Which is the better choice for a 3rd gen. wagon: 4 cyl or V6? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums


» Auto Insurance
» Featured Product
» Wheel & Tire Center

Go Back   Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums > Toyota Passenger and Sports Car Forums > Camry and Solara Forum > 3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)

3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001) Toyota Camry Discussion for years: 1992-1996 & 1997-2001 Topics of discussion range from fuel economy, safety, modifications, performance all involving America's favorite family car, the Toyota Camry.

ToyotaNation.com is the premier Toyota Forum on the internet. Registered Users do not see the above ads.
Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 05-12-2011, 10:21 AM   #1 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 361
Thanks: 0
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View nogard's Photo Gallery
Which is the better choice for a 3rd gen. wagon: 4 cyl or V6?

I like the idea of the 4 cylinder for easy of repair and lower cost compared to the V6.

The car will be mostly driven on the highway, so if the V6 is better for passing that may be a factor.

I'm looking for the best economy and they are so close for fuel mileage. I would be willing to have the V6 if the little bit of extra power is worth the extra hassle of repair and slightly less fuel efficiency.
nogard is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Old 05-12-2011, 11:24 AM   #2 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Here
Posts: 253
Gameroom cash: $148300
Thanks: 5
Thanked 16 Times in 15 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View SilverSoarer's Photo Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by nogard View Post
I like the idea of the 4 cylinder for easy of repair and lower cost compared to the V6.

The car will be mostly driven on the highway, so if the V6 is better for passing that may be a factor.

I'm looking for the best economy and they are so close for fuel mileage. I would be willing to have the V6 if the little bit of extra power is worth the extra hassle of repair and slightly less fuel efficiency.
If you have kids and/or towing - go with the V6 - smoother ride and less noise on the highway or when accelerating under load.

Last edited by SilverSoarer; 05-12-2011 at 11:50 AM.
SilverSoarer is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2011, 12:09 PM   #3 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Safari Wagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Calabasas
Posts: 301
Gameroom cash: $213650
Thanks: 2
Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts
iTrader Score: 1 reviews
View Safari Wagon's Photo Gallery
For the priorities you've identified, the 4 would be better. Consider how many miles you are driving and how much you'd be saving. It's only a 20-30 percent difference in economy. Like Soarer said, if you plan on getting toys to tow, go with the 6. I wasnt planning on getting a boat but the v6 wagon alowed me to. A 4 will handle kids just fine.

Last edited by Safari Wagon; 05-12-2011 at 12:11 PM.
Safari Wagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2011, 12:21 PM   #4 (permalink)
Darkside Cut Me!!!
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Vaughan' Ontario
Posts: 1,908
Gameroom cash: $135123
Thanks: 0
Thanked 14 Times in 14 Posts
iTrader Score: 3 reviews
View Hajoca's Photo Gallery
How is it used again.
Are you able to try them first?
Commuter car, and you do not need to haul tools, equipment etc. 4 cyl.
__________________
2004 RX330 Sport
2003 Cam I4 XLE
2000 Cam XLE Gold Edition V6
1998 CamCE I4 Super Commuter!
Hajoca is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-12-2011, 06:50 PM   #5 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 461
Gameroom cash: $302547
Thanks: 5
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View ricamryman's Photo Gallery
Get the V6 so you can tow a boat & have oversized loads & no brakes to stop them when needed!
ricamryman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 10:38 AM   #6 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: wisconsin
Posts: 361
Thanks: 0
Thanked 5 Times in 5 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View nogard's Photo Gallery
Quote:
Get the V6 so you can tow a boat & have oversized loads & no brakes to stop them when needed! Yesterday 11:21 AM
That is true, most of the brakes on most model Camrys were not great. I have a '88 4 cyl that I tow a utility trailer with and engine braking comes in handy. I put less aggressive pad on, and wish I wouldn't have. Stopping in an emergency would be a real chore.

Quote:
How is it used again.
Are you able to try them first?
Commuter car, and you do not need to haul tools, equipment etc. 4 cyl.
Driving: City 30%, Highway 70%. Would be used only as a secondary towing vehicle, towing a few times a year at most, average of 1000 lbs or less.

No kids, but wife uses it as a work car, self employed and hauls materials (groceries/supplies, etc.) average payload would be driver + 300 lbs.

Would like to keep it as simple as possible, and considering what is available to buy (a lot of V6 out there)
nogard is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 01:22 PM   #7 (permalink)
抵抗は無駄です
 
fenixus's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: northern NJ, USA
Posts: 7,981
Gameroom cash: $1139930
Thanks: 546
Thanked 506 Times in 458 Posts
Supreme Member
iTrader Score: 4 reviews
View fenixus's Photo Gallery
I would suggest getting a V6 if any towing or heavy load is involved, hands down.
4cyl will rip it guts out under such load over time ...
__________________

'02 Solara SLE V6 1MZ-FE/A541E Coupe .: Denso/NGK : Akebono SP : Philips 9011 HIR (low+high) : Toshiba HIR2 9012 (fogs) : Magnefine :. @ 131k
'00 Solara SE 5S-FE/A140E Coupe .: NGK : Hawk HPS : Philips XP : RCEng : Magnefine :. @ 82k

