Do You Regret Buying a Four Cylinder?

That's awesome man, I can definitely relate, I have a Trd OR and damn these payments are high, thinking about refinancing, if that falls short, id consider doing the same as you.

 

I think if I would have started out with a SR I may have always regretted not going with the higher trim, but since I started with the higher trim and downgraded I have no regrets. The money saved plus knowing there is less to go wrong with it in the future is a big plus to me!

 

My 4-banger is awesome! Less recalls than V6 models. I'm looking forward to seeing this truck hit 300k

 

I have two '96 2.7 5speed and do just about anything with them.... I really like those trucks especially on rough bush roads. But in a few days I'll be
heading for the american Southwest (visit family and explore the desserts etc.) with a mid sized 30 year old camper on my '06 V6 auto. For the heck of it I had the camper on one of the 96 tacos for a recent fishing trip... fine if you are going slow in the bush but on the highway it was more of a struggle just to go speed limit. The V6 has no troubles whatsoever with the same setup and is easier on gas with this kind of a load. Of course this is to be expected. The 2.7 engine is actually one of the best performing 4 bangers I have used, it does have power if you rev the heck out of it and it does not complain but then again if you need power often then might as well go for a V6. I'm just love them all and use them as needed lol.

 

^ This is why I like using "Dual VVT-i 2TR-FE", as it removes ambiguity of all the 2.7's out there that Toyota currently makes ... or has made. Given the context of this thread, speaking 3rd gen 4 banger ... some of this input is outdated.

Maybe I'm just being pedantic, idk ...

 

It's great to read about all of the satisfied 2.7 owners, and awesome to see that many of you recommend the 5 speed. I won't comment on the performance because I have no first hand experience but what about the cost of ownership?

One of the biggest things us Tacoma owners get to enjoy is the incredible resale value. How do the 2005 and up 2.7 trucks compare in resale to a V6? Serious question, I'm not trolling.

I imagine that the upfront costs of optioning the V6 would be recouped when it comes time to sell. How is the real world fuel mileage from the I4 to V6? On paper the trucks are even, see chart here: https://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/the-4-cylinder-toyota-tacoma-is-completely-pointless-1724669002 It would be interesting to see the 5 year ownership costs between the two engine options on otherwise similarly equipped trucks.

 

Why would anybody compare I4 resale values to V6 resale values? The cost is different up front, and it is also different at the end of the line as well.

I tried looking for a used 2.7L 2nd gen w/ under 100k miles, and it just made more sense to buy new. The difference was just a few thousand to its 3rd generation counterpart, and the same concept applied for a used 4.0 under 100k mi relative to a new 3.5L.

As for long term costs, the new 2.7L is a much simpler machine, and therefore wins the potential cost battle outright.

The mpg is a wash. I, personally have achieved 25.7, 26 and 27.1mpg fills in my 4 banger. Others have as well, and so have 3.5L owners.

 

I meant to compare resale as a percent of original purchase price, not directly against each other. Based on your experience, the I4 retains it's value as well as the V6? I believe it!

 

Part of the reason it does, is that it's not quite as easy to find an I4 in a configuration that can work for most. If both versions were so readily available, I think the v6 would own on resale.

 

I can't speak to the resale, but I'm averaging slightly over 2mpg more with the 2.7 5 speed than I was with the 3.5 auto. Also, I'm on heavier than stock tires on my SR so the difference would be more I'm sure if it was a stock to stock comparison.

 

My 2012 SR5 Access Cab 2.7 4X4 with 69k miles was sold last month for $ 20,500.00. The purchase price new was about $24,500.00. It was 60 months old by build date, so that breaks down to less than $70.00 per month depreciation. That is hard to beat!

 

Hard to argue with somebody who has driven both.

I'm still able to achieve 25mpg, and I have quite a list of mods.

My Mobtown sliders are going on tonight though, ha .... anticipating 2mpg loss from these, but we shall see.

 

.06 per mile of depreciation. Not bad at all, especially considering that is the first 5 years which is the steepest. My general rule of thumb with vehicles is that the vehicle itself should cost 15 cents per mile or less. Crushed that one.

 

According to KBB, my 2017 SR 4x4 5MT with convenience package and 15.5k miles has a private sale value 94.9% of what I paid for it last August, and a 79.8% trade in value. I don't plan on selling but that's pretty good IMHO.

I also get better than EPA gas mileage, I just filled up today and my last tank average was 23mpg. This was driving up to and in the adirondacks this weekend, around town Sunday and to work and back yesterday and today. This is with a bed rack and my chin spoiler removed, otherwise stock truck. I don't drive like an old man either hahaha.

 

No I love my 2017 tacoma with the 4cylinder and 5speed the only thing took me a while to get used to is the amount of gas pedal you need to give... I came from a turbo 4runner so I didn't need to give a lot of throttle now I do.. as soon as you get used to it there's enough power..

 

I hope not, my SOS sliders are going on this weekend

 

So far so good, only had enough time to get the driver side on last night ... still got 26mpg on my commute this morning.

I also have a cap and SSO slimline bumper. Over 400lbs will be added once the other slider is on tonight (if I include the tools under my back seat and air bags system).

 

No you aren't being pedantic at all, while the block is basically the same as the 3RZ they have modernized the head drastically and while the US marketing has not really been updated, Dual VVTi is a massive upgrade in terms of powerband, if not peak output.

If you look at the advertised numbers outside of the US,
Single VVTi: 160 HP at 5200 RPM
Dual VVTi: 164 HP at 4000 RPM

The extra 4 HP isn't as big of a deal as the peak dropping by 1200 RPM! That's huge, and that means you will feel a drastic bump in power because you're hitting peak a lot sooner.

USA based Toyota marketing (at least for my dual VVTi 2016) still says 159 at 5200. Maybe they'll change it for the 2018??

 

Biggest piece of $h#t I have ever purchased. Bought new July 2016 in NH. I tried out two of the new 3.5s and they had all kinds of power. but both had this ticking sound in the engine and since engine was new design I did not want to risk it and bought 2.7...WORST decision I have ever made. It so underpowered you really cant pass. If you hall more than a bicycle take it out and ride the bike. I have had numerous transmission problems in the first 30k and ended up replacing. Now it needs another at 52k. I have owned six toyotas since 1985 my favorite truck ever. Toyota is living off it's old rep and it's not there in quality. I have had to fight each time for them to even admit tranny was bad till finally having their top mechanic tell service writer it was junk. So my advice having paid 28k for this load spend the extra get the six cyl. Close windows so you dont here engine ticking sound and crank music! Or just buy any other brand. I am moving on and toyota doesn't care. Thank god I bought the extended warranty. If you ask I'll send pictures and diagnosis by dealer of transmission replacements. Colorado looks better on reliability. Jim P. In the Live Free or Die state.

 

Welome to the forum. Either you test drove and ignored the results or didn't and suffered the consequences, nobody buys an I4 for the eye popping power. Either way, own it, nobody forced you. All makes have issues, "reliability" boils down to percentages and you got the short end. Lemon it if you can, buy something else and go join their forum to whine about it.