3rd vs 4th gen thinking outloud.

[1fast_e]

^^^I agree. Sounds like the 3rd gen may be a slug for you. I enjoy the heck out of my 97(on my second one) and realize it is slow but knowing it is very reliable I have over looked its performance issue's.
I also own x5 w/ 415hp and really only take it out on fridays to work or sunday to church. I think there is a true cult following w/ these trucks!!!

 

[Gerdo]

My 5 speed, 3.4L 3rd gen is a little slow in the mountains (remember we loose ~3% per 1000' of elevation) but it'll still do 60+. It's slow when pulling a 2k trailer in the mountains. I've pulled the same trailer across the country to the east coast and had no problems keeping up with traffic. It'll tow all day long at 75mph.

No it's not a race car but I have never been afraid to pull out into traffic.

I'm not a big fan of the 4th gen traction BS. Last winter while wheeling I could walk thru the deep snow and a 4th gen was constantly getting stuck. And listening to the clatter of the brakes making the system work was horrid.

I would hate to give up my 3rd gen!

 

[TC4Rnr]

I currently drive a 3rd and the wife drives 4th. hell no way I would give up mine for the 4th gen and she wouldn't trade hers to a 3rd gen either.

see my sig.

 

[4-Ripcord]

If you are looking for a sporty SUV with power and road performance first, get an xterra or something.

3rd gens are a great deal. highly reliable, great off road, good looking, very affordable used. Most of us realize our rigs aren't sports cars, and we drive accordingly

Power isn't a big deal with them. The only time I find myself looking for more power is when i'm trying to get my stock 3.9 gears to get my 33" tires from 75 to 80mph.

You should be just fine with 32's and 4.30's or 4.10's

 

[Vantage85]

I currently drive a 3rd and the wife drives 4th. hell no way I would give up mine for the 4th gen and she wouldn't trade hers to a 3rd gen either.

see my sig.

I see you have both of the platforms I am looking at with similar mods.

How does the 5 speed v6 compare with the 4th?

 

[Vantage85]

If you are looking for a sporty SUV with power and road performance first, get an xterra or something.

3rd gens are a great deal. highly reliable, great off road, good looking, very affordable used. Most of us realize our rigs aren't sports cars, and we drive accordingly

Power isn't a big deal with them. The only time I find myself looking for more power is when i'm trying to get my stock 3.9 gears to get my 33" tires from 75 to 80mph.

You should be just fine with 32's and 4.30's or 4.10's

I know there is a TON of plus's to a 3rd, dont get me wrong I owned a similar tacoma. But it will have a lot of preventative matience as well, plugs wires, new rad, tbelt.

I think the only way I will ever get a 3rd is if I find a 4.30 elocked 5 speed. Sadly we all know how few and far between a good condition one is.

 

[TC4Rnr]

I see you have both of the platforms I am looking at with similar mods.

How does the 5 speed v6 compare with the 4th?

I can't stand auto, the only auto I drove for a long period of time in the pas 15 years was a Ram1500 quadcab, had it for 2 years and my ADD just couldn't take it any more.

I can't think of any thing the 4.0L can do but the 3.4 can't.

if you like to save on gas then stay with the Civic. any kind of mod will hinder the gas mileage. there's no proof the ISR and deckplate mod would improve mpg, but they sure made the engine sound 10 times better.

 

[Vantage85]

MPG has no affect on my decision, as all trucks are very similar.

Love the discussion guys, lets keep it rolling.

 

[96743runner]

Ok, I know that lots of people won't agree with me on this one, but in my opinion I don't think that the 4.0 has THAT much more power than the 3.4. (I drive a 4Runner with the 3.4 and a Tacoma with the 4.0). The Taco does have a little more power than the 4Runner and it is slightly noticeable, but it is still pretty slow when passing, etc. I honestly think that the 3rd gens are more reliable than the 4th gen 4Runner and I'd take the 3.4 over the 4.0 any day since it is a more proven motor. JMHO.

 

[Jed]

I had a 3rd gen before I bought my 4th gen. Trust me, if you're main concern is not buying a 4Runner that lacks power, then don't even consider a 3rd gen unless it has an aftermarket supercharger. I loved my 3rd gen, but I hated how hard it seemed to struggle when I tried to zip through traffic or pass on the highway. It just didn't have the power to live life in the fast lane. I spent most of my time in the slow lane instead.

Now my 4th gen is a V6 and it has no problems at all passing on the highway or pulling away hard from a stoplight. It has more than enough power to run in the fast lane! But don't listen to me, just test drive both yourself and you'll see what I'm talking about. Yes, it's a big difference.

