Why is the taco engine so weak?

Did your SWVR problem get resolved on the Xtrerra?
?

 

I bet you're (op) the type to floor it everywhere and complain about gas mileage as well. Did you not test drive the truck before you bought it?

 

OP maybe this will help
http://urdusa.com/Electronics-Sprint-Booster/c66_212/index.html

 

The only place I get a little frustrated with mine is highway speeds. I don't care how fast it is but the fact that I have to drive in fourth at 75 sometimes sucks. But I have 33's so that's part of it unless I re-gear.

 

You bought the wrong truck

 

I have a coupe if I want to race around the streets...

That being said, you can easily put a supercharger into the Tacoma.

 

More like vreevreevreeeeeeee

 

I have a 2010, DC, 4.0 & 2014, DC, 2.7, No way is the 2010, 4.0L weak or slow. My employee says it's like a sports car with a pickup box on it. I personally owned a 2008 Nissan Frontier 4.0L V6 (VQ series) just like in Op's Xterra. I also owned a 2007, DC, PreRunner, 4.0L at the same time.

I can tell you, having lined them both up, the Tacoma will take the Frontier every day of the week to about 50-60 ish, then the Frontier takes over from there. If you have a Frontier & Tacoma at highway speeds, and drop the hammer, the Frontier just has a better torque curve for that, and will pull away.

But off the line, the Tacoma 4.0 has the advantage, probably due to much lower curb weight and better gearing? I never looked at what my Frontier's gear ratio was, but it was kind of poky off the line. Nissan also has the worst torque management on the 4.0L Frontier engines, it limits WOT to like 80% until the truck hits 30 mph. IIRC this is only like this on the Frontier 4.0L, and not the Pathfinder or Xterra.

Either way, no way is the 4.0L in the '05-'14 Tacoma slow or weak. I just sold a 2013, Ford F-150 EcoBoost, FX4 with 3.73 gearing. I can't really tell much of a difference in speed between that truck and my 2010, Tacoma V6. Yes the EcoBoost would have towed both of my Tacoma's up & down a mountain, but at the end of the day it got TERRIBLE fuel economy 12-13 ish mostly, and was still a service department homesick Ford.

 

I have driven the new frontier pro4x a bit lately and it really does feel more powerful around town. It sounds great - I'm guessing it has an upgraded exhaust. It feels really torquey and responsive but for actual acceleration especially on the hwy its about the same. I agree it's just a matter of throttle mapping and pedal sensitivity. Just press a little harder. It'll do the same thing and burn the same amount of fuel as a nissan.

 

Hmm, well this truck with the V6 would smoke my old 1998 F150 with the 4.6 L V8, it has more HP than the Ford.

 

sounds like op should have bought a diesel truck and dropped 10 grand on a chipping it and the other go fast parts.

 

Maybe. I don't dislike the truck - far from it, I enjoy driving it daily - just wish the engine wasn't so anemic.

 

The last thing I would consider my truck being is anemic? Not being a fanboy just saying that my truck seems to have no issue with power at all.

 

More like the OP should have known most folks couldn't discuss this like adults without getting all butthurt. I'm just grousing a bit and listening for suggestions. Things like CAI and exhaust usually aren't worth the $&&, but maybe someone will convince me otherwise.

 

Not butthurt at all. A CAI and exhaust will do little to increase performance as I'm sure you're aware. If you add a S/C then a CAI and exhaust would help. Other than that your options are limited.

That being said, if you feel your truck is really that under powered then a trip to the dealership might be in order. As stated before... I would hardly consider my truck under powered. I have no issue with passing at 75 (or any lower speed for that matter) and had no issues with the 4x4 trails in Colorado back in March when there was still snow, ice, and mud and 4x4 was a must.

 

I'm with you. I think the truck has enough power, but barely. A lot of is the throttle mapping, but that's not entirely it.

My last car had 250hp/260tq, and weighed 1000lb less. It wasn't all that fast, but I miss having the extra power.

The Tacoma's fine, but extra power wouldn't hurt, that's for sure.

It's the only thing I don't like about my tacoma, and may get me to test drive a Colorado when they've been out for a bit.

 

I agree with the OP. The Tacoma engine is pretty weak compared to most modern V6 engines.

Ford 3.7L- 302hp & 278 ft/lb
Chevy 4.3L- 285hp & 305 ft/lb
Dodge 3.6L- 305hp & 269 ft/lb
Nissan 4.0L- 261hp & 281 ft/lb
Toyota 4.0L from Tundra- 270hp & 278 ft/lb
4.0L from FJ Cruiser- 260hp & 271ft/lb

4.0L from Tacoma you ask? a suspicious 236hp & 266 ft/lb.
Why you ask? because the Tacoma still sells with its weaker engine and Toyota (like all of us) is in the business of making money.

The OP has a valid point.
But here I sit still happily driving my 3.4L with 190hp. lol

 

I agree as well, the Tacoma feels slow. It might not actually be slow, but it definitely feels it.

I am sure it would beat my Hemi Ram 2500 work truck, but the Ram just FEELS more powerful, the torque makes it more fun to drive. My Tacoma needs to downshift on hills, when the Hemi just purrs along at the same gear.