MPG... WHY DO YOU CARE SO MUCH???

67 mile commute to work, one way. I expected to get 21mpg, was able to squeeze a few 25mpg tanks, and even 27mpg over 330 miles.

Then I threw on some armor to get it down where it should be!

I had a VW TDI for my commute, but that got purchased back a little over a year ago. My '94 Yota needed to be replaced, so a truck was next in the rotation. Call me crazy, I really don't give a shit.

I've thoroughly documented MPG for this truck during my first year, because my mind needs something to do at all times ... and it was like a game to me to see how well I could do. Once I had it all figured out, I quit trying to do well with it ... and get anywhere from 21-23mpgs doing 65-70 on my commute. 18-19 if I drive 80+.

 

As far as MPG's go, they factor into my debate as to repaint, tire, and add mods to my 1st gen to buy a new Taco.

The 2018 advertised about 3-4 MPG's better than my average on the '04. With that saving roughly $500/year in fuel alone, quality repaint costing 2K-ish, 5 new shoes 1500-1800, mods of another 1K-ish or more and 0 warranty to cover catastrophic repair cost the decision was pretty well made. So $5k spent and no gain in value with risk of one failure hitting my wallet hard........Easy swing vote.

So MPG's.... and a lot of things matter.

Do I worry about them daily? NO

Incidentally, I am getting about 5 MPG's better than the 04 Taco so I see it as money in my pocket, Or the wife's new Rav4.

 

I got rid of a 1994 Chevy K2500 Suburban 6.5 Turbo Diesel, that could not get over 18.8mpg, for my Taco, which has pleasantly averaged low 20's mpg, highest of 31. I grew up with my parents owning many diesel Peugeots, VWs, Volvos, GMC trucks and my first 4 cars were VW Diesels. So it's under my skin.

 

this is more fun

 

Just to get this straight...you're complaining about other people complaining?

 

I thought MPG would be better but I'm fine with it. The way I drive dictates my MPG (admittedly sucks pretty bad). I'll take crappy gas mileage for reliability.

It could be worse. My brother has a gen 1 Raptor that gets ~12 mpg highway. He bought a beater because his maintenance costs and fuel were stupid. The car is going to pay for itself in less than a year...

 

Yes! Because complaining that not everyone is like me makes way more sense than complaining about spending unnecessary money!

 

Yup, 'meruca bro!

 

I commuted 70 miles each way to work for 2+ years on my bike just after college. Prior to that my commute was about 20 miles each way.

Mind you, this was 12 months of the year in central Oklahoma where wind, sleet and ice are common i the winter. Sometimes the ride was hellish, most of the time it was very relaxing and enjoyable.

Bike life is much like that of a Tacoma, if ya love it even the bad days are better than good days with something else.

Edit: I was getting 40+ mpg's then.

 

Because when a giant ass F150 gets the same 23mpg 4cyl 2wd Tacomas get, something is wrong. Yeah the F150 won't trail like the Tacoma but it'll pull the balls off one with even the 2.7 ecoboosr that makes 400ft tq. If the automatic is going to gear hunt all the time and the 3.5 is going to be gutless, at least it should return 25mpg for the trouble.

 

Haha! It was great for me. The weather worked in my favor, summer and winter, and I didn't have the problems riding that I did driving (we called the last car Target because it was hit about 10 times and only once was my fault). Most of my commuting was in HOV lanes, so that helped a lot. In general though, I really only had a couple close calls with folks doing something really dumb or intentional. Usually, I spotted trouble before it happened. Of course, that didn't stop a few get-offs that I had all on my own. Never any injuries, so that was good.

We had a whacky winter here this year. I was glad to have the Taco versus being on two wheels. I am looking forward to a bit more warmth to get back on the bike regularly. I do miss riding the sidecar, esp in the snow / ice, but I don't missing the near-continuous wrenching and parts costs.

 

Seriously , for me it is the difference of having 3 vehicles or just 2 . The wife and i each need a vehicle to get around everyday and we need a tow vehicle to go fishing etc. We have had 3 to 4 vehicles for 25 years or so . When we were working , 2 to work cars , tow vehicle , and a summer fun car . Now retired , went to 2 vehicles one has to tow and be decent on gas .

 

Nobody held a gun to your head and demanded you read anything about topics you don’t care about (like fuel economy), yet here we are.

That’s the annoyance of it all.

Someone spent $25-45k on a midsize truck. Pretty sure that entitles them to complain about it.

Fuel economy is important to majority of people, that’s why Toyota has heard that drum beating and is catering to the buying public. Not giving a shit about fuel or financial economy..? Neither buyers or manufacturers can do that anymore, in part, thanks to the federal government.

Instead of letting it bother you, I’d find a coping method instead. This is the future. You can wade against the flow until you exhaust yourself and drown, or you can learn how to see the big picture and figure out the world exists outside of your own house.

Anyway.. people paid the right to complain. Who gives a shit that it upsets you?.. that might be a better question.

 

That’s not quite how tests are done.

https://www.caranddriver.com/features/the-truth-about-epa-city-highway-mpg-estimates

 

guess it came off wrong. i am not mad. maybe i should make the title not all caps. was just really wondering why people care so much. some people have shared why. THANKS! and was also supposed to be a bit of fun.

hope this thread hasn't upset you guys.

 

It’s too late, I’ve already gotten ball cancer from this.

 

I enjoyed riding the street for the most part. I think a supermoto was not the bike for it though. I like riding aggressively and for the street I had to ride like everyone was going to hit me (which almost happened too many times to count).

I did get 150 miles out of a three gallon tank though! lol.

 

i get caring about 10mpg difference. just all the times people talk about 1mpg difference. i just don't understand why. especially when your cars MPG can change 1-10mpg based off how (agreesive, non agressive, towing) or where (hills, etc) you are driving.

 

My wife gets better mpg's in a 2016 suburban than i get in my Taco!! hahaha whatever....

 

The biggest problem; is 2wd vs 4x4. I don't see many people mentioning driveline configs, just their package level. Which is NOT an accurate representation imo.

Someone thought it a good idea to offer (what a layman would think to be 4x4 based on it's look) a "truck" that has the TRD Off Road bro Sport TX Baja 1000 pkg on a 2wd....and called it a "truck". Prerunner not included because they are their own type of truck.

4x4 is heavier, trucks are designed like a brick, they have a gaping air flow catch behind the cab causing turbulence, there is space under the cab that causes turbulence, new gen owners have never owned a truck in their life let alone 4x4, maybe they're coming from a very fuel efficient car and are just flat out oblivious to anything and everything around them.

All this before any mods are done to a vehicle.

Way too many variables here. Good luck sorting this out.




Bought my 2014 4x4 2.7 ACLB in June of 2016 with 24.5k miles, It's about to turn over 60k miles. Do y'all even drive places bruh?