V6 or V8

[The Beast]

I love the V8 although this is my wife's daily driver and she drives like an old lady, when I drive and I want the power to pass it gets up and goes like a muscle car :biggrin2: that just makes me happy. I learned a long time ago "there is no substitute for cubic inches"
The timing belt is just maintenance if you replace it with the water pump every 90-100k you'll never have a problem with it breaking. Toyota has always made a great vehicle so what ever you choose i'm sure you will like it.

 

[madeinhb]

So I am sitting here fairly depressed. The dealer sent the final pics of the unit I was hoping to buy and when taking it outside it looks like the damn thing was driving through a briar patch. Doors all scratched up. The frint and rear bumpers were already scratched which was fine but now the sides. So I went from extreme excitement to being pissed off. I am on month 5 now and quite frankly getting tired of looking at 4runners trying to find the right one. I am not looking for perfect, but come on who treats their truck like that.

We do go offroading. And when that happens, sometimes you encounter tree branches, etc. Not everyone who has a 4R is a soccer mom

 

[GrassFed]

Let's not forget that according to Toyota the 4.0 in the T4R was Toyota's 1st ever:
-aluminum truck engine
-VVTi truck engine
-variable intake (ACIS) truck engine
-use of 3D modelling in an engine design

So yes, I will go out on a limb and call the 4.0 a great engine It has been the primary powerplant of the T4R for 2 full generations now and for at least 14 model years and counting.

I definitely hear you Greg. I tend to be a little hard on engines that have "head gasket poll" type threads about them. I don't want to come across as a V8 snob, I just prefer the engine that, everything being equal, doesn't have to work as hard to do the job. On Hwy trips going 75-80 a few hundred pounds of people and luggage, we get about 17.5-18. That is not bad at all if you ask me. With a similar load and the V6, what are we talking - probably more like 20? Anyhow, they have been using it for 2 full generations like you said so obviously they aren't getting enough failures to warrant a redesign, or like another fellow said, they aren't selling enough to see a high amount of failures. They used the VZ engine for 2 generations as well, being the 3 and 5VZ, both of which blew head gaskets and cracked heads. The 5VZ offending less often.

That's enough rambling for one night, but it is fun to think about that's for sure

Matt

 

[alia176]

I've gone 368,000 miles on the same V6 timing chain. Just food for thought! 3 timing belts @ $500 a piece, I just saved $1500 on my car insurance!

I'm at 310xxx miles and I believe the PO did the timing belt at 100k. So, I'm going on 200k on the same timing belt and water pump. Before I bought it from the PO (at 270xxx miles), he had the timing belt visually inspected and they looked "great", according to him anyway. I'll do this project this summer sometime.

Agreed with others, this V8 engine is super sweet and smooth, nary a drop of oil. I'm amazed, to say the least. I did install a Gibson cat back with the OEM tail pipe resonator so the sound is really nice for me. The OEM exhaust system was in great shape at 300k but I just wanted a little "sound" from my V8.

I routinely get 17-20 mpg (corrected, not indicated)

 

[08t4rsr5]

I'm quite a fan of the V6. at 150K this is the best engine I have ever experienced in any vehicle I've owned. (Though I did previous drive Rangers and S10s) I love this engine, more than enough power and torque for my commuting and towing needs. Heck, I just bought a second 4th gen with the same engine and my wife's rig has 125K on it and I'm not worried.

 

[yosh2000]

I wouldn't be surprised to see them bring back the V8 option for the 6th gen.

wont happen due to CAFE standards.

why do you think they lease electric vehicles in CA and do not allow people to buy them. i have read in several reports that car companies actually take a lose on those leases, but its enough to get their CAFE number up on their overall fleet, so they within the law.

 

[GatorGreg]

They got rid of the V8 because of CAFE standards. Period.

You're joking - right? Did you forget that Toyota is the corporation that makes the Prius? I'm guessing Toyota (or maybe Honda?) has the highest Corporate Average Fuel Economy of ANY major manufacturer so CAFE standards were probably of little to no concern to Toyota when they decided to discontinue the V8 option for the T4R. If you can find something semi-authoritative to back up your assertion I'd love to read it

As I stated earlier, the painfully obvious cause for the death of the V8 T4R (and the near death of all T4Rs for that matter) was gas prices - which if I recall correctly more than doubled from about 2005 to 2007.

I was curious what the percentage of V8 production was by model year for the 4th gen but since I couldn't find any definitive info from Toyota I just searched on AutoTrader for 4th gen T4Rs for sale across the entire USA by model year both total and those having a V8 - the results of my non-scientific research are below (yes, I know I have way too much time on my hands ).

The results clearly prove IMO that sales of the T4R were directly and adversely impacted by gas prices which stifled demand for the T4R in general but particularly the demand for that of the V8 T4R - note the data shows that the percentage of V8s appears to have fallen to less than 10% in the final 2 years of the 4th gen.

