How happy are you with the 2.7L 4x4

if you are looking to get over 25mpgs routinely better off getting a eco box car and give up the 2.7l it can get 22mpgs routinely if stock and not modified with bigger tires,weight etc. best I got was 23.2mpgs in cruise(65mph) on the PA turnpike a flat straight drive

 

It went from this



...to this, definitely bloated and machismo.

 

I love the 4 cylinder, in fact I wouldn't have bought the Tacoma if it wasn't for the 2TR. No question it's not going to win any races, and high grade hills or heavy towing is out of the question, but if long term reliability is your goal, then the 2.7L is the only way to go.

There's no chance some pseudo Atkinson, emissions designed, high maintenance engine is going to out last the tried tested and proven cast iron inline 2.7L.

 

In fairness you could say that about a lot of cars (in reference to your bloated comment). Look at how big a Honda Accord or Civic are compared to where they started.

 

Yes. But I’m on tacoma world, I’m talking about the Tacoma. In fairness.

 

Yes. And I’m not even with the engines again

 

CAFE standards are based on footprint, "bloated and machismo" is the manufacturers way to circumvent stupid laws. It just so happens that fat 'murica tends to like larger/aggressive looking vehicles. Aaaand here we are.

 

They are work trucks in the rest of the world, that changed when they came over here. And yeah....honestly that is why I started buying them. Awfully nice to jump into small little truck after running heavy equipment all day long. At the time I was real tired of putting gas in my F250..so I was looking for something with better gas mileage, and needed 4WD to get up our driveway in the winter back in PA. We lived off a State Road, a 1/2 mile back up in the woods. It was a nice little basic truck...but the "gotta have all the options crowd" have ruined it. The basic little truck for running around is gone...all of the now standard options have pushed the price to nearly $30K when everything is said and done, and with no improvements to fuel economy, because of all the added weight and bloat of said options. 18-20 mpg isn't good enough for me anymore. Kinda getting the point with the Tacoma as I was with the F250...real tired of putting gas in it (I fill it twice a week) Where is the basic little Toyota truck that gets 30 mpg???

It has me now looking at hipster doofus, Subies, VW's, and other various hatch backs...to get that high mpg I am looking for, and still be somewhat utilitarian. Have a couple dirt bike buddies that tow their bikes with VW TDi's and Subies. Jealous of the mileage they are getting.

Was looking on the UK site, there is a Corolla iM hybrid [called the Auris over there] that gets into the 60's (US gallon converted from Imperial)

https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/auris/index.json

Kinda diggin' the ProAce van too. Betcha I could fit my dirtbike in there...and get decent mpg. Why can't we get that over here???

https://www.toyota.co.uk/new-cars/proace/index.json

I am thinking this is the direction I want to go, since Toyota isn't giving me what I want with the Tacoma. A daily that gets near 40 mpg the commute, and tow the bike to the trail heads on the weekends.

 

Would like to see the modern 2.7 shoved into that 80's pickup or at least a modern version that is the size and weight of it, real curious of the mpg it might achieve.

 

A limited throwback re issue of that truck would be incredible.

 

Wouldn't it!?

I know it sounds like I am bashing the current gen, I am not...still think it is a fine fine well built truck, just don't like the direction Toyota has gone. People can option it to their hearts content I don't care. But a little disgruntled that the simple base model is all but gone. I mean gee-bas can't even get a manual trans in it anymore.

 

OP - don't overlook a 2.7L SR5. They can fall within your price range as well. Mine has been great.

 

Dang, a 4x4 Proace would be sweet!

 

They have, there was chart somewheres showing the bloat.

However you can still buy a Honda Fit or Toyota Yaris which is more akin to the original compacts. No choice with pickups.

I would be stoked if Toyota offered a small little truck about the size of the 80's RCLB for hauling the bike. It could even be an unibody if it got over 30 mpg. There was talk of a Scion based truck, but it never happened since Toyota pulled the plug on Scion.



http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2012/01/naias-2012-scion-leader-still-wants-a-pickup.html

 

I know! This is a Ford Tourneo Custom, roughly the same size as the Proace....how sweet would that be?

 

In selecting the current gen, I got about as close as I could to this



Still, it is the charming and small yet durable base Toyota pickup when compared in size to the full sizes.

 

Nice! It kills me that we can't get these in the US.

OP, I have a 2.7L 4x4 that fits my needs... it takes me and my gear, comfortably, where I need to go.

 

$30k is a lot of money; however, considering inflation, Tacoma prices really haven't gone up that much, if at all. For instance, check out this calculator:

https://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

Consider the 1st Gen Tacoma cost $20k back in 2000. In today's money, that is just under $30k. Also consider that comfort and safety features have come a long way since then. Not a bad deal, I think. Speaking of safety, that's another thing to consider, as I look at the picture of that Focus parked next to the Tundra. Hillbilly central around here with lifted Dodges and Ford's. I wouldn't want to have a faceoff in a little Honda. Personally.

 

They kept in step with inflation. I have just become a cheap SOB in my old age.

Yeah, lots of lifted 3/4-1 ton deezulsexuals running around here.

Ran some errands on my lunch today, saw a Subie Crosstrek in front of me, that might work...seems like enough of compromise across the board for what I need. Would still keep the Tacoma for camping and hauling dirt...which it rarely got used last year, as I said went camping 3 times, and haul one yard of compost for the garden, and that was it, rest of the time was for commuting and hauling the dirt scooter.

Though the Subie wouldn't be all that bad for camping. Only need the Taco once a year for the garden cow shit haul.

 

That's not a bad move. Truck and SUV prices are at an all-time high right now. Cars and sedans are very unpopular, and priced accordingly. Wait till the next gas price surge to pick up a pickup.