What I HATE about my 2007 V8 SportEdition

eskimochaos

eskimochaos

Banned
Now I absolutely love this vehicle but there is one thing that absolutely pisses me off to no end. This stupid drive by wire system that senses how you drive. After some stop and go traffic the transmission that thinks for you says "look, we're not going anywhere, Im going to shift super easy to maximize comfort and minimize fuel consumption"

Then..the traffic opens up and I want to get the **** out of there with some speed. After stomping on the gas my transmission again thinks for me and says"look he's flooring it...probably wants to go somewhere quick...let me take the next 10mins configuring myself so that his car is quicker"

This electronic smart ****ing transmission just pisses me off, if Im flooring it, I want to go somewhere. The car just doesnt seem to move after having someone like my mom drive the car or if im in city traffic.

Why cant there be a sport/extra power button in the SPORT EDITION like there is in the landcruiser?
 
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eskimochaos said:
Now I absolutely love this vehicle but there is one thing that absolutely pisses me off to no end...
Why cant there be a sport/extra power button in the SPORT EDITION like there is in the landcruiser?
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I have the same issue, discussed before, when pulling into my sub. It's not just the tranny but also the learn feature of the engine management system. Try downshifting or driving with the shift lever one gear down from "D" (3rd on my 4 spd; 4th on the 5 spd tranny) at lower, non-highway speeds. You don't need overdrive anyways at these speeds. This has worked for me and will hasten the relearning of the shift pattern.
 
I think all cars with their fancy electronics do the same thing. My 01 Grand Am GT used to shift into second gear just pulling into the driveway even though I was going less then 5mph, go figure. The surge from it shifting because the computer was trying to keep the RPMs up was annoying. I used to downshift it to 1st gear to make sure it did not shift.
 
Just play with your shifter.. usually i leave mine at 4 instead of D in city driving much better since your really not going fast enough then shift it back to D when you get on the highway
 
Yea but it still doesn't improve the reactivity of the transmission/throttle.

Only driving habits will cause the transmission/engine management system to learn how you like to drive.
 
I usually keep mine in 2 or 3 when I am in the city. I usually only go into D when I am going down hill or at faster speeds. I have an '05 sport so not sure I have that electronic addition because I dont feel what you are describing.
 
Hi,

I'm new to this forum and saw this post. Well, this is actually the reason I still don't own a 4Runner. I've wanted one for the longest time but I only want to get new and since they only come with automatics now, I still don't own one. Reading this post doesn't make me feel any better about getting one. Is it bad for the car to have to keep manually changing down to lower gears like the way you guys describe?
 
make sure you don't have anything under the gas pedal keeping you from pressing it down all the way

and also, be sure your toe is at the top of the pedal, not the bottom when you press it down, or the angles will prevent you from truly "flooring" it. The bottom of the pedal touches the floor before full articulation.

When pressed passed 80%, almost all cars switch driving programs. They richen the mixture to unhealthy levels, turn off the A/C to free up power, and shift more aggressively.

If your car doesn't shift out at 5500RPM/Redline (V6) when you've got it "floored", guess what? you don't actually have the pedal pressed all the way, and the car thinks you are just wanting to accelerate from a light. Tranny shifts at redline when at max power.
 
nighthawk said:
Hi,

I'm new to this forum and saw this post. Well, this is actually the reason I still don't own a 4Runner. I've wanted one for the longest time but I only want to get new and since they only come with automatics now, I still don't own one. Reading this post doesn't make me feel any better about getting one. Is it bad for the car to have to keep manually changing down to lower gears like the way you guys describe?
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I personally have never experienced what the OP is describing and so you probably shouldn't worry about it at all. The best way to determine if it's something you will notice is to test drive a few and don't be shy about flooring it on some of the bigger roads. I have an 05 sport and when I floor it, it goes. I've had cars in the past that when you come to a complete stop they sometimes stay in 2nd for the next acceleration to save gas or something. My nissan maxima did that to me a lot. I'd shift it to first to make the car go into first, but then immediately put it back in Drive. While I was stopped it would stay in first until I started speeding up. I have not needed to do this to my 4runner. Occasionally I'll manually put it in first if I want to jump from a start because I can then roughly control when I shift it to second.

