How do you like your 2016 4 banger Tacoma?

I bought a 4 cylinder because I care about reliability and I didn't feel a huge difference when driving the v6, honestly neither one has balls in my opinion but if that's what I wanted I would have kept my modded power stroke. Then I could come on the forums and flame your "big 6 cylinder" tacomas but that's not my goal. If this truck lasts me 10 yrs relatively trouble free, I'll be happy tailgating granny all the way to wherever I'm going. I don't need a truck that can haul more than a john boat or a quad anymore so may as well get what I want since I'll be driving it. To each their own though I'm not saying the 6 cylinder is an inferior truck, I'm just saying it wasn't the best choice for me.

 

Get the 4. The v6 is an unproven moturd. Don't believe the people who say there is no MPG savings. The V6 is getting below epa estimates and worse than the V6 Colorado. And the V6 guys are bitter that the V6 now uses the same auto trans as the I-4.


Unless you want to drag race minivans from stop lights and win, you don't need the V6.

And my old 2005 work Tacoma with 2.7L is still trucking with NO issues at all and all it does is city and parking lot driving and idling all day.

Wanna go fast? Get a steel wheel late model V6 6-speed camaro, they're dirt cheap. Nuff said.

 

They're not the same at all. The 2016 4 cylinder engine was updated to dual VVTI and higher compression ratios. The 5 speed has updated sycros, different gear ratios, and different read end ratio for better highway MPG. Toyota did not advertise any of these updates in their press releases because they didn't want to take away all the hype around the new 3.5L and 6 speed auto.

 

Exactly why I want the four! Thank you for the post!

 

I had about 1300 lbs of firewood in the bed about 2 weeks ago and let me tell you what. The truck didn't have any trouble getting home about 15 miles. Didn't struggle at all! I was pretty impressed!

 

Merry Christmas everyone! Stay safe! Thank you for posting about your Tacoma's! Very excited to purchase one soon. Getting laid off soon as well as everyone I work with so once I find a steady job I'm going for it!
Thank you again and merry Christmas!

 

That's awesome!

 

The way I see it is, It is your truck, only opinion that should matter is the one when you climb in it to drive and thats it. No one else's opinion should ever matter. I pay for my truck, I bought the one I want, and I couldnt care less if someone said it is inferior or superior. I have a DCSB v6, but I got respect for the 4banging crowd for that fact it also is a Taco.

 

I can do burnouts too!

 

A little " trolling" for truth.
The latter part of the statement makes sense. This part ? You bought a Toyota because you care about reliability, not the four.

People buy 4 cylinders predominantly, because they are cheaper. If there was a market for a four cylinder off road for $40k because the four was more reliable and not much different in power, Toyota would make it. They are found on the low end models because they are cheap. Toyota doesn't make crappy motors. They are all reliable enough to outlast their bodies. I had several 4 cylinder toyota trucks and I would have preferred the six in all if they were the same price. 95% of four cylinder buyers would too.Toyotas last a long time in any form and paying the least for a four makes economical sense, but NEVER because of it's performance or longevity over a Toyota six. . Let's get real. And now, they are no more economical. Fours are reliable and cheap......the sixes are reliable, just as economical and expensive. That's the ONLY difference.

 

Early 90's Toyota pickups are actually a perfect example. I would take a 22re all day over the 3.0. Same thing with the 2.3 8 plug 4 cylinder they used to put in the Rangers that were a million times better than the 3.0 V6 they also put in them. I wanted a new truck but didn't want a first production year motor that as I've been told allows the valves to stay slightly open and produce blow by to lessen the compression to get better gas mileage at cruising speeds. That doesn't sound like something I want to be a test subject on. Maybe in ten years I'll pick a used one up if they get a good rap. I have driven both the 2.7 and the 3.5 and honestly they both felt like slugs so I'll take reliability over a faster gamble on reliability slug all day. Sorry I did my research and made an informed decision and then explained it for others to help offer a slightly different perspective than "buy a V6 because if not your truck won't be as cool and it will be because everyone who gets a 4 banger did it because they can't afford a V6"

 

