely reliable, plenty of room...and the list goes on!! I will never get rid of this 4runner!:biggrin2: Snag one if you can!! My vote::thumb3:
I'm going to go check it out. I'm going to check all the maintenance record on the truck and my highest offer is already 9,500 from Edmund. I am not worries about timing belt, etc. I'm going to take it on some nasty roads with pot holes around town. It's not going to be daily driven as I still have my Camry. I'm more worried about how the underneath looks from all the winter salt.
V8Limited4wd
New member
did i mention it's a BEAST in the snow?! i want to go back in the blizzard to drive some more in the snow.
zerowkul98
New member
I love my V8 4Runner so much, i didnt trade it in when I got my new Sequoia in August (sorry T4R-faithful...i just dont like the 5th gen's at all).
If I was to give you a couple pieces of advice when shopping for a V8 4Runner, make sure the FRONT CALIPERS ARE CHECKED AND WORKING PERFECTLY! They have a infamous reputation of failing due to frozen pistons from gunk getting trapped in there.
Take it from someone who had to dish out a good size piece of $change$ for new ones.
Good luck! I found a 2003 V8 Sport Edition with only 16k on it back in 2006. Like I said,..i didnt trade it in...i gave it to my my wife! :frisky:
If I was to give you a couple pieces of advice when shopping for a V8 4Runner, make sure the FRONT CALIPERS ARE CHECKED AND WORKING PERFECTLY! They have a infamous reputation of failing due to frozen pistons from gunk getting trapped in there.
Take it from someone who had to dish out a good size piece of $change$ for new ones.
Good luck! I found a 2003 V8 Sport Edition with only 16k on it back in 2006. Like I said,..i didnt trade it in...i gave it to my my wife! :frisky:
V8Limited4wd
New member
it's either full time 4wd or 2wd. there is no pt 4wd for the v8
galactic_04
New member
Yeah, we're going to need more deatils on the MR2. Gen1, 2, Sypder? I have an 88 myself with a blacktop in it and my friend has a gen 2 we threw a 2GR-FE in... what are you going to be towing and how far?
I haven't towed the MR2, but I did tow my brother's 89 4runner mud truck with my V6 and it did just fine. Either way we need details on the MR2.
Had a Camry for a few years (was an '89) and though reliable, there were always a few problems (e.g. starter).
I have a 2008 V8 4Runner with a little over 100,000 miles on it. I also drive the crap out of it averaging 32,000/year.
Obviously you won't have the same gas mileage as the Camry, but what you give up in mileage you make up for capacity. This includes passenger room and additional storage when you fold the rear seats down (basically it's a pickup with a shell at that point).
Because you drive winter, a good set of all season (I personally like Goodyear Silent Armors as they deal with winter in the Sierras) will suffice. I wind up going from Lake Tahoe to the SF Bay Area frequently and chains/studs are simply not in the cards. V8 and 4WD w/ good winter tires is an excellent combination.
Newer 4Runners come with side curtain air bags, so in the advent of a roll over or side impact, they're supposed to help. I haven't tried them out nor felt the need to test them, but it may be a selling point for you. You will sit higher up and be more than likely to survive a front/side impact and with the extra room in the rear, a rear end collision will do more damage to the person hitting you.
If you decide to go camping/offroading, you have plenty of room and ~7000 lbs towing capacity. Though your cargo capacity is ~700 lbs, you can exceed it (I've loaded pavers one day, asphalt sealant the next and quikrete on other weekends) without worrying too much.
Overall, a 4Runner is a VERY capable vehicle for 95% of the conditions you're going to encounter. It's very versatile and will meet the needs of most families. There are drawbacks where specialized vehicles are called for:
1. 3+ children (e.g. 3 small is okay, 3 teens for long distance will have them kicking you in the back of the seat)
2. Need a larger towing capacity (e.g. large travel trailer)
3. Hauling tall objects (e.g. trees for landscaping)
4. Money (e.g. gas mileage and insurance are make-or-break)
For the above, a larger SUV (e.g. Sequoia or Excursion), Diesel or Pickup would be better choices but the trade offs are much more distinct.
I have a 2008 V8 4Runner with a little over 100,000 miles on it. I also drive the crap out of it averaging 32,000/year.
Obviously you won't have the same gas mileage as the Camry, but what you give up in mileage you make up for capacity. This includes passenger room and additional storage when you fold the rear seats down (basically it's a pickup with a shell at that point).
Because you drive winter, a good set of all season (I personally like Goodyear Silent Armors as they deal with winter in the Sierras) will suffice. I wind up going from Lake Tahoe to the SF Bay Area frequently and chains/studs are simply not in the cards. V8 and 4WD w/ good winter tires is an excellent combination.
Newer 4Runners come with side curtain air bags, so in the advent of a roll over or side impact, they're supposed to help. I haven't tried them out nor felt the need to test them, but it may be a selling point for you. You will sit higher up and be more than likely to survive a front/side impact and with the extra room in the rear, a rear end collision will do more damage to the person hitting you.
If you decide to go camping/offroading, you have plenty of room and ~7000 lbs towing capacity. Though your cargo capacity is ~700 lbs, you can exceed it (I've loaded pavers one day, asphalt sealant the next and quikrete on other weekends) without worrying too much.
Overall, a 4Runner is a VERY capable vehicle for 95% of the conditions you're going to encounter. It's very versatile and will meet the needs of most families. There are drawbacks where specialized vehicles are called for:
1. 3+ children (e.g. 3 small is okay, 3 teens for long distance will have them kicking you in the back of the seat)
2. Need a larger towing capacity (e.g. large travel trailer)
3. Hauling tall objects (e.g. trees for landscaping)
4. Money (e.g. gas mileage and insurance are make-or-break)
For the above, a larger SUV (e.g. Sequoia or Excursion), Diesel or Pickup would be better choices but the trade offs are much more distinct.
The Front Brake Calipers? Taking my car in for a intermittent noise from the driver's front suspension in a few days.
LandRvr Convert
New member
I have a 2007 4x4 Limited 4.7L V8 and LOVE it!! It's a very powerful engine and very smooth too.
I first owned an identical 2006 Limited 4x4 with the 4.0 V6, but I just had V8 envy the entire year I owned it!!
I don't even tow, nor do I have plans to, but I'm so happy with the V8......it's awesome!!
What makes driving the V8 extra sweet now, is that Toyota no longer puts a V8 in the Runner.
Good luck man!
I first owned an identical 2006 Limited 4x4 with the 4.0 V6, but I just had V8 envy the entire year I owned it!!
I don't even tow, nor do I have plans to, but I'm so happy with the V8......it's awesome!!
What makes driving the V8 extra sweet now, is that Toyota no longer puts a V8 in the Runner.
Good luck man!
The Thomas J
New member
2005 v8 limited, 115,000 miles, love the truck, HATE the gas mileage, 14-14.5 city, 19-21 on the highway. I have a heavy foot on the HWY.
I have 91. I started with a 85, 88 sc, and another 91 which I sold last summer to make room in the garage. Everything should be fairly close the fairest would be to texas or portland to get it tuned.
