Talk to Me About the 4-Cylinder 4x4

Oh rad. Wailuku! I lived on Maui for two years back around 2002. In fact, Wailuku is where I first stayed I used to hit more than 55 on Mokulele Hwy, so don't lie - Anway, good to hear. The 4-cyl is looking better and better.

 

Lots of motorcycle cops on mokulele now......but there is times when one can still wring it out hahaha

 

I'll tell you I miss Maui. I really do. But I just bought a house here in CA so I guess I ain't moving back for a while.

 

Check the 2.7L MPG thread in the 4 cylinder forum in the Tacoma Garage. Many folks are getting better than 22 or 23 mpg with their 4-bangers.

 

The mpg difference between the 4 and 6 with 4x4 isn't huge so don't let that be your deciding factor. The back seat does have anchors for a car seat so you could do that. I personally haven't had any problems with power. I cruise at 80 every day in 5th, which is 3k on the tach exactly. I can pull a steep hill (what you easterners would call a mountain) at 70 in 4th. Acceleration sure isn't great but who buys a pickup to race it? As far as towing if it is a relatively small trailer every once in a while you will be fine with the 4, anything more and I would get the 6. Also definitely go with the manual if you get a 4.

Advantages of the 4 are that they are cheaper, they have less problems than the 6s in general, and most engine related maintenance and repairs are easier than on a 6. If you wan't the thing that you can run the longest the 4 with a 5 speed is for you. If you have to talk yourself into it at all though just get the 6, the extra money up front is cheaper than replacing it with a 6 in a year or two.

 

^^^ I've had the V6, so I know what it's all about. If I buy the I4 I'll soon know the differences. I'll admit, the main reasons for considering it are the overall entry cost, the longevity of the engine, and the lower fuel consumption. But I hear more and more than the MPG difference is not that much, though some people seem to think it is.

BTW, I drove an I4 5-speed manual the other day in a test drive. I really like it. It has more power than I expected. Lol. From the comments here I thought it wouldn't be able to push it's own weight. Haha. I thought it was fine. I like the shifter feel a little better than the 6-speed shifter in the V6 (though I never had any complaints with that one like some people have). I didn't like the clutch all that much though. It feel like an on/off switch and it was super hard to modulate. Also feel like it kicks out quick at the very end. The truck had 75K miles, so maybe it was a little worn, but the clutch engagement feel a little high for my tastes.

The question is, should I pay $19-22K for a 4-cyl Tacoma with 75K miles, or $26K for a brand new 2016 4-cyl with the very same spec? Tricky. I know. If I'm honest, I kinda want the older truck more than the new one. I don't want to have to be as careful with it as I'm with new cars.

 

Yeah, a lot of peoples comment on the 4 cylinder being very slow and underpowered. My 4 cylinder regular cab gets up to 85-90mph on the high way just fine. I take it up from New Mexico to California twice already and I was driving at an average speed of 80mph It has more than enough power to get on and off the high way. On a mountain pass I just down shift to fourth gear. If I am really in a hurry I can scramble up passes just like on flat land. You just burn more gas and keep the truck at a higher rpm of course.

I purchased my 2010 regular cab 4x4 for 16,500. It's all stock with Toyota warranty. Purchased it at 44k. Search around a bit. I was contemplating purchasing a brand new truck as well for 26, but id rather save 7-10 grand.

As for MPG, I got an average of 17/18 on my trip. I think it's because I drive past 80 on the high way. I bet if I drove at 65-70 mph id get better results. The last tank I filled up I got only 17mpg.

 

I've got 148K on my 4 cyl /5 speed and plan to drive it for another few decades, despite the limited power. I've towed a small trailer back and forth from Orlando to the gulf coast north of Tampa a few times and will admit that the low rolling hills in the Florida horse country around Ocala gave me some fits and had truckers passing me like I was standing still. Another note, I used my Son-In-Law's Titan with a 5.4L engine recently and have to admit that more power is always a good thing. If I did it again, I'd go with more power.

 

I love my 2013 2tr 4 banger. I have 33s, canopy, heavy sliders and it plenty enough for me. It sucks towing though, I haul a heavy trailer with 3 dirtbikes, and it has zero power uphill or off the line... may be better with the factory tire size though.

 

Like I told my uncle who got a new F250 at the same time I got my Tacoma, that thing will be in the junkyard a full decade before this one will join it. He only keeps his trucks 2-3 years at a time though so he doesn't care about that.

 

I had a 4 banger double can prerunner.
Was super slow and sucked gas worse than my current v6

I would try and find a v6 in the configuration you're after.
Or as someone said maybe a regular cab.

 

I love mine also. But power is not a big thing for me.

 

Love mine too. As others have said, the engine is a little more reliable and easier to maintain than the V6 (plus it's cheaper!). I've noticed that at slower speeds it can tow heavy loads like they're not even there, but at highway speeds it feels weighed down. It should easily pull your car trailer to the road. The 4 banger is slow churning and torquey and I can easily get 20-25 mpg in the summer with mixed driving. I plan to keep mine until it costs too much to keep repairing, which I dont think willbhappen anytime soon.

 

Absolutely love my 08' AC 4x4 2.7, does all I ask of it. It has enough power for me, God knows it's not a dragster. Here in hilly NW CT I get at least 20 all of the time and up to 25 on highway trips. My friend had an 06' doublecab 4.0 with a 6sp. He couldn't do better than 15........your results may vary

 

Here
http://www.fuelly.com/driver/xaks

There's around 200,000 miles of daily-driven 2.7 liter 5 speed reg cab Tacos. I did the mileage per tank only. Two 2006s and a 2008.

When someone says '1MPG differrence', they're full of shit lying on purpose or simply ignorant and using paper numbers. Out on the the pavement, it simply isn't true.

 

Love my 4cyl regular cab. There's a lot more room behind the seats than people give credit, but no way you could fit a car seat . I usually average 20mpg+ mixed driving, best I've gotten was 26mpg in Colorado with a lot of mountain driving, worst was about 16.5mpg in eastern Kansas doing 75mph+ with strong head winds. Mine is a 2013, got it with 31k miles for $21k. I'd check other states when searching for a used one, if you can find a place where the general market for these trucks is $1-3k less than California it would be worth the plane ticket and gas money for the trip home in your new truck

 

You'll see a few mpg more with the 4 cyl and if you're not really towing it or weighing it down you'll be fine. I don't know why you keep using reliability as a reason for the 4cyl though. They're reliable for sure but go check out the 400,000 mile thread and ask that guy about v6 reliability. Either option is gonna last forever.

Just don't buy used from the rust belt. It'll be a safe bet that whichever motor you choose will outlive your frame.

 

I need to buy in CA. One reason for going gen 2 is to take out a loan. My bank is great but won't lend me for out of state.

 

I didn't mean to repeat the reliability thing too much. I was just repeating where others are saying. The main reasons really are entry cost, maintenance costs and fuel costs... otherwise, I'd go back to what I had, 4x4 V6, DCSB, 6-speed.

 

OP, where are you in SO Cal that you have a long dirt road and mountains daily? Guessing Big Bear?