2.7L Access Cab thread

This was the only one that was still at the dealership that was a 4cyl manual 4x4 AC and I've been stalking the dealerships within 60 miles over the past two months. I wanted either black, grey or white but the only ones I could locate were either red or silver. They had a TRD 4x4 V6 auto with a bunch of options that my wife was trying to get me to buy but I really didn't want the V6 and I wanted a manual so I opted for the one I got. It was an AC also and also in black but I just wasn't feeling it so I stuck to what I knew I wanted.

 

Well I'm glad you got what you wanted. You, me and TacoBully certainly have 3 good examples of a rare breed of Tacoma.

 

So these are rare? Or do you mean only those with the convenience pack? The dealer by me has 3 in stock without convenience.

 

I found a bunch without the convenience package and almost always in silver near me but was hard to find one with the convenience package and after two months I couldn't locate one with the SR5 package with the 4cyl manual 4x4 so I settled for the convenience package one. There are still a couple within a hundred miles of me but almost all are silver and I'm not a silver car person.

 

Only one is silver by me and the other two are gray. I was going to buy one Saturday but I'm holding off. I'm really on the fence with buying another 4cyl. I think I want the 6.

 

I had found that they really had to dig to find what I wanted. VINs were coming up at other dealers; the trucks were spoken for or had gone into and right out of inventory. Other dealers claimed they never had the car. There are of course many 'in transit' that could be anywhere. Many of the mid and low spec trucks are purchased for commercial purposes and because they aren't the high dollar models the dealers don't pay all that much attention to them.

I was trying to keep the transport mileage low because when they do these transfers they are usually driven by a salesperson between dealers. It gets there and its all nicked and you've waited...ugh...didn't want to deal with that.

The 2.7 reminds me of an older Subaru. It gets gruff but seems to have plenty of power and torque; the truck seems relatively nimble. Although I'm assuming it is louder on the highway than a passenger car it is relatively composed.

The only critiques I have are with the 5-speed. It is okay but the gearing seems a bit off which I've mentioned before - 1 too short, 2 too tall, etc...
5 seems like pretty much a very short overdrive since it doesn't seem raucous at all in 4th gear at 60.

 

When I did 'build your own' on the Toyota site it would not let me even build a manual 2.7 SR5 with my zip code entered. My friend had the same experience with building a Yaris on the Toyota site; it would not let her select the available Yaris 'S' in our market.

 

My '08 is a SR5 L4 5 Speed. The funny story is that I got it from a ford dealership and I was originally looking for an FJ. Once I saw it I feel in love because I always saw white 1st gens riding around and loved the color. Also it was 15K which I thought was a deal. After seeing a few convenience package trucks I'm starting to like the look of them. I always thought they were to "bare bones" but I love the look of the black bumpers and fender flares.

 

Dealership was only able to find one 2.7 AC with the convenience package en route to southeast back when I purchased mine in October 2013. I had to wait a month for it to arrive as it was still being built in the factory. Have yet to come across the same style tacoma in NC.

 

I was sorta jealous of the full-paint treatment until I realized two things:

1) during bug season, the white bumpers and grille would become the land of insect jerky. Not a problem if the truck isn't white, but mine is...

2) the black plastic flares have already proven their worth. someone dragged something down the side of the truck where the flare is (like someone walking between cars with a backpack or a purse or bags or something) like the first week I had it. Had that been paint I would have been screwed.

Sure the looks aren't for everyone but I find I worry less about it than I might.

 

Our trucks are identical. I replaced the original rims with the same style you have. Are those the ones that came with your truck?

 

I think he means manual, 4cyl, with convenience. Without it they are somewhat more common. I was also asked if I could do without.
No, I could not

 

And with the convenience you get power windows and rear slider right? Anything else?

 

Power locks, cruise control, power mirrors and tinted rear windows.

 

got home just a few minutes ago and look what was sitting in the carport. so excited to finally have it. Its raining so these are the only pictures that I got.

 

So I'd imagine a 4cyl access cab is probably the least popular option for Tacomas period. Do you guys ever find that you regret the 4cyl power or more importantly, the amount of space the access cab has?

 

I got the 4cyl because I don't have any plans to ever tow anything but did want a truck because I am in the military and move every two or three years and found myself without a truck on my last two moves and it sucked. as far a space goes I had a 2010 Silverado LTZ extended cab and it was more than I needed and the Tacoma access cab is perfect for me and my family. my wife is only 5'4" and 125lbs max and I have a 2 year old and 6 year old and we all fit in the truck with no issues. My wife has a 2004 audi TT and we all fit in her car as well so as long as you don't look like the honey boo boo family then its ok to have a midsize truck.

 

I love these 2.7s, this is my second and I have 0 regrets on the engine size. It pulls pretty hard for a 4 banger, its like a tractor in 4lo. Space wise, I go back and forth. I started with a Reg Cab and that was perfect. Then I got a dog, and a GF, and then all my buddies wanted to ride in the truck so I sold it and bought the access cab. Its perfect for my GF, dog, and I, we can pack a weeks worth of camping gear and go. Its also my DD, so 90% of the time, I'm the only one in there. Its when my buddies join that I regret not buying a Dcab or a 4runner. The access cab works fine for 3 adults and a dog, my gf usually sits in the back since she's the smallest. But more than that, I yearn for a Dcab or a 3rd gen runner. My buddies tagging along is a rare occurrence though, so I'm pretty happy with my purchase. Wouldn't mind having a 3rd gen runner though!

 

1 is the straight truth because mine is white to, also I plan on bed lining my fender flares or deleting them altogether down the road.

I drive by myself 80% of the time so the AC cab has ample space for me. The rear cab I use as storage but I can sit people back there if they're skinny enough. The 2.7 for me has more than enough power for what I do with it ( mostly interstate driving and can pull to 70 no problem). IMO I had a '99 4Runner 3.4 auto and power wise they feel the same to me.

 

For me, the occasional passenger, and a dog its been the perfect amount of space. For a single person, the extra space behind the seat is awesome with the little boxes and plenty of room to bring a bunch of stuff home inside the truck without it getting wet. I don't need a full back seat for passengers, but being able to get real people in there if I need to is great. Not paying the extra for the full back seat with the short bed (I wanted standard) or trying to find a long bed would have been even harder and way more expensive. I don't even know if you can get a 2.7 double cab? Then the 5-speed, bla blah...

Like I said about the engine, it reminds me of the Subaru boxer. Not fast but it will get out of its own way and plenty of torque. It feels old school but it does have guts. It is not the engine in an 80s 2wd Mitsubishi Mighty Max.