Plus, I get a little better fuel economy with the more powerful V6 in my 4th gen than I did with the V6 in my 3rd gen. More power and better fuel economy...can't beat that!

 

[theizzardking]

so i used to drive formula one race cars, is the 3rd gen going to be too slow for me? :redbrick:

seriously man, no suv you buy is going to have anything compared to your SI,
what your asking is ridiculous, what do you want an SUV for? if you want one with power and speed go with a jeep srt-8 or something of the sort, they come lowered and 420 hp's stock, that said if you are only interested in the 4runners all of them are slow and partially underpowered, let me rephrase that none of them are "fast" even for suv's, So why don't just ask which 4runner is the better truck? i would say of the 2 the 3rd gen is and that's not biased either i would most likely choose a 5th gen over a 3rd gen given the right option packages and a few more years of proof of design.

i came from a 1998 jeep that housed a Magnum 5.9L V8 engine with an output of 345 hp and 345 ft·lb of tq and to be honest yes the 3rd gen is slow compared to it but it's still fast enough do get around and pass people if need be, and it was much much faster then comparable suv's i test drove before settling on the 3rd gen. For what the 3rd gen was designed for and what it's meant to be used for you'd be hard pressed to find a better vehicle, do your self a favor and keep the SI for going fast and around stuff Keep the SUV for going slow and over stuff, for normal daily driving the 4runner has plenty of power the speed limit's only 60-70 anyways......

hope this doesn't come off as rude, i just felt the context of the question is out of place for the vehicles your looking at,but at the end of the day who cares what i say, it's your money and you should buy the truck that makes you happy regardless of what some guy on the internet thinks/says, heck even if your buying it for all of the wrong reasons if it makes you happy go for it man.:thumb3:

 

[Jed]

Nah, I totally understand where the OP is coming from with his question….Before I got into SUVs, I always had quick cars. Everything from 5.0L Mustangs, to an E36 M3, to my current car, a G37 coupe 6MT. I like quick cars and enjoy driving them. Do I expect that kind of performance out of an SUV? Not at all…..but at the same time, I don’t want to drive an SUV that is underpowered and struggles to pass traffic.

And as much as I loved my 3rd gen 4Runner (which was my very first 4Runner), it just wasn’t very much fun to drive on the road because it lacked the power it needed to be a “fun” road vehicle. When I moved to the 4th gen 4Runner, it had a completely different feel on the road, mostly because it had about 65 more HP than my 3rd gen. That was enough of a difference to make me not “hate” getting into my 4Runner after driving my quick car.

So if this guy is coming from a Civic Si (which isn’t exactly a rocketship in the first place), I can see why he would want to avoid an underpowered SUV. His car is basically a lightweight and sporty car with decent acceleration. If he’s moving to a much heavier SUV, then what’s the harm in him wanting to make sure buys a model that has enough power to keep him happy driving it?

 

[theizzardking]

well like i said, he should do what makes him happy, but really though, cars are for going fast and having fun on the road SUVs are for going slow and having fun off road, i see it as black and white, the 3rd gen for getting around town and as a daily driver isn't underpowered,

i don't know your driving habits and won't pretend to, but i have never had a problem with my 3rd gen not being able to pass someone when driving normally, I've had it cruising doing 90+ for hours on end and had plenty of fun (middle of desert in the southwest),

i mean really who are you trying to race off the line with a 4200 lbs truck? just seems silly to me, and like i said before my old jeep would kill civics and audi's off the line but once i got used to driving the 4runner i don't really miss all that speed and don't really want to kill myself becuase of it.to sum it up the power difference between a 5.9L magnum and a 3.4L 5vz-f3 is huge, maybe even more so then the SI to 5vz-f3 change but that's highly debatable. point is, i have never gotten the fun road driving experience from a SUV to me fun road driving is winding roads of europe and a little turbo charged sports car of some kind, but for just ambling along and getting to your destination in comfort i love SUVs for the road not really fun but comfortable, really i do maintain that the 3rd gen has plenty of power for doing the speed limit and driving normally for everyday getting around, i have no problems getting to 70 by the end of the on ramp and maybe even a little more if need be, i just think the mentality is wrong in calling the 3rd gen underpowered becuase it doesn't do 145mph's and had a 0-60 time of 9.1 secs, that is not underpowered, like what was said above the 22re was under powered the 3.4L is not it's appropriately powered for what the truck was designed to do.

