When does the 4Runner get the 3.5 and crappy transmission that the Tacoma has?

[Akkording]

Nothing wrong with these motors, it's just gearing. Tacoma folks with MT are having A Blast, MT Tacoma offroading purest know so, it's bringing back the old school core of MT offroading. AT is easy for our rigs as a family vehicle but man imagine if our 4Runners had a clutch. I do find myself in sports mode shifting gears, not ideal for gas mileage.

KuhDunkADunk lol

 

[RainCityShecks]

Toyota already makes a V8 4Runner, it's called the GX. There is nothing stopping them from putting a tuned, more powerful version of that drivetrain in the current or next 4Runner. Nothing. For those of you who like to have shit power from the 4.0 V6, they can make it an 3000 dollar option and you're more than welcome to buy the gutless engine.

Toyota, like many carmakers, bet on the wrong horse. They thought that by now we'd be balls deep in a Democrat administration where some New Yorker or Californian Car Czar who has never owned a car, doesn't know how to drive, and only ridden in stinky Ubers driven by terrorists and rapists would be demanding that average manufacturer fleet MPG be 55, no V8s, no diesels, and a tax on large displacement engines.

That didn't happen, so get rid of the tiny gutless engines that can't generate hp or torque below 2000 rpm, unleash some Lexus V8s, and FFS DO NOT give us a turbo. Even the cRaptor is coming out with a NA V8.

BTW, the reason I didn't buy the GX is that Toyota refuses to update it to the new Prado that has been out for a while internationally, it also looks like a Yautja that is about to put the beatdown on some former US governors.

WTF? What's up your a#$ man? Take a breath, calm down, have a brewskie. Jesus H.

 

[msp]

Toyota already makes a V8 4Runner, it's called the GX. There is nothing stopping them from putting a tuned, more powerful version of that drivetrain in the current or next 4Runner. Nothing. For those of you who like to have shit power from the 4.0 V6, they can make it an 3000 dollar option and you're more than welcome to buy the gutless engine.

Toyota, like many carmakers, bet on the wrong horse. They thought that by now we'd be balls deep in a Democrat administration where some New Yorker or Californian Car Czar who has never owned a car, doesn't know how to drive, and only ridden in stinky Ubers driven by terrorists and rapists would be demanding that average manufacturer fleet MPG be 55, no V8s, no diesels, and a tax on large displacement engines.

That didn't happen, so get rid of the tiny gutless engines that can't generate hp or torque below 2000 rpm, unleash some Lexus V8s, and FFS DO NOT give us a turbo. Even the cRaptor is coming out with a NA V8.

BTW, the reason I didn't buy the GX is that Toyota refuses to update it to the new Prado that has been out for a while internationally, it also looks like a Yautja that is about to put the beatdown on some former US governors.

I'd love a US Prado. But man, I hate the Lexus styling. I wish I had been smart enough to pick up a new GX470. This isn't about politics. It's about brand differentiation. I doubt we'll ever see a V8 in any Toyota except for the Land Cruiser. Toyota is fat and happy right now. Gas is cheap in the US. Time to enjoy what I have and wait to see what's available a couple years from now. And aside from forum outrage, I don't understand why some folks are so disturbed about the 5th-gen. It's essentially a modern J80 that's reliable and "fast enough" for its intended use. That combo works for me.

 

[LandCruiser]

I'd love a US Prado. But man, I hate the Lexus styling. I wish I had been smart enough to pick up a new GX470. This isn't about politics. It's about brand differentiation. I doubt we'll ever see a V8 in any Toyota except for the Land Cruiser. Toyota is fat and happy right now. Gas is cheap in the US. Time to enjoy what I have and wait to see what's available a couple years from now. And aside from forum outrage, I don't understand why some folks are so disturbed about the 5th-gen. It's essentially a modern J80 that's reliable and "fast enough" for its intended use. That combo works for me.

The plague of small-engined turbocharged cars started out due to EU displacement and carbon policy and metastasized over to the US when carmakers bailed out by the government were given mpg targets that were unreachable, it got bad enough that the Japanese are getting on the bandwagon.

4Runner needs a bigger engine, not a smaller higher revving eco brick like the 3.5L.

