4Runner 4.0L vs Taco 3.5L

Drive a 2nd gen it's different

 

And at least you can supercharge a 2nd gen

 

When you do the math on curb weight though, 2nd gen taco has marginally more hp/lb than T4R.

 

I think we are making the same point.

 

I found the single VVT-i 1GR to have better low end torque response than the dual VVT-i 1GR in the 2010+ 4Runner and FJ. Similar to the 2GR in the 2016+ Tacoma.

Jeff

 

Maybe I was confused, when you typed "lb"
I thought you were explaining about hp/torque, that's why I quoted twice.

We are, it is a tiny bit better.

 

It does have similar issues. I had both my front and rear diffs replaced at about 20 K. Dealer said Toy does not know why they howl and will probably have to replace it again. Also, my Entune unit shorted out at 18 K too. That was also replaced under warranty. I will say that the T4R is much more powerful that my 3.5 Taco--much less vibrations and it does not vibrate under power in the gas pedal like the Taco.

 

Perhaps it's subjective. But the 4.0 in my '15 is quite punchy. Sure, the peak torque of 266 lbs is not achieved till 4000 rpm. But that does not mean that it's not producing a fair amount of grunt at below it's peak rpm....and it is. Perhaps the gearing is a bit lower in the Taco vs the 4Runner. I don't know.

But it seems like a stretch to call the 1GR gutless.

 

I've had the... opportunity.. to drive several 4runner loaners and I would agree. It doesn't hunt for gears, it shifts smoothly like you would expect any vehicle to shift. (Unfortunately that makes it stand out against the 3rd gen Tacoma)

But it feels like driving a boat. It lumbers up to speed. Slow smooth acceleration. The Tacoma can toss you back in your seat if you stomp the gas. The 4runner accelerates, slowly smoothly. Like a big boat.

I haven't really taken issue with the engine or power output. The pairing with this good awful transmission is the problem.

 

4R>Tacoma! ATRAC A/T, 23gal Tank, box frame, and links Extra room for a 200lb mastiff.

Price difference was $900 MSRP between TRD OR Prem. vs TRD OR DCLB (which would go directly to help pay for a shell in my case) So actually more for Tacoma in the end.

Tacoma wins tow capacity w/package by 1400lbs and a F150 wins by 3600lbs. Interest, use, and preference decided my fate to 4R after a '99 and '10 V6 Tacoma.

Apply the principles of Kaizen/PDCA to your life and curse the US Government for keeping the 70 series land cruiser from us.

70LC Debate = single vs double vs troop vs wagon.

 

It might not have low end power but it sounds much better than the 3.5

 

Sigh... When are you guys going to realize that NO new four or six cylinder engine ( diesel excluded) is going to have a lot of low end torque? Why? Efficiency, that's why. A very vocal tiny minority want low end torque. A vast, if silent, majority want efficiency, and that is why we have what we have.

Also, there is no magic "tune" or economical bolt on hardware that's going to give you low rpm torque. It requires a lot of things to make that happen and it would definitely be cheaper for you die hards to just get a different truck. One with a V8 that is made for that profile.

Now, I had a '16 T4R trail with the 4.0. And yes, just like ours, you had to kick it in the ass to go fast. And just like our trucks, when you do, it goes just fine.

 

I like my 4Runner, it does just fine. The taco I had did just fine too. The really felt difference is more in the transmission, I prefer the 5 speed over the 6. Just my .02.

 

This is absolutely untrue.

 

Seems to me this is why they install transmissions in vehicles - To match the power curve of the engine to what you want the vehicle to do. Reminds me of the thinking that many people have that the mark of a good vehicle is one that will go up the steepest hill in the highest gear. What I am hearing here is a desire to have a slow-turning, long stroke engine (do I dare say diesel?). A lot of these new power plants have an RPM range that is twice that of older designs with their power and torque at higher speeds. Again, use the transmission to operate the machine most effectively. Too many people drive by sound feeling compelled to shift up prematurely. The 3.5 is a fun machine - but the majority of the fun is above 3,000 RPM. Thankfully there are plenty of ratios available to let you use it. To me the Tach is a tool - Not a decoration. For those of you that have Automatics - perhaps it is.

 

When I was looking at TE T4R's they were roughly 3k more than OR Tacos. Perhaps just regional variation from where I lived but T4R TE's were out of my price range.

 

I actually own both. I drive a 16 TRD OR and my wife has a 13 4R Limited. The Taco isn't even in the same league.

The difference in quality and drive is so much better in the 4R. For instance, when accelerating and decelerating in the 4R I can only tell it's shifting by looking at the RPMs. The pedal responsiveness is also immediate. In contrast the Taco is, in a word, frustrating. The pedal feels dead and the shifts are unpredictable and it's always in the wrong gear. The interior is probably the best part of the truck, aside from the creaking speaker covers. I had to fix those. My truck has died twice. Once it stranded me at a trail head, but a quick battery disconnect got it running again. Though it did throw and set a CEL. I had to get that reset at the dealer; they found no problems. Which is BS.

Even though the Taco has a good interior, you don't realize how much better the 4R is until actually drive or ride in it. When we go on long vacations we take the 4R, not the Taco. If Toyota didn't give me a platinum warranty I'd dump it.

I've owned 4 Tacomas and 3 4Rs. All the 4Runners have been flawless. The first three Tacos were acceptable, but this 3rd gen is poorly executed. Specifically the system integration of the drivetrain is very sloppy and careless. It almost as if they did no validation testing.

Many times a product can meet all of the requirements (through verification), but completely fail validation. The difference being validation focuses on the user experience in the intended environment.

The 4R is just better, a lot better.

 

It's definitely regional and based on demand. I have both and they both cost the same. They are similarly configured, MSRP on both were close, and sales price on both were very close.

 

You should probably drive my 2017 OR and compare it to your 2016. But I do agree, my 4Runner is pretty fabulous. We are getting ready to jump in it with some friends and head to Loco Coyote.

 

You are one of the lucky ones then - not only to have gotten a screaming deal on a trail edition but also to have both a taco and T4R