V6 or V8
- Thread starter ghs215
- Start date
paperchasin
New member
V6 here...actually paid a little more for the V6 over the V8.
strathcona
New member
8 I like the extra pulling power and the full time 4 wheel drive, it's winter here 6 months of the year.
Doesn't matter....what ever suits my needs at the time. What difference does it make to anyone what engine I prefer.
I have the V6...approaching 280k miles.
I've had ZERO repairs beyond normal maintenance. However the front bakes do need a lot more servicing then any other vehicle I've owned. I use 4wd a lot...Especially this past winter. Snowiest winter on record here in NH.
I have the V6...approaching 280k miles.
I've had ZERO repairs beyond normal maintenance. However the front bakes do need a lot more servicing then any other vehicle I've owned. I use 4wd a lot...Especially this past winter. Snowiest winter on record here in NH.
DanielMaat89
New member
I have a v6 sr5 4x4. I love this thing, I am consistently getting low to mid 20's on fuel economy, and when I tow, I fill her up with premium and it wakes it up. I bought it last year with 120,000 on her and am Approaching 150.
Agreed. The only work I've had done on the 4WD system is having the oil replaced in the differentials. That's it over the course 160k miles.
Brake calipers, on other hand, have been a major expense.
Slowgoat
New member
I wanted a V8 4x4 Sport.
Looked for 13 months. The exact truck I wanted in a V6 finally popped up. I had driven a bunch of non-Sport V8s, and I said to myself to just give it a try.
The V6 was very nice, and I am not towing with it (most important factor!!!).
So I pulled the trigger, and never regretted it (though for a few weeks I was doubtful).
So if you are not building up a substantial rig, and or aren't towing, a V6 is very nice.
FYI, before they released the VTTi version of the V8 in 05 , the V6 actually claimed more horsepower.
Mine is an 04, so the 04 V8s didn't have VTTi, so the only advantage in that year is torque. That really surprised me.
When they released the V8 VTTi in 05, the claimed HP numbers were slightly higher than the V6, then the numbers were lowered in 06.
I think the word "claimed" is very important here.
04: V6@245 HP vs. V8@235 HP
05: V6@245 HP vs. V8@270 HP
06: V6@236 HP vs. V8@260 HP
Then Toyota dropped the V8 from 4runners in the 5th gen.
IMHO when they created the VTTi version of the V8, they were expecting it to be a bigger jump in HP over the non-VTTi V8.
Add in the higher fuel prices and the recession back then, with many more V6s getting sold, and now we can't even get a 5th Gen in V8 at all!! (The good news is the 5th gen dual VTTi V6 has claimed 275 HP, 5 HP better than the 05 VTTi V8!)
You get more torque with a V8. But early in the 4th Gens, the V6 had better fuel efficiency, a timing chain (less maintenance), slightly more HP, were an aluminum block vs. iron (lighter) and you can turn the 4wd off (to me a quirk, and in no way a good or bad thing either way).
In hindsight, would I have gotten the V8 if I had had the chance?
Sure!
Gas mileage is very close. I'd do the timing belt myself. More torque without a substantial penalty is always good!!!
Is a V6 not as good? Depends on your needs. You can't go wrong either way, though.
Looked for 13 months. The exact truck I wanted in a V6 finally popped up. I had driven a bunch of non-Sport V8s, and I said to myself to just give it a try.
The V6 was very nice, and I am not towing with it (most important factor!!!).
So I pulled the trigger, and never regretted it (though for a few weeks I was doubtful).
So if you are not building up a substantial rig, and or aren't towing, a V6 is very nice.
FYI, before they released the VTTi version of the V8 in 05 , the V6 actually claimed more horsepower.
Mine is an 04, so the 04 V8s didn't have VTTi, so the only advantage in that year is torque. That really surprised me.
When they released the V8 VTTi in 05, the claimed HP numbers were slightly higher than the V6, then the numbers were lowered in 06.
I think the word "claimed" is very important here.
04: V6@245 HP vs. V8@235 HP
05: V6@245 HP vs. V8@270 HP
06: V6@236 HP vs. V8@260 HP
Then Toyota dropped the V8 from 4runners in the 5th gen.
IMHO when they created the VTTi version of the V8, they were expecting it to be a bigger jump in HP over the non-VTTi V8.
