thinking of selling my tacoma to get a 4runnner

I had put 03-04 trucks back into my search options because I was looking for v8 in those years but I didn't realize that the 03-04 v8 were not the vvti engines and had less power. the 05 and up v6 actually is very close to the same hp output as the 03-04 v8 without vvti. I wasn't even aware about this change, I thought all 03-09 v8 were vvti but they arent

so im going back to only looking for the 05-09 years in either engine

 

I can't comment as to the V6, but for towing, the V8 does fantastically! We often tow a 24' keystone travel trailer that is roughly 5000 pounds loaded, plus the truck loaded up with 4 people, camping gear, and a dog (over payload capacity, I know) through Washington, Montana, Wyoming, BC, etc. and it tows very well. Power and getting up to speed are not a problem. The main downfall thing with this truck towing (and it is a V6 problem too) is that the wheelbase is much shorter than average for a tow rig, so it's maybe not as stable as other trucks with longer wheelbases, but it's not a big issue personally. I'll look for pictures.

 

well,
well, just got back from looking at a 4runner, car salesmen are liars, imagine that lol

it had new tires on it, but other then that, I figure it needed around $3000-$3500 worth of shit to fix on it after purchase (if you look real close in the first picture you can see what looks like a black line, that is the big rip in the front bumper that stops about 2" from reaching all the way to the front of the bumper)

the front bumper was split about 6" long like it got hooked and folded forward, then folded back, back bumper had small holes and scratches all over it, all the fender skirts needed repainting from scrapes and scratches and badly faded paint that was almost gone in spots, the passenger floor mat was missing and the carpet was full of brown stains, drivers seat was peeling on the side and had a finger sized hole through the leather to the foam, it had pink fingernail polish on the carpet in the back cargo area and the roof pad back there was gouged up badly from hauling stuff, last but not least the tire warning light indicator was on even though all tire were new and certainly did not look to be low on air, so im sure it had a bad tire sensor they broke putting on the new tires. the front bumper and grill also had badly faded out paint worn down to the plastic underneath.

on the test drive, the front end shook very noticeably when going over 60mph like there was something out of sorts with the front end, which the salesman tried to tell me tire warning light was just a tire needed air and the shaking was just a tire out of balance, and the best part of all was when he told me a new Toyota front bumper can be purchased, painted to match and installed for just $300 lol.

other then that, there wasnt much wrong with it lol

 

im really finding it hard to find any 05-09 v8 4runners, the only ones I am finding are the weaker versions of the 03-04 years before the upped the compression and hp on them.

I really would like to get a v8 but everything I am seeing so far, either is a total POS or has 200-300k miles on it already

a secondary problem is anything with a v8, almost without exception, has leather seats

 

quick question

I found a 05 sequoia with the 4.7 v8 at a very good price. it lists the mpg at only 14/17 and the shifter is on the column so im wondering if that means they don't have the 5 speed tranny? if so what year sequoias went to the 5 speed tranny?

am I correct to think the 4runner and sequoia are basically the same thing or is there something other then a few styling differences involved?

I did notice one had a rear split bucket seats with a rear console setup so im assuming those are different as far as cargo room but the one im looking at has the fold down 60/40 rear seat just like the 4runners do

 

The Sequoia uses the same V8 and transmission. It's just heavier and bigger overall.

Not sure where you've been but the 3.4 absolutely can be supercharged.

 

yep 3.5 turd

 

ahh ok, so the sequoia are heavier and slower like the 5th gens, I couldn't figure out why sequoia had 14/17 mpg while 4runner with same engine and tranny says 16/19 mpg

guess i'll keep looking for 4.7 v8 05-09 4runners only then even, though 4.7 v8 05-07 sequoias are a lot easier to find

something else I am seeing is, I cant see any 4th gen 4runners listed at any of those online pull your own parts salvage yards.

