Having trouble deciding..

Hey guys,

I am sure you get this question all the time but I can't seem to make up my mind as to what I want or need. The truck will be mainly used for hauling Dirt Bikes on the highway and my dog occasionally, along with some light offroading on trails from time to time. I do not plan on towing and I'm more concerned with how the truck drives rather than how fast it goes. The truck will be a 2nd car, as I have a manual 3 series for everyday driving. I would get a used truck but with used prices being pretty crazy on these trucks, along with depreciation not being bad at all, I figured I'd just go new. I owned an 07 6-speed manual 4.0 access cab TRD tacoma for a few years, and it was more than enough power, I just wished I had better mileage and 4 wheel drive while I had it. I have also heard that the auto in the new truck can be a pain and hunts for gears in the 6 cylinder, and if it hunts gears in the 6 I can't imagine how annoying it would be for the 4 cylinder, so I'm fairly set on getting a manual.

I know I definitely want a manual, but the do I want the 4 or 6 cylinder is the question here. I would not be afraid at all about ordering the 4 cylinder, but the 3rd gen trucks are heavier than the 2nd gen and with an extra 200-400 lbs in bikes in the back (usually 200, 1 bike) and small offroad tires, I'm worried the 4 cylinder wont be up to the task. Again, I'm not expecting a fast truck, but I would like to be able to have my bike in the back along with maybe some smaller off-road tires (thinking 31 bfg all terrains), without too much struggle (down shifting before big hills is fine). I wish I could get the 4 cylinder manual in the SR5 trim but they really make you choose between trim levels with the manual, so there is a pretty large difference in price between the 4 cylinder I could get or the 6 cylinder (almost 8 grand!, SR 5 speed 4x4 4 cyl AC --> 4x4 AC 6 speed manual v6 sport). I requested a few quotes from the dealers to really see the price, but I assume the website will be close to correct.

What do you guys think? Since it is a second car and I have another car for going quickly/daily driving, should I save the money and go for the 4 cylinder base? Or is the 4 cylinder really not enough and I should go with the 6 sport for its extra power and features.

Let me know! I'm really interested in hearing from guys who have driven or owned 4 cylinders previously. I have searched this website top to bottom but there doesn't seem to be too much on the 3rd gen 4 cylinders and hauling stuff or if 4 cyl owners think they could get away with hauling heavy things like bikes with off-road tires.

Edit: If they made the manuals for off-roaders, why wouldn't they give the manual to the TRD Access Cab rather than the Sport access cab? Doesn't seem to make much sense seeing as though you can get a TRD 4x4 double cab in manual..

 

I would say test drive them both then decide. I drive the 4 in stick and it felt nice. Just a little under powered for me.

 

I have the base model 4x4 w/ the 2.7 and a manual. I've got no complaints thus far, but I haven't hauled anything heavier than trash. Yet.

400 pounds of landscaping waste/trash in the bed didn't make a noticeable difference, as far as I could tell. It was a relatively short trip to the dump, though.

Considering how low 1st gear is and the general performance thus far, I don't think a dirtbike or three in the bed would be much of a bother. Or a small boat/popup.

Trying to tow a yacht or fullsize camper or whatknot... Yeah, that might be a frustrating experience.

 

I bought a new 2010 manual 4cyl access cab and I absolutely hated driving it on the interstate. A headwind and doing 75mph just plain sucked. I hesitate to say underpowered, because the power is there if you downshift. But I found myself constantly downshifting- when passing, hills, in wind. I was so unhappy with it, it prompted a move to a 2012 6cyl auto double cab a year later and I was MUCH happier. Highway gas mileage was very similar. In fact, the 6 was probably better than the 4 much of the time just because the 6 wasn't working so hard. I take frequent road trips where I'm on the road for 2-4 hours at a time. The 4 just didn't work for me. That was about a $2k mistake.

I moved to the 2010 from a 1998 4cyl manual. Loved the '98, so thought I'd do it again. But the 2010 was a whole 'nother animal. Considering you'll be hauling bikes and gear, I'm pretty confident in saying you'd be happier in the long run in the 6.

I'm now in a '14 double cab auto 6cyl (my '12 got totaled in hail). There is some gear hunting, but all because of the overdrive. If I have a problem with the hunting (which is rare, usually in wind), I just take it out of "D" for a bit. Easy. If you can afford it, I'd go with the 6. My 2 cents. Hope this helps.

 

Get the V6 with manual 4x4 TRD sport it may take the place of the 3 series its that fun to drive.

 

I like my 2.7 - Gets me to where I want to go.

 

I would go with the 6cyl auto. The manual is fun but adds little if any advantage over the AT either in gas mileage or driveability if that is a word. The new AR can be manually shifted if you just have the urge and at the end of the day the AT will be more attractive to the next buyer when you decide to trade the truck in. Sounds to me like a basic SR5 AT 6cyl LB is the answer. I assume the SR5 in the States comes in a LB,

 

Thanks for the answers guys, much appreciated. I think I'm just going to have to test drive a 4 cyl manual to see if I like it. The only problem with doing that is, it might take a while! I have only seen ONE 4 cylinder manual 4x4 within 100-200 miles (North Carolina region) over the last month on places like auto trader or craigslist. I'm sure the gen 2 would be pretty similar so I might try that avenue for test driving purposes.

 

If you can get into a 4 for a test drive, get it out on the interstate and see what if feels like passing, etc.

 

Yeah I feel like that is the part that will make or break it for me, putting around down isn't ever an issue with a 4 cyl but the highway may prove to be a different story.

Edit: Got an appointment tomorrow at my local dealer's "Toyota Truck Center" (this dealer is huge and keeps buying all the dealers around them lol). I am pretty excited about getting to check out the new trucks, but I do look very young so I hope they take me seriously and let me test drive! They are a no-haggle (read: wont budge because $$$$) dealer so pricing is pretty up in the air but I wont do anything that is MSRP or above especially if ordering a truck. I am going to be super firm and ready to walk out if they wont get me near my wanted price, or test drive before I order, there are always other people who want my money haha