Will I regret if I buy a 2.7l taco?

I drove a 1986 22R 4x4 for 18 years and 212K then a 2005 Tacoma 2.7 for 145K and now a 2022 SR 4.0 AT only because I didn't want to wait to order a 2.7. I towed a 20 ft boat (3500) to the keys and back twice with the 86 no problems from Canaveral. Couldn't go 70 but I was in no hurry. Big plus was parking and turning radius compared to a larger truck.

 

You're only regret will be that you didn't buy one sooner!

I have owned and driven almost every toyota truck variation, had a 1st gen v8 tundra with the 4.7 and it was damn smooth regret selling it to this day. Had a few 3.4s in 3rd gen 4runner/1st gen tacomas great engines with ok pep, 1st gen tacoma with a 2.7 that thing was a struggle (had a 5 speed manual) to keep up with traffic. Currently have the 4.0 good engine and had the 3.5 tacoma also ok and had a 22re that was slow like the 2.7 1st gen

So I was a little hesitant to get my current 2nd gen 2.7 5speed regular cab but honestly it's a joy to drive and keeps up in traffic just fine. Do it and don't regret it. Only sucks because it gets the same crap mileage if not worse than my 4.0 4runner

 

I have a 5speed 2.7. Honestly for a daily driver I recommend the automatic. So much more relaxing and enjoyable in traffic and around town. I am always wishing I had an automatic. Also automatic is much better for off-roading the five speed is pretty annoying at low speeds it feels like you’re always riding the clutch or lugging the engine (always between gear speeds) and you need to always focus on that instead of enjoying the scenery. Another reason I recommend automatic is it’s better for towing, backing up and maneuvering a trailer. With the light duty clutch you can make it smoke quick.

Before anyone hates on me or says I don’t know how to drive a manual right every single car I’ve driven for the last 10 years was a stick. Corvettes, trucks and everything in between. Go with the automatic if you want convenience when driving, go with stick if you’re a purist who’s set on one.

 

I agree with this man. My 2.7 is a manual which I love but I wouldn't mind an auto

 

2.7L is not going to fix the fact that it's a big unaerodynamic truck. Will still get poor MPG.
And will struggle to pull a U-Haul if you ever have to move.
I don't imagine they're much cheaper.

People complain enough about the 4L being weak and underpowered as is. Equivalent 4Runner and Lexus had a V8 option that Tacoma did not.
I would not recommend trying to make that even worse by going 2.7L

 

To each their own - live in LA and been having no issues with my original clutch on E rated tires at 185k. Never had an issue off-road.

And 18 mpg at the pump...

 

The clutch should never wear out if you know how to drive properly. Mines got 245k on original and works fine.

The problem is driving one day to do can be miserable. No power and constantly shifting over and over and over. I would much prefer to just stick it in D and chill.

 

The difference in fuel mileage between a 2.7 and 4.0 as well as a 1st gen Tundra with the 4.7 is pretty small. The only advantage to choosing the 2.7 is lower initial cost. And FWIW there isn't much difference size wise between your Tundra and a 2nd gen Tacoma. My brother has a 2006 Tundra with over 200,000 miles on it. There have been guys go over 1 million miles with those trucks and the 4.6, yours is just getting warmed up at 160,000. Keep the Tundra you have

 

Say what? A 4.0 in a 2022 Tacoma?
Please, please say it’s the Dual VVTI?

Nahh, I’m kidding you man.

But I am still trying to figure out why they never put the D-VVTI in a Tacoma.
4.0 w/6 speed Automatic and lower gears
That would have been my pick for the 3rd Gen.

 

Another vote for keep the Tundra.

The used market right now is NOT in your favor either. If you have an itch for a new vehicle (something a lot of people got used to in a pre-covid world), you need to find a different way to scratch it.

 

The difference isn’t small when considering the size of the tank being the same and being way out in the desert - I can get well over 340 miles to a tank. Wish I could do that with my V6 trucks.

 

only if its a reg cab the 4banger makes sense

 

Definitely wouldn’t want a double cab - I could do in an access cab if it was geared with 33’s or smaller.

