Meh...4Runner engine has nothing special on the Tacoma

I’m willing to bet that doesn’t have anything to do with the engine either.

 

That's Marty Mcfly, our 3 yo Schnauzer. He loves to go for a ride.

 

I really like the gx460 better than the 4runner. The little 4.6 v8 definitely has more power and torque. Feels faster even with the extra weight.

 

Come to Canada, if you want a TRD OR 6MT, access cab is the only way it comes.



Jeff

 

I have my 2013 TRD Sport and My Wife has Her 2017 4Runner Limited. We like them both. Just about the same gas millage too. I wish my Tacoma had cooled seats.

 

Those things are sweet, Just a fancier Landcruiser Prado. I'm not a fan of the '14+ styling but I'm tempted by a low mile 2013 that's forsale locally. It's cheaper than any 5th gen 4runner I've looked at but I don't think I can deal with a white/beige interior.

 

I call bullshit.

When it really comes down to it it's all about the feel right? And when your in the 4.0l going up a hill and it drops one gear and holds it-instead of going straight to third and bouncing up and down gears like cowgirl on a bullride, it sure feels one fuck of alot better.

Better at hills, better at towing, better at getting of the line. The 4.0L is better. Not as efficient, but still better when it comes to 90% of the things you need a midsize truck to do.

 

Bullshit..... S4 keeps walking right up that hill and configuring is such a chore too, bump the stick left from D on the fly.

Add ECT with the push of a button and it holds gear even longer.

Truck shines when you learn how to optimize the configurations.

Maybe give it a try sometime.

 

Yeah I understand ect, it's not my first Toyota 4x4.

Or I could pop it in 3rd if I wanted.

Or the "why not get a stick argument" (not available in Canada in my trim)

But the point is I bought an automatic so I didn't have to. And I wouldn't have to on any 4.0L previous gen.

Granted the grunt when you stomp on it is nice, but if I go anywhere on a trip in my area it's all mountains and of you have to drive around in ect mode everywhere to make it feel 'right', that means something is wrong.

Workarounds exist because someone else fucked up

 

Does not mean it's fucked up, does not mean it's a workaround, it means it's another available mode to use to accomplish what you need.

It might not be your first Toyota 4x4 but you should at least take time to read the manual about the modes instead of relying on what you did in the past. These trucks are different, two OD gears make them different from the trucks in the past so it helps to understand when and when not to use them.




Leave it in D for best fuel economy for most normal driving conditions.

Use S mode if you want to restrict gear range or upshifting, increase power going uphill, provides engine braking going downhill.

Use ECT when more response is desired such as driving in mountainous regions or towing.

So complaining about how it works when you refuse to use it as designed makes the truck fucked up?

 

Lol the manual? That's Toyota's way of saying "we couldn't make it work the way we wanted, so this is how you can make it work for you"

I maintain Toyota fucked up. The gear ratios are way off. No six speed I've driven jumps around the way this one does. The truck should have a 4:10 or 4:30 rear end so it can hold 6th at highway speeds. If they didn't fuck up you wouldn't have to put a 4.88 rear end in to get the same final gear ratio as the 6speed manuals have.

Regardless, it's moot cause I got the OVTune and that fixed most of my woes. The truck feels good now. I don't have to override my "learning transmission" by putting it in s mode ten times on my commute anymore. It's smoother and doesn't shudder anymore.

The 3.5L is a good engine. In the Lexus it was designed for.

 

Whatever floats your boat kid.

The "OD off" button in my 1st gen does the same thing as S4 and S5 do in my 3rd gen, they both have ECT for the same reason too.

But whatever, you know best regardless of what the manual says.

 

Your drivetrain must have been part of a bad batch. The stock 3.5 mated to the 6 speed shines down low too without having to stomp on it. Heading out of the canyons in the morning, I put it in S4 and the drive is awesome. At several points, it stays in 4th, with a slight push of the gas pedal and no, it doesn't shift down to 3rd, but gradually increases speed like it should, and it does a great job of it. It aint no slouch. Shit, it shines everywhere. Add the other features aforementioned, and you get to choose the best set up for optimum efficiency for a particular driving situation. Is it perfect? No, but is it awesome? Yes.

 

The crazy thing is, I regularly find 2010-2013 gx460s for less than SR5 4Runners. These come with a better engine and KDSS standard. Only thing I can think of is that 4Runner has name recognition.

 

Tell the twenty thousand people who bought a Tacoma last month it's fucked up lol. Smh

 

Exactly. Wasn't long ago that one could pickup an FJ80 for $2500, I'm sure the GX470 and 460 won't be cheap much longer. Some other "unknown" 4x4s I like are the 03-06 Mitsubishi Montero and 05-12 Pathfinder 5.6L.

 

This is what we call ignorance. You didn’t just buy an automatic and your expectations are way off.

Regarding ECT in mountains, I live in the mountains and drive between 5000–14000 feet and I never need ECT

 

No argument, but a new vehicle typically brings a better warranty and better financing. That might be a big part of it

 

Oh I mean that I find regularly find 2010-2013 GX460s that are less than 2010-2013 4runners. Even SR5s. Seems that the GX doesn’t have that same name recognition as the 4runner so the older GXs go for less than similar model year 4runners.

 

Some of it has to do with name recognition, overall looks, aftermarket support, just plain not knowing about a model...

I personally think the Toyota 4runner/Landcruiser looks way better then the Lexus counterpart. AHC is a huge killer for many in the 100 series group.

The V8 would be the only reason I would go GX over a T4R.