Wish I bought a V8 sometimes :(
- Thread starter Metalmantr
- Start date
4runnerAzGuy
New member
From everything I've seen and read the v6 and v8 are both awesome engine. I'd be happy with either but I'm planning on building an offroad trailer at some point so that's why I wanted the v8. I think I'd be happy with either engine, but I'm happy I have the v8 lol
I liked the GMC but the dealership in the area was awful to work with. My last dodge had multiple tranny issues, wife was nervous about another one. I drove the ford and just liked it. It is louder than the GMC but the dealership was very good and the service dept has good reputation.
A lot of people complain about the EGR system on them (International Motor), if I have an issue I will go aftermarket.
Ok hard to deliberate on this one.
I have the 08 4runner ( MUCH faster than the V6 and anyone that even compares 0-60 times and say there close is smoking something ).
My hubby has the 07 FJ and his brother has the 08 SC FJ. Neither of them can keep up with me even close.
Oh yeah mods are differant. I have full skids , 3" lift , 180 lbs of Rock Sliders , 285 MT tires , yeah and I can still hang with 4.7 GT mustanges after 200+k miles on it.
Now the down side. I hate how 4wd works on this. I would love to have a similar 4wd set up like the FJ or V6 models. AWD sucks. Now my 4wd actuator is leaking and Im looking at $2000 to fix that.... X-reas is a pain in the a$$. Thankfully 1/2 my Radflo just showed up , my buddys V6 didn't have X-reas so I add that to my comparison.
Weight differance. No one has given me a for sure weight differance answer. You go with heavier springs for a bumper and or skids. Most bumpers are only 125 lbs. The size of the v8 block and transmission is definetly larger than the V6. Since I don't have a weight comparison it is that much harder to make accurate purchases for lift kits and suspension modifications. 100 + pounds = 1 spring rate. 200+ pounds = different spring rate , add a bumper another spring rate , add skids another spring.... What is correct?
Oh yeah did I mention AWD sucks. I can park in my driveway and jack up the front drivers tire and it starts rolling down my driveway. set the jack down and move the rear drivers tire and again the vehicle starts rolling...... Why couldn't it just be RWD with 4wd switch? V6 engines are not awd.....
I have the 08 4runner ( MUCH faster than the V6 and anyone that even compares 0-60 times and say there close is smoking something ).
My hubby has the 07 FJ and his brother has the 08 SC FJ. Neither of them can keep up with me even close.
Oh yeah mods are differant. I have full skids , 3" lift , 180 lbs of Rock Sliders , 285 MT tires , yeah and I can still hang with 4.7 GT mustanges after 200+k miles on it.
Now the down side. I hate how 4wd works on this. I would love to have a similar 4wd set up like the FJ or V6 models. AWD sucks. Now my 4wd actuator is leaking and Im looking at $2000 to fix that.... X-reas is a pain in the a$$. Thankfully 1/2 my Radflo just showed up , my buddys V6 didn't have X-reas so I add that to my comparison.
Weight differance. No one has given me a for sure weight differance answer. You go with heavier springs for a bumper and or skids. Most bumpers are only 125 lbs. The size of the v8 block and transmission is definetly larger than the V6. Since I don't have a weight comparison it is that much harder to make accurate purchases for lift kits and suspension modifications. 100 + pounds = 1 spring rate. 200+ pounds = different spring rate , add a bumper another spring rate , add skids another spring.... What is correct?
Oh yeah did I mention AWD sucks. I can park in my driveway and jack up the front drivers tire and it starts rolling down my driveway. set the jack down and move the rear drivers tire and again the vehicle starts rolling...... Why couldn't it just be RWD with 4wd switch? V6 engines are not awd.....
nevada
Senior Member
wnelax04sr5
New member
just saying, the v8 has a 0-60 time of around 7.2, give or take. with your mods you're looking around 8 seconds at best, the last three generations of mustang gt had 0-60 times of 5.6, 5.3, and 5.1. yeah the v8 is definitely faster than the v6, but don't kid yourself on a mustang gt. I'm not trying to call you out on this, but there must be some pretty sad mustangs, or drivers with a lighter foot than you
edit: for the spring rate question, it would probably be best to ask [MENTION=44866]ARK_SWAMP_RIDER[/MENTION] he knows quite a bit
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gshadow325
New member
thanks for making me read you post 2x's
the v6 is no better. if you easy on the 8, keep the rev's under 2500. you good. honestly, why can complain about a 8cylinder @ 70mph and doing 2000rpm? what is the 6 doing @ 70mph?
the 8 will last longer because it has more power to pull the same weight around. i had a 6cylinder turbo volvo before this. it was rated with more power than the v6 runner @ 268, but i felt i was stressing the engine all the time.
