What the best performance upgrade for my 2021 4runner?

Lmao!

You think the 4runner us underpowered, but you would trade it for a Tacoma? You might want to do some reading on Tacomaworld before making that switch. It seems like they have plenty of power in the high RPM's, but not much down low.

 

Did you have the fuel pump actually go out?

 

Yep, It tanked at 70 MPH running rough and shaking going down the interstate....

It failed @ 50K now I have a new 21 with 30 miles on it and some updated Tech stuff. Now to see if Toyota has issues with this fuel pump.

 

That sucks. If they wouldn't fix it for months, I can see why you traded.

 

I would be curious how the current 4runner would be with a 6 speed automatic. I looked at RAV4's a few years back, and I remember there was a major improvement in acceleration when they switched to a 6-speed transmission. I was actually quite impressed with the acceleration considering it was just a 4 cylinder.

I'll bet there would be a less complaints.

 

Yeah it was not the best situation but it worked out $0 money out of my pocket and a 6yr 125K ext warranty

 

Yes, But I could have fought Toyota on this but it would have been months if any resolution as I fought hard but in the end Toyota made me whole financially and under law thats all they have to do. I could have gotten a TRD OR premium but would have cost me $3K addl since that was the difference between my 19 and 21 I did get $35K for my 19 with 50K and cut 12 months off my loan on the 21 T4R from 5 yrs to 4 yrs.

 

I did chat with an Attorney and he said he could not do much better than I did on this deal and I would have had to pay him $2K if not more to reach a deal and it may have not been any better if any resolution as many Vehicle Manufactures drag shit out when attorneys get involved.

 

Not the best option but overall getting basically $40K for my 19 with the addl yr taken off the loan from 5 yrs to 4 yrs and the 6 yr 125K ext warranty and running boards since the 21 didn't have them I will just chalk it up to life's trials and tribulations and move on and hope like hell this fuel does not get recalled.....

 

If you are like some OR owners, you may have realized also that you might not really use all the OR features as much as you thought anyway...that's just my take - I doubt I'll ever get out of mine what it's capable of.

 

What @glwood54 said. That SR5 is probably more than capable enough of what 99% if 4runner owners actually use them for.

 

That's basically the main reason for my getting the OR. The manual TC shifter.

 

I definitely prefer this as well.

 

That was on my mind when doing this and in the yrs I owned my 17 TRDOR Taco and 19 TRDOR T4R I used the off-road features crawl control etc: 2 times.

 

Rumor is 2022 4Runners and Tacoma’s will be 6 or 8 speed automatic transmissions from what I heard at the dealer this week when talking about Toyota’s being a little behind the curve on mileage estimates. Other manufacturers are there already in there trucks and SUV’s....

 

Doesn't Ford have a 10 speed trans? Wow, almost as many gear options as a big truck.

 

I didn’t buy my 4Runner to save fuel, sure that would be a nice byproduct of a more versatile tranny but not if it compromises a winning formula. My friend bought a brand new Explorer ST and had to have bud 10 speed transmission replaced after only a couple of months. Slow and steady wins the race...lol

 

Interesting theory. I'm not sure what the 4L is. I used to own a car with a GM 3.8 V6 in it, that sounded good and was buttery smooth and quiet at idle. I also had a Grand Cherokee with a 4 L straight 6, that thing was nice and smooth and actually sounded not bad.

The thing that gets me with the Toyota is all the valve train noise, you can hear at idle and when accelerating. Sounds like there's something internally wrong with it. It also is very rough, I'm still kind of surprised that Toyota felt that that was acceptable to put in one of their vehicles. Also, and I don't know if it's just me that thinks this, it seems like there is a lot of engine noise that intrudes into the cabin. It's not pleasant sounding at all, and it just gives the impression that the engine is always struggling.

I've said it before, but I'll say it again, if the 4-liter made its a low end torque 1000 to 1500 RPM sooner, nobody would complain about it. It's the fact that you have to wind it out to get to its power peak is what makes it feel so slow. If you drive like a normal person, you never get into that rpm range.

 

I hear ya Brother! The 4.0 straight six, for that matter most straight sixes are good engines as far as sound..... and torque monsters at that!

 

This topic is gonna make me lose my mind. Again, people are reacting to the feel and long travel of the accelerator pedal. Objectively (as in factually, scientifically, like, you know, that thing called reality) the thing gets to 60 MPH in the mid 7s. What's more, that's a very typical number for an SUV or even a unibody crossover of similar size.

Just because people "feel" like a bunch of slower cars they've driven are actually faster doesn't make it so. These days it's common for car makers to program their throttles to produce a jolt of 0-30 acceleration with little pressure on the pedal. They do this to create the illusion of more power than the car really has. That's fine and all -- people like it. But it doesn't change the actual reality of how quickly you can accelerate your Runner.

