Just looking for a little help, I have a 2003 4Runner Sport Edition 4WD V6 and I have been thinking of replacing my vehicle and getting the same one just a V8, the only problem I have is the mileage difference, but I think with the 5 speed transmission vrs the 4 speed the mileage might not be that much difference, so just looking for a little help making up my mind. I'm not having any problem with mine, just have the urge for a V8

 

I have a 04 V8 Sport Edition 4x4 and I love it!! I was wable to get 400 miles on a tank of gas the other day crusing on the highway at about 68 mph. (110 km/h) It worked out to about 21 mpg. Usually highway/city driving I get about 16-19 mpg. I love the torque the V8 puts out and the smooth shifting 5 speed auto. No complaints here yet.

 

Gas mileage won't be too much different. Do you do any towing? That would be the main reason for me to get a V8.

Rob

 

after driving the 2 and now owing the v8, id say v8 all the way.

i had a 06 and a 07 tacoma v6 4x4 before this, and was getting 14mpg city in the tacoma (my commute is 2 miles each way)

with the v8 4runner (which the v8 4x4s are full time 4x4) i am getting 15mpg. on a recent road trip at 75mph we avg 19-20. its not that bad on gas.

the v8 is so quiet and so much smoother compared to the 6. to me that new 6 is so underpowered. it felt terrible in the tacoma and 4runner compared to the 8. i was about to buy a v6 4runner, until i drove the v8

 

I just pulled out a Ford F350 stuck just off the road in snow with my 03 TRD Supercharged V8, my back 2 wheels where in snow and the fronts on the street. We smoked the fronts for a bit but eventually got him out. My kids 5 & 3 loved hearing a roaring borla exhaust with smoke pouring out from the wheels.
Guy did the I got stuck "no I dont need help" thing at first - no shovels no cell phone no nothing.

 

I have a 5000lb camper that I tow, that is one of the reasons I'm looking into the V8, the other is just because I want the V8, I have no problem with the V6, I just think that towing would be easier on the V8 that the V6, but the V6 tow's without any trouble, WoW I need a V8, just have to sell the V6 first, thanks for the incite. I was back on some old dirt woods one time and saw a couple Heeps stuck, I pulled out the first heep, but they didn't want me to pull the other one out, ha ha ha

 

I have heard that you can get something sick like 300+ HP from a supercharged v8 4runner. Maybe I am wrong, but if I am right, watch out. If you have the funds go for the v8. Maybe save up a little for that supercharger man!

And always, pictures are a must!

 

Superchargers as far as I know are not available, but then have heard others say the tundra V8 charger will fit. When I got mine I race a buddies 03 2 whl drive and he beat me every time, I then started calling TRD and finally got someone to listen, they sent me a new ECU and after installing that I pulled my buddies 03 V8 2wd like it should have. At the track it has run 14.9's but that was in phoenix and tracks arent fast because of the warm air. I did a 4 wheel dyno and it charted 225HP at the wheels, which is the less then 352HP claimed on paper by TRD, but I am sure that number was at the crank and not the wheels. Although that doesnt sound huge its not far off what some older mustang GT's put down at the wheels and I know I can pull a GT in the 1/8th mile and then only get beat by a few 10ths at then end of the 1/4mile. Being shaped like a brick slows the 4rnr down alot over 80mph, and while a GT might be trapping a much higher MPH at the end, they sure are suprised getting pulled hard by 2 car lengths off the line and then narrowly squeeking by at the end.

 

so do you have the charger from the tundra?

 

I got mine from the dealer in 03 when I bought my 4rnr. When I moved to phoenix in summer 04 and raced my buddies 4rnr and got beat then I knew something was wrong. And at the same time they pulled the superchargers off the TRD website and said no longer for sale. I called TRD 20 times complaining before I got someone who would listen and help. I was told that some bad ECU's got out there and that the program made the whole thing run slower then it should. I mean really I was getting beat by a 2wd with the same engine minus the supercharger-few idiots told me it was parasitic drive train loss because of the all time 4wd. But that wouldnt explain that at all. At one point I called TRD and asked some dude I see an super charger on Ebay thats new- you guys are not selling them- should I buy it- is there a problem with them his reply was no comment. I then told him I all ready had one and it ran like crap. But once I got up the food chain at TRD and got a new custom ECU it rips like it should. If I was buying another toyota and I could get a supercharger again I would. I love suprising some guy in a civic or mustang by wasting him off the line.

So long story short I got it from the dealer when they where available. But then they stopped selling them for the 03 04 4rner- also in those years we had the old engine so everyone thought at the time they would come out with a new one for the newer engines.

 

So should I care if it's a sport edition or not ? I found a 2003 sr5 V8 with 75k for 16k is that a good price ? I don't know I really like the sport edition but I might have a hard time getting enough out of mine ??? aargh !!

