Do you miss the V8?

[mag3]

Hello. Having lurked for a while, I thought I'd post.

I'm a 4th gen owner (2006 4Runner Limited V8). Absolutely great, rides like a dream... Couldn't be happier.

Was a bit concerned when (it seems) the 5th gen 4Rs would be produced without a V8 option. I realize this may not be "PC" in this "energy conservation" oriented world of ours, but sometimes you just need that kind of power! I know the "Sequoia" has a V8 but that's just way too big for my needs. The 4R has the perfect size, center of gravity etc. etc. It doesn't ride like a truck.

So, for those of you who did own a 4R with V8 but now own a 5th gen 4R, do you miss the V8? Or is it even noticeable?

Thanks & Regards...

 

[Aggie]

Hello. Having lurked for a while, I thought I'd post.

I'm a 4th gen owner (2006 4Runner Limited V8). Absolutely great, rides like a dream... Couldn't be happier.

Was a bit concerned when (it seems) the 5th gen 4Rs would be produced without a V8 option. I realize this may not be "PC" in this "energy conservation" oriented world of ours, but sometimes you just need that kind of power! I know the "Sequoia" has a V8 but that's just way too big for my needs. The 4R has the perfect size, center of gravity etc. etc. It doesn't ride like a truck.

So, for those of you who did own a 4R with V8 but now own a 5th gen 4R, do you miss the V8? Or is it even noticeable?

Thanks & Regards...

I never owned a 4th gen 4Runner but I did own a couple of first gen tundras with the 4.7 V8. I can tell you, you lose a little power with the 4.0 V6 but not enough to make any difference at all IMO. Hope that helps.

 

[philsey]

Having test-driven a new Pathfinder with Nissan's 5.6L V8, I can say that it rocks.

I can only imagine how sweet the 4R would be with Toyota's 5.7L in it. Probably has more to do with CAFE than anything else.

Certainly nothing wrong with the current 4.0 tho, IMO.

 

[captainnemojr]

I figured the 4.0L could have had some more power squeezed from it. The 2010 Lexus RX 350 has a 3.5L and has 275hp and 257 torque. (granted, it runs on premium) Ours has 270/278. I don't know if 21 torque was all they could get out of an extra .5L. My 4th Gen had a V8 and it was a little more peppy.

What irks me the most is the stupid exhaust system. I think the 5th Gen would have looked great with dual exhaust. Instead (at least on 4wd models), the pipe from the left side of the engine squishes down to go under the transfer case and is the lowest part of the vehicle, while the right side is basically a straight pipe. Worse than that is any Cat-Back aftermarket system would bolt on after this squished part. I don't know how much power it is robbing, but it certainly cannot be good that a pipe gets flattened. :bash:

 

[Aggie]

Having test-driven a new Pathfinder with Nissan's 5.6L V8, I can say that it rocks.

I can only imagine how sweet the 4R would be with Toyota's 5.7L in it. Probably has more to do with CAFE than anything else.

Certainly nothing wrong with the current 4.0 tho, IMO.

I think the proper V8 to go in the 5th Gen 4Runners would be Toyota's new 4.6L V8 available in the Tundras, NOT the 5.7. I have had the Yota 5.7L in a Tundra and that motor could sh!t and get!

 

[MaylonTRD]

I think the proper V8 to go in the 5th Gen 4Runners would be Toyota's new 4.6L V8 available in the Tundras, NOT the 5.7. I have had the Yota 5.7L in a Tundra and that motor could sh!t and get!

Now thats funny! I have a tundra with the 5.7l and it is the reason I bought it. Even in a 6000# Crew Max will still haul a$$. I'm driving my wife's 2007 SE v6 Camry right now and I miss all that power. The camry is fast but there's something about that v8 power. I also agree that the 4.6l in the 4R would have been nice.

 

[ladywolf]

i had an 06 with the v8. I really don't miss it that much. It was nice to have the little bet extra towing capacity, but that was really about it. I get a little better mileage out of the V6, and the truck tows pretty decent. i hauled a small trailer with a bunch of stuff that probably equaled out to about 1000 lbs last weekend, and even then I averaged about 19 MPG on the freeway between GA and TN.