The lack of critical thinking skills out there is an epidemic. One epidemic is more than enough, thank you very much

 

Right here!! Last Monday got rid of my man trans, 2019 cement TRD OR premium and tech Tacoma, I couldn’t stand the 3.5 anymore at the 6800 ft I live (Colorado Springs). Even with the 4.30 gears stock.

EDIT: I bought the wife a 2020
4Runner TRD premium in August so I’ve had plenty of seat time. Mine has the leds which absolutely for my drive are fantastic, and having KDSS it’s been the best riding truck I have ever owned.

 

Seems to pop up every few months.

Like you said, by the numbers it's right there with the competition, and even faster than some.

I didn't fully mash the gas on mine until I had a few thousand miles on it. I was driving to Florida and needed (wanted) to get around a group of putzy drivers. I was actually shocked by how well it gained speed.

Now, 500+ LBS and a set of 33's later, it still gets out of it's own way just fine for me.

 

"Just because people "feel" like a bunch of slower cars they've driven are actually faster doesn't make it so"

Well I actually came from a twin turbo v6. Speed is no comparison, reliability is a different story.

 

Sure, many people are coming from cars that are actually faster. I traded a WRX in on my 4Runner. My car before that was a BMW M235i: 0-60 in the 4s.

My point is that a lot of other people are coming from cars that are no faster than the 4Runner -- and may even be slower -- but they think those cars were faster simply because of the way the throttle is programmed. People don't have to like the way the 4Runner throttle is programmed. They just shouldn't confuse their preference for actual performance. Facts are facts.

 

Look when I bought my 1988 e30 m3 22years ago it was slow but not by much today I get beat from a light by Toyota Corollas BUT! My car still is tops at any race track all day long
my point is every puzzle has its pieces that fit
A 4Runner is king in its element enjoy it for its fit
J

 

Time in the seat is a good enhancement, in several different situations no less. The 4Runner is very capable in it's element, which happens to be off-road. There are lots of performance upgrades for the 4Runner, exhausts, intake mods, probably blowers in the near future for the 2021, don't forget to keep the tires planted, so suspension, the list goes on!

 

The best performance upgrade that you can add to 4runner is, Raptor Lights of course.....

 

IMO it's not about the actual performance numbers, those are somewhat irrelevant. How often does one ever need to get to 60mph from a dead stop? Or traverse a 1/4 mile at full throttle?

IMO 40-60 top gear acceleration times are a more realistic number. (I used to see these in Car and Driver, not sure if those #s exist for the 4R)

What makes the "feel" is low to midrange power, which the 4.0 is lacking. The fastest "feeling" car I've owned was a 88 Trans Am with the TPI350 and an auto. That car made 230hp and barely broke 15 sec in the 1/4 mile...best I ever got was 14.9x at like 90mph. I think a V6 Camry would take it in the 1/4. What made the car "feel" fast was that with 345 ft lbs of torque at 2800rpm, with most of that available right off idle, the thing pulled like a freight train at low rpms. That car would also roast the tires pretty easy too with all that torque, and would take any hill or even the mountains without ever needed to shift out of overdrive.

I also have an LS1 powered Firebird now...305hp (though really more like 345, these cars were dynoing close to 300 at the wheels stock), 335 ft lbs of torque. The torque/hp comes on a little later in the LS, though there's still good tq at lower rpm. That car with an auto and 2.73 gears runs 13.6 at 105ish in the 1/4, yet the first time I drove one I still owned the 88, and thought the LS felt slow compared to the 350, even though the LS would destroy it and had way better numbers. (it still has no need to ever downshift no matter what the conditions unless I romp on it. It'll pull any grade with the cruise at 80mph and the engine barely turning 2krpm.)

Anyway, I don't care that the 4R will do 0-60 in 7.2 seconds (or whatever) with my foot to the floor and the engine screaming at redline sounding like a blender full of ball bearings. I care that I can't maintain speed over a hill on the highway or accelerate above 40mph without the trans downshifting a gear or two. Especially when a lot of times these downshifts are not accompanied by any noticeable acceleration unless you put it to the floor.

All these slower cars that "feel" faster probably had engines that made power in a more useful RPM range, like the diesel van someone mentioned.

 

Any vehicle is going to downshift to accelerate at highway speed.

Comparing a 3500 LB muscle car with 325 LB/FT of torque to a 4,700 LB brick with ~270 LB/FT isn't really fair.

Personally I think the 1GR is pretty smooth in the high RPM's. Maybe there's something wrong with yours.

 

Here you go Bud. All of the must-have 4Runner parts consolidated in one place. go to town!!!!