V8 4runner questions, colors, stereos and towing oh my

[smileyboy]

Looking at buying a 4 runner in about 1 year, currently doing volunteer work.

Got a few questions about 04-10 4 runners. Which models came in red or blue? Is the third seat worth it and does anyone do any towng with theirs. I have a project car a 1978 cordoba I will be putting on a trailer and toting from here to there to get it worked on and wanted to make sure a v8 could handle it. Also, I love my i devices,iPhone iPad and such. How easy is it to retro fit Bluetooth or add like a LCD screen to the dash... I'm thinking of finally pursuing my Mac mini in my car dream.

Thanks. Sorry if some of these questions have been answered already. .

Thanks

 

[04UZJ100]

I have one and love it.

The third row seat is sufficient if you're a family of dwarfs.

I towed a 6'x10' Uhaul at about 4k # from PA to Chicago. It pulled just fine at 85mph through the Poconos in 4th with the torque converter locked. On flat ground, it had no trouble holding 5th, again with the torque converter locked. This is probably with 1k# of junk in the car itself, too.

I have a 4k RMS watt stereo in mine and love it. Super easy to do. The interior is a big Lego set.

FWIW 2009 was the last of the 4th gens. The V6 is an OK motor. It cannot be compared to the V8; however. It is leagues better in EVERY respect.

 

[The Jade Bean]

We have a '05 V8 w/third row and it rocks! Third row is uncomfortable unless your a kid. We have a DVD player in ours and have towed lots with ours with zero issues. Great rig!




-Daniel Kent

 

[smileyboy]

Awesome thx for answering my questions. Now I just got to find one any options you wish you would have gotten?

 

[The Jade Bean]

Standard trans is the only other thing we wanted that we couldn't find. We did learn that after the third Gen 4R it would have had to been a special from Japan since America no longer likes standards.

-Daniel Kent

 

[Sam Stewart]

I love the V8 4WD 4Runners. My wife and I are actually looking for one right now. The V8 is def the way to go if you want to tow with it. My wife used to have a V6 2WD and I towed my mini with it around town a couple of times. It did fine with that but I wouldn't tow on a steep grade or rough terrain with a V6. I just don't think it could handle it. The 4Runner is an extremely well built vehicle (one of the best Toyota makes in my opinion) and the V8s are super reliable. Excellent combo. I will likely opt to not get the 3rd row in mine. It is really cramped and takes up too much cargo space. It's really up to what you're going to use it for. We currently only have one kid and she has a lot of junk that goes with her everywhere. So the extra cargo is a must for us. I believe it will be just as easy/difficult as anything else to retrofit upgraded stereo stuff or BT. Ours did have the JBL radio and it was killer. Again, one of the best in any Toyota I've ever owned.

Edit: I would look for a later V8 (06 or newer) because it will have the VVT-i which gives you a good boost in HP. I think it's like 230 on the earlier ones and 275 on the later ones.

 

[04UZJ100]

I love the V8 4WD 4Runners. My wife and I are actually looking for one right now. The V8 is def the way to go if you want to tow with it. My wife used to have a V6 2WD and I towed my mini with it around town a couple of times. It did fine with that but I wouldn't tow on a steep grade or rough terrain with a V6. I just don't think it could handle it. The 4Runner is an extremely well built vehicle (one of the best Toyota makes in my opinion) and the V8s are super reliable. Excellent combo. I will likely opt to not get the 3rd row in mine. It is really cramped and takes up too much cargo space. It's really up to what you're going to use it for. We currently only have one kid and she has a lot of junk that goes with her everywhere. So the extra cargo is a must for us. I believe it will be just as easy/difficult as anything else to retrofit upgraded stereo stuff or BT. Ours did have the JBL radio and it was killer. Again, one of the best in any Toyota I've ever owned.

Edit: I would look for a later V8 (06 or newer) because it will have the VVT-i which gives you a good boost in HP. I think it's like 230 on the earlier ones and 275 on the later ones.

05+ have VVt-i on the 4R. 06+ is LC.

