4cyl over 6cyl, any regrets?

The 2.7 is a toolbox. But that's okay. I'm too old to want to get anywhere that fast. lol

I needed a cheap small truck for work and occasional play. Toyota was it. Saved alot going with the 4cyl over the 6, but no free lunches. Drove this thing through the Continental Divide last year and she screamed all the way over the hump. Now I know not to do that. lol

I like the 19 / 23 mileage. And the numbers are pretty steady. City: 19.5 empty in summer w air on. 18 loaded in summer w air on. 23 empty in winter. Hwy: Averages about 24 loaded or not. Iirc. Did see as high as 26 through Ohio flat land with construction (45 mph) in winter.

I'm no Taco fan so all this love I often see of Taco owners I don't share. I'm old school and love my bigger other truck (Dmax). That just costs too much to drive daily. Now THAT'S funny. No free lunches...

 

thats quite a difference, especially if you drive a lot of miles, as I do. I'm gonna check out those covers> what brand did you get?
**oh wait...didnt read it thru...you went from a camper shell to a cover, therefore the really big difference in mileage--regardless, I like the idea of a removeable cover

 

I bought an Access Tonnopro. Since I removed the camper shell (Leer 100XL) I've had about 10 fills in spring and summer with the improved gas mileage.

Granted, I had the shell on my truck for the 4 years previous and the mileage tracking included winter fill ups (cold causes mpg to drop) but even in the spring/summer with the shell I might just break 20 mpg.

I use Fuelly (Android mpg tracking app) to calculate all my mileage. I'm happy with the improved fuel economy and with the 10 fuel ups showing the same trend, I'm confident dropping the shell made a real and significant impact.

 

looks like Tonno Pro has a version that utilizes the factory (dealer?) installed tie down rails in my truck, for easy install, for under $300. Not bad at all. If I can gain 1mpg, and have an attractive way to secure things, dry and out of sight, looks like a no brainer.
Dunno about the fuelly app...I just use old school, miles driven/gallons burned math. Anyway, 1 mpg savings would be about 40 gallons year at my annual miles....maybe $100 bucks, so 3 year payback. But that doesnt factor intangibles of keeping groceries dry, less chance of theft, and it looks great!

 

So far with a week into it, the 4cyl has plenty of power for around-town driving, and even hauled 600 lb of concrete mix home the other day without hesitation. The gas mileage has been amazing.

 

you're right, the 2.7 is fine for buzzin around town, and the occasional trip to Home Depot and such. Workable for us flat-landers, anyway. I love everything about this truck, except the engine choices.

p.s. I used to live in the Bay area. Little town called Fremont, where they used to build the Tacoma, I believe. Love the weather out your way!

 

Small world. I live about 20 minutes from Fremont in North San Jose

 

Yep, so I sold it
My '05 4banger

And bought / built this...

 

The last 4 banger small truck I had was back in the 80s. I had a Ranger with a stick. I'm too old to want a stick anymore so I got the auto. I sure don't recall that old Ranger being this ball-less. But like has already been said, great for around town driving. I won't get a speeding ticket and I can still get where I need to. She can tote anything I've needed, but you can definitely tell when she's got a bed full. If I had it to do over again I would definitely want the 6, but would still only need the 4.

 

nice truck motozack...some pretty serious tint on that windshield, or is just the light doin weird things?

dont know if its age or laziness or just good sense....cant imagine why anyone actually wants to work a clutch and stick on daily drivers, but they do, so power to em. Even Peterbilts and Freightliners run auto's.

 

I love driving a stick. No way I would own a 2.7 auto with the lack of power

 

We sold our last stick-shift in the family back in 2012. It hardly got used as we were getting new vehicles and boy did we all grow tired of it after getting those autos. I think it is just age - us, not the cars. Your priorities change. Comfort starts trumping all else - lol. My first ride was a 74 Chevy with 3 on the tree.

 

youre probably right...I'm pushin 60, and also had my share of clutch time....now, no thanks, unless we are talkin a really sporty ride, maybe then.
I kinda understand the gen 2 , 2.7 stick fans. Cause this motor is a runt. But the 3rd gen, thankfully Toyota put the ECT mode back in, gave it a 6 speed auto, and the S shifter option....all make it infinitely more drivable

 

Mama ain't raise no bitch. Didn't see no sixers do this lol

 

Epic

 

Urs can do the same it's not hard

 

I was just checking it out actually I think we have the same truck haha.

 

not me

 

I went from a 3500 quad cab ram dually to my 4 banger. I drove 2 6ers before I bought. I love my truck but miss towing, passing, load capacity and so on. I went for a need vs want approach and don't regret buying my 4 banger.

 

Same here. I love the 2.7 so much I decided too just buy another 3500 dually for towing. The Tacoma has been great for me so far I couldn't let it go