3rd gen supercharged vs. V8 4th gen
- Thread starter Illestreker
- Start date
Illestreker
New member
When I drive my 2000 buick regal V6 out the mountains its not bad at all. Yeah lighter weight and more aerodynamic but its a night and day difference and drives fine out there.
I love the 3rd gen runner and don't really want to sell it or change vehicles so a diesel truck that's pointless to DD and way too big for offroading is out of the question lol.
anyways what part of NC do you live I have family in boone and frequently go there to Asheville and boone. It's nice there I like it a lot.
JBecker
New member
Honestly, after driving a V8 4th gen, and a V6, I didn't see the real benefit to going with a V8. The 4.0l is night and day more powerful than the 3.4l.
Regarding weight, my 05 is 4045 pounds empty. So it's not that heavy of a truck.
When I drove a 3.4L Tacoma with the TRD supercharger, I wasn't that impressed when you look at money spent to performance gained.
Just my .02
Regarding weight, my 05 is 4045 pounds empty. So it's not that heavy of a truck.
When I drove a 3.4L Tacoma with the TRD supercharger, I wasn't that impressed when you look at money spent to performance gained.
Just my .02
white_n_slow
Senior Member
I did not read all the responses, but I'm gonna go out on a limb here and say you need a 5-speed, not a V8. I have no trouble keeping up with traffic (well, in my case, passing traffic) driving over the continental divide. My drivetrain is bone stock with 33's at the moment (no supercharger).
I have driven the 4.7 4th gen, and it has some oomph, but it also drives like the plus-sized boat that it is. I can also see some downsides for off road stemming from the size and lack of clearance (both ground clearance and tire clearance).
:edit: In response to some people asking about elevation and performance, I can say from quite a lot of experience that a car that is underpowered (80's hilux, 90's civic base model, for example) goes from noticeably underpowered at 5000 ft to downright unsafe for highway use at 8,000ft. Some of the cars I have owned in the past made me want to shoot myself, or better, drive off a cliff and take the car out with me. I really don't think the 3.4 4runner is that bad.
I have driven the 4.7 4th gen, and it has some oomph, but it also drives like the plus-sized boat that it is. I can also see some downsides for off road stemming from the size and lack of clearance (both ground clearance and tire clearance).
:edit: In response to some people asking about elevation and performance, I can say from quite a lot of experience that a car that is underpowered (80's hilux, 90's civic base model, for example) goes from noticeably underpowered at 5000 ft to downright unsafe for highway use at 8,000ft. Some of the cars I have owned in the past made me want to shoot myself, or better, drive off a cliff and take the car out with me. I really don't think the 3.4 4runner is that bad.
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hour
New member
Yea
My 4cyl tacoma is awful up in the mountains, even though it's 5spd it's awful just sitting in 3rd gear pedal to the floor for long periods of time (Vail Pass ~10k ft).I've had my 4runner up there twice in the last 3 weeks and it wasn't too enjoyable either. Especially knowing you're asking a ton from an older vehicle, and in my case, with 240k miles on it. Oddly enough it did better the second trip with an additional person, otherwise cargo the same, which I can't explain. Perhaps less windy. If you can get a s/c cheap, yea... maybe. If I lived up there or drove up there more than a handful of times a year I'd be in a new v8 anything.
paddlenbike
Member
I had my 4Runner for seven years before I decided to supercharge it and I absolutely love it. Forced induction vehicles are always more fun to drive (in my opinion) and the power and torque curve will be much flatter than what you would find on a naturally aspirated vehicle. A naturally aspirated engine usually has a somewhat peaky horsepower and torque curve (bell-shaped curve), while a supercharged or turbocharged engine has a much flatter and broader power curve, which means they make power everywhere in the powerband, not just at a specific RPM range. You really feel the difference when you're climbing a steep grade--the boost helps make up for the power loss you would experience in a naturally aspirated vehicle and there's almost no need to downshift since the power is available at low RPMs.
The V8 is nice too, but it's missing the fun factor of the SC'd V6.
The V8 is nice too, but it's missing the fun factor of the SC'd V6.
