05 & 04 V8 comparison

[Pansa]

Well I just gave back a 2005 Limited VVT V8 4Runner loaner to Toyota after they were doing some emmision testing on my 2004 Limited V8. I thought I would give a little comparison since I was curious as well when I had heard about the new V8.

I had the chance to drive the 05 for about a week. I took it to work in the city (Los Angeles) and took it to Mammoth on the weekend.

I felt that the 05 V8 had more juice during a 0-60 acceleration and seemed smoother. But the response time didnt seem to be as quick as my 04 at any speed.

I usually do around 75 mph on the freeway (hope CHP doesnt read this ). When I was on an incline on the freeway the 05 seemed to really lag compared to my 04. At slower speeds I could tell no difference on an incline.

The MPG readings were also very different. On my 04 the readings would usually range from 15.7 to 19 mpg during city and freeway driving. On the 05 it would range from 13.9 to 22 mpg.

I had my friend drive on the way back from Mammoth and he also thought that the 05 was smooth and powerful but seemed to lag on freeway inclines. He also felt that the power was there but you had to really step on it in order for the engine to respond.

Overall I would rate the engines the same. But personally I prefer my 04 V8 with it's quicker response. Either way thats just my opinion.

 

[Mark86]

First off, your dealer give out V8 4Runner loaners? I usually get a Camry, Sienna, or xB. Lucky you!!
I have had the chance to compare both engines as well. I actually took my dad's 2005 this past weekend for some long highway drives. I thought the 2005 V8 felt more powerful on acceleartion as well as on the highway. I actually noticed the most difference when you would accelerate while already moving at a fast rate of speed on the highway. Other than that, both engines are identical. Personally, I am happy with the V8 in my 2003 and wouldn't trade it for anything.

 

[Thai]

Maybe your loaner is still in the break-in period??

 

[Guest]

Ponsa, I agree with you. There is just something so silky smooth about that iforce V8. I didn't like the 05 V8 either. For some reason it didn't give me consistent power through the entire rev band like the 04 does. I think the 05 V8 is a POS. JMHO

 

[KMX3060]

I think the 05 V8 is a POS. JMHO

With that kind of opinion you should work for Car & Driver.:bowdown:

 

[Northof49]

Ponsa, I agree with you. There is just something so silky smooth about that iforce V8. I didn't like the 05 V8 either. For some reason it didn't give me consistent power through the entire rev band like the 04 does. I think the 05 V8 is a POS. JMHO

Strange, I think just the opposite. Where I found the 04 V8 to really drop off in power post 4,000 rpm....whereas the 05 V8 pulls strongly straight to redline.

I suppose if one never opened it right up there wouldn't be a noticeable difference....but when accelerating hard the is a notable improvment

 

[scslite]

I just purchased my 05 V8 and had a friend drive it since he has an 04 V8 and wanted to compare. He flat out said that the 05 V8 definitely has more power compared to his and response is much better as far as he can tell. My 05 is broken in and love it especially coming from a 97 Limited. So for someone to say that the 05 V8 is a POS is perhaps in denial. But who cares really they are both great trucks.

 

[Northof49]

My 05 is broken in and love it especially coming from a 97 Limited.

The new truck must have felt like a Saturn V rocket the first time you punched it haha

 

[EDGE]

I test drove an 05 V8 and I felt the power upgrade, I like it and I think it's better then the 03/04 but I don't think it's worth trading for, to me it looks better on paper for the average consumer who thinks hey the Pathfinder has a 270hp V6, thats way more then the V8 4Runner with 235.

I for some odd reason gave a complete stranger a lift back to the Toyota dealer, he walked to the Nissan dealer, he and his father are looking to trade in their Explorers and the old man was looking at the Sequoia and he decided to run down and chech out the New Pathfinder.

