4th gen V6 vs. V8. Pros/Cons, MPG

[wnelax04sr5]

Baloney. The steering gear is the same.

its not the rack or tie rods, its the weight over the front end

 

[coleb10]

V8

I agree with forum member 28. back on post #30 of this thread.
If you find a V-8, just get it. Im on my third 4th Gen. My first two were both the V-6. Took me about six months of searching and waiting in the DFW area for my 4WD V-8. Had it now for 3 years this month and I am happy to get my crappy gas mileage with the 8 cylinders.

 

[DCGweez]

Baloney. The steering gear is the same.



Yup, it gets 1-3 mpg better.



The only "improvement" here is the option of 2WD. Other than 2WD giving better fuel economy, I don't have any desire to drive in 2WD.

You're certainly entitled to your opinion of whether it's better, worse or marginally different. My comment comes from track driving experience and knowledge of how drive train and power transfer/balance/weight transfer works.

Perhaps you prefer the term "handling" rather than steering. If so, fine. There are very real reasons why a rear wheel drive vehicle handles and accelerates/tracks differently than a vehicle where power is delivered from the front and all wheels

It's far less obvious in a truck/SUV but it's still there (especially one with torque-vectoring). Feel free to disagree with my conclusion but it's not "the same".

Everyone on here is entitled to their own opinions but not their own facts.

 

[salong53]

To the original question, if your friend is coming from a Camry, I'm going to assume it's a 4 cylinder. I think the jump in torque for just the V6 would be plenty of power for his needs, especially if he never plans to tow anything. I honestly see no point in spending the extra cash up front, and the extra money on fuel for the V8. If he really wants to spend the extra money, spend it on 4WD instead of the V8.

Coming from a Tacoma PreRunner (2WD), there is nothing more pointless than a 2WD truck that looks like a 4WD. I swore to myself that I would never own another 2WD truck, because there is always that one time you might need 4WD. Everyone assumes you have 4WD already, and if he's concerned about manliness, he'll be sorely disappointed when he gets stuck in the sand or snow somewhere and can't get out because he chose to spend money on the V8 instead of 4WD. Just my 2 cents.

 

[M1911]

its not the rack or tie rods, its the weight over the front end

And it doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

I've driven a 4Runner with the V6. There is no noticeable difference in the handling. They are both body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle trucks, and they both drive like one. The < 5% difference in weight doesn't change basic dynamics of the truck.

 

[M1911]

You're certainly entitled to your opinion of whether it's better, worse or marginally different. My comment comes from track driving experience and knowledge of how drive train and power transfer/balance/weight transfer works.

Oh give me a frickin' break. There is no noticeable difference between the two.

 

[RPS13]

And it doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

I've driven a 4Runner with the V6. There is no noticeable difference in the handling. They are both body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle trucks, and they both drive like one. The < 5% difference in weight doesn't change basic dynamics of the truck.

He's right, but most people probably won't notice it.

I test drove a few V8's and V6's. The 4 speed V6's were pretty horrible, would not recommend due to gear ratios and power. The early V8 felt ok down low, but seemed to very quickly lose its steam. With 4WD handling is pretty poor. One I test drove returned 16.5 mpg in city driving on the trip computer, so about 15 mpg actual. My V6 2WD will do 21-23 mpg actual on the same area.

The 2WD V6 actually turns into a corner pretty well because the front is fairly light. Ultimate grip is low up front due to factory camber curves, and to promote "safe" understeer.


BTW - most people that have track driving experience are probably comfortable driving at a level that would make the average driver crap their pants. So realize that if you're driving like Suzie Soccer Mom, you won't notice these nuances. Hell, I can tell if my <2500 lb track car has a full or half full tank of gas within one lap out on track. A 180 lb passenger completely changes how the car drives, and the actual line the car wants to take to be fastest.

 

[m85476585]

Your 4runner is even lighter than most since it's 2WD only. The reduced weight also helps explain the better gas mileage. The later V8 probably does a bit better than the early ones since it has VVT-i.

 

[wnelax04sr5]

And it doesn't make a damn bit of difference.

I've driven a 4Runner with the V6. There is no noticeable difference in the handling. They are both body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle trucks, and they both drive like one. The < 5% difference in weight doesn't change basic dynamics of the truck.

appreciate the input, but i certainly noticed it when i test drove both. i didn't say that it was glaring, but simply pointed out that the difference it steering (front end handling) was not attributed to the actual steering equipment, but rather the difference in weight.

He's right, but most people probably won't notice it.

I test drove a few V8's and V6's. The 4 speed V6's were pretty horrible, would not recommend due to gear ratios and power. The early V8 felt ok down low, but seemed to very quickly lose its steam. With 4WD handling is pretty poor. One I test drove returned 16.5 mpg in city driving on the trip computer, so about 15 mpg actual. My V6 2WD will do 21-23 mpg actual on the same area.

