need help from my 4 runner friends... Looking at a Honda accord for my 19 YO daughter- she needs a car with better mileage- she's had the 4D jeep wrangler .. but the one that she likes has a V engine- is the mileage alot better with the 4 cylinder or just a couple a miles better per gallon-
V6 vs 4 cylinder
- Thread starter hlsess
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thta's what i think too- just reseearched it- and looks like 4 cyl is the one to get
Personally I would go with the six cylinder. I think she would like the car much better and be willing to keep it longer.
I've been there and done that. My daughter is still upset that she totalled her Accord Coupe by hitting a deer. She loved that car and it had the six cyl with a five speed. Had she still had when she started having kids I might have taken it off her hands and kept it myself because she needed four doors with the kids.
Other daughter had a four cyl Sentra and she beat the crap out of that car, but it lasted a long time.
I've been there and done that. My daughter is still upset that she totalled her Accord Coupe by hitting a deer. She loved that car and it had the six cyl with a five speed. Had she still had when she started having kids I might have taken it off her hands and kept it myself because she needed four doors with the kids.
Other daughter had a four cyl Sentra and she beat the crap out of that car, but it lasted a long time.
BluSkies
New member
I speak from personal experience, before I bought my Runner I had a 4 cyl. Accord, I was averaging about 29 to 33 mpg, and it had enough power to get up and go if needed. I test drove both the 4 cyl and the 6 and went with the 4, just wasn't enough difference for me to justify getting the 6 at the time.
who done it
New member
I had a 4 banger accord before the t4r. Got it when I was 17 and it lasted me until now. 253k miles and the living hell was kicked out of it. I would get the 4 banger because as a kid we drove everywhere, and mileage really matters when your driving all over the place, even if its just around town.
I have a 98 4 cyl and have no complaints! 110,000 miles and zero issues/ no leaks. just around town I get (real world mpg) 22-23 mpg and on the highway I easily top 30 and have gotten over 450 miles per tank countless times with my max being about 470! city gets me 350-360 miles to the tank.
The 4cyl has plenty of power and honda 4cylinders are very snappy but its just like comparing the 4runner v8 to v6 in a sense. When I test drove the runner the 6 felt more aggressive and the 8 just went with ease especially up hills (not that the 6 didn't just more noticeable on the 8). Both were great and each had characteristics I loved!
My mom has an 04 6cyl and it has a lot more power. A bit smoother overall. City is about 19-21 mpg and highway 26-28. I have driven both cars and really feel the 4cyl is better in wet weather especially from the start. The 6 just spins the tires even with quality tires. Tons of torque and very quick.
Just for a comparison: I have a steep incline near my house. When I pull out at the stop sign and go up hill my 4cyl will rev to 3600-3800 rpm's while the 6 easily stays under 3000.
Both are great motors and if the price were equal I might opt for the v6 however, I never wish my car had the v6. It is just a great overall engine either way you go!
The 4cyl are more available and the v6 is a little more rare. I know several people who have taken the 4cyl to 200,000+ miles with no maintenance not even a timing belt! I wouldn't advise that though! I had an old honda that had 245,000 miles on it that ran like new with the exception of a leaky exhaust manifold gasket. I sold it years ago to a friend and it's still on the road!
MPG also depends on the year. I believe honda put a 5 speed in their v6 cars in 2004.
I don't think you go wrong either way!
The 4cyl has plenty of power and honda 4cylinders are very snappy but its just like comparing the 4runner v8 to v6 in a sense. When I test drove the runner the 6 felt more aggressive and the 8 just went with ease especially up hills (not that the 6 didn't just more noticeable on the 8). Both were great and each had characteristics I loved!
My mom has an 04 6cyl and it has a lot more power. A bit smoother overall. City is about 19-21 mpg and highway 26-28. I have driven both cars and really feel the 4cyl is better in wet weather especially from the start. The 6 just spins the tires even with quality tires. Tons of torque and very quick.
Just for a comparison: I have a steep incline near my house. When I pull out at the stop sign and go up hill my 4cyl will rev to 3600-3800 rpm's while the 6 easily stays under 3000.
Both are great motors and if the price were equal I might opt for the v6 however, I never wish my car had the v6. It is just a great overall engine either way you go!
The 4cyl are more available and the v6 is a little more rare. I know several people who have taken the 4cyl to 200,000+ miles with no maintenance not even a timing belt! I wouldn't advise that though! I had an old honda that had 245,000 miles on it that ran like new with the exception of a leaky exhaust manifold gasket. I sold it years ago to a friend and it's still on the road!
MPG also depends on the year. I believe honda put a 5 speed in their v6 cars in 2004.
I don't think you go wrong either way!
I'd say 6 cyl. It takes a 4 cyl much more work to get up to higher speeds such as merging on freeways which robs your fuel. 6 cylinders are powerful and speed is there when needed. Sure you may get a LITTLE less mileage out of a 6 over a 4. but at least when you get onto a V6 the AC compressor doesn't cut out because there is too much load on the engine.
There is 0 reason a new, young driver needs anything other than a 4cyl. Want and need are two different things.