I was looking at them because, im figuring I may need a little "something something" as usual when you buy older used cars, plus I expect with any v8 I buy, I will have to pull the leather seats (all the v8 I find so far only have leather seats) to swap out to cloth seats.

the way its looking so far, I might just have to get them recovered if I cant find someone willing to trade seats, if I cant find a good set at salvage yard. I would prefer less they great cloth seats to having leather seats even if they are still in nice condition.

 

The Sequoia was designed off the platform of the Tundra. Sequoia will share some similarities with Tundra for this reason.

 

well still looking but unless I want to travel between 250-350 miles to go look at one, I haven't found anything near me yet

there was one or two total POS I saw with 300k miles and all sorts of issues from trashed interiors to 5-6 accidents and damage all around

I will just have to be patient I guess, maybe when they do those end of summer sales at the dealers something in a v8 will be traded in.

doesn't help that im picky and want v8 with cloth seats in white or silver but really, anything but black or dark blue would do, those just get too damn hot around here in summer

 

you will find one

 

should I exclude this vehicle? https://www.carfax.com/VehicleHistory/p/Report.cfx?partner=SNU_0&vin=JTEZT14R260026990#Owner1

it shows it was bought brand new in florida as a rental vehicle, then sold at auction when it was just 7 months old, bought by a mississippi dealer who sold it to a guy who only a month after he bought it, got in a wreck described by carfax as

Accident reported
Involving left rear impact
with another motor vehicle
Estimated damage exceeds $500
Vehicle towed
Airbags did not deploy

but the guy kept it for 6 1/2 years after that.

then it looks like someone bought it and resold it in just one month???????????? but the 4th owner kept it for almost 3 years

I see red flags and then not because it was kept for so long after these little issues that seem to be red flags

my biggest concern is where it says "Vehicle towed", that part seems like it was a lot more then just a fender bender

 

Right on the money... I would avoid it personally. Too many vehicles just don't drive the same after they've been in a wreck.

 

look at the report again though. That damage was reported at ~10.5k miles back in 2007. It has been driven another 150k after that. I would assume someone would notice any issues. Some people have vehicles towed just because. Also could have been a panel interfering with the tire an not wanting to damage it until the panel was popped out.

 

They would keep driving it even with issues. To much money not to.

 

that's why I wasn't immediately ruling it out, that, AND its the closest one I found yet, at just over 100 miles away lol

I can see me getting frustrated by the end of the week in how little there is around here and giving up and them missing it when one finally does come available .

im checking 6 different online car search sites (all there is I think) and only one vehicle is shown with a v8 within 100 miles of me, and that was the one I described earlier with needing around $3000 worth of work on it plus and unknown front end shaking issue and that's after purchasing it for full retail bok value price because they said price was firm lol

 

Be patient with your search and exclude ones with accidents. There's plenty out there and they always seem to pop up when you're not looking. Be prepared to go a farther distance for the right one though. Also in regards to the air pump, it can't just be removed or blocked off but there is a by-pass kit sold by Hewitt-Tech. Like the Tacoma's, I believe it goes into limp mode when there is a code present that affects for the air pump or valves. There's really no way to check the condition but you can hear it during start ups. There should be a vacuum sounding sound though might be harder to hear since it's under the intake but if it's squealing or louder than usual, I'd stay way.

 

ya I just missed on one everything I wanted, white, 4.7 v8, 67k miles, no accidents, 1 owner, that sucker sold after just 2 days which was the day before I started my search lol had I been able to I would have gone down there and started a bidding war for it that was a truck I would be happy to pay up to $2k over asking price for

if you disable the SAIS system, are there any ill effects? reduced power, mpg, or anything, even minor that is given up by deleting it?

Toyota makes it sound like this thing added power or something but I cant see how just blowing fresh air in with the exhaust that it could gain any power from it unless it was acting like a mini turbo system.

I wouldn't even mind replacing it just for the hell of it so I know im good for another 100k miles trouble free if it didn't involve so much work lol.

I don't suppose anyone ever came up with a conversion kit to convert it to the way the new tacos have it mounted outside of the engine?