case in point the 4th gen's are faster and more fun on the road as you say but they aren't as capable off road from the box, so think about that in design philosophy terms, what was the truck designed for? what are you trying to use it for? and all of the rest, it just seems trying to compare any suv to a sports car is kind of silly, it should more more along the lines of

i will be doing 98% of my driving on road and i drive kind of aggressive which one would be best, or i spend 60% on road and 40% off road which one would be best for me.

like i said if he wants a "fast" suv (if there is such a thing) he's looking at both the wrong trucks he should be looking at Mercedes or a jeep if the wallet is thin.

meh, who really cares my reasons i still vote for the 3rd gen between the 2, but that's me, and like i said before drive 'em both and pick the one that makes you happy, but from a tech stand point i still have to say the 3rd gen wins, if your following the law and driving the speed limit the 3rd gen has plenty of power for mountain passes and daily driving, just don't expect much as far as towing and drag racing go.lol

 

[Izanewman]

I own both a third gen and a fourth gen.

The 3rd gen is a 1999 model, 5 speed, v6 with a 4.1.

The 4th gen is a 2006 sport edition, v6, auto.

Both vehicles are 100% stock(yes....boring, I know!). I can tell you that driving 99' as a daily driver, it will not be setting any land speed records. The gearing is such that first gear is VERY low. Would be good for off road as it has plenty of torque, but on the road, you end up shifting very early on. I would describe the acceleration as adequate, but it is pretty damn slow. I usually shift around 3000 rpm's for fuel economy. On the highway, she is fairly smooth, but the ride is more truck like.

The 4th gen is a completely different vehicle. It is the smoothest running vehicle I have ever owned. It has much more power and acceleration that the 99. The engine is as smooth as silk and almost feels like an electric car. The ride is much more refined and tight. On the highway, there is no comparison between the two.


This being said, I LOVE my 99. To me, it suits my taste. I enjoy the "truck like" ride and feel of the vehicle. It has more of a "vibe" to it that the 4th gen. I have accepted the fact that she is a little slower and rougher on the road. I love going through the gears, even if I'm not blowing people off the line. I will say that at times, the 5 speed can be annoying, but I truly look forward to driving this truck every day.

The 4th gen gets driven on the weekend(wife has it all week). We use this vehicle for running errands and for road trips. Again, but far the more comfortable and refined vehicle. It is so smooth, you almost forget that it a very capable and rugged. It is a pleasure to drive.

If I were in your situation, I would go with my gut. I don't think you can go wrong either way. If your decision is based on on-road comfort and ride quality, go with the 4th. The engine, tranny, and ride are superb. I love the looks of the 4th gen and they look really good with lift and tires.

 

[SAC-CA-Runner]

I came from an 08 V6 4R 4x4 into a 99 V6 4x4, both in Autos. There are some things I like about both. But if it was my choice, I'd still have the 08. I don't miss the payments tho. The ride is more "car"-ish, but the interior is nicer, the engine has more power and got better gas mileage. The styling is for you to decide. I like both, but lean more towards the 4th gen. Both look good with lifts and tires and both would be easy to lift. I like the fact that the 3rd gen feels more truck like and doesn't have that stupid a** traction control that the 4th gen had. Couldn't stand that electronic throttle cut. One thing I loved about my 00 Tundra V8...I could drive it. NOT the computer. My 99 4R doesn't seem to have enough power to pull out the rear, but at least I don't have to worry about a bunch of clicking and crap.

And before my 4R I came from two B5 Audi S4's with 400hp...so I know the feeling of going from fast, to slow, to REALLY slow in the 99 4R. But...I need to slow down!

Good luck with your choice

 

[Jed]

well like i said, he should do what makes him happy, but really though, cars are for going fast and having fun on the road SUVs are for going slow and having fun off road, i see it as black and white, the 3rd gen for getting around town and as a daily driver isn't underpowered,

See, that's just the thing....if you have a decently powered SUV, it doesn't have to be black and white. With decent power, you can drive a heavy SUV in a manner that isn't typical of an underpowered SUV. Almost as if it were "sporty" but obviously not in a "sports car" way.

i don't know your driving habits and won't pretend to, but i have never had a problem with my 3rd gen not being able to pass someone when driving normally, I've had it cruising doing 90+ for hours on end and had plenty of fun (middle of desert in the southwest),

My 3rd gen would pass traffic too....but it would take longer and the engine would be working much harder. And there are times where I would second guess myself when attempting to pass that slow moving camper on a windy mountain road. Those are the times you wish for more power.

