Not Worth It (MPG)

So, some of you may have seen my other threads where I've been deciding whether or not to go with the 4cyl instead of the V6. I test drove the 2012 Access Cab 2.7 4cyl and I was pleased with the feel of it and bought it.

I bought the truck based on fuel efficiency. From everything I read, I was expecting to get 20mpg+. On a stock setup, I drove 7 hours home and it was all interstate. I drive 77-82 on the interstate and thats not going to change. The 2.7 got somewhere around 17.5-18mpg on my trip. I'm very dissapointed in that. I mean, I hear guys say that they get that in their V6!

Even if I'm saving say 3 mpg on average with the 2.7, its not worth it! It's not worth not being able to lift and run 265's...or tow and haul heavier loads.


Lets say gas is at $2.40/gallon and you're driving 15,000 miles a year: If the 2.7 is only getting me 3mpg better (the way I drive), I'm only saving $355 a year.

I guess the answer to my other thread is maybe I did make a huge mistake.

 

If it makes you feel any better about your purchase, your around town mileage will probably be considerably better than the V6 and hopefully offset the increased consumption on the highway.

 

Yeah I believe that. The problem is, I only us the truck to go hunting which includes 2 hours of interstate and camping trips/long road trips which include tons of interstate. I'll never be able to adjust to driving 65 or 70 on an interstate with a 70mph speed limit.

Anybody want to buy a 4 banger??

 

i just posted on your other thread and a little more info on top of that i get about 280-290 miles per tank before i fill up and i usually have to put in about 17-18 gallons. at least you have some numbers to compare to

 

Install a turbo and you won't regret not getting a V6!

 

Also, weight kills fuel economy. From your other thread I see you have a canopy. How much weight does it add? Maybe it's better to compare your numbers to a V6 w/ canopy.

 

A big disappointment is that I really want to put a 2" suspension lift and 265's on the truck. If I do that, it loses power and mpg and there's no room for that.

From what I understand, I could run 265's with a 2" suspension lift on the V6 and it wouldnt affect power or mpg.

A lot of people warned me of this but I was thinking it would be more like: run it stock=22/23mpg, lift and run 265=18/19mpg

 

Why not go 65....? Most people who get the better mpg drive in a efficient manner.

 

I'm getting around 250 mile per tank on mine in the winter with 4wd always on, (currently been around zero or below temp wise in my area the last month) and when I got it it was getting 300 to 350 in the summer. I bought it because I am poor, love 4 bangers and gas mileage was just a bonus. 20mpg (maybe 21 or 22) is probably around the max on a 4wd tacoma if you drive 55mph in 5th gear, just my personal experience

 

What's the rule on the 4 bangers running stock tires?...

Speedometer is high by 3 or 4 mph
Odometer is low by 10%

I think thats correct..

 

I'll say this: I heard all of the warnings about acceleration and no pick up or power when you need it to pass or merge on to the interstate. I was on flat land in Florida but I was impressed by the performance of it....the problem is the cost of punching it and maxing its power was a big hit to mpg.

 

yeah I wouldn't say there is a lack of power with the 4 banger, and I came from a V-8 myself, if I do all of my gear changes in the powerband (3800rpm) then I can easily accelerate past 75mph from a dead start, of course the trade off is mpg. when I drive her like a grandma, and stay right at or under 2000 rpm for all my driving and gear changes then she is sluggish but I get like 18 to 20 mpg in the summer with mixed driving

 

also how fast are you driving? I think the sweet spot is 55mph and mpg starts to drop after that, of course many people can't stand to go that speed. I also drive a manual, in case that matters

 

Just a word of caution on the current low price of gas. That price is being driven by the "over there" oil guys in an effort to hurt our oil production "over here" guys. The over there guys are operating out of their reserve cash (taking a loss) to drive the barrel price down to a level the over here guys can't afford to operate at. Some small outfits will be run out of business over here. The big outfits will likely weather the storm.

I'm no expert by any means whatsoever, but from what little I've read, and the discussion I've been in, the over there guys can hold the price down for 2-3 yrs, then it will have to go back up. It's all very complicated, but that's the nuts and bolts of it from my limited mental capacity/understanding.

But the basic concept being discussed here is valid. Several years back the cost per gallon here got up close to $5 a gallon. At the time I was commuting five days a week by myself (I carpool now) driving a paid for Honda Accord 4cyl that averaged 25mpg. I was thinking I'd buy a Honda Civic or Toyota Corolla that averaged 38-42mpg. Being realistic I ran the numbers at 38mpg. Bottom line, when I crunched all the numbers, it would be something like 7 yrs before fuel savings off-set the cost of buying the new car with better mpgs. I kept driving the 25mpg Accord.

Sorry for rambling on ... slow here tonight.

 

That's a driver problem, not a truck problem.

Let's say gas is back at $4 a gallon. Which it will be one day, well within the lifespan of that truck. Re run your numbers, and see if you feel any better.

Do you 'need' a lift and more tire? Or just want one? Regardless of what others proclaim, those things add to the TCO of the vehicle.

Why not try using the vehicle in stock form and see if it delivers what you need it to do?

Before you commit to sell, figure out what the loss you will take (include your total cost, taxes, tags, travel for pickup, etc) will be. Even if you got a great deal and were lucky enough to resell for what you paid, it's unlikely you'll recapture those expenses. See what that loss gets you in a 'fuel offset'.

If OTOH you are miserable, cut your losses now and get what you want. Buyer's remorse could taint your whole ownership experience

 

I think you are correct. The saudis are very patient and know exactly what they are doing.Gasoline is already creeping back up as American rigs shut down due to prohibited cost/profit margins.

 

As others have said, you cannot drive 77-82mph on a Tacoma and expect to get 20+mpg.

Also, even though you might only save $300-500 a year in fuel costs driving the 4 cylinder, over a few years time, that really adds up to some serious change. I'd rather the extra money go in my pocket than the oil company.

 

I can get 28 MPG all day long on the highway. If I'm willing to slow it down some...under 65 MPH, I can touch 30 MPG. My commute is about 50 miles round-trip....mostly flat surfaces. It's also worth noting that I have a base, RC, 2WD, 5 speed on stock 215/70/15 rubber. I'm sure it's lighter than all other Tacos.

Also...people sometimes get too caught up on the 2.7's economy. It's more about a lower price than all-out MPG...though I can promise that I average better than the 4.0L in all conditions based on my particular driving style.

 

Nobody ever mentions-----> The purchase price of a 4cyl is thousands less than a V6. That's instant savings

 

Bingo. I gave 22k for mine OTD.