 

[msp]

The plague of small-engined turbocharged cars started out due to EU displacement and carbon policy and metastasized over to the US when carmakers bailed out by the government were given mpg targets that were unreachable, it got bad enough that the Japanese are getting on the bandwagon.

4Runner needs a bigger engine, not a smaller higher revving eco brick like the 3.5L.

That's certainly part of the equation. But in 'murica I think we've just been in an extended period of economic goodness and relatively low gas prices. So, people buy full size pickup trucks and SUVs, and pay no attention to fuel economy. When the economic downturn comes, and when the Saudis stop pumping oil like there's no tomorrow, gas prices will increase too. And then the pendulum will swing in the other direction.

 

[BilboSchwaggins]

Saudis don’t control gas prices anymore.

 

[mynameistory]

They thought that by now we'd be balls deep in a Democrat administration where some New Yorker or Californian Car Czar who has never owned a car, doesn't know how to drive, and only ridden in stinky Ubers driven by terrorists and rapists

Uh, what? :heh: Are you writing this from your Unabomber cabin?

 

[LandCruiser]

That's certainly part of the equation. But in 'murica I think we've just been in an extended period of economic goodness and relatively low gas prices. So, people buy full size pickup trucks and SUVs, and pay no attention to fuel economy. When the economic downturn comes, and when the Saudis stop pumping oil like there's no tomorrow, gas prices will increase too. And then the pendulum will swing in the other direction.

The issue here is that the 4Runner is an enthusiast car. An enthusiast engine should be at least offered.

If I cared about my carbon footprint and global climate change I wouldn't be driving a 4500 pound off road vehicle that gets 14 mpg.

 

[LandCruiser]

Uh, what? :heh: Are you writing this from your Unabomber cabin?

How's that heavily taxed California gasoline?

I'm surprised 4Runners are still legal in that state. I mean CARB literally dictates 99% of the most useless economy and emissions shit for the rest of the country.

 

[mynameistory]

How's that heavily taxed California gasoline?

I'm surprised 4Runners are still legal in that state.

Oh no, you got me. It's BBQ weather 350 days of the year but I have to put a couple more bucks in the tank. Taxation is theft, don't step on snek, we get it.

 

[83Mule]

Don't kid yourselves.....Kalifornia HAS dictated what Manufacturers of many vehicles including motorcycles are producing. Through legislation, special waivers from the Feds and by thinly veiled threat. NONE of those vehicles is ''saving the Planet'', but they are more complicated, expensive and sometimes less functional or inferior to the other Country or State versions. The Japanese and their non-confrontational mindset don't even TRY to get many models built or approved without asking for guidance from Kali first. KTM are proof of what WILL pass the censors if attempted.....and the Japanese have given up even trying to stay in the Market for Dual-Sport Motorcycles. The Japanese told all who would listen ''It can't be done'' and the Euro's came in and ate their lunch!:fencing:

 

[Gecko]

This seems most logical as you said. Now my question is, will this be more of a refresh or complete redesign?

Refresh.

 

[MossJenks]

Apparently the answer to the OP is yes, Hillary will force Toyota to put a smaller engine in the new 4Runner.

Good lord. :bathbaby:

 

[Gecko]

I recently spent 3 weeks driving a 2018 Tacoma SR5 4x2 V6, coincidentally, right after spending 2 weeks driving a Chevy Colorado LT 4x2 V6.

Excuse my french, but the Tacoma is a flat out piece of shit and the only way Toyota is selling any of them is the name alone. I come from a Toyota family, I've been employed by Toyota, I've only ever driven Toyota products, and I will sit here and tell you the Colorado is a vastly superior truck to the Tacoma in about every conceivable way.

The 3.6L/8AT combo is not only an indisputably superior powertrain with regard to power delivery, drivability and efficiency, but it is so much smoother and more refined that it makes that iteration of the 2GR-FKS feel like it was dug out of the dirt in a landfill. Driving the Colorado like a reckless teenager, I got 20.7MPG. The Tacoma got 16.7MPG. My 2016 Limited (full time) 4x4 returns 16.5MPG average. These are all manual calculations.