Most newer automatic cars will only allow you to manually shift down gears when you're under a certain safe speed to hit the next gear. When manually shifting up gears they will stay in the gear you put it no matter what the speed until you shift up manually. BUT if you shift up manually while you're still going slower than what the automatic would have shifted then even though you shifted to 2nd the auto may keep you in 1st for a little bit longer because it would have anyway.

Long story short.... This 4Runner auto is as good or better than any other auto I've ever driven and it's not bad to shift down manually as it's a common tactic driving down steep hills called engine braking. Just don't over rev you're engine in a low gear because YOU forgot to shift back up.
 
Good to know that it's a good transmission. How do you guys like driving it? I've driven manual all my life and the few times I drive automatic, I hated it. Are there any of you that used to drive manual or prefer to drive manual but because the 4Runner is auto only, now drive auto? If so, what do you guys think. I'm just scared that if I get it and just really hate driving auto, then I'm basically stuck with it unless I want to lose money. Like I said in another thread, I've always loved the 4Runner but the lack of a manual is the only thing holding me back and I honestly have no interest in the FJ Cruiser at all. Did you guys who drove manual before and got the 4Runner have any regrets in driving auto now?
 
Nighthawk,

I have had four cars before I picked up my 4R. Two of them were standard and the other two were auto. Bottom line, I miss driving manual sometimes (i really wish my altima was manual....oh boy...the damage I could do).

Since picking up my 4R, I have found that you can drive it like a manual just minus the clutch. I manipulate my 5 gear manual transmission a lot. Everytime i approach a stop, i down shift and engine brake. When i start from a stop i up shift. When i need to pass someone on the freeway, I down shift. If you have good imagination.....it aint that bad. Also not having a clutch means that there is one less thing to fix when it goes bad.

Definitely, test drive one (from 2005 on they added a 5th gear.....its more fun to have an extra gear).

Good luck
 
I probably wouldn't manipulate the transmission much if I got it just cause I honestly have no faith in automatics. I find that they tend to be fragile when manually handling them, if you know what I mean, but then again, the automatics I had in the past were like cars in the mid 1980's and were both Hondas. Do you guys find that the 4R 5spd auto is rugged? Anyone here have tranny problems? Like I said before, the transmission is the main thing holding me back from getting one of these cars. And also, ever since coming on this forum and seeing your rides, I'm liking the latest gen 4R more and more...haha. I'm hoping there will be a significant price drop on them up here in Canada due to fuel prices.
 
Hayn4R said:
Nighthawk,

I have had four cars before I picked up my 4R. Two of them were standard and the other two were auto. Bottom line, I miss driving manual sometimes (i really wish my altima was manual....oh boy...the damage I could do).

Since picking up my 4R, I have found that you can drive it like a manual just minus the clutch. I manipulate my 5 gear manual transmission a lot. Everytime i approach a stop, i down shift and engine brake. When i start from a stop i up shift. When i need to pass someone on the freeway, I down shift. If you have good imagination.....it aint that bad. Also not having a clutch means that there is one less thing to fix when it goes bad.

Definitely, test drive one (from 2005 on they added a 5th gear.....its more fun to have an extra gear).

Good luck
Click to expand...

That can't possibly be good for your transmission.. And i don't even think about what it would cost to fix/replace the automatic transmission in a 4runner versus the clutch, or even the entire manual tranmission on a different vehicle.

