Help me decide if this will do what I need to do.

So I am in the lookout for a 2nd gen taco. I am fascinated by the 2.7l i4, it seems to be very reliable. I saw a video on a guy who went 880k miles with payload on the bed for work (some cancer meds that I guess are in lead casings) in a 2nd gen taco with the 2.7l i4. I go on a stretch of freeway that is 80mph on a daily basis and am wondering how well this motor does at those speeds. I dont need a ton of passing power, I'm not an aggressive driver.
I found a 2007 single cab 2.7 rwd with 26k miles. So if do go through with the i4 it will be the lightest weight configuration (single cab rwd)

 

The 2.7 is a beast of an I4 but the 4.0 is much more fun. Well maintained both will last quite well.

 

I see that you're in Idaho...not interested in a 4x4? That is a hunting/fishing/mountain state.

 

I do fish and hunt but I never go out when weather is really bad and all of my spots are rough dirt road at most. I only used 4x4 once on my current taco and that was just to see if it still worked.

 

Here you go, in Grants Pass, Oregon.

• Body Style: Crew Cab Pickup
• Model Code: 7186
• Engine: 4 Cyl - 2.7 L
• Transmission: Automatic
• Drive Type: RWD
• Ext. Color: Silver
• Int. Color:
• Mileage: 86899
• VIN #: 5TFJX4GN2FX041223
• Stock #: 23905X

• Our Best Price: $20,750

 

This is what I got
https://www.cargurus.com/Cars/inven...0&distance=100&minMileage=0#listing=251429390

 

Just make sure you get the frame 'thoroughly' inspected for rust.
In this configuration you'll probay be okay on the power front.
Have you driven a truck with that engine on the highway? That would be the only way for you to be sure that it has the power that you require.

 

No I havent test driven it yet, when I have the time, I will.

 

Agree with this. There's no way I would even consider a 4cyl if I plan on using the truck often for hauling. It only gets worse if you decide to go up in tire size. Go drive both and include the AC and DC models. You may just change your mind on engine size and interior space. With a family and hauling requirements, I wanted the DCLB.

 

I have a 2013 Taco reg cab 2.7L 4X4 automatic. I can't imagine trying to maintain 80mph hwy. speeds for any length of time. My old "98" Taco Reg cab 2.4L 4X4 5 speed did a lot better than this 2.7L auto. I haven't figured if the eng. or the trans. makes the difference. I rarely hit the interstate, but I may go try it out, I know it won't do well in O/D, but I may take it out of O/D & see how it does.

 

4 cylinder, 80mph on a daily basis? Get a V6 man.

 

I would say the 4 cylinder does fine. Honestly, it maintains 80mph better than it will 65-70 mph. But I’m a manual, so there’s that. And, I’ve recently very nearly decided to regear my truck. And then I decided not to regear my truck. Because I decided that I wanted a Tundra. Then I’d have both my Taco and a new Tundra.

The moral here is that the 4 cylinder will certainly do it, but other engines will do it better. However, it’s hard to argue against the reliability of the 2tr-fe. It’s a strong selling point.

 

I meant if you had driven any tacoma of that configuration with a 4 cylinder. Not necessarily that one. I had a feeling that you hadn't gone to see it yet in person yet. I'd take it and drive it in the same set of circumstances that you plan to actually drive yours daily. .
Let us know it goes and what you think.

 

That's a clean 5 lugger. Take it for a test drive on that stretch of highway going 80 to answer your concerns. If you do any offroad hunting or camping, keep in mind that 5-luggers have the lowest ground clearance and unfortunately very limited in lift options. Good luck in your search.

 

I have an 06 reg cab 5 lugger and it has no problems doing 80 MPH on the highway. don't lift it and get oversize tires and you'll be fine. I get about 22-24 MPG and I drive it like i stole it. 43K miles on her and I drive 60 miles a day, 60% of the time doing 70-80MPH

I also have a 07 4.0 DCLB 4X4 (170K MIles) and honestly from 0-60 there isn't much difference between the two. from 60-90 there is a huge difference in power however in the 4.0's favor.

I think I did the calculations once and the power / weight ratios between the two were similar if i recall correctly.

good luck

 

Dont get the old mans model, get the v6

 

Yes, what he said about trying it out "under the conditions you're using it for" . I found mine over 100 mi. from where I live. I drove down there & looked at it, & drove it appx. 10 or 15 mi. in an area I wasn't familiar with & decided it was O K. Bought it & while driving home I got to questioning my decision, this thing feels really weaker than my old "98" 2.4 5 spd. I am very limited, as I will never own an extended cab, & the Reg cabs haven't been available with a V-6 since, I think, 1997. If I had my time to do over, I would have waited till I could have at least driven a 2.7L with a 5 spd., just to see if it may do better than this 2.7L automatic.

 

But I'm an old man at heart...
Lol

 

Exactly. In boise the freeway speedlimit is 65mph and is mostly flat. Where I live is 80mph with few small hills. I may go test drive it and go 80mph in Mexico .

 

Power to weight ratio of the lightest config of tacoma (the one I'm looking at) is 19.7 pounds per horsepower. The weight ratio of heaviest config of tacoma with v6 (crew cab 4x4 v6) is 17.4 lbs per horsepower.
Interesting... Feel like I'm missing something, seems like there should be a bigger difference.