as the saying goes, "there is no replacement for displacement"
gshadow325
New member
come on, lets compare apples to apples
whats it at 70mph....i have a local commute home tonight, so i cant do 75mph on city streets to comapre hahahaha
morphious
New member
come on, lets compare apples to apples
whats it at 70mph....i have a local commute home tonight, so i cant do 75mph on city streets to comapre hahahaha
Not sure, will have to check next time I drive it on the freeway. I just know the 75 = 2500, because that is what I am use to feeling and seeing. Plus it is easy to remember. BTW, mine is a 4spd and I would think you would get a little better rpm ranges with the 5spd.
awdjunkies
New member
Remember, it's not how many gears you have, it IS, how it's geared... :bolt:
Martinjmpr
New member
I thought the V8 felt "sluggish" when I drove it, I attributed that the the full time 4wd.
I pull a trailer regularly, albeit a small one, and I have never wished for a V8. Coming from a 3rd gen with it's marginal 3.4 V6, the 4.0 feels like a rocket!
The main reason I went with the V6 was the multi-mode 4wd. IMO full time 4wd probably costs at least as much MPG loss as the V8 does (Although I suppose you could do a side-by-side comparison between V8 and V6 equipped 2wd 4runners to see what the actual difference is in the motor.)
Certainly there aren't very many V8 owners saying "I wish I had a V6!" but there do seem to be an awful lot of V8 owners saying "My MPG sucks! What can I do to increase it?"
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you made the right choice if you are not towing heavy loads all the time. I am happy that i did not go the V8 route. I ended up moving to a house that is 25 miles from work and the extra savings in gas can add up. The V6 has enough power for most needs.
Metalmantr
New member
After reading all these posts I can honestly say I think I did make the right decision with the V6. Thanks all for the input. It has been quite helpful.
boondoggle
Member
When I was shopping around for mine, I wasn't overly concerned with the V8 or the V6. Would have been happy with either one. Was just looking for good prior ownership/maintenance history.
We occaionally rent a pop up camper and either engine would have been fine.
I do like the legacy of the V8. It was a solid performer in the Land Cruisers for a while.
Glad I didn't get a 2004 v6 though. The head gasket issues scare me a little.
Oh, and there have been times on long road trips, pushing 80/85 mph and 15.5 mpg that the V6 may have been nice to have. I usually get no more than about 330 miles out of a tank on normal commutes. The V6 probably gets closer to 400.
Either way, great trucks. They're like beer. Love the one you've got, look forward to the next one, but don't get jealous of your buddy's.
edit: was thinking about the MPG thing and I get a couple MPG better (and far more power/creature comforts) in my 4Runner over my old 4.0L 1997 Wrangler TJ that was our adventure mobile before our son came along (so for the same MPGs, the 4Runner is a HELL of a lot better ride). MPG isn't the only factor for me, but I sure didn't lose anything in that deal.
We occaionally rent a pop up camper and either engine would have been fine.
I do like the legacy of the V8. It was a solid performer in the Land Cruisers for a while.
Glad I didn't get a 2004 v6 though. The head gasket issues scare me a little.
Oh, and there have been times on long road trips, pushing 80/85 mph and 15.5 mpg that the V6 may have been nice to have. I usually get no more than about 330 miles out of a tank on normal commutes. The V6 probably gets closer to 400.
Either way, great trucks. They're like beer. Love the one you've got, look forward to the next one, but don't get jealous of your buddy's.
edit: was thinking about the MPG thing and I get a couple MPG better (and far more power/creature comforts) in my 4Runner over my old 4.0L 1997 Wrangler TJ that was our adventure mobile before our son came along (so for the same MPGs, the 4Runner is a HELL of a lot better ride).
MPG isn't the only factor for me, but I sure didn't lose anything in that deal.
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When I was shopping around for mine, I wasn't overly concerned with the V8 or the V6. Would have been happy with either one. Was just looking for good prior ownership/maintenance history.
We occaionally rent a pop up camper and either engine would have been fine.
I do like the legacy of the V8. It was a solid performer in the Land Cruisers for a while.
Glad I didn't get a 2004 v6 though. The head gasket issues scare me a little.
Oh, and there have been times on long road trips, pushing 80/85 mph and 15.5 mpg that the V6 may have been nice to have. I usually get no more than about 330 miles out of a tank on normal commutes. The V6 probably gets closer to 400.
Either way, great trucks. They're like beer. Love the one you've got, look forward to the next one, but don't get jealous of your buddy's.