Add in the higher fuel prices and the recession back then, with many more V6s getting sold, and now we can't even get a 5th Gen in V8 at all!! (The good news is the 5th gen dual VTTi V6 has claimed 275 HP, 5 HP better than the 05 VTTi V8!)
You get more torque with a V8. But early in the 4th Gens, the V6 had better fuel efficiency, a timing chain (less maintenance), slightly more HP, were an aluminum block vs. iron (lighter) and you can turn the 4wd off (to me a quirk, and in no way a good or bad thing either way).
In hindsight, would I have gotten the V8 if I had had the chance?
Sure!
Gas mileage is very close. I'd do the timing belt myself. More torque without a substantial penalty is always good!!!
Is a V6 not as good? Depends on your needs. You can't go wrong either way, though.
97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
V6, 10 more horse power, way better gas mileage, and I don't tow anything substantial. I'm on my second 4.0L V6 4Runner, I liked my first one so much, I traded it in on a newer one :smokin:
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has the v8 and v6 magically changed since 10 years ago?
Im sure they have not from the hundreds of threads that ask the same questions.lol
Anyhow its always fun to see these threads. Consensus says v8, because its a v8!!!
The only people that prefer a v6 are the ones who wants to save 2mpg per gallon, and the ones who already have a v6.
I got a v8 because its was cheaper than the v6 a couple years ago due to high gas prices.
I can make a living buying v8's of all makes and sell then 6 months down the road when gas prices fluctuates.
Torque brotha.. HP are for lightweight cars.
Im sure they have not from the hundreds of threads that ask the same questions.lol
Anyhow its always fun to see these threads. Consensus says v8, because its a v8!!!
The only people that prefer a v6 are the ones who wants to save 2mpg per gallon, and the ones who already have a v6.
I got a v8 because its was cheaper than the v6 a couple years ago due to high gas prices.
I can make a living buying v8's of all makes and sell then 6 months down the road when gas prices fluctuates.
Torque brotha.. HP are for lightweight cars.
StoreRunner
New member
I just had to make this decision. It was tough. I wanted to be able to switch from 2wd to 4wd and I'm not a fan of timing belts so I naturally was more inclined to the v6 before I drove them both. It was all over as soon as I drove the v8. Feels more torquey and pulled me back into my seat more. Not to mention the sound is a bit deeper and meaner. So far I do wish I could switch into 2wd, get 2mpg better and not have to think about a timing belt - but I forget about all that as soon as I hit the gas pedal.
That being said I've heard amazing things about the v6 and I would recommend both. Depends on what you value more. 2mpg, switching to 2wd and a timing chain vs more power, towing etc.
There isnt a better choice there just the right choice for me/you which may be different.
That being said I've heard amazing things about the v6 and I would recommend both. Depends on what you value more. 2mpg, switching to 2wd and a timing chain vs more power, towing etc.
There isnt a better choice there just the right choice for me/you which may be different.
97BlackAckCL
Elite Member
As I said, I don't tow anything significant like trailers or boats, so for me it's nicer to have more hp, and better mpg than the v8. Especially since as you mentioned gas prices were so much higher when I bought both my v6's
I keep saying that. It's the torque that makes the V8 awesome, horsepower don't mean squat on day to day usage. 335 ft/lbs is significant in a less than 5000 lb vehicle.
Sporin
New member
Having owned both now, I think my preference is for the V8 but don't take that as a dig on the V6 at all. I'd miss the 2WD mode, but the extra grunt is so nice and that 4.7 is one of the best engines ever made IMO.
If you are shopping in the cheaper end of the range, V6 or V8 would be way down my list of concerns (condition, maintenance, etc. are way more important) but if you are shopping at the higher end of the $pectrum, I'd be looking for a V8.
If you are shopping in the cheaper end of the range, V6 or V8 would be way down my list of concerns (condition, maintenance, etc. are way more important) but if you are shopping at the higher end of the $pectrum, I'd be looking for a V8.
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I guess it comes down to towing in the end. both are very capable but in reality if you're not towing you don't need the v8 model ifs just a gas guzzler in the end.
The v6 has plenty of power, fast and capable and its great on the gas.
Either works for me
I live in Chicago so 4x4 is used constantly in the winter here along with the midwest travel I do for work
And for the occasional off road journey here and there
The v6 has plenty of power, fast and capable and its great on the gas.
Either works for me
I live in Chicago so 4x4 is used constantly in the winter here along with the midwest travel I do for work
And for the occasional off road journey here and there
