Am I Making A Huge Mistake??

First off I have a 4cyl AC automatic, and I am very honest about its capabilities. It is hands down the slowest thing I have owned from 0-60. In fact my previous automobile was a Mini Cooper S and previous to that I owned a BMW M3. This pickup is neither of those, and I don't need it to be, that being said it is not a sluggish as some would have you believe you can make it go by applying a bit more force with your left foot. If a very quick truck is what you are after looked else place. keep in mind if you go into the purchase thinking it will be slow then it will be, and I would recommend the 6cyl they are much peppier. I think the key is to ask you self how do I extend to use this thing.

 

Little old ladies in Buicks (you know hands at 10 and 2 with a gray puff in the middle) drive by and flip me the bird regularly. I think it's hilarious.

 

The gas mileage in the 4 cyl is amazing for a truck in my opinion. I have 3 (2 access cabs) in my work fleet all in manual. I suggest getting a ScanGuage to monitor your mileage. If I drive 50mph on a straight road, I can get 28-30 mpg my top record in my 2005 Access cab over a long period. Yes the power is nothing like a 6 cyl, but the mileage is pretty unbelievable if you don't punch it.

I also have a 2011 Access cab and I just lifted it with 285 70 17's. Rear springs from General Spring highly recommended. Front lift used Old Man Emu 3 inch lift on 2011 and Rancho Quick lift on 2005.

 

How's your mpg and power after the lift and 285s?

 

OP, my buddy has AC 4cyl Manual with 265 duratracs no lift. He gets about 18 mpg... He has complained a few times about no power and said his next tuck will be a 6cyl. I've driven it and wow is there a huge difference. That's a manual and I can only imagine that an auto is worse. Constantly down shifting with it. It would be great for strictly trails and stuff but for what I use my truck for I wouldn't want it. The mileage difference I don't think is worth the 4cyl especially when you'll be lifting and adding 265's

 

I've been driving manual cars for 15 years. Everything from a Nissan Hardbody to an RX7.

I just feel that mid and full size trucks should be automatic, my DCSB is my first auto and I love it, don't miss manual at all. And even with a slight lift/level and 265/75's I'm still in the 18-20 mpg range in my 4.0

 

4 cyl. auto works for me....of course, never towed anything or gone up a hill (Fl.)

 

my first toyota was a 4 cylinder '87 regular cab 4x4 5 speed and it was a pretty good truck overall. however, i do remember trying to drive it on the highway and pretty much hating how little power it had to pass if the situation called for it.

 

Fellow flatlander here.

My '13 AC/4/2wd/auto base is my first Toyota truck. It does exactly what I bought it for.

90% of the time the bed is empty. But it hauls bicycles and kayaks quite well, as well as the HD/Lowe's duty.

Mine is lower than a PR, smaller tires, different gearing, and I love the MPG.

I'd have no qualms taking it on a road trip to N Ga/NC mountains for camping etc. As you, I'd not be doing 'real' off roading (different than a maintained or semi maintained trail) so I have no need for lift or tire changes.

I could care less if others don't think my truck looks 'manly'.

 

There's a clean 2012 in Pensacola. 40k, V6, 4x4, with a topper for 25. Private party so probably could negotiate. I'd do that before the 4cyl

 

Update: I flew into Tampa this morning and after a test drive and some negotiating, I pulled the trigger on the 2012 Access Cab Auto2.7. It wasn't an easy decision after all of the research and conflicting advice but once I drove it, I knew it was the right fit for me down here in the flatlands.

I'm half way through my 6.5 hour drive back to Pensacola and I'm loving the way this thing cruises on the interstate. I've been doing 80 easily and passing comfortably. Not sure what kind of mileage I'm getting so far but from a half tank estimate it looks awesome! When I popped the hood I discovered a nice little bonus K&N cold air intake that was installed by the previous owner. He kept this thing sooo clean.

Thanks to everyone who shared advice and input. Now, I have a decision to make on tires and lift. I do feel that I need every bit of power I'm getting now on these stock tires so I'm hesitant to go up in size. I'm thinking I'll go with the AAL and Billsteins with 884s as planned.

If I stay with 245/75/16 but move to a BFG All Terrain KO, should I expect to lose mpg or stay close to what I've got now?

 

Clearwater Bill, I bought the truck at Dayton Andrews in Clearwater. I was not happy with the way the negotiating went. They sorta screwed me on a few things but I couldn't walk away from the deal. Spending the night in a hotel and buying another flight home and going back empty handed was too hard to do

 

Congrats. Sounds like a beauty!

 

Congrats.

I run 245/75/16 in an LT AT (GY Silent Armors currently) as my Summer tire. On the advice of my tire guy I air them up to 50 PSI for fuel economy on the hwy. It makes for a stiff ride. I run the heavy tire to avoid cutting down a tire on gravel roads during hunting and fishing season. Even at 50 PSI, I lost about 2 MPGs from the previous P rated hwy tread tires.

 

Update: Not so happy anymore. From my calculations, I got about 17.5mpg, maybe 18. It was all interstate and I was driving 77-81 which is what cost me but thats how fast I drive on the interstate and thats not going to change. I was really expecting 20mpg even driving like that though.

I've put way too much stock in this MPG issue. Its the reason that I went with the 2.7 instead of the V6 and now it looks like I'm only going to get 2 or 3 mpg better than the v6. That tradeoff isnt worth not being able to run bigger tires and lift, not being able to tow, and not having the power i'd like to have.

 

If you can't drive hwy 10 mph less (65-70), then yeah, I doubt you'll see 20 mpg. For my truck, anything sustained over 2500 rpms hits the mpg average. When towing, the power band (by my interpretation) is 2500 - 3500 rpms; that hits my mpg average for 4-5 mpgs.

 

The 4 cylinder is obviously having to work to hard to sustain 80mph on the interstate, dropping the mpg down to 17-18.

Since the V6 doesn't have to work as hard to sustain 80mpg on the interstate, wouldnt it get around the same mpg? 17-18?

If I'm only looking at a difference of a few mpg, its not worth it. I'll be selling this thing before I put 1K miles on it.

 

To the best of my knowledge, that is correct. For your needs/wants/desires, I think you'd be happier with the V-6. Personally, I chose the 4cyl/5spd for long term reliability and simplicity. I sacrifice speed and power for it. Sorry you're learning this the hard way. Is what it is.

 

i live in fl and drive the interstate every third day for work and im a double cab v6 long bed lifted on 285s and my highway miles are about 17 and if its a long road trip i can get 18-19. my miles around town are consistent 15-16 with an occasional drop to like 14.8mpg but thats very very rare and i obviously have NO power issues and i love the skinny pedal.

 

I've made that exact drive about 15 times. I average 17.xx in my access cab, V6, 4x4 with 265's. Cruise set at 80.