I happen to think it is important to impart financial smarts as early as possible and a 4cyl gets far better gas milage. If you pay for everything, she won't care and I am sure would LOVE a v8 BMW. Again.. want and need are different.
I came from a family where a car was never a gift. If you wanted one, other than the family car that you had to ask mom and dad to use, you helped pay for it and got a small, reliable car. I taught at a University for a bit in grad school and was utterly sickened by the expensive cars those kids drove. They had 0 understanding of worth, with mommy and daddy footing the bill, and were the worst kind of spoiled. This was a while back, when the economy was rolling strong.
Get her whatever you want, but don't let anyone tell you that you NEED to get a 19 year old anything other than a small 4cyl. Those arguments will be self serving and not practical. If you wish to buy your daughter the car she wants, do it. It is your money, but lets be real honest. Many of us on here grew up with a small, slow car with no power anything and without A/C. I did. I didn't own a car with power windows and AC until after college, and you know what is such a shock to kids today... I SURVIVED!!!!
Get her the 4cyl and save the gas money.
I happen to think it is important to impart financial smarts as early as possible and a 4cyl gets far better gas milage. If you pay for everything, she won't care and I am sure would LOVE a v8 BMW. Again.. want and need are different.
I came from a family where a car was never a gift. If you wanted one, other than the family car that you had to ask mom and dad to use, you helped pay for it and got a small, reliable car. I taught at a University for a bit in grad school and was utterly sickened by the expensive cars those kids drove. They had 0 understanding of worth, with mommy and daddy footing the bill, and were the worst kind of spoiled. This was a while back, when the economy was rolling strong.
Get her whatever you want, but don't let anyone tell you that you NEED to get a 19 year old anything other than a small 4cyl. Those arguments will be self serving and not practical. If you wish to buy your daughter the car she wants, do it. It is your money, but lets be real honest. Many of us on here grew up with a small, slow car with no power anything and without A/C. I did. I didn't own a car with power windows and AC until after college, and you know what is such a shock to kids today... I SURVIVED!!!!
Get her the 4cyl and save the gas money.
BlackWorksInc
New member
I couldn't live without my A/C... I need a constant arctic temperature enviroment to be happy and not sweating like a Husky in Miami... Why do I live in California again? :wow:
Anyways, why not get her the best of both worlds and get her an old school 4Runner with a 4 cylinder? I would go with a Corolla in my personal opnion, but I have to admit those V6 Accords with a 5 speed have some zip to them!
20034RunnerV84x2
New member
I would go Camry SE V6. ha. I love Toyota so of course I'm going to say that. I'm also very loyal, in my family that I can think of right off the top of my head we have 5 or 6, and that's only right off the top of my head! Our last ford was a 05 f150.....witch now I call f150's f1****ty's....hahaha. Every thing that could go wrong with a vehicle went wrong with it. And the chrysler we had... oh don't even start with how big of a POS that thing was! Any ways,
For my first car I had a 98 4R SR5 V6 2WD. Loved it to death. It was in the family for 7 years, but I totaled it 5/9/10 @ 65 MPH into a Honda Accord (We all walked away, I think his Accord was a 06 or so, and for those who want to jump, IT WAS NOT MY FAULT!) I even drive it home! Just pulling over for it to coold own since the radiator was busted. To bad it was totaled
Then came the 03 Highlander base I4. Traded it for my current 4R.
Now I have a 03 4R SR5 V8. Yeah yeah yeah, I don't need it blah blah blah. I pay for it my self, what other 17 YO can say that? I got what I wanted and wasn't spoiled to death by family. And I maintain it all my self too. And keep gas in it. Everything you have to do to a vehicle, I do it. All on my own.
For my first car I had a 98 4R SR5 V6 2WD. Loved it to death. It was in the family for 7 years, but I totaled it 5/9/10 @ 65 MPH into a Honda Accord (We all walked away, I think his Accord was a 06 or so, and for those who want to jump, IT WAS NOT MY FAULT!) I even drive it home! Just pulling over for it to coold own since the radiator was busted. To bad it was totaled
Then came the 03 Highlander base I4. Traded it for my current 4R.
Now I have a 03 4R SR5 V8. Yeah yeah yeah, I don't need it blah blah blah. I pay for it my self, what other 17 YO can say that? I got what I wanted and wasn't spoiled to death by family. And I maintain it all my self too. And keep gas in it. Everything you have to do to a vehicle, I do it. All on my own.
SkylineGTRracer
New member
My first car was a 97 rav4 and it was fine, I'd say get the 4 banger. There is no need to get a novice driver a more expensive and powerful car.
20034RunnerV84x2
New member
I've seen those around, but never driven one or even sat in one for that matter haha. How are they?
SkylineGTRracer
New member
The rav4 is a good little CUV, mine has over 200,000 miles and its still running great. I have no complaints about it.
20034RunnerV84x2
New member
Only thing I didn't like about the first generations is some were the 2 door and it looked a little awkward to me. Did they come in a 4 door? I'm not a Rav4 expert, but I could tell you anything and everything you need to know about a T4R lol.
SkylineGTRracer
New member
Mines a 4 door.
