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He went from a speed3 to a what? Really? Yup, here it is...

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mazdamn02

Guest
Well friends, it's true. I traded in the Speed3 for some big truckin fun. I had been talking about the Explorer Sport, but ended up taking a little different path.
Introducing my 2012 Toyota 4Runner LE...




Highlights:
4.0-Liter V6 DOHC 24-Valve with Dual Independent Variable Valve Timing with Intelligence (VVT-i); 270 hp @ 5600 rpm; 278 lb.-ft. @ 4400 rpm
Full-time 4WD with Active Traction Control (A-TRAC ) and Torsen limited-slip center differential with locking feature
Nav, bluetooth, leather, sunroof, blah blah blah.

Throw your rotten tomatoes and post your displeasure at my decision right here!
We're still rocking a Mazda5 GT so I plan on hanging around :)
 
Picklz

Picklz

SUDO Make me a SAMCH
WTF That is not an explorer sport! No twin-turbos ftl :(

All kidding aside what swayed your decision?
 
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mazdamn02

Guest
I was more interested in a body on frame truck with a true 4x4 instead of a FWD biased unibody. I felt that the Toyota is a higher quality product at the end of the day.
The Explorer's lack of physical controls like frinkin switches and knobs for climate control pissed me off, imagine trying to use your iphone with gloves, it doesn't work. We're in MN, come on. Seriously. Capacitive touch for HVAC is silly.
 
Workdawg

Workdawg

NARWHAL
They make gloves that work on touch screens, fyi.

Also...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOYOTA BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NO TURBOS BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
 
mndsm

mndsm

I'M OFFENDED!
Workdawg said:
They make gloves that work on touch screens, fyi.

Also...

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO TOYOTA BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO NO TURBOS BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO
Click to expand...
This. I was willing to allow a TT truck (albeit BARELY) but a 4runner? Come on man!
 
S

spek1098

Guest
Is that snausage in your pocket for your phone or are you just happy to see me?

Seriously thought, whats the point of full frame truck if you have such a weak sauce engine in there? That thing can't tow jack.
 
M

mazdamn02

Guest
spek1098 said:
Seriously thought, whats the point of full frame truck if you have such a weak sauce engine in there? That thing can't tow jack.
Click to expand...
Tows 5k lbs just like the explorer and cherokee. It's plenty of engine, if I need more the TRD Supercharger will be out next summer :drive1:
 
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spek1098

Guest
Hmmm... IC...
http://media.ford.com/images/10031/2013_Explorer_Specs.pdf

Both the 3.5 v6 ecoboost and 2.0 i4 it claims can tow 5,000lbs. Must be a limitation of the frame and the type of tow hitch that can be attached. I had only found specs on the F150 with the ecoboost engine prior to this and that can tow 10,000lbs. Atleast if you wanted to tow more the frame will be able to take it with the Toyota.
 
YSOSLO

YSOSLO

is the word, beotch
Srsly?.....Everybody and their buddy Pete's wife has one of those...lol We test drove a silver one like yours, but Jess wanted a white one and they couldn't find a white 2012 setup the way we wanted it. LOVE the 4Runner!!

 
Big Nate

Big Nate

Chaos Engineer
Well here is the big thing. What are you going to tow that is over 5k? Josh has nothing now that that truck can't tow with ease.

As for the F-150 comment I saw. I had an 09. It towed well but not as well as I would have expected from a V8. It had no problem pulling a pop up tent trailer but when i got a car trailer back there with a car on it the truck was dog. My Denali is still the best truck i have ever OWNED at towing. But then again it only gets 11 mpg and my F-150 only got 16 mpg at the best.

I bet both of these truck get way better MPG then that.

Good buys guys they work well for the size families you have and the lifestyle you live.
 
M

mazdamn02

Guest
Pete! I thought I saw you on T4R.org... LOL. Now I know I did!

And yes, at least it isn't a Honda! These things are built tough, basically a Hilux for you Top Gear fans...

I did consider a F150, but it was too much for what I was going to use it for. The thing is, with this 4Runner, I'm 600 miles + in and am averaging 20mpg with mixed city and highway driving. I'm pretty pleased, especially considering that's 87 octane.

For towing we're considering renting or borrowing a pop up camper or a http://www.scamptrailers.com/. Both will be well under 5k lbs. Also may end up pulling a few Arctic cats on a trailer this winter.

Now I've just got to get some damn tint on the front two windows.... Remote "smart" start goes in on Sunday, means I should have a nice toasty truck waiting for me after I start it in my office with the iPhone and walk the 3 blocks to the ramp!
 
E

escort1991

New Member
My dad ran on corn in his F150(non ecoboost) and was getting 16-17 on a regular basis, but dropped down to 14-15 when pulling their 26ft travel trailer. We overloaded that truck religiously and it did whatever we asked.

SUVs are set up completely different even with a modified truck frame. SUVs are built for the average suburbanite who wants quality in every aspect(ride quality, power, size, ride height, status, etc.). They aren't built to be tow rigs. It isn't necessarily the power output of the motor that limits the towing capability. They are still severely limited by what they can haul mostly in part to the suspension. Manufacturers know that the majority of people are never going to pull a thing with the SUV and if they do, it's not giong to be much. They also know, if you are going to be a regular tower, you're going to buy a truck. Most suburbanite families won't exceed the 5000 limit.
 
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mazdamn02

Guest
Escort, that's some good mileage from the F150. Your statement about SUVs is very generalized, perhaps you'd like to compare the 4Runner and the Tacoma... Or the Suburban and the Silverado for that matter.
 
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