Is the 4 Cyl. more reliable?

No, I just base what I said on numerous posts I've read on this forum. You are right though, the suspension does work fine for driving around town. Just not for serious off-roading and it tends to wear out fairly fast.

 

Would I bet my hat on one or the other engine? No.
Better to keep my hat, the look and the shade without taking any risk at either.
Very happy with the 4x4 access 2.7L so far.

 

Here's a 2019 study indicating the longest lasting cars to reach 200,000 miles. Of course, Toyota tops the list, and 2.6% of Tacomas see 200K. I wonder how many of those Tacomas are 4 cyl. vs. 6 cyl.?

 

Interesting! Thanks.

 

Yes it is interesting... the jump from #2 to #1 is 2.4% difference. Pretty significant.
And less than 1% of ALL models reach 200k miles. For some reason I thought that number would be higher.

 

https://www.cheatsheet.com/money-career/most-reliable-cars-decade-according-consumer-reports.html/

im not a fanboy to any auto manufacture, i buy based on motor and drive train. japanese make the best 4 baggers period. 6 cyliders split with germans and japanese, some american models. V8 goes to the USA... but the japanese are coming on strong. ive had the best luck with bmw, chevy, honda, mazda, nissan and my 4 bangging tacoma, YMMV. next car... Lexus IS 350 F Sport.

 

One thing that scared me away from the V6 is that the air pumps are in the valley of the engine. The air pumps have a known issue. Total PITA to service. The air pump on the 4 is mounted on the frame next to the engine. I don't off road, or plan on towing more than a small boat, so I don't need the extra power.

 

The list is possibly skewed a bit towards vehicles designed for travel, road tripping being less likely to end the vehicles span in an accident than much shorter trips around town/traffic which are also harder on components. An analysis of the causes of shortened life span and how each model fares in those causes would be more informative.

 

Is that information readily accessible? If not, you can only work with the data that's publicly available.

One of the points made in this thread is the likely reluctance of auto makers to provide useful purchase data to prospective buyers because it may decrease their profits. If it's true, for instance, that the 4 cyl. is more reliable than the 6 cyl., then Toyota would probably sell more 4 cyl. Tacomas and make less profit. I'm assuming the profit margins on the 6 cyl. trucks are higher than the 4 cyl.

 

I think single data points can be misleading since they don't tell the whole story. This forces assumptions to fill the gaps, assumptions which can also be based on even less solid data. You're absolutely right, without useful data we're left making assumptions and guessing. The problem is that so many different factors that don't get measured end up affecting the lifespan of a vehicle. Wheeling is one that doesn't tend to favor it. Long highway miles does so a list with vehicles you would expect to see accumulating lots of easy mileage at the top isn't surprising. I happen to think that in spite of off road use the tacoma still doing well is encouraging. It doesn't answer which is more reliable between 4 and 6 cyl tacos but for either one it's up to the owner to choose which fits their needs the best. Alot of factors that vary among owners go into "fits best", reliability is one but for some the I4 is just not on the table because it has less power and forcing it to exceed its capabilities would negate any perceived advantage in reliability. I don't tow and it has enough power to deal with all the payload it's rated for so that is enough for me now but in other circumstances and other times in my life it wouldn't be. Then I'd have bought the 6 for what my requirements were at the time.

 

I believe that what he is saying is that Tacoma's, as well as being daily drivers are also used as work trucks and beaten to shit buy those that use them as a "Toy". Look at many, if not most on this forum. They wheel them, they off-road them and they modify them to no end. They are just "Toys" to many Tacoma owners. Those that drive them daily and do minor off-roading are those that see the 500,00 mile mark.

In other words, don't use them as a tow vehicle, a serious off road/crawling vehicle nor a "work truck" carrying/towing heavy loads and they will last very long time.

 

I'm guessing the guys who use their Tacomas as "toys" represent a very small minority of Tacoma owners. Just drive down the road and look at all of the Tacomas. The vast majority appear to be stock trucks or close to it. Upgraded tires and rims maybe.

Most of the TW forum participants are probably more like me (the DD dude with a few typical mods) as opposed to the hard core guys who pour thousands of dollars into their truck. I hang out on this forum mostly to see the wild & crazy mods. I have no interest at all in going off road, but like to look at trucks maxed out for it. However, even the guys with "Toys" may be much more likely to take very good care of their trucks to make them last longer to see the 500,000 mark. If I could afford it, I'd buy my next truck from a guy who spent a lot of time modding it.

 

Yes I suspect anyone pouring thousands into modifications would also pour hundreds into very good maintenance. I can't imagine someone liking their truck enough to personalize it, and then neglect the essentials. But I guess they are out there...

I'm in the category of owner who will likely see at least 400,000 miles... easy driving almost daily, virtually zero mods, full maintenance records.

 

I'd suspect you're right for those doing the serious mods. My only point is that those that "mod" them in many cases do some serious off-roading and those that don't mod them and just use them as a work truck day in and day out will probably never hit that 500,000 mile mark if they are maxing out the GVW rating and driving around in stop and go traffic every day. Maybe not even the 300,000 miles mark. That's just my opinion. I could very well be wrong.

I know there is one poster on here with a 2.7 supercharged that has up around 500,000 miles. If I remember correctly, but there is no telling his real, everyday driving habits. Is he racing it around all the time at, or close, to redline? Is he hauling the max GVWR everyday? Or is it sedated highway most of the time with just a mash on the gas for fun once in a while? Hill climbing and running the Rubicon, or something like it on the weekends?

There was another poster here a while back with really high mileage. I asked what kind of driving he did. It was mostly highway with very regular and proper maintenance.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8glWcEuxw3U

1.2 million miles 2.7L

 

WOW!

 

Every pool company, pest control , road hazard assistance company out where I live has the 5 lug or 6 lug 2.7 Tacoma. They are beat on a daily and do great with fleet work. Proven motor. I like mine a lot! Power sucks but it does get the job done.

 

I don’t know where to start. The weakest link in towing with a manual and a four cylinder, is the clutch, then the tranny , then the motor. . A six with an auto and tow package with cooler, towing the same weight, beats anything you can do with a four.
High speed cruising, get the six. Towing, get the six. Lots of hills, get the six. Delivering pizza, get the four.

Resale is better with the four ? Wow.

 

The payload (not towing) is better with the 4-cyl because they are on the same chassis which has a maximum weight rating. The v6 is heavier than the 4 and this extra weight takes some capacity away from the maximum payload. Not much less, but less, which was his point.

 

True, but if you can’t safely merge or pass, I’ll take the six. The very best off road for me, have been the four cylinders. The best traction in slippery weather have been the fours. That’s about it.Getting the weight off the front wheels is always best for a truck. Mileage ? There isn’t enough difference to be concerned about if you do anything but deliver pizza. There are several contractors around here that use Toyota fours for their work. That’s fine.....durability, low maintenance and no towing and they get paid by the hour.