V8 vs V6

[M1911]

I would love to have a manual 4Runner.... You have way more control, and the Sport mode really isn't good for anything besides descending large hills.

In the defense of automatics, automatics are generally easier to drive offroad. You can use left foot braking with a touch of throttle to ease your way over obstacles.

Unfortunately, I find that the 4Runner brakes are oddly non-linear at low speeds, making it hard to left-foot brake.

 

[NoDak]

that is what the lost art of heel and toe comes in on manuals

me, i couldnt stand to drive a manual in my town. the lights are not sync'd and are way to close together, its way to annoying amd am old now.

in other words, im a fat lazy american now :humble:

 

[13S4]

In the defense of automatics, automatics are generally easier to drive offroad. You can use left foot braking with a touch of throttle to ease your way over obstacles.

Unfortunately, I find that the 4Runner brakes are oddly non-linear at low speeds, making it hard to left-foot brake.

I can see where you're coming from. I've "attempted" to left foot break a few times and it's not a pretty sight. I have the same finesse as a 40 year old woman driving for the first time.

 

[M1911]

I can see where you're coming from. I've "attempted" to left foot break a few times and it's not a pretty sight. I have the same finesse as a 40 year old woman driving for the first time.

I use it mostly when I'm putting the truck up on ramps. And yes, it isn't pretty.

 

[Lolrax]

I would love to have a manual 4Runner.... You have way more control, and the Sport mode really isn't good for anything besides descending large hills. Ours is my wifes DD so that wouldn't work for her, but I can always dream.

My DD is a 6MT and I don't mind it in traffic at all. It's got enough low end torque that I just slightly release the clutch to start going. If it's stop and go I don't touch the gas.

Agreed, the 4.0V6 mated to a manual would take away all of our power concerns, if they offered that for 2014 I would have re-purchased.

 

[Intruder]

I can see where you're coming from. I've "attempted" to left foot break a few times and it's not a pretty sight. I have the same finesse as a 40 year old woman driving for the first time.

Just takes a little practice. I use left foot braking on the trail all the time and don't get lurches any more.

 

[MartyT]

Good thread. In my view, and this is coming from a guys who's other car is a 66 427 vette, the 4runner has enough power for its intended purpose---would have been better if a manual were offered but the select shift gearing kinda accomplishes although not as much fun as clutch and shift. If I wanted hp/torque then I would have bought a clunky Ford Raptor but good luck getting that beast around the twists. In any event, I assume that TRD will come out with a supercharger for the 5th gen right?? m

 

[fjc32]

I got this quote from here

Lexus GX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

FYI

"On 28 May 2012 Lexus China announced the market launch of the GX 400, which replaces the GX 460 in China. The engine option is now changed to the 4.0-liter 1GR-FE V6 engine that outputs 202 kW (271 hp) combined with a five-speed automatic transmission. Due to the power reduction, it takes 9.8 seconds for the GX 400 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph). Compared with the outgoing GX 460, most standard equipment on GX 400 remains the same.[17]"

Lexus reports GX460 0-60 in 7.8 vs 9.8 with the 4 runner v6.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

I got this quote from here

Lexus GX - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

FYI

"On 28 May 2012 Lexus China announced the market launch of the GX 400, which replaces the GX 460 in China. The engine option is now changed to the 4.0-liter 1GR-FE V6 engine that outputs 202 kW (271 hp) combined with a five-speed automatic transmission. Due to the power reduction, it takes 9.8 seconds for the GX 400 to accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (0 to 62 mph). Compared with the outgoing GX 460, most standard equipment on GX 400 remains the same.[17]"

If you take the both vehicles -minimum- curb weight, the GX is about 900 Lbs heavier than the 4Runner. Given the 4Runner and the LX400 have the same engine, the LX will be significantly slower. If you put the V8 in there, it is a different story. Most sites have put the 4Runner 0-60 time as significantly higher: Toyota 0-60 Times & Toyota Quarter Mile Times | New Toyota Camry, 2013 Corolla LE, Prius 0-60, TRD Tundra, Supra Turbo and 2014 Toyota RAV4 0 to 60 stats! Other reviews come in right around this number. Honestly the 4Runner is not a "fast" vehicle, but it's a giant, off road ready, body on frame SUV. If it was fast, it would get 12mpg (and we would all be arguing about how shitty the millage is). I really don't understand how people can complain about the power output for general driving conditions. If your not towing, then it has more than enough power to get you everywhere you need to be. My other car made 110hp, at sea level, when it was new. 5,500 Ft and 200k miles later, it still gets me around just fine.

 

[tobyson21]

My 2 cents

My 2 cents, worth exactly that!

I just traded from a 6 speed manual car that was nominally a high 4 second 0-60 car (Lightly modified Legacy GT). It was great fun and had monster torque. Frankly I was worried I would hate driving the 4runner. I test drove it and was pleasantly surprised. I also test drove the Land Cruiser and regularly drive an RX350 Fsport.

The Land Cruiser is a torque beast and is quick for a vehicle that size. That being said, it wasn't 20+ thousand dollars faster to me and in my neck of the woods, that car has a certain "rich housewife" stigma, that I didn't want.

