Scaling Back V8 > V6 and other stuff...

[triguy74]

Hey Gang...

Been a while since I posted last. Hope all is well.

So I got an outside sales gig that has me driving quite a bit. I work in the sporting goods world mostly for cycling and triathlon. So I lug a lot of gear/bikes/clothes/etc around.

I was considering maybe unloading my '05 Limited V8 and getting an '06 Sport Edition with a V6. I would get better gas mileage (maybe only slightly) and I wouldn't be so worried about the leather and all. It's going to get 25K miles a year on it and I'd rather put that on a different truck than my pimped out Limited. I'v considered a Rav4, Highlander or hell...even the Honda Element. I need better gas mileage, but hate to give up the luxury and ruggedness of the 4Runner I have.

Any thoughts? Am I splitting hairs with this? My Limited has 75K miles on it right now and runs like a dream.

 

[Mutombo]

Hey Gang...

Been a while since I posted last. Hope all is well.

So I got an outside sales gig that has me driving quite a bit. I work in the sporting goods world mostly for cycling and triathlon. So I lug a lot of gear/bikes/clothes/etc around.

I was considering maybe unloading my '05 Limited V8 and getting an '06 Sport Edition with a V6. I would get better gas mileage (maybe only slightly) and I wouldn't be so worried about the leather and all. It's going to get 25K miles a year on it and I'd rather put that on a different truck than my pimped out Limited. I'v considered a Rav4, Highlander or hell...even the Honda Element. I need better gas mileage, but hate to give up the luxury and ruggedness of the 4Runner I have.

Any thoughts? Am I splitting hairs with this? My Limited has 75K miles on it right now and runs like a dream.

Why not just keep the Limited and drive it for as long as you can? Not worth the slight increase in mpg, in my opinion.

 

[ATB]

If you ever traded your V8 Limited for a Rav4 It wold ruin my day.:sobbing:

All for keeping the V8.

 

[DaveS]

I would keep the V8 - it's a gem now the 2010 is V6 only. What you will lose on making the switch will be more than you will save on the gas. Plus you know the history of what you have - switching to a 06 V6 means you could be inheriting somebody else's problems. And please don't make reference to the Honda Element again:sobbing:

 

[SkylineGTRracer]

Depends really on if you prefer the looks of the 03-05 4runner and the 06-09 one. I'd say keep it just keep your maintenance in check. and really if you wanna get improve MPG than change your driving style. I got a V-6 and avg 12 MPG. and if that doesn't help remember the aftermarket is your friend if you look in the right spot.

 

[Dbone]

For god sake don't go to a v6 4runner. Make the savings worth it and get a 4 cylinder rav 4 or element or something...wasting time and money going to another 4runner.

This seems like a regret in the making to me. But hey, if you're strapped you're strapped...Hard times these days...

Good luck

Cheers

 

[offshorebear]

Get a van if your hauling stuff. Ford Transit or the Dodge euro van would work well.

 

[MikesToy]

Keep the V8 and buy a used truck/van/suv for your sporting goods work.

 

[Maz]

Unless you're very talented at selling and buying cars, it's likely anything you would eventually save on gas will be wiped out up front after the trade, taxes, and registration costs. As far as protecting your leather maybe seat covers?? Sure it sucks to cover up that beautiful leather, but at least they'll still be under there.

 

[Mtn.Rush]

Keep the V8 and drive the snot out of it and if you mention Honda element :barf: again your T4R membership will be revoked FOREVER!

 

[triguy74]

Yeah, I figured that would be the response. The other side of logging lots of miles is, if you're going to be in a car that much, it should be comfortable and have all the fun stuff you want.

Thanks for the comments...I was leaning towards keeping it anyway. Besides, I'd have to do another projector retro-fit on what I buy anyway.

 

[M1911]

The difference in mileage between a V8 and V6 is only 1-2 mpg on the highway. The savings you get in fuel costs will never make up for your transaction costs. As a general rule, the cheapest vehicle is the one you already own.

Keep your V8 and run it into the ground, or replace it with something that gets dramatically better mileage (e.g., Jetta TDI wagon).

 

[Teqeeler]

I say get the v6. It's not like the v6 is amazing on gas mileage either but if you want anything better that means getting something different then a 4runner. I think it's a good compromise, I can't imagine driving my v8 for a living, I love the engine but damn the mileage is not good. Plus if you sell your limited now you won't have to replace the timing belt:hungry:

Not to split hairs but isn't the mileage difference more like 3-4 mpg on highway? My v8 will do around 18-19 on the highway.

 

[RIrunner]

I say get the v6. It's not like the v6 is amazing on gas mileage either but if you want anything better that means getting something different then a 4runner. I think it's a good compromise, I can't imagine driving my v8 for a living, I love the engine but damn the mileage is not good. Plus if you sell your limited now you won't have to replace the timing belt:hungry:

Not to split hairs but isn't the mileage difference more like 3-4 mpg on highway? My v8 will do around 18-19 on the highway.