 

[bigbwb]

I had a 2003 & 2006 SE with V8 and now a 2010 TE. I do feel once the V6 gets moving and the RPMs get up a bit higher, it moves quite well. Down low off the line the V8 is a bit torquier. I actually think my 2010 V6 moves as well as my 2003 before the V8 went to VVti.

This summer will be the true test, I will be towing my 22.5' Crownline boat(4000lbs roughly). The V8 handled it very well and I have yet to tow with my TE.

 

[kingpin748]

The V6 was a selling point for me on this vehicle as it does what I want it to. If I had wanted something to race around town in I wouldn't have bought a SUV.

 

[Quentin]

I figured the 4.0L could have had some more power squeezed from it. The 2010 Lexus RX 350 has a 3.5L and has 275hp and 257 torque. (granted, it runs on premium) Ours has 270/278. I don't know if 21 torque was all they could get out of an extra .5L. My 4th Gen had a V8 and it was a little more peppy.

What irks me the most is the stupid exhaust system. I think the 5th Gen would have looked great with dual exhaust. Instead (at least on 4wd models), the pipe from the left side of the engine squishes down to go under the transfer case and is the lowest part of the vehicle, while the right side is basically a straight pipe. Worse than that is any Cat-Back aftermarket system would bolt on after this squished part. I don't know how much power it is robbing, but it certainly cannot be good that a pipe gets flattened. :bash:

The way the 2GR makes power is completely different than the 1GR. The 2GR would not be something you'd want in something as heavy as the 4Runner due to the torque curve. It really starts going hog wild around 3500RPM. You'd have to make the gearing much more aggressive to be able to move the truck around in town and that would kill your highway mileage.

Is the cross sectional area the same in this "squished" section as a normal portion of the pipe? If so, the power loss would be negligible.

 

[03_4x4Runner]

The V6 is the reason I am not driving a 2010. I test drove a limited when they 1st came out. I was disapointed by the engine sound and power. It just felt rough. Last week I wanted to give the 2010 another chance. I test drove a trail edition. Again I left there in my 03 V8 feeling that I like my 03 a lot better just from the instant low end torque and smooth V8 sound. I really wanted to say I like the 2010 and not I do not know what to buy. I also felt I gave up to much with auto temp, full gas tank skid and center dif not standard.

 

[Climb14er]

I got a call from the General Manager friend of mine the other day and he had a fully fueled up black 2010 Limited V6 ready for me to test drive. He said to me 'tell me exactly what you think and I'll tell you what I think'.

Drove it for forty miles, up the foothills and all around. My opinion:

'I like to drink a shot and a beer but all I was given was a wine cooler'.

The 2010 4Runner Limited was nicely appointed but SLOW big time. I was totally bored driving this vehicle!

My 2007 V8 4 x 4 Sport is fun to drive with a ton of power and get-up-and-go. The 2010 V6 was anemic and I came away unimpressed with the power to weight ratio.

The General Manager told me that he too was unimpressed and the vehicle should have been offered with the 4.6 V8 and six speed tranny.

I am very happy to have bought my 75K extended warranty for $650.00 as I'm looking forward to driving my V8 for a number of more years. :

 

[Brian_TN]

I traded in a 2007 tundra crewmax 5.7 4x4 with 37,000 miles/payed off, and i can tell ya i dont miss the v8 at all. After trading my 98 4runner limited for the tundra, cause i really disliked the 4th gen 4runners. Im now very happy! The power isn't bad at all. But ive got a 2004 f250 4x4 powerstroke to tow my 33ft camper, so towing is not a problem for me either.

 

[sandcrawler]

first driving home my 2010 TE, coming into a turn where i typically goosed my '06 V8, i must admit feeling a momentary twinge of "where's the beef?" but now, 4 weeks later, not so much. and the fact that i remember that singular moment says something in itself.

honestly, the '10 feels better to me all the time. and i even find myself thinking it has a decent tone to it. and this is all at only ~800 miles—i'm still driving quite conservatively for the break-in period.

V8 or not, my 2010 TE feels like an upgrade.