 

the biggest difference is the xreas suspension, which is nice, but not a necessity. other than that its cosmetic things.. interior, outside goodies, and that hood scoop

 

Well I finally purchase a V8, 04 Limited 4Runner Nauticial Blue Metallic, everwhere I have looked it does not show this color for an 04 I think because it has a mfg date of 6/04 may be the reason. anyways driving impressions, there is a big difference between the V8 and my 2003 se V6, I had the dealer swap out the limited wheels for the ones from my sport edition. i think they look much better........

 

The early 4th generation 4runners had weaker piston rods or something along that line. The parts guy at the Toyota dealership I used to work at would have gotten a supercharger for his 03 if it wasnt for the weak lower end.

I'm sure the ECU may play a factor in most of them, but the best way to try to make it better is to flash it.

 

Up until last weekend, I would have said that the V6 is sufficient. I have the V6 and have driven it for about a year now and it never gave me any issues. Most of my driving is slow speed up twisty mountain roads. However I had it out on the highway last weekend, and with the cruise set at 75 and 33" tires every time there was a little incline it'd shift down to 4th gear. It drove me nuts. Maybe the V8 has enough torque that it would stay in 5th for small inclines.

 

I just purchased a 08 V8 runner and the biggest difference I noticed after many many test drive miles is this.

The V8 just does not shift as much as the V6. Going up hills on the Expressway or accellerating to get around people to pass the transmission is not constantly keeping the motor in the sweet spot. The V8 has the torque and you can tell after driving it around. I had a 2007 FJC and trying to maintain 75mph on the highway loaded up with gear was a chore.. Many times I would leave it in 4th gear just to keep from that constant down shifting. The 4.7v8 never has to shift going up hills. I LOVE THE V8.

 

The V6 gets way better mileage. The V6 is also capable of near or more than 400 hp turbocharged. Which is more than enough. I have a lifted 06 Sport V6 and can get a little over 20 in town and high 20's on the hwy. Try that in a V8. For those of you that feel under-powered in the V6 with over sized tires. Change the gears a step. That should fix your problem. The V8 in my opinion is over rated unless you plan on towing over 5000 lbs regularly.

Thanks

 

I've got the '04 Sport, V-8 and my bud has a '06 V-6 Limited w/4wd. For the small (1mpg) penalty in MPG I prefer my V-8 w/full time 4WD. I averaged 19.99 mpg on my last roadtrip (4,000 miles) which was mostly hwy with the cruise at 70(GPS) miles per hour.
Always calculate your mileage divided by gallons used. The trip computer is optimistic by 1-2 mpg. My tires are Firestone Destination AT's in 265/70/17 size and they've been excellent overall. And yes, I took into account the increased rolling diameter with my mileage calculations.

 

This doesn't matter anymore since the OP already got his truck.....

The V8 vs V6 is interesting. The V6 is technologically more advanced (in the 03-04) with the VVti. You get a smaller more fuel efficient engine that also produces more power. The V8 gives more torque, nice for towing I guess, but not really a whole lot better than the V6 either. If heavy towing is a prime concern I would probably look for something else.

The V8 has slightly faster acceleration from 0-60. Although I have not seen anything official from Toyota, I think the V6, with more horsepower, will have faster high speed acceleration, and overall more constant acceration over the whole range of RPM and speed. Unless you race from a stop, I prefer having high speed acceleration for highway passing. I am not sure that the V6 does in fact have better high speed acceleration, this is based on other peoples posts I have read.

Some other selling points for the V8 are the tranny cooler and the 5 speed auto that do not come with the V6 (03-04 model years).

The V6 has the option of RWD. If you want it, it;'s there. If you don't, you can leave it in 4WD just like the V8. Toyata claim the truck handles better and is quieter, and puts less wear on the components when in RWD. I can't confirm this. The handling to me feels the same, as does the noise.

The V6 has better fuel economy, but according to Toyta not by much. I find this hard to believe, but maybe it is true. Oddly the V8 is slightly less expensive to maintain the long run.

The V8 gives you V8 bragging rights, but the V6 gives you the horsepower bragging rights.

The V6 is lighter weight, this probably isn't a big deal, but it is something.

I went the V6 because it was all I could afford. I didn't even consider the V8. Actually, I was looking for a 3rd gen, because I couldn't afford a 4th. But I was lucky enough to find a 4th gen closed to my budget, and the 4.0 V6 (and everything else with it) was a big upgrade over the 3rd gens I was looking at, I didn't at all feel that I missed out not getting the V8. The V8's were a lot more expensive, and not enough of an upgrade for me. There is always something better is you are ready to speand more....(and it isn't clear that the V8 really is overall better)

 

my V6 has an oil, tranny cooler and 5 speed auto. 2WD mode is much smoother and more fuel efficient.