4SALE: connectors for Camry Headlight Wiring Harness and ECU
fenixus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 07:16 PM   #8 (permalink)
One with the force
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Cleveland Oh
Posts: 3,850
Gameroom cash: $814501
Thanks: 302
Thanked 81 Times in 80 Posts
Supreme Member
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View zythr's Photo Gallery
Choice is yours, sure you'll have less maintenance with the 4 compared to the 6, then again, the 4 may not offer enough power for what you want the car to do, then again, the V-6 will cost more in maintenance than the 4 (rear spark plugs hard to get at, 24 instead of 16 valves), plus premium fuel is recommended, though it can run on regular with slight power loss and loss of economy, but it does have more power than the 4. If you do look at the V-6 make sure to ask for oil change receipts, since some of the V-6s are prone to engine sludge. Good luck
zythr is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 07:40 PM   #9 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Safari Wagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Calabasas
Posts: 301
Gameroom cash: $213650
Thanks: 2
Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts
iTrader Score: 1 reviews
View Safari Wagon's Photo Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricamryman View Post
Get the V6 so you can tow a boat & have oversized loads & no brakes to stop them when needed!
Don't be jealous dude
Safari Wagon is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 07:55 PM   #10 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 461
Gameroom cash: $302547
Thanks: 5
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View ricamryman's Photo Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by Safari Wagon View Post
Don't be jealous dude
Trust me I am not jealous! I have a 2007 F-150 Crew Cab 5.4 3v with a 3.73 rear axle ratio & tow package that would tow you, your car, & your boat like nothing!.......(LOL).....You must be kiddin!.....
ricamryman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-13-2011, 08:21 PM   #11 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Safari Wagon's Avatar
 
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Calabasas
Posts: 301
Gameroom cash: $213650
Thanks: 2
Thanked 15 Times in 15 Posts
iTrader Score: 1 reviews
View Safari Wagon's Photo Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by ricamryman View Post
Trust me I am not jealous! I have a 2007 F-150 Crew Cab 5.4 3v with a 3.73 rear axle ratio & tow package that would tow you, your car, & your boat like nothing!.......(LOL).....You must be kiddin!.....
Not jealous of the wagon... - of the cajones it takes to tow with a Camry!
Safari Wagon is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Safari Wagon For This Useful Post:
pmesfun (05-13-2011)
Old 05-14-2011, 04:44 AM   #12 (permalink)
Official TN Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Rhode Island
Posts: 461
Gameroom cash: $302547
Thanks: 5
Thanked 6 Times in 6 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View ricamryman's Photo Gallery
3rd Generation

Quote:
Originally Posted by Safari Wagon View Post
Not jealous of the wagon... - of the cajones it takes to tow with a Camry!
You must be mistaken cajones with stupidity!........
ricamryman is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2011, 05:48 AM   #13 (permalink)
Operator / Diesel Tech
 
Mister_Perkins's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: Tiona, PA
Posts: 4,090
Gameroom cash: $601601
Thanks: 26
Thanked 472 Times in 394 Posts
Lifetime Supreme Member
Garage
iTrader Score: 6 reviews
View Mister_Perkins's Photo Gallery
V6 isn't any harder to work on than the I4.. only thing that IS a little tougher is the rear 3 spark plugs.

I would go for the V6. Just about AS good on gas, and it has more power.
__________________
AUTO to MANUAL Swap Guide (3rd Gen) - HERE
My sisters 96 camry progress: http://www.cardomain.com/ride/397691...ry-le-sedan-4d
Mister_Perkins is offline   Reply With Quote
The Following User Says Thank You to Mister_Perkins For This Useful Post:
projektvertx (05-14-2011)
Old 05-14-2011, 10:33 AM   #14 (permalink)
TN's Mad Chemist
 
projektvertx's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Westland, MI - School, Montreal QC - Home
Posts: 2,933
Gameroom cash: $568901
Thanks: 198
Thanked 111 Times in 97 Posts
Lifetime Supreme Member
iTrader Score: 20 reviews
View projektvertx's Photo Gallery
Quote:
Originally Posted by Mister_Perkins View Post
V6 isn't any harder to work on than the I4.. only thing that IS a little tougher is the rear 3 spark plugs.

I would go for the V6. Just about AS good on gas, and it has more power.
Thank you sir! It isn't all that much harder to work on a V6. The engine bay has a lot of space to work with on Camrys. Try working on a C35A1. That's a pain to work on
__________________
1995 Toyota Camry V6 LE-6M1 250K Miles, Fun Car
1997 Acura RL-Gone
2007 Acura RL SH-AWD, Technology Package, Opulent Blue Pearl- Fun Car/Daily Driver
projektvertx is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-14-2011, 03:35 PM   #15 (permalink)
One with the force
 
molson.david's Avatar
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Dallas,TX
Posts: 1,281
Gameroom cash: $293553
Thanks: 14
Thanked 64 Times in 60 Posts
iTrader Score: 0 reviews
View molson.david's Photo Gallery
if no heavy towing involved, get 4 cyl:
-better MPG, especially HWY.
-better resale value, more popular (sorry V-6 owners).
-easier to work on and find used parts.
__________________
IndianaBorn gen7 LE.
For sale gen 6:
MdxTSXr black shrouds 5K retro
OEM key with transmitter
2.4 transm.filter+gasket+WS.
2.4 K&N drop-in+cleaner and oil
molson.david is offline   Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
Advertisement
 
Reply

  Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums > Toyota Passenger and Sports Car Forums > Camry and Solara Forum > 3rd & 4th Generation (1992–1996 & 1997–2001)

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.2

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:47 AM.



Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2012, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0
Garage Plus vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.
ToyotaNation.com is an independent Toyota/Lexus enthusiast website. ToyotaNation.com is not sponsored by or in any way affiliated with Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc. The Toyota, Lexus and Scion names and logos are trademarks owned by Toyota Motor Sales, USA, Inc.