might get a taco but ??s

I was thinking about getting a 98 tacoma, 2.7, 4x4, automatic, 120K miles.
I had a question about the 2.7 with the auto. I worried it wont have enough power. I don’t plan on towing any thing, maybe my VW rabbit but I don’t think it will have a problem. but I wanted to get an opinion from every body. if it was the V6 or 5 speed on the 2.7 I wouldn’t worry about it.

Chris

 

Hello Chris,
As for the 97 Taco, I have a single cab 4X4 I bought new with the 5 speed. It has 130K on it now and because of the performance it gave me I know own a 07 TRD along with an 07 4 Runner. As for mine I am still impressed with the power of that little 2.7 however it has the manual trans. I had a friend back in the late 90's that bought an ext cab 2.7 with the auto and I have to tell you all he did was bitch about the lack of power. Now on the other side the V6 back in those days is not nearly the eng that the 2.7 has proven to be. As a long time Toyota fan my advise would have to be to either buy the auto and transplant a manual into it or to look around for a 2.7 with the 5 speed. The bottom line is if you are concerned about the lack of power now it will not take you long to regret you purchase.

PS. As for the 97, other than changing the oil and filters the only problem that I have had is at 65K the throttle position sensor went out. It is a $300 fix and trust me I have driven the heck out of that truck.

 

I'll toss out the idea of a 2.7 auto. Are these MPG # right?

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/1998_Toyota_Tacoma.shtml

 

I was also wounder how well the rear locker works in the TRDs. I was thinking about just getting a 2wd insted of a 4wd.

 

Lockers work great, but if your going off road you'll want 4wd and lockers (if possible) if you a roadie then 2wd will be fine, with those miles have iit checked out by a good wrench.