I can somewhat relate to what the OP is talking about, luckily it doesn't happen that often in my 4runner. In my previous car, a c280 mercedes, it was almost unbearable. It would hesitate like you wouldnt believe when i gave it a lot of gas, and it was a brand new 07.
 
nighthawk said:
Good to know that it's a good transmission. How do you guys like driving it? I've driven manual all my life and the few times I drive automatic, I hated it. Are there any of you that used to drive manual or prefer to drive manual but because the 4Runner is auto only, now drive auto? If so, what do you guys think. I'm just scared that if I get it and just really hate driving auto, then I'm basically stuck with it unless I want to lose money. Like I said in another thread, I've always loved the 4Runner but the lack of a manual is the only thing holding me back and I honestly have no interest in the FJ Cruiser at all. Did you guys who drove manual before and got the 4Runner have any regrets in driving auto now?
Click to expand...

Prior to purchasing my 4Runner I had driven only manual transmission vehicles for 24+ years (except for rental vehicles).
I had the same concerns you do regarding the automatic transmission. Here in the USA is it getting more difficult with each pasing year to be able to purchase a vehicle with a manual transmission. Automakers say that it is difficult to justify the expense of developing and selling a vehicle with a manual transmission given the very low demand for them.

Personally, I have found that the transmission in my 4Runner does a good job for the most part. I seldom move the shifter manually since I feel that the transmission does the job well enough and doing so is not good for the transmission in the long run.

If you have concerns about whether you will like the automatic transmission or not maybe you should consider leasing a 4Runner.
That way, you would not be stuck with it for more than the term of the lease if you didn't like the transmission or have concerns about rising fuel prices. Obviously, leasing might not work for everyone depending on your situation (# miles driven per year, etc). If leasing is not for you maybe you can talk to your Toyota dealer about an "extended test drive" over a weekend or possibly rent one. When I purchased my 4Runner my dealer gave me the 4Runner for a 24 hour test drive. That allowed my to test the 4Runner on my work commute as well as all the roads around the area where I live. Given how poorly 4Runner sales have been the past few months your local dealer may be more open to the "extended test drive" idea more that they may have been in the past.

My situation is different from others in that I still have other vehicles with manual transmissions (my daily driver has a 5 speed manual tranny) so I can get my fill of gear jamming.

Good Luck.
 
Thanks for the reply. Honestly, if I was lucky enough to be in your shoes where I can have the 4Runner and another daily driver that is a manual, I'd jump on the idea of getting one just cause I can get my fill of driving manual still...haha. Well, like you said, with rising fuel prices, I'm thinking maybe the 4Runner isn't too good of an idea right now. I'll wait till the 09's come out and see how the prices of 08's are by then, I guess.
 
All you guys need to live a little more hardcore. Worring about breaking trannys and clutches. Get some balls and drive your 4R like a man not a teenage girl. Toyota gave us 5 gears to use...so use them, manipulate them in anyway possible. I am sure the designers at Toyota have designed this vehicle to withstand the wear and tear.

First people say that the tranny doesnt have enough power, than you say not to down/up shift.....I dont think you know what you want. Maybe you should catch the bus instead, that way you dont have to worry about wrecking your car.


Think about it,
 
Hayn4R said:
All you guys need to live a little more hardcore. Worring about breaking trannys and clutches. Get some balls and drive your 4R like a man not a teenage girl. Toyota gave us 5 gears to use...so use them, manipulate them in anyway possible. I am sure the designers at Toyota have designed this vehicle to withstand the wear and tear.

First people say that the tranny doesnt have enough power, than you say not to down/up shift.....I dont think you know what you want. Maybe you should catch the bus instead, that way you dont have to worry about wrecking your car.


Think about it,
Click to expand...

I agree, this transmission/V8 engine comes straight from the Land Cruiser. The undeniably most over built, strongest production car in the world....my main reason for trading my 07 v8 sport in for my moms 2004 landcruiser at the end of her lease....i need something that simply wont break and love how over-powerful everything is

little off topic but its my thread....look at the size of the front control arms on it.....bigger than ANY car on the road!




compared to the 4r...




best pic i could find in a hurry
 
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