The 4 cylinder?

Now I know everyone is different regarding usage and needs (sounds like you really need a 6), but when you think longer term it may not be as marginal as you think.

My 2.7 gets 24 mpg with my usage, I do the math every time I fill up. I've got 115k on it right now, which equates to 4,792 gal consumed so far. If I compare that to, say, 22mpg, that works out to 5,227 gal consumed or 435 more than what I've used. If I got 20mpg, that would work out to 958 more gal of fuel I would have had to buy!

Given the current Taco line-up, the 2.7 makes huge sense for a lot of us. I agree if the new 6 gets better mileage than the 2,7, this is all up for grabs. We'll see!

 

Cursory searching on Ebay and such shows just buying a 4.10 diff used is 900-1100$.

 

If your core is rebuildable, for just a rear at ECGS it's around $635 brand new with all shipping. Add $400 core charge. I sold my rear 4.10 with a few thousand miles here for $500.

It's a two hour job at a slackers pace on jack stands.

Here's my thread when I swapped to 4.10, 5 lug section.

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/5-lug/332540-2014-5-lug-4-10-ecgs-rear.html

 

Yeah definitely need the V6, always thought the 4.7 V8 would be perfect in the 2nd gen Taco. Take a hit on mileage, that 310 ft/lbs. of torque would be awfully nice.

One of my dirt bike buddies, has a 2015, ACLB 2.7 5 Speed 4WD, he can't get better than 20 hwy out of his. He drives fairly conservatively. I was hot to get one, but I don't think it will work for what I want it to do.

 

Honestly, I can vouch that I just test drove my dream Tacoma at the dealer last week.... It was a 2015 Tacoma, Access Cab, TRD 4x4, v6 6speed Manual, white.

I was so stoked that they had it at the dealer I couldn't resist to test drive and see the comparison over my Tacoma.

Check it out.... While the dealer was going to give me kbb good value under private party, which is phenomenal from a dealer(shows you how well they hold their value/their demand in used market), but the WOW factor in the v6 WASNT there... Plain and simple. It was faster and easier to get up to speed, but I don't mind ringing my 2.7L out, it makes it more fun to drive

Sure it has 4x4, TRD, Bluetooth, camera, etc over my 07'
But my truck is also paid off and the trade off of having another 22k in debt Out the door (with my trade) wasn't worth it, ESPECIALLY since the 16' is coming out in 6 months or so....

That's my 2 cents... What do you guys think?

 

I really didn't like the way the 6 speed was geared when I drove one. It felt poor. There was plenty of snot under the hood but it felt like a lot of it was wasted or unused.

 

I have the same truck with an auto. You are right, it's not a car engine and will not wind up quickly. You also have the extra weight and drag of the 4 wd system which is significant. (Try a pre Runner 2wd with the six) The wow factor comes in when throw a boat on back which I do, take a left to go up a long grade merging into traffic, then accelerate nearly as quickly as you did without the boat. Honestly, it's the consistent performance and performance under load that makes it. I had the same motor in my previous 4 Runner. It was 6 to 8k before it starts to loosen up and wind up more quickly. It is short on HP and will not throw your head back but torque is pretty flat from 1k to 5k rpm and will make you a true believer over time. I really liked the motor in my 4Runner and it was a no brainer over the 2.7. But, having said all that, I would wait for the 16 too at this late date. But still, go back, take it out inthe highway and put the cruise on at 75 mph. At least consider the six when trying out the new one.

 

The 2TR-FE serves my needs just fine too, but this engine design is old by today's standards, especially for an automotive giant like Toyota. They can do better, but they aren't. The V6 sure is getting it's due attention but why ignore the 4-cylinder? This is 2015. 160hp from a 2.7L engine is embarrassing!

And I don't understand the argument that using more modern technology in this engine will affect its reliability or durability. Nonsense.

 

You hit the nail on the head. Maybe they have something up their sleeve before it comes out. But, here is the deal IMHO. They already had the basics for the six around for a couple of years in the Lexus version which just has to be retuned for the truck. What else do they have in a truck 4 or even a car four with over 200 hp and more torque then this motor. This is all they have available. I feel they will up grade the four at some point if not by fall.

 

dude that doesnt count u have a turbo...

 

I'd like to see what VW's 2.0 turbo diesel could do in a Taco, geared correctly for a truck application.