i mean really who are you trying to race off the line with a 4200 lbs truck? just seems silly to me,

Seems silly to me too. I'm not talking about racing off the line. But I am talking about being able to pull away quickly when you want to. You don't need to be racing anyone.... The point here is that I just don't want a vehicle that I consider underpowered. And of course my idea of underpowered may be quite different than your idea of underpowered. You may be perfectly fine with a 182 HP 4Runner, but to me that's just not enough power on such a heavy vehicle.

i just think the mentality is wrong in calling the 3rd gen underpowered becuase it doesn't do 145mph's and had a 0-60 time of 9.1 secs, that is not underpowered, like what was said above the 22re was under powered the 3.4L is not it's appropriately powered for what the truck was designed to do.

I would never even dream of going 145 MPH in my 4Runner. Actually, I don't think the 4th gen is even capable of approaching 145 MPH. That kind of speed in an SUV would probably make me nervous anway. As for 0-60 times, well, that's more important to me because it represents a more "real world" scenario. I remember reading a road test for a 2000 V6 4Runner (automatic) and the 0-60 time was a flat 10 seconds. Today, that's considered very slow, even for a mid-size SUV.

case in point the 4th gen's are faster and more fun on the road as you say but they aren't as capable off road from the box, so think about that in design philosophy terms, what was the truck designed for? what are you trying to use it for? and all of the rest, it just seems trying to compare any suv to a sports car is kind of silly, it should more more along the lines of

i will be doing 98% of my driving on road and i drive kind of aggressive which one would be best, or i spend 60% on road and 40% off road which one would be best for me.

That's debatable. I don't spend a lot of time offroad, but my 4th gen seems every bit as capable as my 3rd gen. In fact, it might even be more capable for the kind of offroad driving I do. But like you said, most of us spend a huge majority of our time on the road compared to off the road, so you have to figure out what is most important for you.

like i said if he wants a "fast" suv (if there is such a thing) he's looking at both the wrong trucks he should be looking at Mercedes or a jeep if the wallet is thin.

meh, who really cares my reasons i still vote for the 3rd gen between the 2, but that's me, and like i said before drive 'em both and pick the one that makes you happy, but from a tech stand point i still have to say the 3rd gen wins, if your following the law and driving the speed limit the 3rd gen has plenty of power for mountain passes and daily driving, just don't expect much as far as towing and drag racing go.lol

 

[Vantage85]

Holy crap, this thread was blown way out of proportion.

I am in no looking for a 13.5 second Civic replacement.

I understand a SUV will be slower and less nimble.

That being said, I do expect the vehicle to be able to pass on the highway without taking 15 seconds to downshift and get up momentum.

I am not looking for the same excitement the Civic gave in an SUV, I am looking for a comfortable, reliable ride with adequate power for any situation.

I think you guys said it best, I must find time to testdrive both platforms and see which platform I will be most happy with.

I do enjoy the discussion, so please dont stop.

 

[Jed]

That being said, I do expect the vehicle to be able to pass on the highway without taking 15 seconds to downshift and get up momentum.

I am not looking for the same excitement the Civic gave in an SUV, I am looking for a comfortable, reliable ride with adequate power for any situation.

.

You're describing the 4th gen or 5th gen. Anything earlier than that and I don't think you'll be happy. The test drive will tell you all you need to know!

 

[NickF]

I know its not pertinent, but Just to clarify, a 250 wheel hp civic is a rocketship. Maybe it's not quite an m3, but its fanned close. I don't think some.of you realize how fast a civic can be.

Sent from my ADR6300 using Tapatalk

 

[Jed]

I know its not pertinent, but Just to clarify, a 250 wheel hp civic is a rocketship. Maybe it's not quite an m3, but its fanned close. I don't think some.of you realize how fast a civic can be.

250 whp? I'm pretty sure the crank HP rating is a bit under 200. So yeah, you can modify anything to make it quicker, but I still wouldn't call a 250 whp civic a rocketship of any sort. Seriously, we're talking about a car that runs 0-60 in the 7-second range and does the quarter mile in the low 15's in stock form. In comparison, even the V6 4Runner is in the 8-second range from 0-60 and can run a quarter mile in the high 15's.

There were a couple of guys on this forum who decided to drag race their 2004 4Runners (one V6 and one V8) to see which was quicker. For the 2004 model year, the V6 HP rating was 245 and the V8 was 240, so the V8 actually had slightly less HP (but more torque). They raced at a track and got timeslips. They were basically dead even after several races, both vehicles running 15.80's over and over again.