4x2 Base Truck

I know exactly what you mean. I owned a 1998 VW Jetta TDI for 3 years, and it was awesome. When I went to look for a new one, I had to teach the dealer what the difference was between the TDI and the 1.8T - THEY DON'T EVEN RUN ON THE SAME FUEL!!!

Then again, these guys are taught to concentrate on their numbers (quota, sales, accessories, incentives, etc...).

 

Exactly! You hit the nail on the head 007!

They are only there for the sales... they are not techies! I'm sure the dealership's doesn't even take the time to train those poor souls about the vehicles they are selling.. and this goes across the board! Not just Toyota salesmen are dumb... they are at every kind of dealership you step into!

 

PreRunner I4 2.7 Black here and the only 1 problem I had to get use to was the tranny. I'm too use to starting in gear 2 but with the taco... well you don't have to but you should start with gear 1. I'm able to get it rolling in the gear 2 but it's not as smooth/quick.

 

Did your last truck have a "granny gear"?

 

Nissan Xterra 4 cylinder manual. What does the term "granny gear" mean exactly?
Thanks for answering my question thrice now 007Tacoma! especially on the warranty lol... I didn't mean to get too annoying.

 

No worries.

A "Granny Gear" is a gear in a work truck or heavy duty truck that is geared ultra low for high torque pulls. The old F-250 I drove up and down the mountain side at an old ski resort in Colorado had a "granny gear". We used it to haul things up the mountain at low speeds (<10 MPH). Most of these trucks would actually start in 2nd when unloaded and on the street.

Was the XTerra's 1st gear that low, or was it just not functioning correctly?

 

It was functioning fine. Then again this Xterra was in china and big engine aren't popular at all. Hence we had a 4 cylinder manual... to conserve whatever we can lol... trying to stick with those roots here. Anyhow! my dad was able to carry up to 7 people in it ... starting fine from 2nd gear.. and 1st.. mainly 2nd cause of the traffic and how daring people can get to cross the street.

The tacoma would be consider a non-granny gear? or is there term for that?

 

The Tacoma does not have a granny-gear, no. The XTerra you had was in China? So you lived there before the states?

 

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I remember last week or so when you were discussing starting off in 2nd, and I didn't know it was a China market export, or China built under licence truck. If it has a small 4cyl and holds 7 passengers, I would bet it has a granny or "almost" granny for those countries. Who knows when they have to start up a steep hill with 7 people in the truck, the mule, twenty 100 kilo bags of rice, and a pallet or 2 of lead based paint heading to the toy factory

The Tacoma has a pretty wide ratio 5spd with the 4cyl, but it is not a granny gear. I have looked at a lot of 3rd world type countries vehicles on line before just for kicks, and have notice that they tend to use very small engines and VERY wide ratios since they do tend to overload anything and everything. That load I listed above is nothing; they can carry that on a mo-ped..................

 

The 08 is up on the Toyota website. My biggest curiosity was what the new epa ratings would be. The base 4x2 and prerunner are 20/25 mpg and those seem like realistic numbers from what I have read. The 2.7 4x4 is 17/22 and I think the v6 models were 16/20.

In the past I have always been able to meet or beat the highway numbers on chevy and Fords but the in town numbers were hard to match. I attribute that to too much stop and go situations. So, I think I could realistically average 20 mpg with a 4x2 2.7 tacoma.

 

The 08' EPA ratings are supposed to be calculated differently than the <07's. It is all supposed to be closer to the real world mileage.

I go through about 1-2 tanks a week. This week my average is 24 MPG with the A/C on, heavy rain (from our tropical storm), heavy traffic, and mostly highway driving.

gm3bow, I want to see some more pics of your truck - especially with the Westin Nerf bars. It looks sweet in the pictures, but I would love to see some more shots of it.

 

I know you have complained about your mileage before but it sounds like you are doing very good to me. The 08 ratings are supposed to be real world numbers taking into account running the a/c, drag, ect.......... This is supposed to be for all manf. The 08 ranger 4x2 is 21/26 with a slightly smaller motor and truck so it sounds about right to me.

I know the v6 is a great engine but this relieves all doubts that the 2.7 is good for 3-5 more mpg under the same conditions at least in my mind anyway. I would say if a person is real careful that you could do better than 25 on the road with the non pre runner.

Oh, and by chance did you check your mileage when you towed that u haul trailer? Im figuring maybe 15 mpg? Maybe a little less???

 

16 MPG

 

I realize that I am pushing the transfer caase and front diff, but I am still going to have to go with the theory that that U-haul trailer had noticibly less frontal area than my camper as I have thus far only seen 11mpg while towing.

 

You're also pushing two extra cylinders!

 

Granted, but 007 was also way over the towing capacity and I think gross weight when he did that, so I was actually figuring my two extra cylinders as being in my advantage in this particular case.

 

The UHaul would have been at least 2,000 pounds less than a conventional RV. Don't you think? Of course then there is also the front surface area.

 

I forget what you said the u-haul weighed. My RV is a jayfeather exp 197 gross weight 3750, I probably run it at about 3500 wet and ready to camp.

 

I am figured it up with the weight of the trailer, the washer, the dryer, sleeper sofa, 2 chests, 2 large chairs, 4 filing cabinets (full of junk), coffee table, computer desk, 2 bed frames, and boxes and boxes of stuff... I would say that I was pushing 4,000lbs+. That doesn't include all the stuff that my wife stuffed into the cab and bed of the truck.

 

I gotta give you credit 007, you got balls for pulling all that in a 4cyl!

Maverick: I'm surprised your mileage was so low with the camper/RV. you were still technicallly 3000lbs under your limit. I wonder what your mileage would be if you towed something that weighed 6500lbs....