thinking of selling my tacoma to get a 4runnner

i am a little under whelmed by the minimal power of the 3.4 in my Tacoma and have been thinking for a while now about trading it for a 4runner.

I just want a Toyota at or below 100k miles with 2wd and the more powerful 4.0 v6 engine to replace my tacoma with. im looking at the 4runer because it has roughly the same used value as my Tacoma so it should be a break even situation with what I spend vs what I sell my truck for. I certainly would benefit from the 4runner extra hp and torque that would be better for pulling my boat on long trips without straining going up bridges or trying to pass someone.

also I have no interest in owning a second gen Tacoma but especially I don't want a 4door Tacoma with only 4ft usable bed space which is all they have for sale used.

here are the specs that match up almost identical within a small margin one way or the other

hp, torque, gross vehicle weight
Tacoma 3.4 v6 has 190hp with 220 lbs torque at a curb weight of 3700 lbs
4runner 4.0 v6 has 245hp and 282 lbs torque at a curb weight of 4000 lbs
4runner 4.7 v8 has 260hp and 330 lbs torque at a curb weight of 4000 lbs

mpg city/hwy
Tacoma 17/20 (in reality I actually only get 15mpg when towing the flatboat)
4runner v6 18/21
4runner v8 16/19

towing and payload capacity

Tacoma towing capacity (I4)3500 (v6)5000 lbs / payload capacity is 1350-2000 lbs
4runner towing capacity (v6)5000 (v8)7300 lbs / payload capacity is 1400-1850 lbs


as you can see, they match up pretty much equal for the most part but im still unsure if I might be overlooking something? that's why I am asking you guys if there is some reason NOT to get the 4runner. also I don't off road, not even gravel roads

 

You can always supercharge you v6 if more power is what you were looking for. It would be cheaper and less hassle than selling your truck and getting a new vehicle.

 

It sounds like you have your heart set on a 4runner! I would go test drive one and see what you think for yourself as far as the power difference. You probably know already but in case not, there was also an option on the 4th gen 4runners for Toyota's 4.7L V8, which I have a lot of experience with and is very powerful!!

 

If you tow a lot, why not get a full size?

 

what model year 4Runner are you looking at? 03-09 or 10+.

The 5th gens (10+) are honestly underwhelming with the 4.0 v6. They are carrying extra weight over 4th gens (03-09) and even more weight over a 2nd gen Tacoma, and without going in to specifics of HP/torque, you will definitely feel that.

I highly recommend a test drive. Not that the 10+ won't hold its own but even the ratio of 3.4 v6 pep in the old 3rd gen 4runners feels 100x better than the current gen.

I currently have an 02 2wd 4Runner. I have driven a 13 2wd 4runner on a long distance trip and though my love of 4runners runs deep, I was depressingly not impressed.

My personal opinion.

 

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its the whole package a lot more then just hp alone, the Cadillac smooth ride + big roomy interior + better gas mileage + more hp + more torque + larger towing capacity + larger cargo area. that's why im so tempted by the pretty girl I saw I could maybe have too, lol

ya, but I don't like the idea of losing 4mpg to get the v8 version.

its not that my heart is set on it, I am very attracted to it because I helped a friend go buy a camry which turned into buying a 4runner and it kinda has me thinking about it ever since, when I try to think of what I will actually "do" with my truck, I cant think of anything that I cant still do with the 4runner, it just comes down to losing the option of putting buckets of nasty shit in the back that might spill

well the tundra gets 13mpg downhill with a strong wind at its back.

as for "other brands" full size, have you seen full size truck prices lately? $50-$60 k for em and even the used ones, chevys are garbage, fords aren't much better, and they all cost $20k used with 100-150k miles on them

with equal years and miles my truck can sell for around $10-$11k and I can see 4runner with the same years and miles as my truck selling for $8-$9k or one between 50k-80k miles for $10-$11k

thanks for the info, that's very helpful, it seems you know a lot about it so I will remember to avoid the 10+ years and take your word for what to avoid

the one she bought was an 06 but I have the impression my budget of $10k or under, is going to limit it to the 04-09 range anyway. rather then thinking about the year, im more concerned with condition of the paint and interior and will be very inclined to go for it with anything I see under 75k miles and park it in the yard until I decide about the taco.

the general idea is "if I do it" I want to do it for breaking even at worst, or hopeful to be with a little cash in my pocket after the swap

 

so I guess im really wondering is, if I can trust a 4runner to last the same as I would trust a Tacoma to last? that's what it comes down to really

 

Your boat must be very heavy and big.

