03-04 V8 vs 05-09 V8

Cyrcle

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I think the 03-04 V8 doesn't have VVT-i or ETC. The 05-09 does. Correct?

Will that make a real difference in MPG or performance?

Any other things about the later V8 that make it preferable?

I have a line on two 4Runners with similar mileage. One's an '03 V8 w/ 76k and leather for $13k, the other is an '05 V8 w/89k and cloth for $14k.

Thanks for any info
 
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I have driven both. In the real world you will not notice a diference. The vvt engines seemed to gain all the extra power at very high rpms which are seldom encountered. My freind has a 07 V8 and I have an 03 V8. We have similar lift and tires and after a day of on road and off road driving, both of us gasing up at the same time we us pretty much the same amount of gas. Believe me the power diference is not a day and night difference. I test drove an 08 V8 at a dealer recently and I thought it was slower than my 03 even with my bigger tires. I guess some vehicles just run better than others of the same model. Weather conditions can also change the power and feel of a vehicle. Dive both of the 4runner and see what you think. Go for the one in better condition and do not base your decission on the vvt engine.
 
I'd probably go for the 03. Lower miles, lower price, and leather. If it was a 06+ I would consider it but not the 05. Also, be advised the timing belt and water pump need changed at 90K miles, so the 05 would need that immediately. The 03 doesn't hit the mileage, but it would be a good idea to change it due to age. Either way you should factor that into the cost and may give you some room to negotiate.
 
Also remember the '05 is the first year they added the 5-speed tranny. I haven't driven a runner with the 4-speed but I do like the 5-speed in my '05. Just another difference to keep in mind.
 
4 speed was only on the V6 in 2003.

I think the VVTI engine gains about 25HP but loses 14 lb-ft of torque.

Apparently some standards changed in there so I don't know exactly how they compare* but this is my understanding:

2003-2004 V8: 235HP@4800RPM 320 lb-ft Torque@3400 rpm
2005-2009 V8: 260HP@5400RPM 306 lb-ft torque@3400 rpm

Kind of a trade off and seems like a bit of a wash in the end. Unless you rev it high a lot.

Again, I could be 100% incorrect, according to my wife I am half the time, but this is what the internet shows.



*SAE certified power
In 2005, the SAE introduced "SAE Certified Power" with SAE J2723.[20] This test is voluntary and is in itself not a separate engine test code but a certification of either J1349 or J1995 after which the manufacturer is allowed to advertise "Certified to SAE J1349" or "Certified to SAE J1995" depending on which test standard have been followed. To attain certification the test must follow the SAE standard in question, take place in a ISO9000/9002 certified facility and be witnessed by an SAE approved third party.

A few manufacturers such as Honda and Toyota switched to the new ratings immediately, with multi-directional results; the rated output of Cadillac's supercharged Northstar V8 jumped from 440 to 469 hp (330 to 350 kW) under the new tests, while the rating for Toyota's Camry 3.0 L 1MZ-FE V6 fell from 210 to 190 hp (160 to 140 kW). The company's Lexus ES 330 and Camry SE V6 were previously rated at 225 hp (168 kW) but the ES330 dropped to 218 hp (163 kW) while the Camry declined to 210 hp (160 kW). The first engine certified under the new program was the 7.0 L LS7 used in the 2006 Chevrolet Corvette Z06. Certified power rose slightly from 500 to 505 hp (370 to 377 kW).
While Toyota and Honda are retesting their entire vehicle lineups, other automakers generally are retesting only those with updated powertrains. For example, the 2006 Ford Five Hundred is rated at 203 horsepower, the same as that of 2005 model. However, the 2006 rating does not reflect the new SAE testing procedure as Ford is not going to spend the extra expense of retesting its existing engines. Over time, most automakers are expected to comply with the new guidelines.

SAE tightened its horsepower rules after some engineers noticed parts of the old test could be subjected to different interpretations. Under the old testing procedures, there were small factors that required a judgment call: how much oil was in the crankcase, how the engine controls were calibrated and whether a vehicle was tested with premium fuel. In some cases, such can add up to a change in horsepower ratings. A road test editor at Edmunds.com, John Di Pietro, said decreases in horsepower ratings for some '06 models are not that dramatic. For vehicles like a midsize family sedan, it is likely that the reputation of the manufacturer will be more important.[21]
[edit]

Horsepower - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 
the 03-04 V8 doesn't have VVT-i. The 05-09 does. Correct?

Yes

Will that make a real difference in performance?

In most situations, not much.

Here's a scenario where you'd notice a difference.

You drop down to 3rd gear to pass on a fast, two lane highway. The vvti V8 will breath better at high rpm for more power and a few more max mph before redline.
 

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