Should be in 3rd gen, but no one cares. Anyone else happy they're keeping the 2TR for 2016?

Just saying, I love the 2TR and I am now considering the 3rd gen Tacoma since they're keeping the 2TR engine. This has by far been the most reliable, minimal maintenence engine I have ever had the pleasure of owning. Reminds me of having an old tractor engine in a truck. Anyone else feel the same way?

 

You're making me tear up, Man. Yes.

 

Yes. So glad they stayed with the 2tr. I know Toyota has the D4S but I still don't trust direct injection. My truck would be much nicer on the highway with a couple more gears. The automatic dropping from 4th to 3rd on highway inclines makes it scream, it doesn't need to rev that high but it has no choice with this transmission. Might have to test drive one with the new 6 speed auto. The engine though a little gutless is smooth and does its job great.

 

Its a good motor but lets see if they can find a better manual transmission to go with it though. I have a new clutch and now the throw out is squeaking all under 60k.

 

I have been seeing these trucks on the road, since i was a kid in the 70s. To me, the 4cyl is a huge part of their tradition and fun vibe. Plus i love the cantankerous sound of these engines.

 

Agreed - I've had the 2RZ, 3RZ, 5VZ and 2TR. I do enjoy the power of the V6s, but the simplicity, ease to work on and reliability of the I4 has always had a soft spot with me. I have absolutely beat the shit out of these motors and they have never skipped a beat. I think the most work I ever had to do to one aside from general maintenance was a starter replacement.

They're slow, clumsy and loud and I absolutely love them. If I do wind up going to a 3rd Gen in the future I suspect I'll be giving the 2TR strong consideration again...

 

Yup. Really all they needed was a better transmission to go with it, and that's what they did.

 

I'm a V6 guy, hauling a family over our mountain passes many times a year gets old in a 4cyl. I prefer to set the cruise and forget about it. However, my dad had a 89 Toyota 4x4 with a 4cyl, he loved that truck and I grew to love it. It was totally gutless but never failed either of us once. His was a manual and I remember just pegging the thing in 2nd gear to climb up over some of the passes.

I'm glad they paired it with a new transmission for those that love the 4 cyl.

 

Perfect quote

 

Agreed, I love my current 4cyl Toy almost as much as the first one, a 1981 RC SR5 5spd 4cyl.

I've said multiple times here on TW that I wouldn't want the 4cyl with an Automatic Trans; I'm curious how much difference the new 6spd AT will make. I won't be in the market seriously for at least another 3 years, I hope; but I might have to go take a test drive once the 2016s hit the lot up here.

 

Absolutely positively without a doubt buy another 4cyl. This 2tr engine is the most reliable and one of the easiest to maintain. Yes its not a speedster nor do I want it to be. I originally seeked out the 2.7 because of the proven track record and that's one less thing I need to worry about. Getting older myself, I'll stick with what works for me and this 2tr is it.

 

For arguments sake - what is the weight differential of a Tacoma, between 2nd gen, and 3rd gen - 2wd vs 4wd?

This seems to be the biggest bone of contention, from what it seems are the trust-fund kiddies with no mortgage or other significant debts to pay for, other than a re-warmed new-shiny 2016?

I admit it - i'm an old man at 47 .. chronologically speaking anyway. An 82 Nissan 720D with a 2.4l got me going in the early 80's. An '88 Toyota kept me going with it's trusty i4 some time later. Never did i have trouble keeping up, with the exception perhaps, the Jones's next door... My 2010 has the 2.7L mated to the 5 speed... i can do 140km/h all day .. on those rare days i'm not stuck in grid-lock. I don't live in mountainous or hilly terrain, i do haul a significant load from time to time, with no issues... so what's the deal?

Just how much heavier is this fabled 3rd generation (which is really Gen 2.5 as far as i can tell) that the 2.7L is fit for powering nothing heavier than a kid's go-cart?

I just don't get it.

 

Hope this helps.

2015 2nd Gen
2wd 5-lug access cab 4AT (15 inch wheel "lowrider" truck): 3645lb
2wd prerunner (6-lug) access cab 4 speed AT: 3810lb
4wd access cab 4 speed AT SR5: 4050lb

2016 3rd Gen
2wd prerunner (6-lug) access cab 6 speed AT: 3980lb
4wd access cab 6 speed AT: 4220lb

 

While I'm all for the new (6) speed Auto, I really wonder just how much better it will perform with 335 lbs additional weight and a 4.5" higher profile. That's comparing the 2015, 2wd, 5-lug Access Cab w/ 4 speed Auto @ 3645lb to the new, raised standard height, 2wd (6-lug) Access Cab w/ 6 speed Auto @ 3980lb.

