took mine out yesterday. can't comment on the fuel change as the wife drives it now. All I figure is that no other car, that I am aware of, that I have driven had one. None of my cars have blown up. My 2007 mazda6 doesn't have one. It really isn't a necessary item. The only real impact it likely has, is to restrict airflow, especially given how thick it is. Tossed it and I'll never look back...
V6 vs V8 guidance
- Thread starter newbian
- Start date
galactic_04
New member
Im also from SoCal, and have a 06 V6 2wd, and love the engine. Plenty powerful to haul gear and friends around, yet efficient when your stuck on that 405 traffic for a few hours.
I've been getting 23mpgs frequently, but thats around 90% freeway driving.
Also have been putting an average of 24,000 miles per year on her, and love the fact of how easy it is to change the oil (a 10 minute job).
I've been getting 23mpgs frequently, but thats around 90% freeway driving.
Also have been putting an average of 24,000 miles per year on her, and love the fact of how easy it is to change the oil (a 10 minute job).
progress4m
Member
This statement is not correct if are comparing V6 to V8 on 2005+ models. In 2005 V8 got dual VVT-I on intake, so torque curve for that engine is impressively flat across RPM.
Now, gas is less than 2.
wnelax04sr5
New member
why resurrect this. why. :redbrick:
Just prolonging the pain... 
As for me, I was leaning towards a V8, but I looked at 4 of them, and ever single one had no maintenance done to the engine, so a timing belt job was right around the corner, and the sellers wanted top dollar even after bringing this up. If I found one with a reasonable maintenance history, I probably would have jumped on it.
But the V6 rarely leaves me wanting, even when towing around 4500-4700 lbs. The only time I'm wishing for more power is climbing an incline merging onto a highway from a near stop. It pulls fine through 1st and 2nd, then the large drop in revs really kills the acceleration in 3rd. But given the V6 is right in its powerband there, I don't know how much faster a V8 would really be. Slightly, but probably not enough to make a huge difference in the towing experience.
The V6 definitely makes the front end feel lighter, so it does turn-in better, relatively speaking for an SUV at least.
As for me, I was leaning towards a V8, but I looked at 4 of them, and ever single one had no maintenance done to the engine, so a timing belt job was right around the corner, and the sellers wanted top dollar even after bringing this up. If I found one with a reasonable maintenance history, I probably would have jumped on it.
But the V6 rarely leaves me wanting, even when towing around 4500-4700 lbs. The only time I'm wishing for more power is climbing an incline merging onto a highway from a near stop. It pulls fine through 1st and 2nd, then the large drop in revs really kills the acceleration in 3rd. But given the V6 is right in its powerband there, I don't know how much faster a V8 would really be. Slightly, but probably not enough to make a huge difference in the towing experience.
The V6 definitely makes the front end feel lighter, so it does turn-in better, relatively speaking for an SUV at least.
If you haven't decided, I would look past the engine type and ask about the options on each vehicle; sunroof, upholstery, condition, etc., and base your decision on that.
I live in the mountains and I have been perfectly happy with mine. We just got 5-6 inches of snow and I haven't had problems getting around our hilly town with 2WD.
Daren
