Yeah I think your location has a whole lot to do with it. I would think a lot different if I lived down there, I mean people up here on the freeway flip you off sometimes for going 75mph in the car pool lane I hate to think what it's like down there, I wouldn't care what milage I got I would need to go fast or be ran off the road. Weight does make a big difference but you get used to it. Just taking the top off makes a gear difference on some hills. But I was really impressed with how my 4runner did towing a trailor with 2 dirt bikes and also two passengers over the Sierra Nevadas and back. I had the top off at the time so I think that helped a lot. I wasn't really holding up traffic at all, I could keep 50mph in 3rd up some pretty steep hills at 8000 feet. The way I think of it is picture a v6 and 4cyl 4runner going on a loong trip. The 4cyl will lag on the hills but the v6 will have to stop for gas more often, so in the end it all evens out. With the technology of today they have made engines a lot more efficant so I would just go for a newer engine. I would just do the 2.7 swap and document it with pictures and do a write up, nothing cooler than being the first person to start a whole new engine swap. Throw some headors on there while your at it I think you will be very happy and enjoy good fuel economy with the same workonabiltiy, new word I made up <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />. There is pretty good after market support for the 2.7 as well. I think people have made them put of something like 250 hp before right?