The reason I mention the RX350 Fsport is that it has far better throttle response. With the 8 speed, it is very quick to downshift. It has less torque, weighs roughly the same, same 0-60 times but "feels" faster. I think it's just a responsiveness issue.

I agree with a previous poster, that a sport or power mode would help. My wife's car (A4 Avant Sline) has a sport mode (aside from the sport "shift" mode) which makes it a much more responsive throttle/downshift map.

This is a truck. I am not sure I'd want ultra responsive throttle feathering the truck off road. I think being able to choose would be cool. I don't think the truck is underpowered, but better throttle response and maybe a quicker downshift would help. Or a TRD supercharger

For now I'm happy driving a bit slower and more sedate....because 4runner?

T

 

[Lolrax]

If you take the both vehicles -minimum- curb weight, the GX is about 900 Lbs heavier than the 4Runner. Given the 4Runner and the LX400 have the same engine, the LX will be significantly slower. If you put the V8 in there, it is a different story. Most sites have put the 4Runner 0-60 time as significantly higher: Toyota 0-60 Times & Toyota Quarter Mile Times | New Toyota Camry, 2013 Corolla LE, Prius 0-60, TRD Tundra, Supra Turbo and 2014 Toyota RAV4 0 to 60 stats! Other reviews come in right around this number. Honestly the 4Runner is not a "fast" vehicle, but it's a giant, off road ready, body on frame SUV. If it was fast, it would get 12mpg (and we would all be arguing about how shitty the millage is). I really don't understand how people can complain about the power output for general driving conditions. If your not towing, then it has more than enough power to get you everywhere you need to be. My other car made 110hp, at sea level, when it was new. 5,500 Ft and 200k miles later, it still gets me around just fine.

That 4.6L V8 and the 6 speed transmission would have made 4Runner the SUV to end all SUVs.

 

[Quentin]

Honestly, the biggest improvement I could see is another gear between 3rd and 4th in our gearbox. The current 5th gear is as tall as it needs to be for highway driving. The truck has enough thrust from a start. What I notice the most is how the truck doesn't want to downshift from 4th to 3rd, and when it does, there is quite an RPM jump. If the ratios were massaged a bit to make a little space for a "passing gear" between the current 3 and 4, it would feel a lot more lively.

 

[13S4]

That 4.6L V8 and the 6 speed transmission would have made 4Runner the SUV to end all SUVs.

Except the Q7 3.0T Sport, X5M, X6M, G63, Range Rover, GX 570, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Turbo S

 

[Intruder]

Except the Q7 3.0T Sport, X5M, X6M, G63, Range Rover, GX 570, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Turbo S

Except for the 570 and G63 those are all unibody CUVs and not true SUVs though. I think a lot of guys who want the V8 speed out of the 4Runner bought the wrong vehicle to begin with. The 4Runner is an off-road capable body on frame truck, not a jacked-up sport wagon.

 

[M1911]

Except the Q7 3.0T Sport, X5M, X6M, G63, Range Rover, GX 570, Cayenne Turbo, Cayenne Turbo S

Out of all of the vehicles that you mentioned, the lx570, G63, and range rover are the only SUVs

 

[NoDak]

Out of all of the vehicles that you mentioned, the lx570, G63, and range rover are the only SUVs

and out of those 3, only the Range Rover and LX570 will actually be seen off road.

 

[Youngerarlaw]

A little cost difference between a few of those rigs and what we're driving....

 

[Lolrax]

A little cost difference between a few of those rigs and what we're driving....

Exactly what I was saying, a more powerful 4Runner with the 4.6 a 6 speed transmission would have been the top affordable SUV.

 

[FrontRange4Runner]

That 4.6L V8 and the 6 speed transmission would have made 4Runner the SUV to end all SUVs.

I agree. Its funny to, when you consider that the GX with the V8 weighs significantly more, but only get slightly worse mileage. I wonder what that combo would get in a 4Runner. I have been looking at a few GX's around here, and if the right deal were to come up, I would probably make the switch. Sadly in CO prices on SUV's in general are pretty high because of the demand. I don't really care if the vehicle is "fast" because it was never designed to be. However a little extra oomph in the mountains would be nice. That said, the 4Runner does fine in the mountains so its not a huge deal.

 

[Lolrax]

I agree. Its funny to, when you consider that the GX with the V8 weighs significantly more, but only get slightly worse mileage. I wonder what that combo would get in a 4Runner. I have been looking at a few GX's around here, and if the right deal were to come up, I would probably make the switch. Sadly in CO prices on SUV's in general are pretty high because of the demand. I don't really care if the vehicle is "fast" because it was never designed to be. However a little extra oomph in the mountains would be nice. That said, the 4Runner does fine in the mountains so its not a huge deal.

I found the 4Runner to be a bit more tossable and way better in the snow because it didn't weigh so damn much. If they announced the 4.6 in the 4Runner I would dump the GX in a second. 4Runner had everything I need, GX has everything I need and a bunch of crap I don't use.