Worth buying a 4 cylinder?

I had read that the 2nd gen 5-lug 5M diff is 3.31 and the auto 3.56 which is why I've been contemplating a swap if I go to a slightly larger tire size. The net would be a 200 rpm increase at 65 in 5th according to the tire size guide. Won't happen for a few years if at all since I'm not getting new rubber anytime soon.

 

You have the automatic I assume? Because even on the gnarliest of hills I can downshift and overtake or maintain a speed well above the limit. The trans makes a massive difference.

 

Yes. Here I am just getting home a few months ago pulling a VW bug (motor and all) from Phoenix to Flagstaff, AZ.
1000ft elevation to 7000ft.
Over 100 degrees when I started the tow.
The engine temperature never went up once.
I had just installed the towing stuff in the morning before I left.

No speed demon, but she happily accepted the task. And she is a cheap truck.
2017 2.7 Automatic AC cab SR 4x4.

 

Agreed. I think the 2nd gen is as bloated as the 2.7 can handle adequately in its current tune, and only with the 5M.
2009 AC 2.7 5M 4x4 is 3955lbs
2017 AC 2.7 5M 4x4 is 4195 lbs

After getting a second set of wheels, I realize how much better this truck responds with p rated tires on alloy rims. The difference of almost 20lbs per wheel rotational mass between lt tires on steelies and p rated tires on alloys was night and day.

 

Awesome, good job pulling that little car. Do you know how much that little guy weighs? God bless!

 

It is a 2003 Mexican beetle, so more than an old one... but around 2000lbs.

 

thats about 55-60% of your towing capacity. What was your average speed and gear used for towing?

 

I just put it in cruise at 60.
You can go 75 on I-17, but it is a car killer all day, any day, under normal conditions.

I'm just stating that I think a 2.7 SR is worth the cost of it. It does what I ask.
That said, so did my little 98' wrangler I traded in for it. Except for having space for... anything.

 

Didn't anyone tell you you can't tow with the 4 cylinder? You DEFINITELY need the V6 for that....


Tomorrow I'm breaking that "rule" too, my taco is pulling moving duty so I'll be towing a 6x12 uhaul trailer and the bed loaded up too. Should be pretty close to GCVWR, I'm sure she'll do just fine. Only going 20 miles anyway.

 

Absolutely no problems from me. I'm fascinated by the 2.7 and want to know as much about it as I can.

 

Some of you guys are getting pretty good mileage for a 4x4. My 2nd gen reg cab 2wd 2.7 5MT averaged 25mpg in flatland midwest. That's what pushed me to cancel my 2016 order for the 2.7 4x4 and go V6. I thought for sure adding 4x4 and a heavier truck (AC) would really narrow the gap with the 3.5L.

 

I saw about 24+ mpg on the highway with an all stock AC 4x4 Auto

 

Ha! One of our Subies was a 2001 WRX, the first year they came out. I loved that car and at the time nobody knew what it was except kids. I would not buy one again today mainly for that juvenile reputation (well deserved).

 

That’s a good way to put it, fascinated as well. And it seems the more In depth I get on it the more it surprises me.

 

did some research
the 6MT V6 in 6th Gear (0.71/4.30R&P) is turning 2200rpms @65MPH
the 5MT I4 in 5th Gear (0.79/3.90R&P) is turning 2200rpms @ 65MPH

 

Test drive both. Think ahead about what you will haul, tow and what kind of driving you will do. If you need the extra power get the 6.
As for me the 4 banger works.
Both have their merits, but ultimately it's up to you.

 

Welp, truck did fantastic!

Empty trailer is just shy of 2000lbs, taco could tow that everyday with no complaints. Really didn't impact acceleration much, and handled really well.

I'm not going to say we went over the trucks max tow rating of 3500lbs, but we loaded the trailer completely full of household goods (books, kitchen stuff, furniture etc) so draw your own conclusions on how much it weighed. Didn't put a ton of stuff in the bed but probably 600lbs of stuff.

Towing the full load went really well, didn't feel like the trailer was pushing me around at all and I was really happy with how the surge brakes worked. Overall far less stressful than some of the loads I've pulled at work. Only (minor) complaint is I wish 1st was geared a little low for taking off from a stop.

Conclusion: I have no problem towing max load (3500lbs for the 4). I have plenty of towing experience in bigger trucks, and was impressed with how well the taco did.

 

I just spent a week pulling my Aliner Expedition (3k lbs [loaded] estimated) through VT's Green Mts. Water tanks were empty on the way up and back, but mostly full while traversing VT. I could hold about 24 gallons including a supplementary container.

Under the cap was about 1 heaping wheelbarrow of seasoned firewood, cargo divider, 300lbs of dogs and kennels. Behind the seats was loaded with our bags/clothes and such. The trailer was jam packed with all of the gear we could reasonably fit.

11.5mpg on the way up, 16mpg on the way home. We burned mostly all of the wood over the course of the week, but there were a few scraps remaining.

After we arrived I went from the Champlain islands, to Lincoln ... through Waterbury, Stowe, out to Greensboro and then back to the islands.



I learned a ton about the truck over the week, I mean ... one would have to.

Lincoln Gap was the craziest mountain pass that I encountered. It was 1st gear w/ blinkers for pretty much the whole way up. It pulled firmly, but there was a single poor soul in a Hyundai sedan that was trapped behind me for a bit. No line developed, surprisingly.

Torque/power was not an issue in general, as I was able to AT LEAST maintain 60mph in 3rd in most situations that I could travel that fast. There was the odd incline that required 2nd gear nearing redline, but maybe only twice all week.

The big killer for me was the clutch. Full disclosure, I do have 80k on this truck already, but they are mostly commuting highway miles.

Coming to a dead stop on an incline is just the worst. I believe the first one was 12% grade. The first time I was slipping it waiting to roll forward, and it just wouldn't go. The clutch smell came, and then of course plumes of clutch smoke until it grabbed. After that I just used 4lo to handle the starting on a serious incline situation. Not ideal, considering I cannot turn like this ... but it worked within the context of the situations I faced.

So yeahhhh ... next mod will surely be an aftermarket clutch. Pretty happy with its performance otherwise. Firestone Airbags sure helped me on the one primitive campsite I used, was pretty bumpy getting back there and needed all the clearance I could get out of them.

 

In my opinion if you can sacrifice a few things and get something significantly cheaper, it can be worth it. I spent 7.9k on a 2011 with 72k miles 2wd and 4cyl. I paid cash and it's paid off. Would I have loved access cab and cruise control, etc? Yes. Do I want to pay $300 per month for the next 7 years? No.

 

I spent 24k on a utility spec access cab manual 4x4, new.