Is 4-cylinder powerful enough as a family car?

5lugs = Slugs (4 cyl, slower, less power, low to the ground)

6lugs = Glugs (V6, faster, drinks more gas, "glug glug glug" no wait, that's actually "tick tick tick")

You can't win. Move to a South American country and get a diesel Hilux instead.

 

Probably.

Do you think a 4 cyl Camry/Accord/Altima runs well enough?

I have an '04 v6 Highlander and a '13 L4 Tacoma.

The Highlander has rarely had need for the power it has, and I find the truck quite fine on the highway and futzing around town.

For MPG, look here. It's pretty close............. and regardless of current gas prices, no one should expect them to stay down forever. You can do some fast Excel math to project your annual mileage/cost over the years you plan to keep it and see if it's significant to you.

Call your insurance agent and ask what the difference in premiums would be, if any.

 

I'm a married guy with no kids, my single cab 4x2 is fine for my use. Love the MPG since I drive so much.

Funny thing is I was telling a friend about the '84 Camaro I drove as a kid. Factory specs on the 5.0 V8 I had were 170 hp. The 4 cylinder in my truck is 170hp. Ahhh, technology...

 

This is actually a Land Cruiser. They come with 4.0 V6 or V8/L6 diesel.

 

My friend has a wife and one kid, drives a DC Prerunner with a 4 cyl and auto trans. He, I and another friend were all in it driving down the highway a few times. Combined passenger weight was easily 700lbs, no troubles keeping up with traffic and he averages 24-25 mpg. IMO, a 6 cyl is nice but if you're never going to use it for what the 6 cyl is designed for, why spend the extra money in the truck purchase, insurance, fuel? If you're worried about acceleration, get a manual transmission.

 

i would go with the 6 cyl. i currently own a tacoma w/ 4 banger. a fjc w/ 6 and prerunner w/ a 6. mpg are not that much different and the power from a 6, is very noticeable from a 4.

 

the 2.7 is a dog brand new. test driving one usually turns one completely off on it. after 5-6k miles though, once it's loosened up, it becomes a different animal.

 

Could you explain?

 

the 4 cylinder is enough, just realize you aren't winning any drag races anytime soon

 

V4

http://youtu.be/mr4Z58oGmEc


http://www.imotortimes.com/porsche-...now-about-turbo-v4-hybrid-engine-report-23993

 

I drove a 94 Toyota pickup, new from the factory. It was five lug, standard cab, five speed and four cylinders, and it would do just fine at highway speeds from Texas to Ohio. It would cruise at 80 hour after hour at 28 mpg. If they still sold them, I would buy another one tomorrow, at the $9,999 I paid for that one. Now, with a 4k trailer, it would need 3rd gear on hills...

My '11 AC with the V6, six speed, 4x4 and 265/70R17 tires will go over mountain passes is top gear fully loaded, but gets 18 mpg. Your choice.

Howard

 

when i test drove my 2014 it felt very slow. but i expected it to be, so i bought it anyway.

over the next 6k miles it gradually felt more responsive and the butt dyno reported a small gain in power.

could be just ignition timing, adjusted fuel trims, motor break-in, or just all in my head; but either way this truck feels different after 6 mons then when i drove with 4 miles on the clock.

 

Agreed, mine was the same way. After the first oil change the trucks fuel economy improved and it just felt more responsive.

 

There is a big difference between that car and its engine vs the I4 in the tacoma

 

ya think ?

 

Get a family sedan in a 4cyl if you want room for everyone, good mileage and power.

A truck is designed to be utilitarian and not for efficiency in your particular situation.

You will curse how slow and bad the MPG will be with everyone loaded in that truck.

 

He's only right if you're talking automatics.

The 2.7 has PLENTY of snot if you get a manual.

If you have to have an automatic...well, I'll not finish my opinion out loud cause some folks get awful testy.

If you can have a manual tranny, the 4 is preferred for me. I average 24+ MPG on three chassis for over 110K miles. Plenty of horses.

If you have to drive an auto for whatever reason, get the 6 or stick with a car.

 

The I4 in a double cab is only gonna get a couple mpgs better than the V6 (depending on how you drive) just because it has to work a lot harder to pull the weight around. The 4x2 is gonna weigh less than the PreRunner and the Prerunner is gonna weigh less than the 4x4. So you should consider the weight including the weight of luggage and passengers as well.

I'd say go for a V6. I can't say I have experience with both but I can believe the V6 is worth the extra $.

 

The truck he wants is only offered in Automatic.

http://www.toyota.com/configurator/#!/series/tacoma/cab/Double Cab

MSRP $26k.. 19/24 MPG .. no thank you.