4cyl over 6cyl, any regrets?

it has about 42k on it and is an AT
does that have any effect?

i am comparing the driveability with my 3.4 compact so maybe its all in my head

 

No effect. I have an AT with 90,000k.

If the 4-cyl. Tacoma was as slow as you described, I would have returned the vehicle to the car lot within 48 hours of purchase because it would be unsafe to drive on the highway.

 

maybe i was giving it too much gas and overwhelming it?
i had to actually shift it from D to 3 to get up some RPMs!

this is also a 4wd but was driving it in 2wd

 

It all depends upon what you’re use to.

After driving my wife’s v6 Venza on a trip, my v6 Taco feels like a dog. The 4 cylinder with 4wd, even in 2wd, is overwhelmed as a highway cruiser.....in 4 wd at lower speeds, it’s actually a better balanced unit then the six off road. I don’t know why people expect anything but pedestrian performance from the woefully underpowered 4 cylinder. Toyota limits the power output for durability. We have to deal with it. It’s a slug....but in third world use, given the roads and expectations, everything is.

Now, the Toy 4 cylinder is competing with tubos with 100 more hp and even naturally aspirated with 50 more. I would never consider a 4 cylinder Taco for a daily driver in anything but in town use. The average performance of every other 4 cylinder is running away from it....

And just like I opened with, we’re not used to it.

 

I had a "98" reg. cab Taco 2.4, 4X4, 5spd., that I loved, never complained about power. I traded for a 2013 reg. cab Taco 2.7, 4X4, auto & compared to my old "98", this thing is a slug, no power, especially at speed in hi gear. If you don't push the gas till it shifts at least twice, & rpm jump appx 800 rpm. it just won't go. Considering a gear change to maybe get the rpm up, to see if it makes it a little better.

 

5 speed versus AT is ur answer right there. Everyone will agree the MT makes the 4 cyl actually bearable because u can use the rpm's where the 4 cyl actually STARTS to wake up

 

The 1995 version had 150 hp and the Truck was a much lighter Reg cab design. Now everything is extra cab, 25 years later and it’s up only 9 more horsepower while everyone else is pushing 200 hp in natural aspiration and 300 in turbo charging. Even the RAV and Camry have gone up over 50 hp. Not the taco....in 25 freakin years, the truck is much heavier with little to no increase in hp. Even the 2 wd models all ride on the previous heavier Pre runner chassis. Why are we all surprised that the Taco 4 cylinder is not only worse then everyone else, but worse then they used to be ?

Unless you do off road, in town commuting etc, all much heavier 4 cylinder Tacos are now slugs.....even 236 hp six’s that are also much heavier are woefully under powered in anything but 2 wd.

My wife’s first Venza 2.7 was rated higher at 180 hp and reasonably spirited in an awd car that weighed quite a bit. Toyota could do it easily....
But then 4 cylinder owners might not trade them in for the six.

 

Hmmm...I dunno -- maybe the LCE header I installed is making a greater difference than I realized. I figured my 18" rims, the larger and heavier tires, and 3" lift would slow my AT 4 cyl. down even more, though. I just don't have the same issues as you guys and I drive 70-80 mph on the freeway daily. The only major issue I have is trying to gain speed going uphill. It ain't gonna happen. I suppose if I lived in a hilly area, I wouldn't want a 4 cyl. Tacoma.

 

Exactly. It’s all about location......and hills.

 

I have a '17 4 cylinder,5 speed manual 4x4. The only time i find it underpowered is going up hills or passing. And to make up for it I downshift and that usually takes care of the issue and gets me where I need to be. It's also a little slow from a stop light, but I'm not drag racing anyone. I traded my 2015 SR5 V6 for the 2017 4 cylinder manual. No complaints here.

 

I did it first but then I got used to it and now I don’t care anymore I wanted reliability more than I wanted power fewer moving parts equals less trouble down the road

 

Owned a "98" 2.7, 4X4, reg. cab for 10 yrs. & completely satisfied. Traded for a 2013 2.7, 4X4, reg. cab, appx.2 1/2 yrs ago, & totally disappointed & unhappy, way more sluggish than the old "98". Appx. 5 months ago I found the problem, it is the FBW (fly by wire) throttle. Learned of, investigated, bought, & installed a throttle controller & it just completely woke my little Taco from it's deep laziness. It's now just as peppy & enjoyable to drive as my old "98" Taco was. No regrets from the 2.7, just hate the FBW, till I got it fixed.

 

Just learned something...'Throttle controller'??...Can you share more about this?.....I have a 2014 with just about 4000k miles....2.7 access cab A/T about as weak & slow as it gets, but I knew this going in the door...I just never understood why 'by now', Toyota never went direct injected & turbo...But those are other problems...and glad they didn't....Just would like a little more kick if there's a secret.....

 

Threads here at TacomaWorld, (1) "Pedal commander installed", (2) "Throttle controllers, Sprint Booster, Pedal Commander on a 2.7" , (3) "2nd Gen Pedal Commander reviews". It seems appx 90% who try them like them, & 90% of folks that haven't tried them don't think they work. The Sprint Booster, (reason I tried it) has a full 30 day return for any reason, warranty. Tried it, had it since Feb. & love it, made mine feel waaaay better, as good, or better, than my old "98" 5 spd. Not sure about the lower priced ones, as I've not used them. Hey, go back up & read post 365 in this thread, from back in Nov. It is how I felt then as compared to now

 

Can I simply move my foot farther and do the same thing as Pedal Commander?
My 2009 2.7 is good, no complaints.

 

I've had a 1996 Tacoma, with a 2.4, 5 speed manual and now have a 2018 2.7, auto. The 2018 is down about 20% on power compared to the 1996, 96 was about 22.3 lbs/hp, the 2018 is 27.8 lbs/hp. So yeah it slower, i have a LCE header and a short ram intake which help a bit, also have a Pedal Commander on it. The PC does not give any more power, but you instantly have all you got, if you think your foot is faster than the pedal commander, your wrong! The biggest improvement was when Toyota did a recall for the fuel pump and put a kit in it to improve it pressure , which made a big difference in driveability. I like the truck now, it does just fine for what it is, a truck!

 

Push the pedal harder, or farther, is discussed a lot in these past threads, both from those that have tried them & the folks who have not tried them. Anyone thinking of trying one should take the time to do the reading. If you're still on the fence, like I said, for me the 30 day warranty is what finally pushed me to try one, if I didn't like it send it back for a full, no questions asked, refund. Figured I had nothing to lose.

 

I got a 2017 2.7. Once you start pushing the pedal harder, eventually the ECU will get used to you and it will drive fine, imo.

My only complaint is the cruise control on the highway (over 70mph) always makes the truck downshift, it can’t stay in overdrive. It’s annoying as fuck bc by wire I dont get that issue.

 

+ 1 on Sprint Booster. I have had one for some time now. I like it and would buy it again.

 

how long have you had it? I keep hearing horror stories of people’s engine lights coming on and the truck not running right after a few weeks.