V6 or I4 in 2013 access cab 4 x 4?

Looking at ordering an access cab 4 x 4 with TRD OFFRD pkg. Is the V6 really necessary if not towing? Would the 2.7 give that much better mileage for the power trade off? No extreme off roading, mainly just old rutted, muddy roads no longer maintained by the county.

 

Well if you want the offroad package you have to get the v6. There are plenty of guys with the I4 that love it. check out this guys build

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ling4banger-s-silver-state-edition-build.html

 

Amazing!!! Thanks - believe it or not, I just got back from the dealer who told me the TRD offroad pkg WAS available with the I4! I'm wondering what I can believe from them now. I want all four wheels to work in snow & mud and thought the off road pkg was the only way to get ATRAC and the limited slip diff.

And thanks for the build link - will read through asap.

 

V-6

 

OK,

if you want to be able to loaf around up and down hills and
around town and traffic with little foot effort (meaning: relaxing drive)
you want the V6. it has plenty of torque to make driving easy

the I4 will do the job fine, but it takes more work and attention to
the accelerator...I have a bunch of small hills everywhere I go and
the I4 takes a bit too much effort to maintain speeds, so I chose the V6

I mean hell my Yaris will drive around town fine too, but I have to wring
it's friggin neck to merge on highway and keep up decent speed on hills...
same deal with 4 banger Tacoma. no -need- for V6 but it is a nice ride

 

Unless that is something new for the 2013 I have never heard of a TRD I4. And I don't really know anything about ATRAC. The Off road package has a rear differential locker which is better than a limited slip for serious off roading. the Sport and some SR5s have a limited slip which is still useful.


Also if you do a lot of highway driving you wont get a whole lot better mpg over the v6. in town is a different story

 

Have to agree. Main reason for trading my RC for a new DC. Runs fine but a lot of work to keep it at speed. Mileage sticker on the door shows only a 1 mpg difference.

 

Good to know - thanks. It'll be my 1st 4 x 4, and I really like the I4 in my 96, currently getting 25.5 mpg with 273K miles on it.

 

I'll double check with some other dealers - might be something new. Yeah, I meant a locker which the TRD off road gives you, not just an ordinary lim slip.

 

V6, I conisidered the 4, but am happy I went with the V6.

 

Newer TRD Sports don't even have a limited slip. It's a dummy system that uses the brakes to mimic limited slip rather than a mechanical LSD like was present in the 2005 - 08 TRD Sport and select SR5 models.

 

A-Trac will turn you from being a loaner to the most popular kid in skool...yeah its that awesome to the OP any TRD trim is with the V6

 

Sounds like the V6 might be the better choice even if not towing.

 

Agree. I think (in my non mechanical mind) it is more efficient.

 

Thanks for the heads up on the TRD Sport pkg, but does the 2013 TRD off road pkg really have a locker for the rear diff or is it phony too?

 

The off road package does have an electronic locker, no games or gimics

 

I was reading that post by David K about the 9 4 x 4 driving modes only being available with the TRD Off Road, and will try to learn more about A-TRAC - must be pretty special with that kind of endorsement - thanks. And thanks for the info on the TRD trim - saves me from calling around to dealers who might not know what they're talking about anyway.

 

Hey - thanks again - I definitely want the electronic locker and if it requires a V6 to get the TRD off road pkg to get the locker, so be it!

 

I had a I4 and loved it. I am a Wetland Scientist and work in the mud and muck all over the Southeast. Moved out west and tore across hell and back in the middle of nowhere in Oregon and Washington. It did everything I ever wanted and even surprised me some. I pulled Chevy's and Fords out of places I had no problem getting to, and kept going. Had it for 10yrs with no problems

I pulled an oversized trailer across country 4 times. This is why I decided to switch up to the V6. Went with the off-road as well. If I had it to do again (and wasn't concerned about towing) I would get another 4 banger SR5 and mod it myself with the savings.

Think about it this way. If you get the V6 with TRD OR you will get an off-road which sits too low and has street tires and walk out the door paying 30k. I-4 SR5 is about 20k and you can do all the mods yourself for less. The only selling point to be honest (IMHO) on the OR vs SR5 is the rear locker. I didn't even consider the Sport because of reasons mentioned above. ^^ That's just my perspective.

 

Just want to say what a great source of information there is on this forum and thanks to all replies. In view of the fact that the only reason I was getting an access cab was to get the I4, and now it seems that I have to get a V6 to get the TRD Off Road, I'll be looking at a double cab V6 TRD OFFRD.