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I had a chance to chat with their engineers.. no way that'll happen in the near future.
their stance is if you want a V8 in an non-pickup, you need to go lexus
I had a chance to chat with their engineers.. no way that'll happen in the near future.
their stance is if you want a V8 in an non-pickup, you need to go lexus
Good point but both are far larger vehicles than I need...4Runner is looking a bit bloated IMHO as well, I wish they would go back to about the size of a 3ed gen (I do understand why the changes were made though).
I looked into the Lexus casually at one point...nice vehicle but I use my SUV basically as a truck so that would be a major overkill imho...I could probably find a used one that has been a well maintained mall crawler pretty easily tho when the time comes so I will keep that in mind.
The 4.7 V8 tows like a dream and mpg isn't significantly worse than the V6. Awesome what it will effortlessly roll thru offroad as well.
Not thrilled with the tow rating on the current 4Runner.
Any hope of Toyota bringing this back??
:-/
While is theoretically possible (the 4-Runner and Lexus GX460 share a platform and the Lexus has the 4.6L V8 standard), it's unlikely. The V8 makes 31hp more than the 4.0L V6 (301 vs. 270) at the same engine speed (5500rpm). The more significant difference is the additional 51lb-ft of torque, peaking 900rpm sooner (3500 vs. 4400) in the V8. But the demand was never that great for the V8 in the previous-generation (2003-2009) 4-Runner. That is the reason Toyota didn't bother to offer it in the 2010-present model. The additional cost, weight and 1-2mpg lower fuel economy wasn't a big seller.
One of my best friends bought a new 2003 4-Runner Limited in 10/2003 (when the 2004s were already out). She got a good deal on it because it was a V8 RWD model that had sat on the lot for almost nine months unsold. I've driven 2003-2004 4-Runners with the V6 as well as hers with the V8. Under anything more than light acceleration, I couldn't discern any difference in power. The V8 only added 24hp (at a sligher higher engine speed of 5400 vs 5200rpm) and 40lb-ft of torque at 600 fewer rpm (3400 vs. 4000).
I never thought the cost of the V8 and the loss of 1-2mpg (15mpg overall is normal with the V8) was worth it for the slight boost in hp and torque. The biggest benefit (IMO) of the V8 over the V6 was how good the V8 sounded. In both my best friend's '04 4-Runner and my cousin's '07 Lexus GX470, the intake "roar" under hard acceleration is pretty awesome. It really surprised me in the Lexus, but in a good way. I'm not sure if the new 4.6L V8 sounds the same.
Location: San Ramon, Seattle, Anchorage, Reykjavik
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The 4.7 was a Lexus engine - possibly the most durable gas engine ever built. And extremely expensive to build. A bit of an overkill for a vehicle at the price point of a 4Runner.
Probably the same reason they won't put a 6 cyl in the Rav4. Those, to me, look bloated and with with a 4 in it, doesn't seem very appealing.
Yes. The only way I would buy another Rav4 is if Toyota puts a V6 on it, couple to a fully automatic 5-speed (or 6-speed) transmission. I would never buy one with a CVT. The same for the Corolla with a CVT (won't even consider buying it).
Yes. The only way I would buy another Rav4 is if Toyota puts a V6 on it, couple to a fully automatic 5-speed (or 6-speed) transmission. I would never buy one with a CVT. The same for the Corolla with a CVT (won't even consider buying it).
I think you're out of luck on a V6 for the Rav. My wife was looking at them as a replacement for her Camry and while she liked the car itself, there were features she was missing, one of them more power. She didn't have an opinion on the transmission though.
When I was shopping for a new car back in 2012, I looked at used Runners with the V8, as well as the current generation with the V6. I definitely would have bought one with the 8, but I wound up getting my '12 Grand Cherokee with more options for the same money as a used Runner. When I bought my latest Grand Cherokee (2016), I got it with the Hemi. So far as I know, Jeep is one of the only manufacturers still giving the option of a V8 in a mid-size SUV.
When I was shopping for a new car back in 2012, I looked at used Runners with the V8, as well as the current generation with the V6. I definitely would have bought one with the 8, but I wound up getting my '12 Grand Cherokee with more options for the same money as a used Runner. When I bought my latest Grand Cherokee (2016), I got it with the Hemi. So far as I know, Jeep is one of the only manufacturers still giving the option of a V8 in a mid-size SUV.
Unless you consider your Jeep's platform-mate, the Dodge Durango, a mid-size SUV, I think you're right. The Durango teeters on the mid-size/full-size borderline, but it also offers the HEMI.
I'm curious, how much of a difference in fuel economy have you noticed between your 2012 V6 and 2016 V8? I've had a 2015/2016 JGC V6 (with the 8-speed automatic) as a rental twice in the last year. It had more than enough power to handle the hell that is Los Angeles traffic...and I have a lead foot. I was pleasantly surprised.
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