Is the 4 Cyl. more reliable?

I can add that my local Toyota dealer told me that he doesn't think there are any 2.7's in the area because he has worked at the dealership as service manager for 10 years and has never seen one come in for a repair. He told me that I probably have one of the most maintenance free vehicles ever made and so far, I would agree. My dad bought it new and I bought it from him at 119,000 miles. It has just under 170,000 on it now and there have been "very" few repairs done with most under warranty None cost more than about $75 in parts. The only thing I've replaced that cost a lot was all the suspension but that is a given for a Taco. I've given a list of all repairs since new elsewhere on this forum more than once so I won't do it again.

 

This is the first I have heard of Tacomas having bad suspension as a general rule. Sure, if you are wheeling the truck or other heavy use/abuse, some parts will wear faster. Do you have more information?

 

Search this site. Stock Tacoma suspension sucks. It's a well known "flaw" with Tacoma's. When I bought mine from my dad it had 119,000 miles on it and the suspension was so bad I was "crossing up" whenever I had to accelerate on wash board roads and stopping on them could put me into a tail spin. I had to slow down to about 5 mph to cross a gutter on the street I live on. I replaced everything with OME except for the rear springs which are Deaver J59's and now I only slow down for gutters or bumps because I want to "baby" my truck.

The suspension I replaced my stock suspension with should have only given me a maximum of 2" in lift. I ended up with probably 3" of lift. Even after the new stuff was broken in.

 

I'm still trying to find info on the Tacoma's reliability. I ran across this website and this study of the longest lasting vehicles:

https://blog.iseecars.com/longest-lasting-cars-over-200000-miles/

I was surprised to find that our beloved Tacoma is listed way down on the list at number 9, with only 2.5% lasting beyond 200,000 miles. Several American made trucks last longer than the Tacoma. That's still better than average for all cars (1.3%).

It would be interesting to know what percentage of the longest lasting Tacomas are 4-cylinders.

The better news is that the Tacoma ranks #1 for retaining its value - 5-year depreciation is 26.3% vs. the average car of 43.8%:

https://blog.iseecars.com/longest-lasting-cars-that-retain-the-most-value/

 

I suspect the reason for the 2.5% is the frame rust problems in the past. If they did the survey another way and only counted those with no frame rust I's bet that number would be quite a bit higher. It's a no-brainer to read through this forum and look at the resale value of the Tacoma's to get the idea that they do last for a very long time. If the frame didn't rust in half.

 

I will counter point that the American brand trucks are often used as work vehicles and will rack up miles much faster than Tacoma's, as Taco's seem to be used more as personal vehicles instead.

 

2007 5lug 2tre-fe and 173,000 mile/ Not one thing wrong with it really really just comes down to the own and how well they take care of their stuff

if anything happens on mine i get that shit fixed and don't sit on it like its going to fix itself

but ya bought this truck when i was 18 now 26 and she is doing a great good !

remind you that this truck dose off-road and hit about 50 to 75 MPH in the dirt and highest she has gotten off the ground i would say 2 to 4 feet

it's all you that Toyota life SON!

 

meh.

Tacoma is the top pickup; everything above it is in the family truckster class. That checks out IMO (cross-country people haulers)... A pickup is more likely to be a city runabout (re: less miles per trip) than an Expedition, Yukon XL, etc.

(^^^ 100% pure unadulterated conjecture. )

 

I can attest that after tearing into an engine with 100K on it that the bore was still very good.
One of the longevity points I would like to make is the valve train- it uses hydraulic lifters (like the 22RE) which require no lash adjustment, unlike the 3RZ and 1GR.
To keep the 2TR running a long time, I'd make three suggestions.

1. Keep it cool. Heat will likely be the killer of any 2TR.
2. Oil catch can
3. I think changing the valve guide seals at some point, maybe @ 150K, might not be a bad idea.

 

When I worked in central and north Africa we had a few vehicles to choose from, everyone wanted a 2.7 4cyl Hilux. New Fords lasted about 6 months, Dodge did a little better Cummins was good if the truck around it held together, we had no Chevys. Only thing they did to the 2.7 Hilux was to use water wetter to handle the heat 120+ in the shade.
As far as resale, when we bought my wifes 2018 TRD 4runner the sales manager would not leave me alone abouy my 2006 2.7 5spd AC 4x4, he wanted that truck so bad. He offered $13,000 with 175,000 miles in Oct 2017. BIOK. I will keep mine.

 

Older gentleman asked me if I’d like to sell my 2005 RC as I walked into Subway a few weeks ago- I laughed.

 

I get that all the time and I love it.....lol

 

Makes me feel good about paying $14k for the same truck but a 2008 with only 130k - back in 2015!

 

I run the same motor.

 

The filipino mechs upped the rev limiter to 6600.

 

Anyway im a drunk retired gi. Had my fun.

 

I'm a little late on this response because I don't come here regularly some times. Taco suspensions in the past sucked straight off the show room floor if you're going to do "any" kind of wheeling. Which I don't. At least back in 2004 when mine was bought. Once it wears out it "really" gets bad. Trying to stop on wash-board dirt roads would almost throw the truck into a broad-slide or flip it almost all the way around at times. The wheels simply didn't maintain contact with the ground. The rear leaf springs rusted in half with some of the earlier 1st gen and second gen Taco's.

When my truck was new I road around in it with my dad and never really paid attention but once I bought it from him with 119,000 miles on it I started noticing how bad it was. I'd have to slow down to 5 mph to cross a deep gutter getting onto the street where I live. Then there were the "off-road" problems on wash-board and other situations off-road. By the way, I don't "wheel" this truck. My off-road driving is really "sedate" with no serious off-roading. Just dirt roads and some fairly steep climbs at times. although I have gone some places I shouldn't have been just to see where it would go when I first got it and I was impressed.

In any case, after I spent the $2000+ on OME shocks, 880 front struts and Deaver J59 rear leaf springs I realized just how bad the worn out 150,000 mile suspension was. I can run over that deep gutter entering the street I live on at any speed I want and not get bounced out of the drivers seat now and I have no idea what is coming off the show-room floor as far as the 3rd gens these days. I was referring to my 1st gen and the second gens I've read about on this forum. If yours feels fine to you for what you do with it then leave it alone and save you're money.

As for my saying that Tacoma's have really poor suspension right off the showroom floor? I've read it many times on this very forum. Many that buy Tacoma's replace the entire suspension system when they buy them new. However, it does have everything to do with how you will use your Tacoma. For normal everyday driving and if you don't don't load it up to max payload there is no reason to replace it. If you wheel heavily with a lot of weight there is. Once it's got around a 100,000 miles on it it'll be time for new suspension unless they have improved the quality of the parts for the newer 3rd gens.

 

The money you save buying one will be worth way more than any loss in resale value vs a V6 unless you're one of those that trade in every 3 years but if that's the case then reliability isn't much of an issue. I tend to keep mine as long as they run. Average lifespan of each one has been 18+ years and I want it dependable until the end.

 

Cost me more to buy the 4cyl base model than the 6cyl sr5. As someone mentioned, I love the room in the engine bay. Yes, I want better fuel economy as well. Resale is better on the 4's
Re. towing being tough on the tranny, mine is a 5 speed, so it shouldn't be any different than towing with the 6.
I wouldn't buy this with an auto and a 4 cyl.
Ironically, the 4cyl 5 spd has a better payload than the 6's and or autos.
I think you either get the philosophy or you don't.

 

Yeah, no kidding. My dad always tuned me in to what it what was like to get older. I'm now just seeing, and feeling what he was talking about.