new member 2012 Tacoma SR5 Runner

This truck is my second Tacoma. My first a 2002, standard shift, Tacoma, with 149,000 miles, was totaled by stolen 2015 Mazda. The Mazda ran a stop sign, on a very busy HWY, hit me at my right front wheel. I was pushed over two lanes of the HWY. I cried. I was the original and only owner of the 2002 truck. Now I drive a 2012 ext. cab, 6 foot bed Tacoma SR5 Runner. A big step up from my 2002. Lot of room for my toys. Ham Radio installed, what fun!!!!!
A few questions
What is the different between a runner and a pre-runner Tacoma?
All the info I have gathered states a full tank of gas should get 400 miles. My truck 325 miles???
What should I look in to???
What is the best Octane for the best mileage?
I would like to install a full info station, radio now. what is a good brand?
that is all for now.
thanks
the white SUV is the Mazda!!!!!!!!!!

 

Welcome to TW Bill

 

Welcome to Tacoma World! Dang sorry about your old truck, that's never fun. But glad you stuck with a 2nd gen and I wish you many more miles of fun.

The "pre-runner" designation usually means 2WD. In racing terms, the pre-runner truck is the one that does the race route before the actual race truck. Kind of like a scout. Hope that helps. No such thing as a "runner" Tacoma trim level.

Fuel mileage varies between each vehicle. Start by doing the basic maintenance if you haven't already, then start diving further into the forums. Search can help you here.

Best octane is probably going to be 87 non-ethanol if you can get it unless you have some other performance mods done but that isn't too common. Too broad a question without more info.

Good start for a new stereo is always to go to Crutchfield.com and see what fits according to their parts picker. There is also a subforum for Audio/Video which you can find here.

 

I’ve seen people swap or move the words around, my favorite being the “taco runner”.

There’s a link I believe in the Toyota website where you enter your vin & it tells you what you’ve got.

Getting the mpg up will most likely be getting the maintenance up to date. If you don’t know when anything was done, assume it has never been done. Spark plugs, oil change, air filter, coolant flush, etc.

Before someone bashes you for it, calculate your mpg instead of referring to miles per tank.

Before this becomes another debate over octane, I’ll summarize the last string I remember. I only use premium, I’m happy and smarter than everyone else. I only use regular, I’m happy and smarter than everyone else. Most every option falls within these two extremes. In MY opinion, the best information provided, I believe it was quoted from an owners manual, paraphrased, designed to run on 87 octane but, If you want it to not ping use higher.

As wi_taco mentioned, crutchfield will give you an idea what’s available.