I am about to order a 2023 Access Cab 4cyl 4wd (thoughts)

You have to shop multiple dealers - indeed whole regions. There are plenty of 4WD 4 cyl SR access cabs out there. Use https://www.autotrader.com/ and https://joinyaa.com/ to find them. The use https://markups.org/ to find dealers with no markup above MSRP.

 

Unfortunately 2017 was the last Model Year of the 4 Cylinder/5 Speed MT

 

Shame, the 4 deserves it more than the 6.

 

I bought one of the last ones. At the time, the salesman was pitching that I could get an automatic transmission for just another $1500. I told him if the manual was $1500 more than the automatic I would still be purchasing the manual.

 

Still have an 03' MT 2.7 4wd 4 banger with 188,000 on it and haven't had any major issues. Just piddly stuff (O2 sensor, windshield wiper motor, routine maintenance). Like it's been said here, the 4 cyl 2.7 L is like the Energizer bunny, keeps going....and going...and going! Also, stated here on TW, she lacks balls. I'm often dropping gears for hill climbing. With that said, it's been an extraordinarily dependable truck for me, so much that I intend to keep it and not sell/trade in while on the hunt for a newer Tacoma. If you want reliability, don't intend to do hauling, plan to stay on the pavement, and aren't looking for speed then go for it. You won't be disappointed!

 

I'll confirm this opinion. I had a '13 2wd and it was fine in town on the flat roads although my foot was always on the floor getting it to move because I had 285/70r17s on it. They were P rated so not as bad as LTs but those and the 3" lift eliminated any pep it might have had but I took it on one trip to the Grand Canyon and never drove it up to the mountains again. It was really a horrible experience. Other than that it was a great truck. Zero issues. I traded it for my '20 more because I wanted a 6cy than I just wanted a new truck. Even though they gave me great value while still getting the new one at invoice minus rebates, I wish I would have kept it as a second vehicle.

 

So buy a 2.7 4wd but keep it on the pavement? Lol. That engine does just fine off road you just need to know it’s limits and how to drive,

 

Take er easy...I'm just stating what it sounds like he'll be doing with it. I never said it won't handle off road.

 

With those tires you are really needing a regear.

 

If you only go down hill with the wind at your back, you'll like it. If you need to get somewhere fast and need to pass someone or need to go up a hill, you'll hate it.

I hate mine. I'm getting a 6 soon.

 

The 2023 4 cyl Tacoma has enough power to go anywhere a 1975 FJ-40 Land Cruiser could go:

 

Does good

 

Where are you getting the 12 seconds from?

Unless mine is some super special secret model nobody knows about, I have no problems keeping up in traffic in California which goes much faster than the speed limit and on some steep ass hills.

And if anyone cares, I drove to and from Tahoe, and I don’t see a tremendous loss of power up to 8000 feet.

It’s not that this thing is slow, it’s just that similar trucks like the 5th generation 4Runner and the 3rd Gen V6 Tacoma are not that fast.

I have a couple of P cars, and it’s not like I’m terrified merging on the highway with my SR.

 

Update: its been over 4 months and still no build date. I just stopped by the dealer. the dealer called Toyota and he said that they might not even build any of my trucks (7514) for a few more months. plus that doesn't guarantee they will even build mine. I am pretty disgusted with Toyota. all they are really building is double cabs I've been a loyal customer for years. prob bought/responsible for buying at least 100 Toyotas in my life time. seriously considering buying a new Tesla Model Y with the current price decreases for my wife and then driving her 2014 CRV for a few years.

 

mine does extremely well at highway speeds. zero gear hunting. the gear shifting can get kind of luggy when cruising around town though.

 

well I am probably never going to find out if i like it or not. I am guessing Toyota make $5 more on the double cabs then on the actual work trucks. Toyota has lost a a lifetime of good will in just a few years.

 

i thought they sold a ridiculous amount of fleet trucks with the 2.7. what happened to that?

 

I love the little 4 banger. All the people saying you need a 6 cyl is BS and they prob never drove the 2.7l. If you pull a lot then yes the bigger motor is better but you also might of needed a full size truck. For a daily with some light hauling thing is a beast. And snow can’t stop it.

 

Still lovin' my 4 banger Tacoma. Climbs like a champ.

Pro tip for inclines in this truck: Press gas pedal with foot further than when driving on the flatlands.

 

Crazy how that solves a lot of the issues.