New member here with questions on the 2.7 engine

2 of my buddies have 17 and 19 AT 3rd gens. They drive just fine, even though I obviously hate ATs.

 

It depends on what someone wants and expects from a vehicle. I come from old trucks and 4WD's. 3rd gen is a Cadillac to me lol

 

Yep same here. My previous truck was 07 ranger and this taco is like a spaceship.

 

I am a diehard MT enthusiast so would never buy an AT but I recently took my uncles new 2021 TRD Sport AT out for a spin and it was fine. Not sure what all the whining is about. Transmission did what it needed to but felt like a modern transmission with too many gears. Father in law had a 2019 Ranger with the 10 speed. AT Tacoma guys should take one of those for a spin before complaining. I had it for two days while he painted the box side of my 2016 Taco and I could not give it back fast enough. Even him as a diehard Ford guy he ended up hating it and traded it in for a new 2021 F150.

 

My sister in law had a 2008 Ranger. It was a solid little truck but rode like a rickshaw LOL.

 

Unless you are an older person (as I am) you have a depressing future ahead if you also want a new vehicle. Sadly, the last of the MTs are not too far down the road.

 

I'd say 04 was the last true Tacoma.

Any other maker would have changed the name, once going from a compact to a mid size.

 

You are right about that. It was very archaic, but super reliable. Wish I could’ve kept it…

 

[/QUOTE]

I was excited for the new ranger, but no MT and only one EB engine offered, hard pass. Didn’t even bother driving one.

For me it was either frontier pro4x or taco. I’m very happy with my choice.

 

I was excited for the new ranger, but no MT and only one EB engine offered, hard pass. Didn’t even bother driving one.

For me it was either frontier pro4x or taco. I’m very happy with my choice.[/QUOTE]
I was initially excited for the Ranger too but the engine and transmission were an instant turn off, would never want one.

 

This has been depressing me. It was hard enough finding a 3rd gen Tacoma in manual. I will bet it’s going to be impossible soon, as you say. Even the new broncos have a manual option, yet not with their biggest engine. So you have to choose biggest engine or manual. Ughhh

 

Sucks having to choose between those, but it's an easy choice haha. 2.3 should have plenty of power anyhow.

 

Traded in his Ranger because he didn't like the 10 speed? There's no question on paper the Ranger has a better drivetrain. Much better torque and gearing. Every review of the two echos that. I think most of us here can acknowledge the Taco doesn't have the best drivetrain of the bunch. But it will likely be the most reliable.

You drove an auto Taco that has been through how many TSBs now? Mine was borderline annoying on the stock 19 tune. The most recent update made it much better. Enough that I'm holding off on a tune until the warranty is up.

 

I simply stated my experiences. The 10 speed did nothing but hunt for gears. Power was never in question. You nailed in on the reliability aspect. I honestly think Toyota would have been better off with the 5 speed AT. Also Ranger is fairly new so I think it is safe to assume it will experience its own plethora of TSB's. Nobody is immune from that thanks to society wanting better fuel economy over reliability. Hence why I went MT.

 

It is a shame they did not offer them in a double cab that other markets got. I would have bought one for sure.

 

Man, I went to Mexico and was drooling. They had so many double cabs.

That was one of the biggest reasons I wanted to got rid of it, the cab was tiny. Believe it or not, one time I picked up my mom, sister and dad from the airport in my ranger haha. I was very uncomfortable driving, as I like to sit far back.

 

I guess they are worried folks will be ruining clutches/transmissions with all that power. A lot of people can “drive” manuals, but there is a bit of an art to drive smoothly and properly.

 

The only reason I am getting the Toyota is for the 2.7 ENGINE . I have had that ENGINE for 13 years and it's been great. I am not going to drag race nor pull heavy things. It will be an all around truck. But In my 2003 2.7 Tacoma I did pull out a few 3/4 truck from holes and such with no problem.

 

Yeah I get that. But are clutches covered under powertrain? I feel like that would be excluded for the reason you stated.

 

Clutches are a wear item like brakes.

Folks will still complain about the clutch if something is not right, you know how it is…