Then maybe your 3.4 is just getting tired . Not able to pull the boat at 80 mph plus on those long trips.

With 1000 pounds in the bed Towing another 3000 my 3.4 has more then enough get up and go .

Then it is a 5 speed with 235/75/15 tires

 

You've already decided to buy a 4runner like your friend, go buy a 4runner.

Done.

 

Do it! We had an 05 with a V8, it was awesome, favorite vehicle hands down, and this is out of 40 different Toyotas my dad has gone through lol. We managed to get some 19mpg tanks out of it, we just always made sure it shifted under 2k, it's all in the way it's driven.
Side note for the v6 is that they came with a 4 speed tranny in 03-04 then changed to the 5 speed in 05. The v8s always came with the 5 speed. Either engine would be fine for what it sounds like you want. I'm sure you could get the 2wd v6 for pritty cheap too. Good luck with the hunt, let us know what you get!

 

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I had a 1999 T4R and loved that vehicle.

 

Comfort is the main difference in my opinion. I have a 07 4runner and much rather take it for a long distance trip over my taco.

 

I kinda of suspect the answer to this, but is the 4.7 4runner a available with a standard transmission? I know the Tundra's are not.

I would give up my 2004 Taco pretty quick if the above is a possibility.

 

No it's not unfortunately

 

Reliability? Check. 4runners are still made in the Japan plant, unlike the tacos. A well maintained one will last just as long as your truck would.

 

2008 4runner sport.

 

If you don't need the open bed, the 4runner sounds like a better choice for you.

A 3.3 1st gen Highlander might be too, especially since you don't need 4wd. Having FWD is an advantage on some ramps. HP is close, as is tow capacity, IIRC. You might want to at least check out the statistics. My '04 is physically more compact that my '13 Access cab, more spacious inside that a double cab, and more comfy.

 

Gears, supercharger braah

 

thanks for the advice guys, I will check out the highlanders as well, and I looked into rav4 but those don't seem to be priced as low as the 4runners

I will definitely avoid the 03-04 because I saw online that those years had the bad head gaskets that fail around 130k and whatever those tranny issues are, so i'll limit my search to 05-09 years and wait until I find a great deal on one, im not just going buy one to buy one so it needs to be a great deal on one as well.

I have had nothing but trucks for 35 years (mostly chevy 1500's) but rarely used or needed the open bed except to haul some lumber for house hold projects, I just liked having the "it can haul anything" option for things that couldn't go into something like a 4runner. now that im getting older and don't do much construction project work anymore, im beginning to realize a utility trailer is a better option for the rare cases when I need an open carrier once every 2-5 years.

I just love the hell out of my taco but I constantly feel like im putting up with a stiff rough riding truck that is underpowered for towing/hauling things. yes the taco can "do" whatever you ask it to, but there is a big difference between just being able to do something, and being able to do it without using 90% of everything it has just to do it.

does anyone know if the 4runers share the cruise control issue when it wants to keep downshifting all the time if the truck goes 1mph below the set speed? im guessing that's just do the limited power and the way the truck is geared but figured I would ask if any of you with 4runners have the same cc issues with them as our tacos do?

 

QUOTE="Wyoming09, post: 14934407, member: 153833"

Your boat must be very heavy and big. nope, 17 ft flatboat, but I routinely have to cross large bridges with it

Then maybe your 3.4 is just getting tired . nope, it only has 140k miles

Not able to pull the boat at 80 mph plus on those long trips. nope, speed limit is 70mph and that's what I need to do to not be a hazard on the freeway

With 1000 pounds in the bed Towing another 3000 my 3.4 has more then enough get up and go . I call BS here because the leaf springs are only designed to handle that at full max limits, but beyond that, yes, never said the taco couldn't haul stuff, it just uses everything it has to do it and doesn't have good braking power for towing

Then it is a 5 speed with 235/75/15 tires the automatics don't do nearly as well as the manual trannys for towing and hauling, but they do "ok"
/QUOTE

as I said earlier in the thread, there is a lot more in this decision then just one single aspect, but the accumulated things where I feel the taco lacks things is why im here talking about it. as far as I am concerned the 1st gen taco was and still is the best vehicle out there, if I were younger I wouldn't be thinking about this, but at my age, why be uncomfortable and drive an underpowered towing vehicle if I can get that same taco quality and long life from one of its sister vehicles?