I recently cancelled my order for a 2016 due the increased weight and height. The 2015 Tacoma is the easiest truck I've owned to load a M/C or 4" x 8' sheet of plywood into and I really don't want to lose that benefit. I thought about hunting down a leftover 2015 although the 4 speed Auto really doesn't excite me. I guess I'll keep my 09 Reg. Cab, 5 speed manual for now. Perhaps someone will offer a lowering kit to get the 16 back down to 15 levels.
Motoretro

 

My 2010 prerunner 4cy manual drives exactly as is did when it left the dealer's lot 125,000 miles ago. With my commute, I get an honest 24mpg all the time. It drives like an ox cart and is possibly the slowest 2010 or newer non-commercial vehicle on the road, but it's the most bullet proof, easy to maintain, and holds it's value better than any other car or truck on the road. The simple fact is that a 2.7l motor churning out 157 ponies is not working very hard, and the Toyota version has been designed and built like this over the past 30+ years for pure, uncut reliability. I have little doubt I can get 200k unbelievably cheap, trouble free miles out of it. Can gen 3 tempt me away from my trusty ride???

The gen 3 now weighs more, and the EPA ratings on the 4 are lower than the 6 (not by much). Would I get another 4 cyl? No. Toyota cheaped out and punted on this, in my opinion. This truck begs for a 2.4L turbocharged motor, optimized for truck use. It should have an 8 speed auto or 6sp manual, and should top 30mpg. To me, for Toyota to stick with this ancient engine is an insult to consumers. So, the next logical step, for me anyway, is to look at the 6. I don't get far here either; the fuel economy still sucks, and the rest of the truck is not so different than gen 2, and I'm shocked at how much they cost. If I were buying again, I'd look at an F-150 2WD with the 2.7l turbo, once they get a few more years into production and all the issues sorted out (if any). For a few clams more, you get far more value.

Just my opinion; love my current 4 but I'll never buy another.

 

I fully understand and agree to a point. I do like the 2.7L although have always felt these trucks are geared incorrectly. I feel my 09 RWD Reg cab w/ manual and 3.31 rear should have the 3.58 rear which comes w/ the RWD Autos trans trucks and I feel the Automatic trans version should have a 3.73 which I believe comes in the V6 X-Runner. My Reg. cab typically runs 25-26 mpg and doesn't seem to care how I drive it so I feel a change in gearing will only enhance the performance w/o mpg penalty. The 2.7 is pretty torquey, it just needs to work with the proper gearing.

Putting larger/heavier tires and wheels on a truck is the quickest way to reduce MPG in my world + increasing the overall vehicle weight and height does the same. Are Cafe standards really a concern? It doesn't seem so.

At this point on my 09, I'm thinking change the clutch to something with a smooth, solid, early release point and change out the differential to something which allows the truck to work and drive like a truck.
Motoretro

 

2016 AC I4 SR review

 

I love this thread! I also think the 2tr is a great motor. I chose it in my 2014 partly because of cost and mostly because of the proven reliability. It's rare on this forum to see a guy post about problems with a 2tr.

I just experienced this too on a road trip through Colorado. I was surprised I had to dip down to second but she did get me up and over the I70 mountain pass with a few hundred pounds of camping gear and 2 passengers.

I experienced this as well. It's got me thinking of going down to 4.56 gears. On my recent roadtrip i did an experiment through the flats of Kansas. I filled up and stayed in 4th gear for a quarter tank turning 3k rpm the whole time. Then I filled up and stayed in 5th gear for a quarter tank turning around 2.5k steady. The mileage was almost identical, within 0.2 or something, I'll have to check my receipts again.

 

While the 2TR is a great motor, is tried and true/reliable, the 2GR offers quite a bit more... I mean, the 2GR is quiet and smooth, the 6-spd tranny is quiet and smooth, gas mileage is not far off the 2TR, and the power is unbelievable... So, the 2TR is great, but after having a 2GR, I'll probably never go back

 

I do love the 2tr but I also hope that in another year or two Toyota will come out with a new companion motor for the new v6. A 2.7 liter engine has a lot of potential to make power, sure as heck more than 159hp. Ford managed to make 325hp from 2.7 liters, though it is a v6. The question is whether or not it's reliable. Does a turbo engine have inherent reliability issues because of heat and pressure? Maybe. Many turbo diesel engines can go hundreds of thousands of miles but that's a bit of a different animal.

I personally am wrestling with boosting my 2tr. Either the ozboost turbo kit or the urd supercharger. I would like a bit more power but I absolutely do not want to lose reliability. I'd hate to be out in the middle of nowhere and blow a head gasket or something. I likely will not boost my engine because of this reason, and cost plays a part too...

I understand it's a fine line between optimizing an engine for truck service and getting decent epa ratings. I love a 4 cylinder engine for many reasons and will probably always have one, i just hope they continue to get better and better.