Interested from WA...advice welcomed

Well hello to all. I've been browsing the site for quite some time and just decided to create an account and really get things going.

I have a few big questions that have been eating at me for a while, and I was really hoping that I could get some advice. I have noticed that there are quite a few threads asking, "which tacoma is best for me, etc"
Wellppp, this looks like it might be another one.

So, here it goes...

I have been drooling over a Tacoma for quite some time now, and I feel that it would be a much more practical vehicle for me. My current car is a 2010 scion tc. And the fact of the matter is...I can't do anything with it.
I have a hard time keeping cars stock, so when I get a CAR, they end up getting lowered, and all that good stuff. The bummer of that is...I never have anywhere to put the engines for the project cars I pick up, the body parts, the transmissions, and the like in the back of the tc.

In other words, I feel that the Tacoma would be practical for me at this point in my life. I love going camping, fishing, need something to throw car parts in the back of, maybe tow a small trailer, etc.

What I have narrowed it down to is the access cab with the regular bed/box, whatever it is called, with the manual transmission. I have heard a lot of good things about the automatic transmissions in these trucks though, so that still may be a possibility.

Anyway, my biggest confusing is...wait for it....GAS MILEAGE! This goes to the question...v6 or the 4 banger. I'm leaning on the 4 cylinder because it seems like it would be the right amount of truck for me. Keep in mind, I'm looking at purchasing a 2012 Tacoma.
I have been reading through the site for mileage, power, reliability, and the sort. And have literally come to a stall...

The car will be a DD with close to 60/40 city/hwy driving. Off Road use probably fairly often, car parts tossed in the bed. With the possibility of towing a light trailer here and there.

My biggest concern is I don't want to get the v6 and feel like I got something that is way more than I need, and is killing my wallet because of the mileage. Also, I don't want to be irritating that my 4cylinder is getting the same mileage that the v6 would be getting because its overworked.

Hmm...some more information that I might be able to give you guys to help me out...
Probably never haul anything over 3500lbs. I absolutely WANT 4x4 so no exceptions there. And I know that I want the access cab. And I'm leaning on the manual transmission since thats what I am used to driving.

From what I have read it looks like the 4 cylinder will be the best option for me. And from what I have read, it looks like the 4banger is going to be getting around 21-27MPG while the v6 is going to be getting 16-19MPG

Any advice or opinion is much accepted. Even the biased ones.

I appreciate it.

 

Welcome from Spokane

if you are going to be hauling I would go with the V6, the power is nice to have, also give the auto a test drive. The mileage is actually slightly better with the auto in these trucks. Ultimately it comes down to personal preference but if mileage is an absolute deal breaker then it is possible that a truck is not what you need. Good luck

 

I have a 4 banger with the MT and I get about 22mpg don't expect great things though, it's a truck and a 4cyl it's slow no one here will deny that. but It's reliable and capable off road.

 

Its not a deal breaker, I just don't want to pay for too much truck and suffer the gas mileage loss when I'm not using it. If that makes any sense. And I'm not trying to get a truck because its fast or anything of the sort, I'm needing it because its more practical for me right now. I've thought about the auto, but it just seems so gutless. Just need to haul small loads once a week or so. The majority of the uses will be car part hauling then everything else is just recreational. It looks like ill probably have myself a 2.7l by early march. Just gotta hope for the best with trade in. I'm only getting 19 or so in the tc as it is, so that's not really an issue. I'm assuming the auto and manual transmissions are geared slightly differently since the auto gets better gas mileage? Are the manual transmissions using shorter gears? How does the 2.7l w/ the auto do with going up hills and the sort?

 

the manual has 4.10 gears and the auto as either 3.73 or 3.93 i can't remember but you're better off with the manual. don't worry if it does't have cruise control there is a cheap fix for that.

 

Holy crap! 19mpg in a tC? I have one my GF drives, we get 28-31 in it constantly. And my GF has been known to be a bit of a lead foot. hahah

I have a 4 banger 5spd 1st gen and I get around 17-22mpg with 6" lift and 35's but I drive fairly conservative. I got about 15-19 with my 07 V6 6spd manual on 35's.

 

I have a 2010 manual transmission access cab 4x4 4cyl. Which I think is exactly what you are looking for. I have the SR5 package, which is very nice, so if you do have the ability I recommend you get it. For being a daily driver, it is a nice luxury. But it is a luxury.

As for gas mileage, I average around 22.5 MPGs. But I live in the city and do a lot of stop and go city driving. So if that is the type of gas mileage you are looking for than you are headed in the right direction with the 4 cyl.

As for towing, I do not have the towing package because I don't have anything to tow. There are some great threads on towing:

The towing bible and others:
http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/4031-tacoma-towing-bible.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/37058-4-cylinder-towing-review-long.html

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/towing/183287-4-cylinder-towing-500-miles.html

And good call with the 4x4 in Spokane. I used to live in Spokane when I went to Gonzaga, and it is nice to be able to manage the snow with the 4x4

 

My tc has definitely had a driver with a lead floot. Id rather sell the tc and get a taco then buy another bmw for a project muahaha. And yes that sounds like its exactly what I want tacoma206. Twisted - what might the cheap fix for that be? Brick on gas and a stick underneath to keep it where it should be?

Oh, and definitely getting the 4x4. I can't really see the purpose of having a 2wd truck in the northwest that's not a minitruck on air or something of the sort.
I appreciate all the input everyone. Definitely the best forum that I have seen.

 

Welcome to TW from Sparks, NV
Mine gets 24 mpg hwy with summer gas and 20 with winter gas.