 

Timely thread…just yesterday we bought a 2010 regular cab 4x4 with the 2.7 and 5 speed. 80k miles and the thing drives like new. Forgot how much fun a manual is (haven’t driven a stick since selling my 2012 Boss 302 back in 2016). I actually think it is more than adequate power wise, drove it home 180 miles of mixed highway and country roads, and while it was no speed demon, it did fine.

 

I had a 97 regular cab 4x4 2.7 with a manual and thought it had plenty of power for a daily. Never towed, put 150k on it with nothing more than maintenance. The. Had an 07 access cab 4x4 with the 4.0 and the 6 speed manual. Truck was great until my wife got pregnant and I attempted to put a baby seat in the back. After a while I picked up a 2011 double cab automatic TX Pro with the 4.0. By far my favorite configuration of Tacoma. Pre Tacoma I grew up with 5 or 6 Toyota pickups from the late 70’s models to the mid 90’s. Compared the the old 22r the 2.7 has a ton of power but looking back when driving any of them did I mind. They all suited the purpose and served as great daily drivers and farm trucks. Though for me the only time I drive an automatic with a 2.7 it felt gutless. Best to keep what you have but whatever makes you happy man.
One thing for sure to consider is if you have any intentions at all for taking it away from stock form. If you might up the tire size or add a lift or anything like that in the future and have any intentions of daily driving it. That would be a definite no on the 2.7.
keep in mind if I were to get another Toyota pickup, it would be a pre 1984 with a 22r! LOL…

 

The 2.7L will work fine for everything you listed. Having said that, if they made a regular cab with a 4.0 I would choose that.

Also, I would personally choose a stick over an automatic.

 

2tr and 3rz not even near even output in my experience.

 

I had a 4 banger in my 2007 Tacoma Pre Runner. It was a great truck, that I always regretted selling. I recently purchased a new 6 cylinder 2022 Tacoma Sport 2WD. To tell you the truth, I could get by with either truck, just fine. The MPG is very similar on both trucks. Like you, I don’t tow anything heavy.

it’s a tough choice, but my opinion is you can’t go wrong with a Tacoma, regardless of what configuration you select.

Manuel vs automatic is a personal preference issue. Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. Some guys are leg men. Some guys are booty men. Some guys are Booby men. Some guys even like other men.

As for me, I’ve always been a leg man, but that’s just me. Now how did I get off on that topic, when we are talking about trucks? LOL

 

The 2.7 will do everything you're looking to do with it. Drive one and see if you're okay with the power it provides. If you're looking to save some money and you said you drive twenty something thousand miles a year, you'd probably be happier with the 2.7. My neighbor commutes in his '15 and has 300k miles on it.

You might also call your insurance company and get a quote on a 2.7 and 4.0 to see if there's much difference. Might be surprising one way or the other. Especially if you keep full coverage.

Driving a diesel van to tracks around the east coast getting 17mpg (13 towing a 8.5x18 cargo trailer) led me to play the better mpg game. I got a '02 Jetta TDI (diesel) with a stage 3 tune on it and 180k on the clock. It's approaching 300k now, gets 42mpg towing 2 track bikes on a harbor freight trailer and averages 48 to 55mpg without towing. Looking at the miles I drove, I've saved over $12,000 in fuel costs. Paid 6k for the car.

You can get a real good idea of what you'll spend on each vehicle over the course of a year. 2.7 vs 4.0 vs 4.7

I used fully.com to get averages of vehicles fuel consumption. Take your expected yearly mileage, divide by each vehicles avg mpg then multiply by avg fuel price. Then add insurance quotes according to each vehicle to see where that leaves you financially. You may decide it's well worth it or not really worth all the hassle.

Sadly, it's a ridiculous time to buy a used truck. So unless you find a killer deal on what you want, your long term savings may be eaten up by paying covid prices up front.

 

Can’t imagine needing more power than the 2.7 in the regular cab anyway….it’s a small truck with pep to spare. What are you guys doing, drag racing?