New guy in town

Hello fellow TacoHolics, I'm the new kid on the block with questions requiring some answers or some smoke up the butt which I'm sure I'll receive from some know it alls. I'm used to people "baffling with BS" vs. "dazzle with dignity", I'm in L.A.

If I went down the list of cars I've had since driving some would think I'm part used car salesman, but I'm not, I just like trying different rides. My father however was always a stick with it kinda guy and one of the trucks he stuck with was a old Tacoma that he racked 175K miles on then sold it to a neighbor - that guy is still driving it at 300K+. The last "car" that I had prior to getting the taco was a '99 beemer that seemed like it couldn't pass a shop without prying open my wallet, I finally said "I've had all I can stands and I can't stands no more" (at 54K miles), dumped it and paid cash for a '03 with 35K miles, a 4 cylinder, crank windows, automatic. Ahhh, simplicity at it's finest. What bothers me however is I really thought I'd get better mileage then 17 city, so I'm turning you my brethren with questions.

Now that I've managed to offend most here, the questions that I have are simple: why does my 4 banger shimmy like a cheap motel bed with magic fingers at idle?

Can I put a set of 5 lug rims from an '08 on my '03 and if so do I need to just add spacers?

Why is my mileage so crappy 17/23?

 

Welcome to TW, Wish I could help you with that question, but I'm sort of new to all of this too.

 

i was going to say that a good tune-up would help the rough idle, but 35k miles for an 03 is low... its pretty much brand new.

is your truck a 2.4L or 2.7L? cuz a buddy of mine has a 2.4L and he gets about 18/23, around the same as yours. and as far as i know, the 2.7L gets about 17/22. so i would say the mileage you're getting is normal.

 

I think that 17 city, stop & go is pretty good.

 

I am deeply offended, I award you no points and may God have mercy on your soul.

P.S. Welcome to TW =)

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thanks all for the warm welcome and semi encouraging words. I looks like, based upon the sage words spoken here, the way to achieve the best gas mileage is to either hook up a team of mules and leave the engine in off position or figure out a route to get to and from work which would be down hill no matter what direction I travel.

The little brute that can (just barely) is a 2.4 with no mods at this point. The reason for getting lured into a 2.4 2wd was the milage on this one, or lack of, got it off a Toyota dealer with a 4 year / 48K warranty for a ridiculously low price. If it wasn't such an attractive deal I would have gone double cab TRD just 'cause, well, they rock.

 

Welcome to Tw, unfortunately i dont know much about 1st Gens. but im sure someone will chip in soon.

 

Welcome!