Will you still have the TR4 if gas cost $4 to $5 per gallon?

[M1911]

This is no longer true. The Toyota hybrid batteries last well over 100k miles. In fact, for most Prius, the battery has lasted well over 200k miles! In fact, in California, hybrid batteries have a warranty of 10 years, 150k miles.

Replacement costs is under $2000 these days, including labor...and this is with a brand new battery. You can search for a used one for under $1000. And with hybrids, you don't need to replace your brakes until near 100k or beyond...so, you save money on that end. Worst case scenario...you need to spend $2000 every 200,000 miles beyond routing oil changes...not necessarily a bad investment!

Yup. As much as I dislike hybrids, the batteries aren't an issue on Toyota hybrids. Honda has had some battery issues.

 

[Synister]

lll keep my Runner, just drive it less and buy an old Diesel Benzo and convert it to run on refined cooking oil. Lots of Chinese food joints in California with lots of used oil!!

 

[toyslug]

ryan summed it up the best! agree totally!

 

[gwcpa]

From 3 to 5 per gallon is a marginal increase on a vehicle. It does make you think about taking excess trips though.

$5.00 per gallon did hurt when I had a twin engine boat though. I was burning 36 gallons per hour wide open, around 15 gph at cruise, 2.3 mpg which was not bad.

I've downsized to a single engine 4 stroke and get around 4 mpg. Cheap to run now.

Drop in the bucket though compared to the guys burning 80 to 90 gallons an hour in large/fast boats. $400 bucks an hour to run will make you take notice.

 

[Ttn333]

What if gas cost $5,000 a gallon?

Ha, at that price, driving or not driving my 4runner is the least of my worries.

 

[Ttn333]

Forgot, I do about 80 miles/day. I feel it, but don't mind too much about paying for the gas since I really do enjoy the ride. I'm at 5 months ownership and 13k miles. The most mileage I've ever put in a car within this short time period. My last ride was a pathfinder and traded that one in at under 4 years with less than 60k.

 

[DaveS]

What if gas cost $5,000 a gallon?

Ha, at that price, driving or not driving my 4runner is the least of my worries.

If gas was that much the plastic in my 4Runner would be worth more than I paid for it!

 

[Mellow77]

There was a time when I didn't think it would matter what the price of gas was or how much I drove but old mother time has taught me a different perspective recently. I changed jobs a little over a year ago and for 9 months straight my daily commute was 110 miles round trip. At the time I had an extended cab chevy silverado, that I loved (and still miss). I decided putting a decent chunk of my paycheck into the gas tank every week was something I could make a change on so I sold it and bought a 6sp Audi A4. I successfully doubled my gas mileage and the little car is a blast to drive. That said, I still really missed my truck (liked having some interior size, being able to see and having the ability to haul people, animals and "stuff") and have always wanted a 4Runner so I just bought a 3rd Gen as my first Runner.

If gas shoots up and I'm forced to make a decision I'm afraid the past experience will lead me to keep the 4Runner for comfort & versatility reasons rather than economic ones.

 

[MAD827]

Yeah I will still drive even if gas prices sky rocket. I love driving my 4Runner and hopefully that will never change. :zoom:

 

[swalker]

From 3 to 5 per gallon is a marginal increase on a vehicle. It does make you think about taking excess trips though.

$5.00 per gallon did hurt when I had a twin engine boat though. I was burning 36 gallons per hour wide open, around 15 gph at cruise, 2.3 mpg which was not bad.

I've downsized to a single engine 4 stroke and get around 4 mpg. Cheap to run now.

Drop in the bucket though compared to the guys burning 80 to 90 gallons an hour in large/fast boats. $400 bucks an hour to run will make you take notice.

$2 per gallon increase would be substantial to some of us. I drive about 40,000 miles per year, at 18 mpg avg thats 2200 gals or and additional $4400 per year in fuel cost, but with that said, yea I would still love my 4runner...

 

[Scoobs]

gas prices in the Toronto area are running @ $1.14 CDN/litre. That works out to @ $4.30 CDN /US gallon. We're already there, and I'm still driving :driving:

Toronto Gas Prices - Find Cheap Gas Prices in Ontario

 

[mag10]

Eventually my runner will be my weekend toy - until then, though it would look a little funny w/ my lift, I would consider changing back to my stock tires/wheels if gas was consitently at the upper $4-5+ range, as I have a 50mi round trip daily for work - UNLESS I were to purchase a cheap commuter car in the interim. I would mount my 285's back up when planning a trip into the backcountry.

It's worth the money now. I love the ride, the comfort, etc....

 

[scanny]

IMHO 4Runner has pretty decent fuel consumption - about the same as all other vehicles of the similar size such as pickup trucks, other SUVs, minivans etc.

 

[Claff]

We'll still have ours (once we get ours, which we expect to buy in late spring) regardless of gas prices. We probably won't drive it unless we need it (towing, Home Depot trips, etc). Might only leave the driveway once a week at this rate.

Half of me wants gas to get a little higher. It'll force people to rethink their daily driver choices (probably not a popular opinion in this particular forum) and maybe force a little more conservation. We have toy cars here that we drive for fun, but ours are so great that we can drive them very sportingly all day and still get 28 MPG.