Worth buying a 4 cylinder?

I mean I get it everyone loves their rough n tough lifted diesel truck cuz 'merica, but that shit is just terrible. Might as well move to china where they also love their diesels! Believe me China is fucked, you can't walk down the sidewalk without breathing-in toxic hydrocarbon exhaust lol 'merica!

And besides you're a diesel mechanic, if diesel's are getting shittier as you say than that's job security for you my friend!

 

I've only had to replace timing belt once on my 3.4, and that was when I was replacing water pump thermostat and bearings as well.
Non interference engine so can't damage anything if it breaks.. At least the belt won't rattle!

 

also the Diesel powered Canyon/Colorado is destroying the Tacoma in monthly mid sized truck sales

 

I really like my 2015 2.7 engine and it gets fantastic gas mileage - far better than I expected and far better than a V-6. Personally as a mechanic over 45 years, I would never buy a small truck with a V-6 anyway (Including, Dodge Dakota, Ford Ranger, GM twins etc,) - most full sized V-8's get the same or better gas mileage than a V-6 and cost about the same to buy. The full sized with tow a lot better and better ride etc. Both Toyota and Honda are famous for their durable 4 cylinders engines which they have produced first about 70 years ago and the Toyota 2.7 evolved from a line of cast iron blocks which are legendary for reliability and ease of maintaining. You hear a lot of BS about low powered but remember in 1986 a full sized Dodge pickup with a 318 V-8 had 165 HP so the 2.7 Toyota has 160 HP and lighter truck so power is quite adequate for 95% of people. If you want real performance don't buy any stock Tacoma .

 

We live in interesting times (when ones opinion is met with True/False praise as if it were factual).

 

Watch the news. Arguments between 4 and 6 cyl don't define the times.

 

*scratches head*

Once again, that was an opinion.

Conflaters gonna conflate.

 

... ...

 

I would imagine that even if that year Dodge had a low HP rating it probably still had a decent amount of low end torque to get it moving.

 

My name is also Jeff and I also had a 2015 Barcelona Red Tacoma SR5 2wd (Texas Edition) Crazy... Anyway, I originally bought it thinking the 4cyl would get better gas mileage (I was commuting at the time) and while I agree with almost everything you are saying, I will say this... After driving the truck for a while it was apparent that it was under powered flat out. That became even more apparent, and in my opinion unbearable, when I loaded it up and took the family on a road trip to Utah. Driving it fully loaded, with 2 adults and 2 preteens up mountain passes was NOT enjoyable AT ALL.
So Getting back to the OP Question

The answer is not that simple...
Maybe, or maybe not it depends...
What kind of price? What is the mileage? What do you want the truck for? Do you like Power? is it a 4x4? Do you plan to modify it? Do you want to lift it with big tires?

It is a subjective question really.. Plenty of people here own the 4cyl and are completely happy with the sparse power it creates because they don't need or want any more than that. Others are not and will gladly tell you why.

I have driven many 4cyl vehicles that have a CRAP LOAD of power a Toyota Tacoma is not one of them. On the flip side I have driven a CRAP LOAD of vehicles with V6 and V8 engines that have absolutely NO power. so it's not black and white that way either.

 

EXACTLY!

Mercedes-AMG developed a 2.0L turbo which currently is the most powerful series-production four-cylinder engine in the world.
Available in the GLA 45 AMG and the CLA 45 AMG, its output is rated at 355 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque.

Put that 4 banger in a Taco and I would buy it!

 

I agree with the mountain passes issue. My truck has a ton of power for me, but the mountains of PA are not all that crazy. They can be steep and long with a trialer in tow, but the low elevation doesn't rob engine power. I can still pass semis on the highway (easily).

I took a trip out to Colorado about a year ago, and if I decided to move out there my 2.7 would not be coming with me. I was flat out on N. St Vrain from Lyons to Estes Park ... and there was quite a line developing behind me. (luckily there are sections with a passing lane every so often). It was myself, gf and 2 dogs .. wasn't even towing. It would accelerate north of 3500 R's, but very gradually.

On the trip back through Kansas, it was so nice to get the power back. Such a huge difference, and I wonder how many people have driven these trucks in radically different environments to get the full scope of what is being said about this engine.

 

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2018/07/best-selling-pickup-trucks-second-quarter-2018.html

 

I owned both trucks from new and both have the about the same low end torque as you say so I am not imagining. As a mechanic I drove thousands of different vehicles and honestly like a truck for the seating and usefulness plus they have solid construction with a full frame plus trucks last a lot longer if you look after them. I learned many years ago that most people who have bought V-6"s most often say that if they did it again they would buy a full sized with a V-8. Most 4 cylinders are very simple to work on and have the power of most V-8's 25 years ago so that is sufficient for me and 90% of other people who don't have to tow a large trailer. Before I bought this truck, the first thing I did was lift the hood to see how it was to work on as I am retired now and hate how some of these V engines are hard to work on . Simple spark plug changes can take a day to do and starter replacement is a major job - Not for me - My opinion anyway for what it is worth

 

I was on track to buy a pro, for the novelty of it, when I looked under the hood, I was disappointed. And then out of nowhere an SR popped up about an hour away, and when I looked under that hood, all I saw was long term ease of ownership.

 

I thought the torque rating on a 318 from that time frame was around 265 Ft Lbs? I cannot imagine that the 2.7 is putting out a similar number.

 

I'm in this camp. People look at me funny when I say a consideration of the 4cyl is how much room is in an engine by to work on something. I like doing maintenance on my own vehicles, and have on 15 vehicles over 27 years. I like learning where everything is. Outside of some inline 6's (we can wish, cant we?), this engine is not bad to work on. I like working on RWD cars and trucks. They are laid out in a linear fashion, and easy to work on. That being said, I haven't done much to this truck, so haven't run into the frustrating things that designers sometimes neglect to consider (like starters under exhaust manifolds, or PVC valves that require wheels and panels to come off to access.)

 

I hold his truth to be self evident.

But YMMV just as opinions do.

I recognize the 2.7 is a fantastic engine, but it will never fulfill my needs.

This does not mean i will go around bashing anyone that has it, if it works for them, thats fantastic; couldn’t be more happy for them.

Lighten up. no harm intended

 

2.7 AC 4x4 is my daily and its fine on the highway, I drive it 150-200+ miles a day

4.0 4x4 is my offroad toy and used to be my daily.

If you go the 2.7 get the manual, the auto is gutless