4 Cylinder versus V6

Good question, I get it a lot. I used to collect cars & was pretty extravigant with houses and money and...stuff. I had 33 rare and exotic cars ranging from the McLaren 722 edition all the way to a Caterham 260.

I had 2 Vipers, the 2006 SRT10 & a 2004 Viper Fulcrum (which is EXTREMELY rare).

I was the guy on TV who ran crazy and wild, parties, different woman every night and tons of other bullshit that makes me wonder to this day. I got rid of it all, I quit my career (to the avengement of my cohorts) and went inward.

But as a reminder my wife suggested I keep the 2 Vipers (which were my favorites) so I always remember what that time was like. Although it was incredible, it was destructive all at the same time.

The Vipers are exactly like my life then: Extremely fast, more power than you could use, unbelieveable image, everyone watches and you keep apart from everyone (That's not a good thing), expensive to repair and highly uncomfortable for the long haul.

A lot of folks think that having tons of money and fame and all kinds of stuff is what they want. Now I spend all day teaching people that is not where it's found.

I have my Vipers on display with a local speed shop, my Tacoma is what I drive. No one watches me, I am opposite of many here, I don't care about people noticing me anymore. Any mods are functional.

Believe me, everyone wants to be noticed and special until they are...all the fucking time.

Sorry, didn't mean to be preachy.

 

True. My local dealer told me that we would never find a Tacoma equipped that way.

Went to CarsDirect and a week later he found one. He said if I didn't like white I would have to go to Nevada where I guess there was another one.

Pretty surprised since the I-4 is such a great motor.

 

Its not just SoCal, Surfponto...I ordered a I4 5 Speed Manual 4x4 Extended Cab SR5 a few weeks back here in Boston ( Go Sox!) and they couldn't find anything from any dealer in New England. I just heard from the dealer yesterday that they had to go ahead and order it directly from Toyota, and I won't get it until between 11/4-11/12. (I've had a brand new Pioneer deck/Sirius tuner/********* kit sitting in my living room for two weeks!)

The bottom line to anyone reading this looking for something specific is that if you can manage to wait, you'll get exactly what you're looking for depending upon the dealer's willingness to order something from off the lot.

 

Good to know. I guess that is not too bad to wait for a truck that you really want.

We love the truck with the 2.7 liter.

 

Nah, it wasn't preachy. It was the voice of hard-won wisdom. Thanks for sharing. I'm glad you've found happiness.

 

Viper-2: Sawdust is right, its important that you're happy. although you would probably be more happy if you let me have one of those vipers. You can keep the rare one, i'll settle for the crappy one Its a shame you're not filthy rich anymore, you could have funded the Alliance and really turned the tables on those stupid Texans. We could have helicopters and boats and all kinds of stuff to use against them. Oh well, i guess becoming self actualized is better. I dont want to be famous or rich. I want enough money to live in a nice house in the mountains or on the lake, with a semi-nice boat. To me having a boat (i'm happiest on a lake) and a truck and a beautiful view at the end of each day is more important than having a garage full of cars. glad you came to that realization...... although a fleet of helicopters with "Carolina Alliance" painted on them would have been cool

 

Hi Surfponto,

I'm in the exact same boat as you -- looking for the identical configuration. I found a dealer who found one coming off the build line and he made me a killer offer on it! I'm this close to owning my first new vehicle ever!

One question, did you purchase without doing a test drive? As we know this configuration doesn't really exist on any lots in CA. I've test driven the V6 model with TRD. I enjoyed that, I suppose... so very different from my 95 but that's another story.

I'm very excited right now...?!

 

Hi TBV welcome to TW,

We did purchase it without a test drive. No regrets.

I do have a 07 FJ Cruiser so I have a general idea what the V6 feels like in the Tacoma since it is the same engine.

The I-4 has great torque and for our use has plenty of power. I don't tow anything with it but I am going to put a 4-Wheel Popup camper on it in the next year or so.

