Can you tolerate the 4 cylinder?

The 4 cyl is tolerable for me. Going up even a moderate hill is a chore at 70 mph because of the 4 cyl, aerodynamics, weight, and the deep OD gearing of 5th gear; I often have to go into 4th gear. While the 4 cyl is powerful for a 4 (and it's a giant of gasoline 4 cyls at 2.7L), the newer Tacomas are also heavy- a 4WD access cab 4 cyl SR5 weighs in at ~4000 lbs with a full tank of gas and no driver. Add in aerodynamics just barely better than a Peterbuilt, and you need to have patience, not be in a hurry, and just let everyone in their 4 cyl Civics zip by you going up hills.

I went with the 4 cyl because I'm cheap and I didn't want to spend the extra $ on the 6 cyl for a vehicle I only drive part time. And the ~10% better mileage vs the 6 helps me tolerate the 4 also. I didn't even test drive a 6 cyl. If this was my only vehicle I would have thought about the 6 cyl.

And not all 4 cyls are dogs: 2006 Evo, 2.0L 4 cyl, stock with 286 hp. And if I drive it nice, it still only gets ~2 mpg more than my 4000 lb Tacoma

 

Some people might like 4 bangers, and some might like manual transmissions, but if you ever plan to sell/trade the truck in, you're going to leave very pissed off unless you have the V6/Auto combination (you might still leave pissed off). I could have lived with the 4 cyl, but I got the V6 because I like the extra power, the fuel economy isn't that far off, and it has much better trade in value.

 

why would i leave pissed off? beacuse they won't give me the same money as they would somebody with an auto dc v6? that's ok, i also paid less. from memory the auto transmission was either 600 or 900 more, it's been so long since i bought, my memory is fading. seems like the v6 was a couple of grand more as well. when i finally sell, it will be private party and i expect that some snot nosed punk will buy it and be thrilled to have a truck. time will tell.

 

too bad driving a limited vehicle down a hill isn't really going to overcome that limiter, ESPECIALLY on a newer vehicle. my 05 expedition wouldnt pass 100 going anywhere! it was like it would hit the brakes at that point. it had plenty of power to go faster, just wasnt going to happen. so in short, BS still called unless your speedometer is off, but then its going to read 117 when the limiter kicks on, not 120. this whole dispute is over 3 mph anyways. a 47mph over the limit speeding ticket versus a 50mph is probably not going to be that different anyways. just do us all a favor and dont speed like that

 

I had an '87 4 cyl, a '97 4 cyl, and now the 09 4 cyl. It seems like the engines seem less powerful as the model years progress. The 2.7 in my 09 Access cab is a real slug, but I knew that before I bought it. However, it suits my driving style and I did not want to give up the gas mileage difference over the V6. I was quite surprised , however, as to how weak the 2.7l was. Hills in 4th and 5th gears are tough. Have not towed yet, but I am sure it will be a tough go. Yes, if you keep the rpm's buzzing high there is enough power. And yes, the truck will reach immense highway speeds.

 

haven't seen you post in a while...what happened to the XR? I wanted to see a run at that Watt's 4 link rear you had custom made...that thing was PERTY...

 

x2 and are there any more pics of the watts link? the only ones i saw were pretty small...

 

You think the reduction in power has anything to do with the increase in weight?
How about rotational mass.

 

Don't forget the better ride quality the 5 lug has over the 6 lug. When you spend as much time as I do on the road it makes a difference.

As for load, my 4 cylinder AC has a higher payload capacity than my son's 5.7 litlre 4 door Tundra. Most I've put in mine was 960 lbs. Truck was slow but handled it fine.

 

I managed just over 960lb with logs. What I found was my truck has got a set of bad factory springs. I was on the bump stops the entire time and they are supposed to be capable of more weight. The engine on the other hand never hesitated and the A/C was on. The truck is well built overall.

 

I just drove 145 miles to my cabin in a driving rain with 600lbs+ of crap in the back, then have been driving windy roads, down shifting/stop and go etc. She's at 22.5 mpg. That, and the reputation of the 2.7 is why I have one. No regrets.

 

I think my 4.0 sucks at towing, so I don't even know what I would do with a 4 banger. And I find it hard to believe that a new tundra has a lower payload than a 2.7 cause that 5.7 screams.

 

Sucks how?

 

I just traded my 2002 2.7 4x4 regular cab for a 2009 2.7 4x4 access cab. The 2.7 did everything I asked, from hauling firewood to tackling trails to haul deer out of the woods.

I test drove the 6 when I was shopping, and it was amazing, but just added too much to the price. The 4 works great, in fact, it's better than my old truck. The gearing seems totally different (both manual). In the old one, 1st was nearly useless, geared wicked low. The new one seems to have a much broader range. On the highway, 5th runs much lower, around 2500rpm whereas the old was over 3000.

In short, the 2.7 is a great engine, no regrets, 8 years and counting.

 

^thanks for the pics. never saw how it was mounted to the frame...

 

I honestly did not do near the research I should have before i bought the 4 cylinder. albeit, I am extremely happy with what I have, and don't use the truck to tow anything because I have a 3/4 diesel for my towing needs. BUT, If I had to go back and do it again, I would have got the V6. Gas mileage between the two (prerunner V6 VS prerunner I4) is negligible. Power differences between the two is substantial.

 

if only those discs were 6 lugs i would know what to dump my rear drums for

 

Pissed off? I just traded mine in and I certainly wasn't pissed off. Let me tell you, so long as they make manuals, I am never buying an automatic. First I have more control. If I need power, I downshift. It's priceless for control in snow. Second, reliability. Every single automatic I've had was a disaster. They break for no good reason at all, fluid leaks, poor shifting, ugh. Never again.

I don't buy a vehicle for it's trade in value. I buy for the features I want, though trade in value was perfectly fine on a 2.7 4x4 regular cab manual. Maybe you just had a bad deal on your trade.

 

I drove my 1995 1st generation 4x4 access cab for 13 years which was a 5 speed 2.7L. Transporting heavy loads and living in a state where nothing is flat the 4 banger gas pedal was to the floor more than not. If the main factor is gas mileage, get the 4 cylinder but if you need the power, get the 4.0L V6 for sure. Four of those thirteen years I lived in Florida where it's flat as a pancake, it was fine driving it there, nothing to climb.

 

thats absolutely false. Trade ins are what they are.A v-6 has more trade in yes ,but as a function of you paying more. The 4 cyl is less, but not as a function of no value. You find they both depreciate at arund the same rate overall .
An who goes and buys a truck to trade it in .I think ill research the best resale color and wheels.