I got out of the Colorado and into the Tacoma, turned the key, and it felt like starting a lawnmower because there are so many vibrations in the drivetrain, not to mention it being loud and lacking what many would deem modern NVH standards.

The Colorado motor is great - it's predictable and smooth throughout the power band, not to mention linear and very powerful. The Tacoma is gutless and frighteningly dead under 4k RPM, at which time, the motor magically comes to life with a scary force that throws you forward until 6k RPM. It is enough force to break the rear wheels free at 40MPH or so. Try pulling out of a line of traffic, putting your foot down, inching out and then hitting 4k RPM and taking off like a bat out of hell with the wheels struggling for traction. Welcome to driving the Tacoma in city traffic - it feels out of control and unmanageable in some scenarios.

The 6AT has this weird characteristic with kick down where when you're coasting to a stop, as the transmission drops gears, it lurches you forward so much so that you feel like you need to hit the brakes. The Chevy's 8AT is, again, much superior.

The only two things I like about that powertrain (Tacoma's 2GR-FKS) more than the 1GR is:
- Faster gear changes (our 5AT is painfully slow and clunky at this - the 6AT is better, but modern 8ATs are MUCH faster)
- Better passing power on the highway (with this being a high revving motor, merging and overtaking on the highway is a lot easier than in the 4Runner).

I can say that if the 2GR-FKS/6AT goes into the 4Runner as it is, I would probably not buy it. The outdated 1GR with a confused, clunky 5AT is easier to drive because it's got the power band for a truck/SUV.

 

[msp]

The issue here is that the 4Runner is an enthusiast car. An enthusiast engine should be at least offered.

If I cared about my carbon footprint and global climate change I wouldn't be driving a 4500 pound off road vehicle that gets 14 mpg.

Soccer moms and dads around the country would disagree. The people in this forum are the enthusiasts. And, most of us are poseurs anyway. I know I am. I'm lucky to get 3 weeks off road a year. But, they are the 3 best weeks of my year. I can't even get Apple CarPlay or Android Auto direct from Toyota. I don't like your chances of coaxing a V8 out of them. But, I wouldn't mind being wrong.

 

[Thrasher_S]

For everyone who is wanting big power engines in the 4Runner keep this in mind, part of why the resale is so high is because there isn't enough power to abuse/break parts like other rigs.

More power = less dependable long term = lower resale

Good point. This is the partly the reason for the soft throttle response too, I think. The computer limits the max torque to the wheels in 1st and 2nd gear, if I remember correctly.
Rigs that are babied last longer. I think Toyota has built this into thier rigs.

 

[Jimbo]

I hope this is not the case. Emissions may cause them to do something crazy like this. Same thing happened to jeep when they were forced to drop the straight 6 in 2007.

From a relative, a corporate Toyota product specialist, they had played with the idea of a 4 cyl turbo diesel until Donald Trump won the election.

With regulations being rolled back, they are now going in the other direction. Totally rethinking approach.

 

[Gecko]

From a relative, a corporate Toyota product specialist, they had played with the idea of a 4 cyl turbo diesel until Donald Trump won the election.

With regulations being rolled back, they are now going in the other direction. Totally rethinking approach.

I have heard 2.0T base 4cylinder, and even rumors of the new Lexus 3.5L TT V6 for the V6 option. That seems a little rich IMO, but I suppose we can hope.

Toyota has a diesel program and I know it was planning to include the 4Runner. Just not sure if it'lll come to fruition now.

 

[Jimbo]

I have heard 2.0T base 4cylinder, and even rumors of the new Lexus 3.5L TT V6 for the V6 option. That seems a little rich IMO, but I suppose we can hope.

Toyota has a diesel program and I know it was planning to include the 4Runner. Just not sure if it'lll come to fruition now.

That's pretty much verbatim what my BIL said, haha...

He said the election and subsequent regulation changes really opened things up. Which I'm 100% good with. Tired of CA deciding what the rest of us can drive.

 

[mynameistory]

You need to lay off the Fox News / Sean Hannity cool aid.

I know, right? I only got raped a little on my last Uber ride. Dude acts like he's never been raped before.