I really enjoy this truck and get 21 + around town and 23 mpg on the freeway so I am pretty happy.
Sometimes I do wish I had the double cab but that is not an option with the 2.7 ltr I-4 motor.
Stoked you found one! They are hard to find.

 

You'll be pleased with whatever you choose, I prefer a V6 but I have driven the 4's and they do feel strong.

 

Hahaha! That would be cool though.

I drove up to the Dragons tail (I'm sure you know where that is) today with Lily (That's my white SRT). I find myself missing the height of the Taco . Can't see over those bridges.

But seriously though, it's the greatest feeling of freedom. If you've ever seen the movie "The Ultimate Gift" I really felt that one. I did not inherit anything like the guy in the movie did but his awakening on what is important is very close to mine. I kept going with it...hopefully we all will.

http://home.comcast.net/~eternity-x/Viper_lily.jpg

 

Yeah i've heard of dragons tail. Alot of bikers trash their rides up there. Let me know when its cool for me to come down and pick up that viper. I dont mind driving to Charleston to get it

 

I does my heart good to hear discussions whether to go with the I-4 or the V-6. It just goes to prove that Toyota built such solid engines that going either direction will be a win-win. Sad but true, but this discussion would not be on the table if we were considering a domestic. Go for the I-4, love the milage, love the rugged dependability, love the ability of the I-4 doing what other larger engined trucks struggle to accomplish if not fail, learn to drive the truck that made it all possible, and be happy like all of us.

 

Haha!

I was riding my bike up there last year. Our ride captain thought he was a indestructable human. I was riding 4th in a group of 7 and that ride was crazy... there were wet leaves on the roadway and we came around a hairpin turn and I slowed a lot (they always made fun of me for slowing down too much). I came around the turn only to see the people in front of me stopped. The ride captain was bit by the Dragon as he went over a cliff! His ride was smashed into a tree and it was bent up pretty bad. He was scraped and had a limp, he had to get a lift back down to base.

I'm going to clean the Red car this weekend for you to pick up. After all, it is the least I can do for the Alliance.

 

I agree man! Therefore this must be true.

 

I've seen the tree at the bottom that is covered in busted bike parts, it makes a pretty cool picture.

I appreciate you going to the trouble to clean the car before i pick it up but i'm really not that picky, as long as i dont have to pay for it i'm fine. You're gonna keep paying the insurance on it right?

 

Hey I'm also contemplating the I-4 over the v6. I plan on using it to haul 2 dirtbikes around which are about 250lbs each. How well will it handle that weight? Also, many of the areas I'll be taking it to have speed limits of 75 and will have some parts with steep inclines, will it be able to keep up?

90% of the time I'll just be using it to go to and from work, so I'd rather have the truck will better gas mileage, but if it doesn't work well for my "play time" than I may have to go with the v6. TIA.

 

The I-4 is an intelligent choice. Economical and robust.

Us V-6 guys feel bad every time we see you pass by while we are pumping gas.

BUT you're gonna kinda sorta feel the same way when we blast past you at the light, through traffic or up a hill.

And we only have to pump gas once a week.

 

I kind of think that's how many justify getting the 6. It's called "compensation"

There will always be something faster. Just like when I blast ahead of pretty much everything on my motorcycle. That's also why I don't consider the V6 Taco "fast"- I didn't feel too much of a difference when I test drove them both.

And I kind of like the look on people's faces when I tell them it's only a 4.

Now if they'd have sold me a 6 for the same price, it would have been a tough decision. May have gotten the 4 anyway...

 

No, it's called "middle age".

Thought I was past it. Had a choice between a 'vette, boat or a tractor. Bought the tractor.

Next thing I know I am bolting TRD parts on a plastic pick-up truck.

PS: Actually, needed DC for family, I-4 wasn't an option

PPS: It really does haul ass for a truck that's longer than a suburban

 

Yep, the DC made the V6 decision for me too. Is it really longer than a suburban?!?