 

[adoihcj]

Never owned a V8 4R, so I can't comment on the difference in power between the V8 and V6. What I can say is that I love the power in the 5th gen and also love the sound of the engine (especially around 3,500 - 4,000 rpms). I totally understand that low end torque power feeling you are talking about with the V8 but is it really necessary?

Didn't someone post a comparison of the two engines in this forum somewhere (0-60 times were virtually identical weren't they). Can someone find that post and provide a link?

In my opinion, if you need to tow anything over 5,000 lbs, then I can see why you want the V8. However, for those of us who never tow anything other than a hitch-mounted Yakima bike rack, I have no need for the V8.

 

[M1911]

I totally understand that low end torque power feeling you are talking about with the V8 but is it really necessary?

Lots of things aren't necessary. A Porsche 911 isn't necessary. A 1998 Heitz Bella Oaks isn't necessary. A prime rack of lamb isn't necessary. That doesn't mean I don't like them.

Didn't someone post a comparison of the two engines in this forum somewhere (0-60 times were virtually identical weren't they). Can someone find that post and provide a link?

They aren't hugely different. Depending upon the magazine, I've seen numbers that show the V8 is between 1/2 to 1 second faster.

What I like about the V8 is that low RPM effortless torque. No need to wind out the engine. No need to wait for a downshift. The quiet, effortless torque lets me move out quickly and quietly, without even bothering Mrs. M1911 in the right hand seat.

 

[Uneek]

I know the "Sequoia" has a V8 but that's just way too big for my needs. The 4R has the perfect size, center of gravity etc. etc. It doesn't ride like a truck.

Lexus GX. The 4Runner's expensive cousin.

 

[mag3]

Hello. Having lurked for a while, I thought I'd post.

I'm a 4th gen owner (2006 4Runner Limited V8). Absolutely great, rides like a dream... Couldn't be happier.

Was a bit concerned when (it seems) the 5th gen 4Rs would be produced without a V8 option. I realize this may not be "PC" in this "energy conservation" oriented world of ours, but sometimes you just need that kind of power! I know the "Sequoia" has a V8 but that's just way too big for my needs. The 4R has the perfect size, center of gravity etc. etc. It doesn't ride like a truck.

So, for those of you who did own a 4R with V8 but now own a 5th gen 4R, do you miss the V8? Or is it even noticeable?

Thanks & Regards...

Thank you all for the replies. Please keep'em coming.

As for me, I don't need the V8 for towing, although I often carry a lot of weight in the back area (SCUBA tanks etc.). I find the V8 much more valuable in re: "simple highway maneuvering" (passing a huge truck, coming from the "on-ramp" into the slow lane etc.). The first two cars I ever owned were V6's, and they didn't do so well in that department. After that is was V8's all the way, and I haven't turned back. Sometimes, you just need that extra burst of power.

I realize, of course, that they're not all that fuel efficient, but the 06's V8 seemed the most fuel efficient of all. I can get 19.mpg on the highway, and even better at times.

Anyway, I hope I have a long way to go on my '06 4R. Thanks All.

 

[mag3]

Lexus GX. The 4Runner's expensive cousin.

Key word.... Expensive!

 

[Quentin]

Thank you all for the replies. Please keep'em coming.

As for me, I don't need the V8 for towing, although I often carry a lot of weight in the back area (SCUBA tanks etc.). I find the V8 much more valuable in re: "simple highway maneuvering" (passing a huge truck, coming from the "on-ramp" into the slow lane etc.). The first two cars I ever owned were V6's, and they didn't do so well in that department. After that is was V8's all the way, and I haven't turned back. Sometimes, you just need that extra burst of power.

I realize, of course, that they're not all that fuel efficient, but the 06's V8 seemed the most fuel efficient of all. I can get 19.mpg on the highway, and even better at times.

Anyway, I hope I have a long way to go on my '06 4R. Thanks All.

Only 130 miles into owning my 5th gen and my little mileage thingy says an average of 21mpg.... and I'm not even broken in yet.

So far, I've had no instances of needing "emergency" power. I'd think that popping it over into sport and kicking down to 3rd would take care of it.