Need advice on first Tacoma purchase

I accidentally posted this in another section so it may look familiar but...

Good News Everyone! So I'm new to these forums. I've finally decided to replace my '95 Ranger after 320,000 miles and have opted to head into Tacoma territory!

I'm looking for some insight. What works for y'all? Any recommendations I might need like engine/transmission combination, trims, options/features or mods.
Just so you know, my Ranger was a 2WD I4 manual that barely churned out a hundred horses at the wheels with the A/C off, so power is not something I'm necessarily accustomed to or expecting.

My budget is around $16,000-ish. What goes best with a manual? Having 3 pedals tend to make driving much more fun. I commute around 30+ miles a day and am not unaccustomed to roadtrips and small amounts of trailblazing so I'm looking for that good combination in between.

The 2007-2010 2.7l 4x4s have sparked my interest. But what do y'all have to say about it. Comments or ideas? Any advice is good advice.

 

Sounds like a good choice. You may want to hear directly from a member who has the 2.7l, but I have seen some posts regarding the desire for more power with that engine. I'm sure it depends on your lifestyle, mileage, etc...
Welcome to the site!!! and good luck with the hunt for your new truck...