 

[smileyboy]

05+ have VVt-i on the 4R. 06+ is LC.

LC? What's that? So far it seems like 05 v8 is what I want. 06 had a facelift but 10hp less.

 

[04UZJ100]

LC? What's that? So far it seems like 05 v8 is what I want. 06 had a facelift but 10hp less.

Land Cruiser.....and no it didn't. Toyota changed the standard with which they measured HP for.

 

[smileyboy]

Land Cruiser.....and no it didn't. Toyota changed the standard with which they measured HP for.

Really? How so?

 

[04UZJ100]

Really? How so?

Dude, grow up and use Google. It's been covered before on numerous sites. You're like a child.

 

[smileyboy]

Wow calm down!! Freaking out a little, huh?! Your acting like this is breaking national news or something. Jeez...

 

[The Jade Bean]

I'm not sure on all the details, but they did change things about their HP. The 5th gen V6 has more HP than the 4th gen V8, but it still lacks the towing capabilities.

Just FYI if you go with '05 and you want the rear LED lights off '06+ they swap over and I know cause we did it.

-Daniel Kent

 

[smileyboy]

I'm not sure on all the details, but they did change things about their HP. The 5th gen V6 has more HP than the 4th gen V8, but it still lacks the towing capabilities.

Just FYI if you go with '05 and you want the rear LED lights off '06+ they swap over and I know cause we did it.

-Daniel Kent

Thx good to know that getting a 06 or newer v8 won't be a issue

 

[Sam Stewart]

05+ have VVt-i on the 4R. 06+ is LC.

Yes I'm aware. I meant to look for an 06+ because of the minor body changes, lights, AND it has the VVT-i engine. All of the Toyota trucks and SUVs got the VVT-i upgrade in 05 except the LC.

 

[ethernectar]

I had an 06 Sport V8 4X4 and it was tops. I definitely regret getting rid of it. If I could have seen into the future I wouldn't have parted with it.

 

[82crawler]

I have the 2006 V8 Sport Edition, after a year I'm still loving it!

Right after I bought it I had "Sony XNV-770BT 7-Inch WVGA In-Dash A/V Receiver with Bluetooth, USB, Satellite/HD radio ready, and Integrated Navigation from TomTom"....

Picture is great, interface is a little cumbersome compared to old style radios with the additional functionality. More options such as Navigation and DVD mean more buttons pressed to get to where you want to go.

Pros
1. Great picture quality.
2. Unless you're sitting still the DVD is unwatchable for the driver, expensive toy for your passengers basically.
3. I'm not %100 but I believe the sound comes through in Dolby 5.0
4. Navigation has proved invaluable a few times in the short time I've had it.
5. TOM TOM navigation speaks out directions to you over the stereo speakers.

Cons.
1. Navigation interrupts stereo (notice that was a PRO above), you can control the volume of the navigation vs stereo to minimize this effect. It can also be turned off or muted.
2. Screen can be bright at night, especially the navigation. Default screen and Navigation have "night" modes you can turn on but they're not on by default. Make sure your installer connects the "Dimmer" feature connected to the headlights.
3. I'm not exactly the best car audio tuner, but so far with stock speakers and about 15 minutes of tuning the sound is still somewhat flat.


Some more notes
I also bought the HD radio (digital) radio module for it, so when I'm in larger cities I can get stations in digital. You also get the feature where it tells you music/radio station information on the screen if the radio station has it.
I also bought the module to connect the stereo to my steering wheel buttons.

What I would have done differently....
I purchased the stereo online and the shop I chose to install it wasnt familiar with the Radio and raped me on install charges. The unit used to connect the stereo to the steering wheel buttons believe it or not was over half of my labor. The installer crammed the TOM TOM unit behind the stereo, this unit and access to it is what allows you to update TOMTOM maps when needed. Another hidden fee is that TOM TOM charges you for new maps, not as much as the full version but still a considerable amount.

I'd do it over again, but I'd make sure the shop sold it to me and had installed the unit many times prior to mine.