Help for a newbie: 4 or 6 cylinder (both double cab) for my needs?

Hey guys,

New member here from Houston, TX. I'm a Ford old diesel fan (I split time between two), but lately I have the itch to find a good and reliable older Tacoma that will last and give me some decent fuel mileage. I need something that will be easier to park and relatively low clearance. I'm leaning towards a V4 2WD, but I suppose I'm open to a V6 4x4 as well. I don't see myself doing much off off-roading other than the occasional beach. Definitely only want a double cab.

I found this one on a Facebook group and also on Craigslist. He is asking $10.5k

2002 Tacoma SR5 Prerunner 2WD 4cyl w/ 148k miles

https://austin.craigslist.org/cto/6241476461.html

Then I came across this one just today for $10k

2002 Tacoma 4x4 TRD 6cyl w/ 170k mikes

https://houston.craigslist.org/cto/6241219523.html

Just trying to get ballpark figures for both engines so I can come to these guys with a reasonable offer or other ones that might pop up.

Thanks

 

Theres been alot of theads on this lately. Depends on the location, drive train (2wd vs 4wd) and model (single cab, extra cab vs double cab). You can expect to pay 10k-13k for a ride with 125K miles to 200K miles. You can sometimes score rides with lower miles and cheaper if the people dont know what they have (like I did). Here are recent threads on this subject:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/are-first-gen-toyotas-actually-worth-the-price.503294/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/why-is-it-so-hard-to-find-a-nice-1st-for-a-decent-price.501258/

 

The price you are willing to pay for the vehicle you are getting is the right one.

There are far too many regional variations/vehicle specifcations to say there is a right price. Factor in demand and condition. Don't buy a junker unless you are ready to spend time and money fixing it up. And do an extensive frame rust validation on anything you look at.

Good luck.

 

I have read through that first thread and I will definitely check out the 2nd that was posted.

I'm more or less wanting opinions from seasoned vets for which engine will better suit my needs. I'm leaning towards the 4cyl, but I'm open to any and all opinions.

Thanks

 

for starters, it's an I4 (inline 4), no V4 automobile engines unless you have a sport bike

if you only do road driving you can get an I4, automatic trans, double cab PreRunner (2wd on 4wd suspension). Don't expect any get-up-and-go unless you get the V6.

 

What mileage are you expecting to get?

 

^ like he says
I have a 2.7 4 cyl 4x4 it's decent but there isn't any get up and go power or hill climb power I'm talking pavement hill climb
I'm Canadian - when I climb hills with 80km(55m) speed I start climbing and i drop to 50km(30m)

And it's decent on fuel it's not the best but it's a truck

Does really well offroad just don't try to pull any body out if they're stuck tried to pull a 4 runner out of deep mud almost burnt my clutch out

I love hate my truck I'll miss it when I sell it but I think for me any way I think I'll prefer the V6 over the 4 cyl

 

The 4 banger is bulletproof, gets good fuel mileage, and is simple, but the double cab only comes in auto. I have a 4 banger extra cab with the 5spd and it's not terrible performance wise, but I couldn't own one if it was auto.

 

Extra cab 2.7l auto suits me fine. Your mileage may vary however.

 

I'd like to get at least 20 mpg on the highway. I've got two Ford 7.3 diesels that both drink fuel and are hard to park in certain situations. I do not like to take them on long trips if I don't have to. They are both 4x4s so I figure any off-roading I need to do can be done in those. And when I say off-roading I don't mean for fun like I see on the forums...just getting out of mud occasionally and the beach.

 

My best with a 2.7l auto on the highway is about 24. That was with my '97 trd. I stopped keeping track after that. I don't know what my '03 gets on the highway.

Edit: I'm no lead foot though. Frugal would be accurate.

 

I have both. My 2.7 is in my 08 regular cab which weighs 3900 lbs fully laden for a 3+ day camping trip. I like it except for freeways in a head wind or up a hill. I wouldn't want it on a larger vehicle like an extra cab though. That's why I bought my first gen with the v6. If you were going with a manual trans I'd say either is good if you're going with a regular cab. V6 for an extended cab and you won't get a manual trans in a double cab so V6 only for that.

Edit: Reread your original post - that silver one looks like a good buy. I'd go for that one.

Oh there were some passenger cars produced with v4's. I found an interesting article about them. But basically there aren't any cars these days with a v4.

https://www.carthrottle.com/post/obsolete-engines-101-the-mythical-v4/

 

Accelerating uphill with a loaded 2.7l is possible, but not what I expected when I bought it. Match your vehicle to your needs and expectations. Everyone is saying it's slow on hills. If you can live with that, fine. If you want fast on hills, get something else.

Edit: I missed that you want a double cab. I don't know why they put the 2.7l in those. Big mistake. Gotta go V6 there. Fully loaded double cab with a 2.7l A/T: no happy ending.

 

Yeah I go to Thai parlors for happy ending


I got 2 inch Asian penis
And my truck has oem 28 inch Asian penis tires

I am one of the only cunt losers on this forum with a 2001 4 cyl double cab, poverty spec, gimpomatic

I do 80 mph all day when it's flat

On hills it has to downshift to 3rd to keep up 70mph

Mpg is 19 worst
22 best

 

That's what is steering me away from the 6cyl. I'd really like to get above 20 mpg on the highway. I guess my point of view is I'm looking for a civic or corolla but I want to sit up higher and have a truck bed lol.

 

Maybe there are no hills in Japan. Toyota engineers are not dummies. I suppose it works on the drawing board.

I'm a big fan of the 2.7l, and accept its limitations. I don't think I've never had my truck up to 80 though, and congratulate you if that's how you run yours, even more so since it's a DC. I may be underestimating the 2.7l, even though I've had four of them. I'm very happy to travel at the speed limit.

 

Mine sees 80-85 mph 3 days a week

I have had it to 90 once, and once was enough for me

On the west coast, 80-85 is the "speed limits"


I did a 900 mile trip with it recently
It did 80-85 mph for 9 hours straight with ac on
No issues


Girly man, oem 28inchers, 2.7 DC for life !!!


I have the lowest powered, skinniest tire, most poverty spec truck on this site and love it more everyday

My gen 1 gets garage and my $40,000 17 PRO sits outside with all the undersirables demographic outside

 

My 2.4 sees 80 mph 7 days a week. I drove it from NYC to SF in 4 days going 85 mph the whole way... it never even hiccuped once. The only time I wished for more power was climbing the rockies outside of Cheyanne and the Donner pass. The 2.4 is bulletproof and will probably outlast me...

 

10k is alot for a 4cyl. double cab. i've seen them go for 6-8k with 150-200k miles on them in houston. I even considered buying one with 180k on it for 6.5k and doing a diesel/4x4 swap in it. But i found a good condition v6 pre-runner for 5k and bought that instead. i was just able to score a complete 4x4 swap for 400bux after i sold all the extras.

One thing i can say for sure though if you plan on going to the beach with the 4cyl you will get stuck. I have a hard time in SLP with rwd and locking diffs. IF the sand looks really soft i don't even try. with 4x4 its zero issues i cant wait till i have time to install my 4x4.

 

I have a 2002 2.7 Double Cab Pre-Runner. It does well during highway speeds except on hills. I live in central PA where there's lots of hills and mountains and the truck struggles and I'm considering re-homing the truck with family down south due rust and the lack of power issue. I only have the truck because my dad sold it to me for 1k. I would get the 6 cylinder and not worry too much about mpg.