Quote Originally Posted by ruthabagah View Post
Wow: that's an agressive post for somebody who doesn't know me or my driving style! So how many 4runner do you currently or have you owned?

Considering I had 3 other 4 runner before this one I think I pretty much know what I am talking about in terms of MPG, Performance and the air intake too. BTW: I have 3 close friends who have the same exact comlain about their 5 gen.... They all went to the TRD air intake chnage and noted some serious improvement. For me just replacing the air filter by a less restrictive Fram one did make a difference.

Electrical problem: Brake switch died twice (you can't start the vehicle when the brake switch is dead), radio was replaced once under warranty, and I had to pay 150$ when she screen died on the second unit (it's a 3.5 year old truck). Rear brake light bulb burned and got fused inside it's receptacle (after the warranty expired of course). Keyless system refused to recognize the key.... twice. First one was reprogrammed, second time, the ECM and the keys were replaced after the vehicle was towed 200 miles.


On my 2008 4 runner limited, I use to get 20-22 MPG in town, and 23 crusing at or above highway speed. yes, 17 on this one is a let down. Also, with my 2008 I could carry 5 people and all of our stuff, but still have both gas mileage and performance... One the new one: nope. Actually: perfomance is not even an option.

Somewhere you mentionned that you have a truck with a six speed. great, only a 5 speed on the 4runner, and this is the main reason why this thing is slow!

I have owned a SUV since the late 80' well before it was fashionable. This one will remain my least reliable one after my 1986 Range rover turbo diesel....
I currently have a 2nd gen Tacoma which, for all intents and purposes, is a 4Runner with a bed save for a few differences. My sister-in-law had one she bought brand new a couple of years ago that never had a single problem. You keep talking about $400 intakes but if you search internet forums where people have actually dyno'd the various intakes on the 4.0L you'll find that they don't do jack snap regardless of what your seat-of-the-pants dyno reports. Your 'findings' and that of your close personal friends are lacking in details such as make, model, year, engine & which version of the TRD intake they had as there are several variants. It's not necessary though because I've seen numerous dyno sheets to back up what I'm saying and in addition I've run a K&N CAI, 1st Gen TRD CAI and currently have a AFE CAI with no change in performance other than possibly a slightly better throttle response off-idle and even that is negligible at best. I am supercharged though so take my first-hand experience with a grain of salt but there is GOBS of factual data out there to back up what I'm saying so don't take my word for it. I also don't know if I could own a 4.0L Toyota truck w/o a s/c but that's because I'm pretty used to very fast vehicles so to me a s/c'd Tacoma is pretty pedestrian and I think I would agree with your statement of nutless if it wasn't. I'm also quite content with my power to mpg ratio and wouldn't exchange one for the other where I am currently. For what this truck is capable of, what I paid and how long I plan on it lasting me I'm quite content.