3.5 or 4.0?

The future isn’t electric, it’s hybrid. Can’t change my mind

 

Going to be a super controversial topic, I know, but I test drove both the 3.5 and 4.0 in both manual and auto before I decided to purchase my ‘15 with 4.0, manual 6 speed. The second gens just felt more like a pickup and drove better all around in my opinion. The options aren’t as nice in the second gen, but I feel like it’s a better driving pickup and feels like it has more torque than the 3rd.

 

It essentially comes down to what one you want to give more “gas”.
The 3.5 basically just shifted the power curve up in the rpm range.

I prefer the 4.0. Because I’ve only ever driven the 3.5 in an auto. And it didn’t like low RPM and shifts way too much unless you had ECT on. Which you had to turn on every time you started the truck.


Full disclaimer: It was a 2016 I drove.
Reports I’ve heard are the 18’+ are a little better in the shift mapping.


Again. They are pretty equal if you keep them in the range at which they are making power.

Drive both and pick the one you like best.

 

Never said it’s fast it’s just faster then a 3.5

 

I do agree. My thoughts are that generators are going to see similar tech improvements, esp if they become range extenders. It will a lot less common for quite a while.

Oof. Two entire drivetrains, esp for plug-in hybrids. Full nope here. Gimme one or the other.

 

It does have better low end torque. Now go hide from all the offended turd genners lol

 

It’s funny to me to think of the 4.0 as a low end engine with my first engine being the 2F in my Land Cruiser in high school, but comparatively to the 3.5 it is

 

Yeah, small engines have had it pretty easy for a long time with regard to environmental standards. If they get to be widely used, they'll get more stringent.



I wish more hybrids were like the chevy volt, where the ICE is just connected to a generator and doesn't drive the wheels directly. Its got so many nice advantages.

 

I had a first gen.. and a second gen.. and 2 third gens.

The tuned 3rd gen MT is definitely the quickest.

 

Psh! I’ll stand here guns a blazin’ (As long as I don’t get banned.... I kinda like TW)

 

4.0

 

Key word: “tuned”

just poking at you. Out of curiosity, was your second gen tuned? I don’t think there’s a tune for the first gen...?

 

So this shitshow was predictable. Clearly the best advice given here is to test drive both and see what you like best. But don’t just do the regular run around the block. Think about what you’ll be using the truck for? Instagram? Then third gen please.
Pulling heavy boats out of the water a lot or rock crawling? Probably better off with the 2nd gen (it’s also cheaper, duh)

 

On the Volt. It was a nice stepping stone, but longevity of the ICE end comes to mind? It seems that was an unfounded worry for well designed hybrid battery packs. I just don't know how I feel about the Volt for as long as we keep vehicles, esp given that it was shat out by GM's geniuses.

 

for lots of rock crawling, I recommend a 1st gen!

 

Oh i know thats the key word lol The factory tune is garbage, especially under 3000 RPM

Nope. It was a 2005. All stock. Sold it and got my 16AT, which i traded for my 17MT after about 18 months and 50k miles.

 

It is utter BS that the 3rd Gen needs a tune, but tuned it is a different animal. Embarrassing? Yep. Worth it? Yep!

 

The dual VVTI 4.0 in the 4runner is MUCH better at high RPM's than the 2nd gen Tacoma's 4.0. Low end is similar.

With OVtune, the 3.5 Tacoma is said to be quicker than the 4runner. I wonder if this has anything to do with the transmission, though?

The 4runner is using an outdated 5-speed auto. I'll bet it would be pretty snappy with a 6-speed or 8-speed auto. Even with the 5-speed, it gets out if it's own way just fine.

This is from a person with reasonable expectations, though.

 

That’s just a smaller truck and probably not on OPs radar but you’re not wrong

 

Well the nice thing is that when its hooked to a generator, you can really optimize the ICE - run it in a tighter rpm range, warm it up right every time, etc. Especially with todays power electronics the generator wouldn't necessarily have to be run at a specific RPM. If done right, it could be fantastic.


But you're right...it is a GM product. Nice ideas, mediocre execution.