So say its 4 extra miles per gallon on a 15 gallon tank. That means on every tank he would go an extra 60 miles per tank in a v6?

So he would safe roughly what 6-9 dollars a tank?

If the V6 cost him a 1000 bucks [regestration ect] it would take him about 100 tanks of gas to break even no?

So if he does about 25k miles a year he wont find any gas savings until year 2 correct?

This is just my fuzzy math as I sit here on a rainy day eatin my soup so it could be off:wink2:

 

[M1911]

Not to split hairs but isn't the mileage difference more like 3-4 mpg on highway? My v8 will do around 18-19 on the highway.

No. 1-2 mpg. But even at 3 mpg it doesn't make a significant difference.

Let's assume that the V6 gets 21 mpg and the V8 gets 18 mpg. At 25,000 miles per year, that is 1190 gallons per year for the V6 and 1389 gallons per year for the V8. At the current average price of gas ($2.78/gallon), that is a fuel cost of $3310/year for the V6 and $3861/year for the V8 -- a difference of $552/year. In other words, about $10/week.

It simply isn't worth it. You'll lose far more money on the transaction than you will ever save in gas.

Keep the V8 4Runner and run it into the ground, or trade it on something that will get high 30s on the highway.

 

[Dbone]

No. 1-2 mpg. But even at 3 mpg it doesn't make a significant difference.

Let's assume that the V6 gets 21 mpg and the V8 gets 18 mpg. At 25,000 miles per year, that is 1190 gallons per year for the V6 and 1389 gallons per year for the V8. At the current average price of gas ($2.78/gallon), that is a fuel cost of $3310/year for the V6 and $3861/year for the V8 -- a difference of $552/year. In other words, about $10/week.

It simply isn't worth it. You'll lose far more money on the transaction than you will ever save in gas.

Keep the V8 4Runner and run it into the ground, or trade it on something that will get high 30s on the highway.

And if he tows anything the mileage on the v6 will be worse than the v8...likely...working harder etc.

Cheers

 

[Teqeeler]

No. 1-2 mpg. But even at 3 mpg it doesn't make a significant difference.

Let's assume that the V6 gets 21 mpg and the V8 gets 18 mpg. At 25,000 miles per year, that is 1190 gallons per year for the V6 and 1389 gallons per year for the V8. At the current average price of gas ($2.78/gallon), that is a fuel cost of $3310/year for the V6 and $3861/year for the V8 -- a difference of $552/year. In other words, about $10/week.

It simply isn't worth it. You'll lose far more money on the transaction than you will ever save in gas.

Keep the V8 4Runner and run it into the ground, or trade it on something that will get high 30s on the highway.

I disagree.
Where talking a an 05 v8 limited to an 06 sport edition. There will be very little difference in price between the 2 vehicle's and i'm sure with some searching he could find one for the same price he can sell his for. By selling his v8 he will also not have to change the timing belt, thats over $1000 right there.
The mpg difference is definitely more then 1 mpg, I don't see it being to unreasonable to see him come out ahead in the not to distance future

 

[sr5hi]

Hey Gang...

Been a while since I posted last. Hope all is well.

So I got an outside sales gig that has me driving quite a bit. I work in the sporting goods world mostly for cycling and triathlon. So I lug a lot of gear/bikes/clothes/etc around.

I was considering maybe unloading my '05 Limited V8 and getting an '06 Sport Edition with a V6. I would get better gas mileage (maybe only slightly) and I wouldn't be so worried about the leather and all. It's going to get 25K miles a year on it and I'd rather put that on a different truck than my pimped out Limited. I'v considered a Rav4, Highlander or hell...even the Honda Element. I need better gas mileage, but hate to give up the luxury and ruggedness of the 4Runner I have.

Any thoughts? Am I splitting hairs with this? My Limited has 75K miles on it right now and runs like a dream.

If your primary concern is not adding additional wear and tear on your Limited, then by all means get another vehicle for business use if you can afford it, while keeping the Limited for personal use. If it is just the fuel cost factor, then keep the Limited and because you use it for business you should be able to take some tax deductions at the end of the year to help offset some of the extra fuel cost for the V8.

 

[M1911]

The mpg difference is definitely more then 1 mpg, I don't see it being to unreasonable to see him come out ahead in the not to distance future

Please take a look at the numbers that I calculated. I calculated those at a 3 mpg difference. Even at that difference, which I think is high, the difference is only $550/year.

 

[tkr128]

Keep the V8. Although the V6 can be pretty good on gas (I've gotten as high as 25mpg), it's not worth it to trade in a perfectly fine V8. I was driving around 23k miles a year when I first bought my 4Runner and although I could've left the 4Runner at home and driven a Corolla to save a lot of gas, the 4Runner was just more comfortable on long drives. If it's comfortable, keep it.