Buying V8 vs. V6?

tcpoob,


Thanks for the nice comment, but the house is not mine. It is a condo (duplex) and belongs to a relative of mine whom I was visiting during my vacation. Do you think I could afford a place like that and a 4Runner on my salary? I don't think so!
:D

Anyway, regarding "gear hunting" earlier in this thread, it is what happens when you are going up a decent grade at highway speed with the cruise control on - or your foot at the same spot on the throttle, and the engine loses oomph and your SUV begins to slow down a bit. More power is required to maintain your velocity, so the automatic transmission will drop down a gear (typically from #5 to #4). You will notice it because your RPMs will increase as if you "kicked it down" into passing gear.

In a few seconds, the tranny will think you're doing okay and shift back up into the next higher gear. Your RPMs will drop again for awhile, until the hill and wind resistance play their part....and then it does it all over again. Trust me; it annoys you after two or three times in two or three minutes.

I moved the shifter over to "4" and that kept it out of top gear and I had more than enough power to crest the hill. The added torque of a V-8 might help to prevent this, but I still am happy that I got the V-6 because I rarely drive in mountainous areas.

 
I vote for the v8. Difference in mpg is pretty small and almost the same here in the mountains. It's more quiet, has a smooth 5 sp. tranny and plenty of passing power and will probably run longer than the v6 and, if we get out of this gas crunch it will probably have a better resale, but that's a big IF
 
Well I finally got one today.
I bought a white 2005 V6 4WD 4Runner, which was the last of the 05 on the lot. Paid $26K with the $1000 rebate and 0%APR for 36 month. I think I got a good bargin.
 
Congratulations!
Please post your pictures if possible.

Is that a LTD, SE, or SR5?

4Fishing said:
Well I finally got one today.
I bought a white 2005 V6 4WD 4Runner, which was the last of the 05 on the lot. Paid $26K with the $1000 rebate and 0%APR for 36 month. I think I got a good bargin.
Click to expand...
 
Congrats 4Fishing, that sounds like a great price.

I second the advice to drive both vehicles back-to-back repeatedly and see what you like. That's what I did (in '03) and chose the V6. The V8 now has more power at the top end; otherwise the decision is similar.

The V6 gets about 10% better mileage in most situations, and postings indicate the difference will be a little greater if your driving is pure highway. That may be because of the 2WD mode. I don't drive enough for the mileage to make a difference, and I didn't care about the price differential either. I chose the V6 primarily because of how it drives. It's about 150 pounds lighter in the front end and the combination of the lower weight and 2WD mode made it a little less heavy or stiff-legged in the handling. I can feel part of the difference when I (once/month) do a few miles in 4WD mode to lube the gears.

They all have enough power, though I would recommend the V8 if you'll do heavy towing. Otherwise take your time and do plenty of driving of both, and make yourself happy.
 
I also drove the V6 and the V8 back to back, both of them 2005s.
The difference is quite a bit, especially on the high end. The torque off the V8 is simply amazing, I would bet no V6 can compare to it. The V8 was also much quiter than the V6, again especially on the high end. The Toyota V8 engine is one of the best V8 out there, the choice was really easy for me. Especially considering that the V6 only gets 1 MPG more in the city than the V8 and the permenent 4WD system actually helps the handling around the corner, it also improve accelaration and traction in the rain.
 
I drove both before my purchase. The V6 was fine, certainly not underpowered, but the v8 was a lot smoother and quieter. When I put my foot into it, I found the V6 working a lot harder to maintain the same pace as the V8. Now that I have the V8, I couldn't be happier. If you want passing or low end power, it gives it to you with no complaining (ie. noise or hesitation) and you still have some in reserve.

Like everyone else, I looked at the EPA mileage figures and found it to be a wash, esp. with the $2K rebate I got. The way I see it, if you can afford a 4Runner, you can afford the gas. Plus, if you plan on keeping it for a while, you'll be happy you have the extra power. I can't imagine anyone thinking an engine is too powerful and wishing they'd downgraded :)
 
I picked up my new V8 last weekend. Quiet, powerful, smooth - I'm very impressed. At the end of the week I filled up my first tank and the mileage was pretty much the same as I was getting in my 2000 for the same driving. (Interstate commute downtown, 18.9 mpg odo/gallons on pump - and the computer read the same!) So I have no doubt - the V8 was the right choice for me - and I know I'm going to love it when I hook up my 4000 lbs sailboat next spring.
 
Re: V6 vs. V8 MPG

Gromulus said:
Regardless of 2WD or 4WD configuration, the 4Runner V6 is only rated for an increase of 1 MPG city and 2 MPG highway.
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Since the V6 is a multi-mode 4WD, you can get down to 18/22 by selecting the 2WD mode, while the full-time 4WD V8 gets 16/19 - when comparing the 4WD models only. The more drives you have going should be less efficient, more moving parts, less MPG.
 
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Re: Re: V6 vs. V8 MPG

4Fishing said:
Since the V6 is a multi-mode 4WD, you can get down to 18/22 by selecting the 2WD mode, while the full-time 4WD V8 gets 16/19 - when comparing the 4WD models only. The more drives you have going should be less efficient, more moving parts, less MPG.
Click to expand...

Going into 2HI doesn't turn the vehicle into a 2WD. There is still a penalty to be paid for the addtional weight, not to mention having to turn over the front drive train even when it is disconnected from the engine. (In the old days, we had manually locking hubs to cut the drive train out of the picture.) I don't know of any evidence that a 4WD Runner does measurably better in 2HI than in 4HI. Better--but measurably?
 
Re: Re: Re: V6 vs. V8 MPG

Dennis said:
Going into 2HI doesn't turn the vehicle into a 2WD. There is still a penalty to be paid for the addtional weight, not to mention having to turn over the front drive train even when it is disconnected from the engine. (In the old days, we had manually locking hubs to cut the drive train out of the picture.) I don't know of any evidence that a 4WD Runner does measurably better in 2HI than in 4HI. Better--but measurably?
Click to expand...

A good reference might be the Toyota highlander, which comes in a 2WD and 4wd. The 2WD only model gets like 19/25 MPG and the 4WD model gets 18/24 MPG. Pretty much in line with what the 4runner claims in MPG difference between the part time and the full time 4WD 4runners.
 
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