Looking at second gen tacos, couple questions.

Hello everyone. I've already been on here before and posted in the 4cyl section but now my search has changed a bit. I currently own an 08 nissan titan 4wd on 35's and recently my wife and I relocated and changed jobs where we don't nmake as much as we did before. Now the payment and $100 a WEEK (I commute 60 miles a day) in gas are killing us and I really like the second gen tacos. I need a 4wd truck and i was pretty much set on an a/c 4cyl 5 speed for lower payment and much better gas mileage. During my searches I've found some nice dc 4.0's for not much more money (granted they're a little higher mileage). I live in NE PA so it's pretty hilly around here but I rarely if ever tow anything, I love to go offroading on a fairly regular basis (both around the house and at rausch creek) so I plan on running at least 265/75/16 AT's or MT's. Between the hills and and heavier tires would I be better off with a V6 or will the 2.7 run fine and still get a good chunk better mpg's? Also how much better is the 4 than the 6 as far as mpg's go? From what I've seen on here the 4's seem to get around 23-25mpg highway and the 6's seem to be high teens to around 20mpg. Also I know the 2.7 is an absolute tank for reliabilty, how is the 4.0? I would prefer the power of the 6 and the space of the DC but I just don't want to be in the same boat as far as gas goes that I'm in now. If I take it real easy on the interstate I can get around 15mpg out of this crap winter blend gas they have here right now, in the summer I was getting around 17hwy. Thanks for any tips or advice you can give.

Oh and also I found a couple of real nice 1st gen's with the 3.4 in them for good prices. How was the mileage and reliability of the 3.4? I'm not real crazy about how small the first gens are inside though. Thanks again.

 

I can't comment on the 2.7. But I've owned the 4.0 in 2 different vehicles. My bone stock 07 Tacoma (2nd gen) and my current 2008 FJ Cruiser. In the Tacoma I got 20 on the freeway if I stayed under 65. Toyota trucks do not get great gas mileage. The tacoma was a slight relief from my F-150. But you're still not going to be saving hundreds each month, IMO. The 2.7 4X4 Single Cab tacomas are sick. And I would imagine they get a little better gas mileage. But still, it's a Toyota truck. They're awesome. Part of that awesomeness doesn't seem to allow for good gas mileage.

 

I own the V6 DC Long Bed and I get around 18-19 mpg mixed driving. I would recommend it to anyone because it's extremely reliable and gets about the same mpg as my old Mercury Sable, but has the ability to tow something and it has that great long bed

 

go with the v6 4.0. you will like the space of a double cab since you are coming from a titan. you'll also do better with the larger motor when you add larger tires. the gas isn't that bad in the v6's either. even with mine being a v6, 4.0, and 4x4 with larger tires, i have gotten up to 21mpg just driving conservatively, nothing too grandpa-ish, and overall average between 18.5-19.5mpg. this truck is an 06 and i have had no problems whatsoever so far, i just fill her up and check/change the rest of the fluids regularly.

i can't speak for the 2.7's or the 3.4's, but i know this v6 4.0 is pretty solid all around.

 

Awesome, thank you guys for the great responses with actual numbers. I'm definitely starting to lean towards the 4.0 a lot more because of the extra size and power won't be as much of a shock to me. I too LOVE the looks of the reg cabs especially with a lift and tires but their is NO WAY I could own a reg cab truck! I've done it before with two rangers and hated every minute of it. There's no room for anything but two people. Thank you again guys for the advice. And just to clarify I'm not looking to save hundreds on the gas part, just on the payment. The extra mpg's will definitely help a lot too though. Even 19-20 is a big step over 14-15.

 

Oh and one other quick question. One of the ones i'm looking at has the trd sport package (I'd really prefer the offroad package). I notice that it has the body color grille and bumpers and stuff plus the cool looking hood. On the down side it doesn't have the locker and skids which I'd love to have. Does the sprot models at least come with a lsd in the rear? It's an 08 also. I remember reading on here that the 09's and newer went away from a real lsd and went with an abs controlled lsd system. My titan has a REALLY crappy version of this and it sucks and rarely actually works but my wifes 05 jeep grand cherokee has the same style system and it works unbelievably and works almost as good as the QDII system with front and rear lockers.

 

The sport model does have a mechanical LSD (not sure about 2009+: haven't paid attention!). As to how well it functions, that I have no experience with. The electronic LSD and trac system on my base 4x4, however, is phenomenally effective in mud, snow, wet grass, etc - even despite the street-oriented stock Dunlop tires. I don't really think you have anything to worry about.

 

I don't want to start a crapstorm but if you're going to Tacoma just for mileage, you're making the wrong choice. If you live in a hilly area, you'll get 1-2 mpgs at most better than the Titan. If you go with larger tires, you'll be getting the same mileage. If you're due for a new vehicle anyways, that's a different story. The Tacoma's are great trucks but I wouldn't buy one specifically for gas mileage. You'll lose more in the trade than you'll make up with improved mileage.

 

Pp

This guy is absolutely right! You may not want to hear that but you still most likely take a bath on trade in, honestly I had a titan and traded for a tacoma....gas mileage was not that much difference..2-3 mpg but look at how much money trading will cost you...weigh your options on how much gas you can buy for what its gonna cost you to trade..

 

Agreed. The gas mileage difference is not worth the trade cost. Unless you're due for a change or you really think the Tacoma would help you out, you won't be saving that much in the long run. Try to improve your mileage with the titan or cut back spending in some other area so that it doesn't pain you so much. Gas is "expensive" no matter what.

 

I know it's not gonna be a HUGE savings in gas but it will be in payment. Let's just say I got nailed on my payments on this truck because I was waaay upside down on the truck I traded on it so if I can get a high teens taco for $450-500 a month I'll be saving a good chunk right off the bat just on payment alone and then whatever I save on gas will just be icing. I've had my titan for a little over three years and have paid a little extra here and there when I had the money on the payment so I've finally gotten it to where I owe right around what the trade in value is worth. Thanks again for the help guys. I'm going to go look at a couple today.

 

Sorry I just realized in my very tired state last night that I typed that I was looking to lower my gas by hundreds. LOL I meant I'm NOT trying to save hundreds on the gas part just on the payment. Sorry about that. No wonder you all thought I was a tard who doesn't listen to what you were just telling me! LOL