I do all my driving between 2000 and 3000 rpm, what am I missing?

My Audi A4 used to run about 3500-4k at 90 and I'd drive like that on the highway for 4-5 hours, did fine, no issues, no problems, i ran it till 220k

 

He taught calculus not chemistry…

 

I know WW taught chemistry, but it sure sounds like he'd be interested in blue meth also...

 

Yeah it will get down the road in a hurry if you need it to, cruise at 80 comfortably on the interstate. Why people need more power, I don’t know. Of course there are those people are never happy no matter what. Plenty of other options out there for people feel like the need a powerhouse…it isn’t a huge secret that some people think the Taco is low on power, knowing that why they buy them is kinda comical. It is like dating a stripper then getting upset that she strips… lol!

 

This particular teacher was a perfectionist and would only have been interested in perfect, crystal clear meth.

 

I grew up racing motocross and the old saying was if you run it like a dog, it’ll always be a dog. I had a 01 Tacoma that ran more or less perfectly until someone pulled out in front of me a couple years ago and it got totaled at 250,000+ miles. I would redline that thing a few times a week (Italian tune)
I’m no expert by any means but my truck was consistently faster than my buddies 03 Tacoma with 100,000 less miles. We used to race up to Eisenhower tunnel to go skiing (7% grades) and I consistently beat him every time and he was always so disappointed. He used to baby his truck everywhere and never got the thing above 3000rpms. I drove the shit out of mine but always did routine and on time maintenance as he did as well. I’ve always been under the impression that if you never ask it to perform than it will never know how to. As in your pistons and such will not be worn evenly and things sorta go wacky when all of a sudden you step on the pedal and ask more of the engine. I’m not saying you need to have it floored every where you go but cleaning out the pipes every now and then seemed to work better for me than babying it did for my buddy FWIW

 

On the previous page I mentioned my '91 and '01. Both got over 200k, same style of driving. But I hear what you're sayin'.

 

It’s not the top speed that matters, it’s the ease of the engine to push the truck along effortlessly that comes with the power. I don’t care to go faster than about 90mph in a Tacoma on the freeway that allow it. Having the power/torque is nice so that the truck just does what you want, regardless of what you’re towing or how steep the hill is.

For example, my Ram 2500 wasn’t faster 0-60 but it did it effortlessly no matter what you were doing with the truck. The power was always on tap when you wanted it. It was also a behemoth of a truck that got really tiresome driving around daily.

 

I still drive my 85. I've only had to replace the slave cylinder.

 

It's all in the expectation that is a moving target. Back in the 80's and 90's it was just a fun little truck that could get you from point A to point B and haul and pull some stuff. Now it is expected to have the performance of a Tesla with the pulling capacity of an F250 SuperDuty Powerstroke.

 

Not really talking about top speed, more of people racing around in general. I take my time getting up to speed, waste of fuel otherwise. Some need to race to the next stop sign/light. Guess those people need 1000 ft lbs of torque to do that…of course me and my turtle pace always ends up sitting right beside them.

I used to operate heavy equipment for a living, one of the reasons I went with a Toyota as my daily, awfully nice to jump in after a long day sitting on diesel earth movers and the trucks that towed them. Never expected the Toyota to run like our 1 Tonners, 2.5 Ton, or the Tri-Axle Mack. They are just something to bump around in, nothing more, nothing less.

Really impressed that I barely have to touch the throttle to get it to move, seems effortlessly to me. Also amazed it can lug around cruising in between 1100-2000 rpm for the stuff I do. Tows my moto trailer like it isn’t even back there.

If you want more bottom end, there is always the Ranger or diesel GM twins. I have driven them, both really nice trucks, but since I have been driving Toys for so long why quit now?

 

i had a ram 1500 hemi rental for a week. i loved the engine / tranny in it. it felt effortless, even when I put 2,500# of stone in the bed . I could only tell because the headlights were pointed to the moon...

the taco is a whole lot better with a tune that's for sure, much more low-end. I would love more mid-range power so it doesn't have to bounce to 4th all the time on the highway, but it is a 3.5L maxed out... either needs boost or displacement. Once it gets above 3,800rpm it is great, and will easily accelerate uphill fully loaded, which my 3vz and 5vz could never do, and my 1gr did not like to do (but would do so begrudgingly)

 

Yep, found mine has some giddy up, but you need to tell it to. Back in the 70's i built a 421 super duty 66 gto, that had some serious 0-60 times not to mention driving it to the local strip turning consistent 12.1 times in the quarter at 113 mph. It was the fastest everyday driver i've owned.

 

I give mine an Italian tune-up occasionally.

 

you just drive slow. and yea my pfp looks like somebody who would say this