HP and Torque - guess I'm a cheap date

I loaded 3 other people in my Tacoma today for a lunch run. I have to say, I love the way it drove. I honestly couldn't tell a bit of difference with an extra 550 lbs of people in it.

I say that because I'm coming out of a 2001 V6 Mustang, which only has about 40 fewer horses in it, but is geared like a sports car. I had to keep my foot in it from the very beginning to get any kind of decent accelleration, and adding a passenger killed the fun of the drive (not to mention the few times there were 4 of us crammed in there). I even used to turn off the AC on on-ramps because it sucked up some HP. Above 3500 RPM the 'stang was a lot of fun, but the thing had nothing from 40-70 mph. Basically the complete opposite of my Tacoma.

Anyway, just wanted to gush a bit about my truck. I know it's no brute compared to a full-size, but I LOVE the way it's geared, the way it hauls, and I think I'm going to be happy with my Tacoma for a long time.

K...that's it.

 

These are strong sixes, fettled for torque, not speed. This gives them much better punch in the range that matters...20 to 60.

 

no doubt I actually spun the wheels unintentionally when I was test driving it for the first time.

 

I was disappointed with the power of all the Ranger 4.0 5 speeds I test drove, and I was driving a full size bronco 4.9L I6 at the time.

 

I love my taco!

 

Dude, I had an 03 Cobra with the supercharged 4.6, and three additional people would kill the car.

I had 5 people in the cab of the truck, two in the bed, along with a full keg (school spirit at football games), and I hardly noticed a change.

 

Yeah in the torque department these V6's do a very damn good job. I usually drive around kinda slow to try to save on gas money. But every once a while I have to step on it and I always get a little shocked by the kick it has.

 

I agree with all of you my truck really suprised me when I had 3 adult passengers. At first I thought, "oh I hope my truck doesn't embarass me on take off...and WOW she really pulled through with out a hitch


I finally got to test the difference between 4HI and 4Low today up a steep little incline and again WOW, it went up like a champ on 4low. It would also go up on 4HI but had a bit more trouble having to give it more gas and all.

 

i kept hitting the rev limiter in my 6spd taco, coming from my civic with a fully built B16 shifting at 9k all the time getting 35 mpg it was a very different feeling.

 

I only have felt a drop in power when hauling 3 bikes at 8000 feet.

 

These are strong little beasts...but no powerhouse by any stretch.

Of course, I'm tainted from a lifetime of driving V8 pickups...Corvettes...and motorcycles.

However...I dig my Tacoma.

 

Agreed. Some people on here (and this isn't happening in this thread, it just happens sometimes) think these Tacos are monster fast.

They're acceptable speed (~7 second 0-60 is average these days), but what they do really well is *drive*. Passing goes very well. Towing/hauling go very well. They're not power monsters, but they handle their tasks with aplomb and no struggling, and I think that's the appeal.

 

I am quite impressed by the Tacoma. Coming from a very fast LS1 Camaro I thought I would be disappointed driving around with no power. I am glad to say that I am very happy with the power of this truck. I test drove a the last S 10 ZR2 a few years ago and was very disappointed with the total lack of power. Toyota has done a great job with this motor, it zips around very well.