Impressions Driving An '01-'04 Style Mini Compared To My 4x4

Today I had the opportunity to drive an '01-'04 style mini Tacoma, 2wd extended cab. One of the small ones. I had never driven one of these before so I was looking forward to comparing it to my '02 4x4, however, it turned out to be completely different than I was anticipating.

To be honest, I was actually going into it thinking that it might be kind of fun to drive and have a bit of sporty to feel to it due to its small size and low center gravity and all. The first thing that I noticed as soon as I pulled out of the parking lot and onto the road was the significant amount of pedal action required to make it go. To say that it was a dog would be an understatement to say the least. This one must have had like the smallest 4 banger offered. Anytime I got near a hill, the speed would immediately fall and it felt like I was pulling some really heavy trailer. This of course was with no load in the bed at all, or with anyone else in the cab but me. Furthermore, and I think being an automatic transmission has a lot to do with it, but I almost had to floor on the bigger hills just to maintain speed. I would keep pressing the pedal down futher and futher and further but nothing at all would change. Nothing, it was like I was keeping the accelerator at a consistent rate the whole time. The rpm's stayed completely the same and so did the speed until I floored it and it would then downshift and scream. Engine pinging of course too which is definitely a huge turnoff to giving the sense of a sporty feeling, yuck.

It had 84k (NOT, 184K I triple checked...) on it and felt quite warn out. The steering wheel was smooth and if you know the '01-'04's, the steering wheels textures are not. Also, the front end felt like the wheels were shimming and the steering wheel was not close to being centered. It's had a hard life.

Anyway, after getting back into my truck it felt like it had 500hp and drove like a Lexus. Literally. Aside from the nuances, I was a little bummed to find the mini did not give me anywhere near a feeling of being close to sporty in any sense or form. Now a manual mini in a V6 might be a different story.

 

hmmm....

 

I think back then the 2wd trucks had a 2.4L 4 cylinder that had less power than the 2.7L 4 cylinder

 

Ive also wondered what it would be like to drive one of those little 2wd tacomas. I figured it being a smaller truck the 2.4 litre 4 cylinder would be more than enough... Guess not. Bet the gas mileage is a lil better though lol. They're not the most attractive truck imo, and apparently have no guts...duely noted thankyou sir.

 

My neighbor bought one, what a gutless wonder. At least his is stick.

 

I have a mini with the 2.4 and a manual trans, you do have to downshift on hills, but around town it's decent, my cousin had a 04 prerunner with the 2.7 and a auto trans, honestly a 2.7 would be awesome in my truck, the little bit more power made a very tangible difference that the slushbox tranny couldn't take away.
It also helps that his truck has 90 k miles and mine has almost 190k

 

I drove an uber rare 2.7 double cab 2wd (I think those were only offered for one year). No guts at all, I really thought something might have been wrong with the engine, until I rode in a friends truck that was yet again another one of those rare double cabs- he got onto the freeway and it was a total dog. They made extended cab 4x4 2.7s... though I really like what I read about their mileage, they are just too slow- and I'm a lot less "power hungry" in my older age. If I got a Taco I4, its getting turbo'd. Period.

 

I always thought one of these would be awesome to drive daily. Lower it, put some rock crawler steelies on, turbo it and make it handle like it's on rails. I just can't see myself having 2 trucks though

 

nobody ever said the stock 2wd trucks were sporty...what gave you that impression the first time.

do some work to the suspension and add more power (they handle turbos quite well) then we are talking.

 

I test drove an auto version of my truck when looking for mine, night and day difference when you go to a manual.