The 2WD V6 actually turns into a corner pretty well because the front is fairly light. Ultimate grip is low up front due to factory camber curves, and to promote "safe" understeer.


BTW - most people that have track driving experience are probably comfortable driving at a level that would make the average driver crap their pants. So realize that if you're driving like Suzie Soccer Mom, you won't notice these nuances. Hell, I can tell if my <2500 lb track car has a full or half full tank of gas within one lap out on track. A 180 lb passenger completely changes how the car drives, and the actual line the car wants to take to be fastest.

I've got a 4spd v6, nothing horrible about it

 

[RPS13]

I've got a 4spd v6, nothing horrible about it

It's a fine rig I'm sure, but the power/lower end torque on the one I drove plus the wider gearing was just not a good combo.

The VVTi V6 and non-VVTi V8 honestly didn't feel all that different to me above ~2k RPM.

 

[Minnesota Yota]

This isn't you is it? It sounds like you really "Love" your car.:boink::naughty:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0S642NtHtE

You'll never have to choose between your dog and anything else at the pearly gates, because in most cases our dogs will already be there, and they will probably have a say in whether or not we get in.

I hope I can be half the person my dogs think I am.

:crazy: LOL! Well not that much! You hit the nail on the head with your line about being half the man my dog thinks I am!

 

[wnelax04sr5]

It's a fine rig I'm sure, but the power/lower end torque on the one I drove plus the wider gearing was just not a good combo.

The VVTi V6 and non-VVTi V8 honestly didn't feel all that different to me above ~2k RPM.

ill give you that, the early motors are similar in the high end, an area i rarely get into lol

 

[thegreatdivorce]

There's really not a huge difference between the two, unless you're towing. The V8 doesn't make *that* much more power, and the V6 doesn't get *that* much better gas mileage. I drove both and barely noticed any difference in peppiness with the V8. I was coming from a modified turbo car, so they all felt pretty pokey. Which is fine for what they are.

With the lift, tires, and Bajarack, I get 17-20mpg with my V6, hand calculated and tracked by GPS. Pretty inline with what a V8 would get. Maybe 1-2mpg difference. Honestly, once you start lifting, tire-ing, and rack-ing, it's gonna be bad, no matter what.

I like the V6 for the slightly lower maintance (timing chain), but wish I'd gotten the V8, for the rumble. The V6 sounds awful with an exhaust on it.

 

[Atlanta_man]

Which one works the hardest ? Wears the most ?

The one with the most cylinders, most torque...
Does the V8 stress the transmission more than the V6 (torque vs. shift-shift-shift vs. overall revs to get down the road)?

I dunno

 

[hikenbike]

The mpg difference is negligible. The v8 is smoother, quieter, and more powerful. Great engine and definitely worth spending the time to try to find one to test out before getting a v6.

 

[DCGweez]

It's funny how this has turned into V6 vs V8 owners.

Go back to my original post. It's based on facts, not opinion.

I own a vehicle with a 351W. I have nothing against V8s.

Not sure why anyone would suggest a V8 is quieter, that's preposterous. Heck if i were ever to buy a V8 it's because it sounds so much better (read louder)

 

[RL Lemke]

Not sure why anyone would suggest a V8 is quieter, that's preposterous. Heck if i were ever to buy a V8 it's because it sounds so much better (read louder)

The 4.7 V8 was the original Lexus V8 which was designed to be very quiet, and is indeed much quieter than the V6.

Many people prefer to annoy others with loud engines and exhaust. I'm not one of those people.

I selected the V8 after renting the V6 because when traveling down mountain trails I prefer the sounds of nature, tires crunching on sticks and rocks, and wind in the trees, to that of an engine.

The V6 is freer revving and keen to perform. The V8 is high torque and smooth, as I can drive in traffic all day at less than 2,000 rpm and never hold-up traffic. The V6 is energetic like a race horse, and the V8 is solid and powerful like a Clydesdale.

But then, my use isn't on a race track but off-road, around town and cross country trips.

 

[RunnerAK]

The mpg difference is negligible. The v8 is smoother, quieter, and more powerful. Great engine and definitely worth spending the time to try to find one to test out before getting a v6.

A ~20% difference in mpg between the two is not negligible.

 

[DCGweez]

I drove both around town. (Can't speak to bird watching) and as i said, i liked the sound of the V8 better but i wouldn't have described it as quieter, just "better".

In the end if you need more torque and don't mind spending more money for it, you should get the V8.

If not, i'm sure the the V6 is more than adequate.

 

[Burnzy]

I love V8 power, I traded a Charger R/T for my 4Runner. My 4Runner is a V6 and I have to say I am very satisfied with the V6, plenty of pep in my opinion. Disclaimer: I do not tow anything and yes, there are days when I miss my Charger and the sound of a Hemi winding up.