It is pretty damn amazing how little power Toy gets out of 2.7L, but the trade-off is this motor lasts stinkin forever. Especially compared to anything turbocharged.

I think the new 6 & drivetrain will make the 4cyl obsolete, at least from an efficiency standpoint. The 4 will be for 5-lug and base models only, just for a lower price point.

 

Except in the Lexus line, Toyota likes to " share" motors with other lines. What else uses the 2.7 in rear drive configuration ? I don't see Toyota making a special motor for Tacoma that has not been n the making for some time. The 2.7 is the only alternative at this time. Maybe the Lexus NX turbo
could be reconfigured.
https://lexusenthusiast.com/2014/04/14/details-lexus-nx-200t-turbo-engine/
Given how the 3.5 came about, this seems a possibility. Expense wise, it seems unlikely at this time too.....back to the old 2.7 ! This will be interesting.

 

No I have not. I agree that the high gear on the four is too tall. That is one of my complaints. But, to meet mileage requirements and ratings, it was necessary. To put that tall a gear in the four auto made it tough to use in real life. The six speed will help but just going to a 4.10 without increasing the number of gears, still won't help IMho with the added weight of 4 wd if you then add any more load which you can easily do by hundreds of lbs in 2 wd. The elevated chassis of the 4 wd creates significantly to drag at higher speeds.mwhich is more then what many give it credit for. I assume you have a 2 wd. Changing the rear ratio does not automatically make it more powerful. It's robbing Peter to pay Paul. In 2 wd, the issue was not as great as the 4 wd to begin with. That is the big reason for your success I feel. With a 4 wd, a 4.10 would not be enough. More then that, you are again....robbing Peter to pay Paul. There is just so much you can do with 127 inch WB, access cab, 4 wd, 4200 lbs........and 159 HP.

 

My truck is almost as tall as a stock 4x4 too. 4.10 is too tall still, which is why I said, your not robbing Peter, you are just letting Paul eat without choking him. My MPG was the same with 3.31 and 4.10 with the sand small tire, 23-24. But with the 4.10 it wasn't fighting just to hold its speed, it was not working hard to do anything.

I've also had 6-800 lbs in it. The gears release the full potential. Stock geared you are fighting leverage from the start with zero load.

 

I'm not entirely sure that I understand much of what you have written. Your "rhetorical" questions don't seem to be used to any purpose...enlighten me about what you're trying to say.

I didn't say that the 25 mpg figure was rational or penciled out in any way. That is simply the figure that I would like to see when I figure the mpg's for my vehicle. Please, math need not apply when we are talking whim and fancy.

Clark

 

Isn't it used in 4Runners? I know it used to be in them, but maybe that's changed. I can't imagine driving a Runner with one, they are like 1000# heavier than the Tacoma.

 

No the 2.7 liter 2tr is only the tacoma in the US. They use it in other places in the world in other vehicles too.

 

Well, you said you had a 2.7 4wd that you got 22-23MPG with.

You also said that you would be dancing in the streets if you got 25.

I used math to show the difference between the two...8%.

Or, in the case of a tank of gas that goes around 400 miles, a bit over $2 total.

I also asked if the 'fast car' in your comparison/example could do the same work I routinely do in my Taco for that mileage.

 

The 4 cylinder is no blazing performer but it's a good long term engine that is not real complex. So down the line if some thing goes south it's a lot easier to fix. The "it won't climb a hill with a load" faction has never driven a Toyota motor home with a 22RE (I had one it weighted 6,200#) yes it's competition was a loaded log truck any thing else would beat in in a drag race but it made it to Canada every year and back and the only thing I ever replaced was a front crank seal. By the way it got 13-14 MPG think it was a little over worked? My 97 had a 2.7 it was ok not a drag racer and lacked a bit towing but it lasted for ever it's all in what you feel you need my new one is a 6 it was needed to replace the motor home as a tow vehicle pulling a camper. if I did not need it for that a 4 cylinder would have been fine.

 

I always liked the four. But let's face it, cars are getting quicker over the years and people expect their trucks to as well. The new Taco will be an improvement, not because it will go off road or tow better; those improvements will be marginal. The big one is, it will drive more like and handle like and accelerate like...a decent car. The four is lost in that realm with 4 wd and a four speed auto. Now, 2 wd and a standard ? I had no complaints there with the four either. But the world is not flat and dry. It has snow, hills and work to be done.