Now that gas prices have dropped back down to what they were in the early years of the 4th gen, don't be surprised if Toyota brings back the V8 - I certainly hope they do. The tremendous decline in gas prices over the last 2 years has obviously led to the recent surge in 5th gen sales - so the consumer demand for a 6th gen with an optional V8 would probably warrant Toyota bringing it back IMO

Year Total V8 % with V8

2003 235 121 51.5%
2004 292 84 28.8%
2005 331 111 33.5%
2006 360 69 19.2%
2007 358 65 18.2%
2008 250 23 9.2%
2009 40 3 7.5%

 

[No Name]

"...v6...didnt want a full time 4x4...liked the timing chain...

That made my decision as well.

 

[Utopia]

Ok now I am just on the fence. I thought I wanted a 6. Found an 8 and got sold on it , which fell through, now I am back on the fence again. Although I am leaning towards an 8.

 

[montana_jeepn]

I've driven a new V6 (rental) and own an old V8 with about 145k on the clock.

My choice was more emotional than logical......I just love V8's. My only regret with the V8 is that there is such a small/limited aftermarket for performance parts as I am always seeking more power.

You really can't go wrong with either. Just find a well maintained/loved 4Runner and she will give you years of reliable service/enjoyment.

 

[Jmcmath]

For your situation seems like find a well taken care of 4Runner at a good price and go with it. I wouldn't base it on engine at all.

I needed towing capacity so preferred the v8(and needed 4wd either way) but was still open to the v6. The one I found happened to be an 8 and I never looked back. Pure Highway I'll get 18 heavy traffic 15, v6 is probably slightly better.

Aftermarket is probably poor but I haven't looked much, it's a cargo hauler and tow pig, not a race car. I have something much lighter for play time

I think they will both be very reliable. Other than general maintenance I replaced wheel studs from the previous owners screw up and timing belt/water pump at 100k. Granted I'm only at 110 now it has been a great vehicle. I think you will be very pleased either way. I would keep it forever if it had a bench front seat but alas nothing is perfect.

 

[Utopia]

Well it looks like they talked to a body shop and they might be able to get the scratches out. So I am keeping my fingers crossed.

 

[BioHAzard050]

Im asking this question myself. Im looking for a 4th gen (Currently have a first gen as my daily driver, sadly its time to retire it to fun toy status) and im stuck between the two. Powaaaaahhhh vs MPG. :noidea:

 

[unevolved]

Im asking this question myself. Im looking for a 4th gen (Currently have a first gen as my daily driver, sadly its time to retire it to fun toy status) and im stuck between the two. Powaaaaahhhh vs MPG. :noidea:

The way I reconciled that decision... Neither one is a fuel efficient engine. One is just less thirsty than the other. Might as well get the most useful one.

 

[BioHAzard050]

The way I reconciled that decision... Neither one is a fuel efficient engine. One is just less thirsty than the other. Might as well get the most useful one.

Heh, by my definition more useful = more power. Either one will be a fair bit quicker than my 3.0 first gen. 0-60 in 16 seconds, 20 with the AC on. Bleh. While I'm on that, whats the 0-60 times on a 2005 v6 vs a v8?

 

[Jmcmath]

V8 is like 7.2. I doubt you'd ever actually hit that. If more useful = faster maybe a car? Lol

 

[Utopia]

Supercharger

 

[BioHAzard050]

V8 is like 7.2. I doubt you'd ever actually hit that. If more useful = faster maybe a car? Lol

Well...Fairly quick and able to handle rough roads.

 

[arisyn]

I just bought a 2005 V8 Sport Edition. So glad I went with the V8. It shifts so smoothly and I love having the extra torque

 

[GatorGreg]

Heh, by my definition more useful = more power. Either one will be a fair bit quicker than my 3.0 first gen. 0-60 in 16 seconds, 20 with the AC on. Bleh. While I'm on that, whats the 0-60 times on a 2005 v6 vs a v8?

Judging from the vids I found below the 4.0 does 0-60 in about 8.0 seconds and the V8 is about 7 seconds. So the 4.0 is a bit slower than the 4.7 (and doesn't sound as good either) BUT it's still about twice as fast as your 1st gen AND gets better mpg in the process according to EPA (17city/21hwy for '05 4WD V6 v. 15city/18hwy for the '89 4WD V6 auto - note both are the original window sticker mpg figures, not the current figures that have been lowered by EPA for both).

The 4.0 has 245hp @5200 rpm compared to the '89 3.0's 150hp @ 4800 rpm and the 4.0 has 282 lb-ft of torque @3400 rpm compared to your 3.0's 180 lb-ft @3400 rpm so the 4.0 will feel like a rocket ship in comparison (hp and torque figures are again both the older ratings).

2003 4.0 V6


2006 4.0 V6


2003 4.7 V8