Anyways I somehow started talking with him about the 4Runner, right infront of the salesman who was tryin to make a sale and I was like have you checked out the V8 4Runner and I ended up driving him back to Toyota, and last I heard from the the Toy salesman they both got loaded SR5 or Sports

All he knew was my 4Runner was a V8:

 

[Thai]

I ended up driving him back to Toyota, and last I heard from the the Toy salesman they both got loaded SR5 or Sports

All he knew was my 4Runner was a V8:

And you didn't get any commission?! You did more than any Toyota salesman would have done!

 

[TeryT]

I think I'll wait a couple years and see how the whole thing with the VVT V8 works out. I'm sure that over on the RV forum there will be someone who has direct comparisons while towing. It's interested me that even though the HP numbers went up, the torque rose only slightly - and that's usually what's more important for towing.

Comments?

 

[bulldog-yota]

I dont want to go test drive the 05 V8, I might just do something stupid

I think the 05 V8 is a nice upgrade on the 03-04. The TQ difference low down is very small so it wont be that noticeable. The big issue with the older V8 was that the TQ curve died above 4500 RPM, thus the low HP number. With VVT Toyota got a little more TQ low down, but most important they were able to extend it to higher RPM thus higher HP number. So when towing there will be situations when you dip into the pleasure pedal and will feel a good deal of difference.

I think the 05 V8 and V6 are a real nice upgrade on the 03-04s, they will perform better, etc, etc. But not enough for me to trade my old 03 in for one. That will be a lot of $$$$ per HP Hopefully Toyota also fixed some of the small issues on the 03-04s on them like the manual seat looseness, moonroof problems, driveline clunk, vibration at speeds, etc.

 

[TeryT]

I dont want to go test drive the 05 V8, I might just do something stupid

I think the 05 V8 is a nice upgrade on the 03-04. The TQ difference low down is very small so it wont be that noticeable. The big issue with the older V8 was that the TQ curve died above 4500 RPM, thus the low HP number. With VVT Toyota got a little more TQ low down, but most important they were able to extend it to higher RPM thus higher HP number. So when towing there will be situations when you dip into the pleasure pedal and will feel a good deal of difference.

I think the 05 V8 and V6 are a real nice upgrade on the 03-04s, they will perform better, etc, etc. But not enough for me to trade my old 03 in for one. That will be a lot of $$$$ per HP Hopefully Toyota also fixed some of the small issues on the 03-04s on them like the manual seat looseness, moonroof problems, driveline clunk, vibration at speeds, etc.

Pretty much ditto. I will have to get some RVing under my belt before seeing if I should get an 05 (in perhaps 07).

FYI - My rear end clunk has gone totally away, and I have no other issues (except the sub-par front cup-holder - ain't I spoiled!?).

 

[Thai]

I think the 05 V8 is a POS. JMHO

Hmm, that's a loaded statement. From what i understand about VVTi, this new addition to the iForce V8 should not cause any decrease in low-end torque or response time...it will only increase power in the upper RPM ranges. The hesitation for passing may be due to transmission more than engine itself...or that the engines you guys testdrove were not broken-in yet.

 

[bulldog-yota]

Pretty much ditto. I will have to get some RVing under my belt before seeing if I should get an 05 (in perhaps 07).

FYI - My rear end clunk has gone totally away, and I have no other issues (except the sub-par front cup-holder - ain't I spoiled!?).

Yeah I had to get those things fixed or fix it myself. But if it is fixed from the factory life is just better.

 

[Northof49]

I think I'll wait a couple years and see how the whole thing with the VVT V8 works out. I'm sure that over on the RV forum there will be someone who has direct comparisons while towing. It's interested me that even though the HP numbers went up, the torque rose only slightly - and that's usually what's more important for towing.

Comments?

VVT V8's are nothing new for Toyota...they've been doing them in the Lexus lineup for some time now. From a reliability standpoint, I have absolutely ZERO reservations about the 05 V8's vs 03/04's. I am not sure why anyone would actually, as Toyota now uses VVT-i in every model without issues pertaining there-to.

I will have a direct towing comparison in about a month here when I get home and dig the boat out of its hole. The 05 V8 will obviously be equal or better to the non-VVT V8's...while small gains, it DID gain torque at all rpms rpms, and notable amounts of torque/power at higher rpms.