According to my aCar app, I'm getting 16 mpg, 15 on the on board comp. I don't speed anymore. I really doubt it would get any worse if I had a V8. My commute is like 20 miles a day, mostly highway.
wnelax04sr5
New member
come on, lets compare apples to apples
whats it at 70mph....i have a local commute home tonight, so i cant do 75mph on city streets to comapre hahahaha
just drove home at dead set 70, with 265/70/17's and basically flat driving it was anywhere from 1900 if i wasnt on it much, to 2100 accelerating
BlackWorksInc
New member
The 2UZ-FE was around longer ('98-'08/'09) than the 1GR-FE motor and was designed as primarily a truck motor for the Land Cruiser and later the Tundra. It was a cast Iron block with an aluminum cylinderhead (so yes it was an "ordinary motor" built much like any other motor of the time). Many of Toyota's engines are Interference motors as are many modern day engines in general due to high compression, fuel mileage goals, emission goals, performance goals, and variable valve timing.
The 2UZ-FE was phased out in favor of the 1UR-FE & 3UR-FE Aluminum block engines, it wasn't because the engine was bad it was simply it had gone far enough in Toyota's eyes and they seem more interested in running aluminum block engines these days for weight savings mainly.
While the paper numbers may not seem significant, you really need to drive both to get a feel for the difference. Even the dual VVTi 1GR-FE in the 5th gens seems sluggish and lethargic at the low end in comparison to my nearly 10 year old 2UZ-FE. The engine isn't built to be a speed demon (though I've hit 120mph in the truck at one point in its life), its designed for low end power mostly meant for pushing along a heavy Land Cruiser or Tundra and maintaining reliability of that power curve for a long time, as such the V8's are also geared slightly differently than the V6's if I remember correctly.
While some people feel the All-Time 4WD (not to be confused with AWD) is a strike against the vehicle, I hardly notice it unless I drive my 4Runner like I drove my '82 RX7. The gas mileage between my truck and a V6 would likely be similar because I drive my vehicles hard and don't baby the throttle. The transfercases are completely similar save for a different shift rod and missing shift fork. The V6's have a second actuator on the front axle and a different front axle housing with apparently a smaller gear set than the V8 (I can't remember where I read that though so I may be wrong). Being in 4Hi in V6 is the same as being in 4Hi in the V8 on a 4th Generation 4Runner and honestly I don't see a point for 2Hi when the mileage ends up being roughly the same with how I drive.
Timing Belt vs. Timing chain is a whole 'nother bag all together and without going into it too much, it mainly depends on how long you plan to operate the vehicle; in the end they even out after about 200-300k in cost and risk.
Nothing against most V8 owners or even the V6 guys, but these are 5,000lbs 4WD SUVs; if you didn't plan for the expense of gas you really shouldn't have bothered buying the thing in the first place. I get crap mileage from my V8, about the same as my anemic '93 Chevy S10 with the craptastic 4.3L Vortec pile they called a V6, but I get that similar mileage with a lift, 33" ATs, and a full metal front bumper while still having the oomph from the starting line if I want to floor it.
I would say that the V8 4Runner is a great platform for guys who want to take advantage of a mid-sized SUV, want to load it up with hundreds of pounds of mods, and still have a good amount of power on tap without sinking 5-10k+ to supercharge the engine. (though that will be my eventual goal more than likely once this engine gives up the ghost)
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Most of the information in your post, while good, is pure common sense that most people understand.
The point is simple: a 4.7 liter motor that makes 270 hp and 320 ft-lbs is VERY ordinary. Yes, we all get that these are made for trucks and we don't need 100 hp/lt or AMG-level torque, but those numbers are very underwhelming. I did test drive two of the V8s and while they seemed slightly more eager than the V6 (not denying that at all), it wasn't anything to make me want to say "I gotta have the V8"
Let me repeat it a third time. The 4.7 V8 is an ordinary motor that most people will say take it or leave it. No wonder it was killed off.
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BlackWorksInc
New member
The V6 is an ordinary motor also in that respect. I don't see why you keep stressing that as if its a bad thing?
The point was you focus too much on the numbers. You need to actually drive the difference, a 30ft/lbs difference in torque may not seem like much to you; but in reality its quite a bit of a difference. The 4.7L was phased out in favor of newer technology not because it was "too ordinary". Toyota wants to meet new CAFE requirements, reach their own goal of higher MPG, and meet newer emission standards; as such they are using aluminum block engines and Dual VVTi in almost all their engines now, you keep acting as though the engine was as anemic and pitiful as that 4.3L Vortec I owned.
The point was you focus too much on the numbers. You need to actually drive the difference, a 30ft/lbs difference in torque may not seem like much to you; but in reality its quite a bit of a difference. The 4.7L was phased out in favor of newer technology not because it was "too ordinary". Toyota wants to meet new CAFE requirements, reach their own goal of higher MPG, and meet newer emission standards; as such they are using aluminum block engines and Dual VVTi in almost all their engines now, you keep acting as though the engine was as anemic and pitiful as that 4.3L Vortec I owned.
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