Thank you for replying.
This is not a new motor....it's been around for nearly a decade if not longer.
Th 3.5 that Toyota uses, I believe is a short stoke version of the 4.0 which has been a beast for many others and my self in11 year old 4Runner. That was specifically why I went with the same motor. Me daughter has a Sienna with, I feel is a same with over 200k and it still purrs like a kitten. This motor, the 3.5, is a tough as nails. Yes, it's more of a "car motor" but it has more torque at a higher rpm and more then 100 more HP. My wife has a Venza 6 speed and yes, you need to use the sport modes all of the time and limit the to gear it shifts to depending upon the city, country or Hyway. Otherwise, the trans will shift to a higher gear then necessary and does not want to come out. But, that's the same with the four as it is with the six. So, both will seen logey of you drive them with the trans in D. But, drive them as I said and the four comes to life a little, and the six just starts feeling like a different motor in a Venza and plenty powerful in a Taco. Some how, many who complain about the six, aren't doing this. I do it with my Taco 2015 5 speed also. Everyone wants to throw it in Drive and complain. So really, the 3.5 is a great motor, with power to spare and excellent reliability. ..... and S is called sport for a reason.

I followed everything you said until you got to the "cool" remark and had to laugh again. I debage my vehicles so no one is trying to show off their six.....wow, I never thought a six was cool. Eights are a different matter. What is cool, is getting the same gas mileage and being able to drive more safely. The trucks are so big and heavy, I don't feel safe with 159 hp and nearly 4000 lbs. so I am paying for safety. Yes, I do a lot towing and I miss the fours when the trucks were smaller. But they are huge. If toyota keeps the motor as is, you as right. But if they upgrade it and give it more power, then it means four owners were dissatisfied with this motor as it is. Btw...it's still about the money.

Hope you're having a Happy Holiday

 

Since I do a lot of service call work & don't carry more than about 200 lbs, I opted for the 4 cyl. I find it's ok for city driving, but I need more patience for hills and highway passing and make lots of use of the manual shift feature. Especially when I get stuck behind a slow poke & need to jump into a faster lane. Also have to always push the ECT button before pulling away since it up shifts way too early. Now I'm not sure why Toyota didn't use the more powerful & smoother 4 banger that comes in the RAV4 (which I own), but maybe it has something to do with profit motive..ya think? Otherwise I'm enjoyin' it.

 

just doing a little trolling tw on xmas. i have a 15 2.7 5spd. it zips along pretty good, crushing 70, able to pass just fine. i was going 80 before i knew it. granted it was on flat ground. i get good mpg for a 4x4, best was 23.5/ worst was 19.8 . i,m pretty happy about that,i drive it daily 82mi to work, so over time it will save some $

 

BTW, anybody know what type oil goes in the 2016 4cyl? Synthetic or conventional? Don't see any mention in the manual.

 

http://www.toyota.com/t3Portal/document/om-s/OM04005U/pdf/OM04005U.pdf

Page #571 in the owners manual.

 

We shall agree to disagree on that point but I was unaware that they used the 3.5 in other vehicles (I would never own anything other than a 4Runner, tundra, or Tacoma in the Toyota line. So I'm not to keen on the specs of their other vehicles. If it's a good motor with a proven track record maybe I made a mistake getting the 4 cyl, either way I wish I had the standard shift. I also agree on the V8 comment as I wish I could have that power and engine tone but I can't lie I love the 20+ miles per gallon and reliability more.

 

I can't say anything about the 4 cylinder Tacoma but I would assume it's about the same as the 2.7L in the Sienna. In 2012, we bought a base model Sienna 4 cylinder thinking "eh, I don't need a V6! It's a minivan!"

Boy, was I wrong. Way underpowered for that size of vehicle, barely even enough room to pass someone. It was dangerous. I traded it in March 2015 and bought a '15 SE Sienna and haven't looked back. The power difference is enormous, and fuel economy is exactly the same. I personally will never make that mistake again.

 

@Scooter62 Yes, did know about the 0W-20 requirement, but wasn't sure about synthetic or conventional. Did more research & seems it only is made in full or partial synthetic. Will stick to the full syn.
Thanks for the reply & happy holidays. Enjoying the record warmth here in the NYC area.