My Thoughts on the 4 Cyl Tacoma

All this manual trans talk reminded me of this: (quoting Scocar)

"The automatic transmission is the cause of the downfall of civilization."

I liked it when he first used it in the "garage," seemed appropriate to use here.

 

I've had my 2013 Access Cab Prerunner for 3 months and have been really pleased with the 2.7/Auto combination. I still have less than 5000 miles on it but as the engine breaks in my mileage is going up and the truck certainly feels peppier. My in-town mileage has gone from 16.2 to 18.6. My highway mileage has gone from 19.6 to 21 driving the speed limit (65-75).

I really like the truck! Great size, fun to drive, does everything I need. Don't plan to do any off-roading, but my wife and I like go to Colorado for vacation and I'm thinking it'll be a great vehicle to drive up some the roads around Durango and Uray.

 

There were 2 other benefits to the 4 cyl 5 speed that I thought about today while driving to work.

1. I haven't driven a stick in over 20 years. What amazed me about the truck is it runs at pretty much a constant speed. What I mean by that is, the 4Runner with auto trans would always have you watching your speed. If the speed limit was 35 mph and you weren't watching you'd be traveling 45 mph in no time at all. With the stick it's more precise and tends to stay at 35 mph, and take your foot off the gas and you also have engine braking. My next vehicle may also be a stick shift.

2. And, this is a good one. I took $4,500 that I saved on the 4 cyl 5 speed and bought a Harley off my friend.

 

That is absolutely win-win!

 

I loved my 1st Gen 4 banger. The 2.7l is a pretty big motor for a 4 cyl. I towed with mine all the time.

 

I've had mine for about 6 months and I like it. I just wish I would have got a double cab instead.

 

Sometimes I think that....until I carry a sheet of drywall.....

 

Did Colorado (Ouray and Lake City) last summer. No problems for a 4-cyl.

 

I bought my 06 4-cyliner AC with a 5 speed to be my daily driver. I drive over 100 miles a day. I NEEDED to get the better gas mileage, and I do. I am at 22-24 MPG and that includes highway and city driving - stop and go, stop and go in DC. A civic wasn't an option because I do a lot of hunting and fishing in spots that require 4WD. I have not been "impressed" by the 4 cylinder power, but it is definitely adequate. I do need to downshift going up hills every now and then. That being said, I still LOVE this truck. It's a lot of fun to drive and can still tackle a lot of rugged terrain in it's current stock condition. If I need to tow something, I've got a POS 88 Chevy 3/4 Ton 2500 with the 5.7 towing engine. That thing can smoke tires from a stand still, but it gets 11-14 MPG.

 

I went to class with a guy who drove a Ranger with that engine, only his had the automatic. He said it didn't need cruise control on the highway because he'd just keep it floored and it would still never get to 80 mph.

The 2.7L is a lot faster and at least as frugal


http://youtu.be/OJSBTnGDCp8

 

When you throw big grades at it (eg: Rocky Mountains, Sierra Nevadas, Cascades) you will notice the lack of power and need to downshift. I tow nothing with mine although I routinely drive with 800LBS in the bed during hunting seasons. If I had it to do over, i would have purchased a bigger engine. 95% of time the 4cyl is just fine but that 5% it is not really makes me yearn for the days of my 5.3liter Silverado. Can't beat the Toyota's reliability however.

 

We were there too, but some of those roads aren't meant for Camry Hybrid. Plenty of power, but low ground clearance. But I do like the mileage.

 

Well, I got the access cab. My reasoning was I could carry 2 more. But, I'm always the one in the group that gets stuck driving. Not so anymore.

 

wut?

 

ohhh...you mean take the other people's vehicle.

Just got home from midshift...must be time for that morning nap.

 

I have a friend that had a 1998 regular cab 4x4/5spd/4cyl. We were young and dumb back then and put that truck through absolute HELL on old logging roads and trails in New Hampshire and it took it like a champ! That's what got my into Tacomas in the first place. I was a Nissan guy before that. (At the time I had a 95 Pathfinder)

 

LOL, we've all been there one time or another.