Illestreker
New member
This is exactly how I feel driving my stock truck out there. I'm sure there are slower cars that are worse but this is the slowest car/truck I've ever owned so to me I completely agree to what you said above lol
Singtoe
New member
The V8 is awesome. It has power right from the start. I Pulled an AutoTransport from NY to NC with a Kubota tractor and accessories. Pulled it like it wasn't even there. There are about 15 toll stops on I95 and it would accelerate to speed like normal.
It did use an excessive amount of gas (because I was heavy on the throttle) during the trip.
It did use an excessive amount of gas (because I was heavy on the throttle) during the trip.
OTB
New member
Hendersonville, it is 20 minutes the other side of Asheville.
Fishwerks
New member
Never driven a V8 4th gen in the mountains here, but my S/C'd automatic 3rd gen on 285s will go 80 mph up I-70 if I want it to. Stock pulley and no fuel mods yet.
If you will be staying in CO, the supercharger with the stock pulley runs fine without the URD 7th in my experience. If you can find a good price on a supercharger I'd go for it, especially if you like your 3rd gen. Unless you don't want to listen to the S/C whine. You just have to decide if the potential costs in the future (URD 7th and wideband if you move so you can tune the truck, maybe IPT valve body upgrade for the tranny) are worth it. It certainly makes the truck more fun to drive.
Also, the S/C doesn't make it into a race car, so don't expect that. But it gives it some balls that it is otherwise missing. I drove my buddies 3rd gen the other day that isn't supercharged, and I forgot what it was like. Suffice to say I'm glad I have the supercharger… :cheers:
If you will be staying in CO, the supercharger with the stock pulley runs fine without the URD 7th in my experience. If you can find a good price on a supercharger I'd go for it, especially if you like your 3rd gen. Unless you don't want to listen to the S/C whine. You just have to decide if the potential costs in the future (URD 7th and wideband if you move so you can tune the truck, maybe IPT valve body upgrade for the tranny) are worth it. It certainly makes the truck more fun to drive.
Also, the S/C doesn't make it into a race car, so don't expect that. But it gives it some balls that it is otherwise missing. I drove my buddies 3rd gen the other day that isn't supercharged, and I forgot what it was like. Suffice to say I'm glad I have the supercharger… :cheers:
white_n_slow
Senior Member
I know this guy and can vouch for him too. He bought some parts off my rolled '97 and gave me a very fair price and did an engine swap for a friend of mine.
paddlenbike
Member
If your state has vehicle sales tax, you'll pay nearly the cost of a supercharger just to get into a V8 4th gen, not to mention the difference in value between the two vehicles, which may be $10k or more.
Illestreker
New member
Did you source the supercharger else where or did he get it for you? What part of town does he work out of?
Illestreker
New member
Was the engine swap the same model motor or different. Happen to know the ball park price for something like this that he charged or charges?
So Many Roads
New member
WnS - Next time I am in steamboat I want to drive your truck. My 5 speed is a dog in the mountains. It's tough to hold speed and impossible to accelerate going up most passes. My vote is for the SC.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
Well, I will say that I leave it in 3rd gear for the mountain passes (Rabbit Ears, Vail Pass, etc). It does not struggle to maintain 60+mph, but the revs are high. Compared to my '84 pickup or '85 FJ60, it is a veritable rocket ship. Same story with my '97 5-speed.
snivilous
Senior Member
Yes, you are correct on both points. I live at 9000ft and have a 29% power loss due to air density; Denver's elevation has around a 17% power loss.
white_n_slow
Senior Member
Same model, it was a 3.4 4runner. I have no idea what he charged, but I got the impression it was pretty cheap. Jesse also gave me about 30 minutes of over-the-phone diagnosis for some transmission/drivetrain noises for the unheard-of price of "thank you." He also taught me that if you rest your arm on the shifter in 4th gear with a coffee in your hand, you will wear out your transmission prematurely. Who knew?
He ordered the SC. It was a TRD ordered from Toyota. Brand new, in the box, full warranty.
He is near Golden (6th & Indiana). He will arrange for a rental car from Enterprise ($40) and drop you off. You will easily save the price for the rental car (and then some...). He did my timing belt (for about 1/2 the price of anyone else) and when he forgot to arrange for a rental car...he closed the shop (it was just him at the time) and took me home (at least 90 minutes of his time). Great customer service, great mechanical service. He'll do all my major work as long as he is in business.
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