Possible future taco owner with some ??s

Hi everyone. Right now I have an 08 Nissan titan 4x4 on 35's and between the payment and MPG's (I have a 60 mile a day commute) it is killing me due to having lower funds than I had when I bought it and had the 35's put on. Anyways I'm tossing around the idea of trading it on a used 4cyl 5sp. 4x4 taco (want an access cab) to cut payment size and get better mpgs. I really like the 2nd gens being bigger and roomier but LOVE the first gens having a real transfer case shifter vs. the electric knob. How much less, if any, mpgs do the 2nd gens get due to being bigger, heavier than the 1st gens? I see a lot of people on here are still getting mid 20's hwy in 4wd 2nd gens which would be a HUGE improvement over my titan. Also, on the 4wd tacos without the factory locker, do they at least have a LSD or is it just an open diff in the rear? I would really miss the insane power of my titan but honesly other than just playing around I don't ever use it. I don't tow anything and I rarely even use the bed much anymore so I really think it's time to downsize. Will a 4cyl 5sp. 4wd taco get around fine in the hills/mountains of NE PA? Also I would definitely step up to the 265/75's because I do like to offroad. Would it run ok with stock gearing and 32's offroad? I like to go to rausch creek and wheel and theirs some pretty steep hills there and decent rocks. I'd love to be able to get a 4.0 but that would defeat the entire point of going cheaper and much better mpgs. Any extra info would be great. Thank you.

 

2.7 ltr is fine. I have a 2011 sr5 4x4 5 speed with a few important mods for off roading and performance. click on my profile and you can see what I have. If I keep my speed at 75mph or under I get 21-20 mpg's. The lsd on the 2.7's in my opinion is not the greatest so I intalled a Detroit TruTrac, huge difference (about $450-475). My tires are 245-75-16's right now although I will be going with 265-75-16's soon. Ill probably loose 1mpg when I do this.

 

im in western nc which is quite hilly and my truck does just fine. it is only a little sluggish on the steepest of hills. when i test drove it i went to where i usually mtn bike ride. it was close to where the dealer was and i knew it would be a good test for drivin on hilly roads. it was fine just as good as the 3.0 6 cyl in my mazda

 

I traded in my 06' titan for my 2010 2.7 4banger tacoma. I have no regrets, more capable off roading than the titan IMO. I do miss the power but this truck has surprised me everytime i go trail riding. i got a 4x4 w/no locker but this little truck is amazing on the trails i have been on. I don't think you should have problem with the tacoma they have LSD. I am lifted and currently have 265's on right now and alaska has some steep grades and this does surprisingly well. I am actually putting on 285's in the next few weeks. BTW welcome!!!!!!

 

Welcome to TW from Bucks County! Been through Bloomsburg on rt 80 a bunch of times on the way to Lockhaven to go quad riding. Even stopped at the Home Depot there...

BUY THE TACO!!!

You will not regret it.

 

Wow, thanks for the warm welcomes and fast replies! Short of titantalk this is probably the friendliest and fastest responding forum I've ever been on before! I really think if I end up having to go this route I'm definitely gonna try and stick with a 2nd gen because I just like them so much more and as long as the 2.7 has enough power to get one around pretty good with bigger tires and still get pretty good mpgs it makes them even all the better. I just really wish toyota would hav estuck with the true t-case shifter like in the gen 1s, I love that and it's so much more reliable. I REALLY hate to possibly have to get rid of my titan because I love it and it'sbeen really good to me and I have a bunch of money into it but the big truck payment and gas mileage (roughly $100 a WEEK in gas!!) is killing my wife and I. If I got a taco for high teens that got over 20mpg I could save probably $3-400 a month! Not too mention my cooper stt's don't have a lot of like left in them and with these 18" wheels (smallest you can fit with the 08+ 14" front rotors) even a set of 33" A/Ts run mid-high $200 each! I saw a slew of 265/75/16's for well under $200 a tire plus they'd last a lot longer on a much lighter truck too.
I rode at RC with a titan with the trutrac and it was awesome to say the least! They are really nice LSD's because they are really smooth (no clicking and clacking) and you don't have to add the LS additive to the rear and they're really strong. I'm sure a stock (even stock tired) taco could outwheel my titan because even with 35" cooper STT's it's really not that impressive because of the crappy open diffs at both ends. Not to mention with my wheelbase (and I'm only an extended cab) I drug my belly A LOT at RC! Thanks again for all the help and info. If I end up going this route it'll probably be a couple months away but I'll definitely keep ya'll updated.

Oh and here's one I found that I absolutely LOVE (color and all) for a really good price for the year and miles. Too bad I wans't looking to do this right now.
http://www.autotrader.com/fyc/vdp.jsp?ct=u&car_id=294729117&dealer_id=69551&car_year=2006&doors=&systime=&filter_change=no_results_inc_srch_area_up&model=TACOMA&search_lang=en&start_year=1998&keywordsrep=&keywordsfyc=&highlightFirstMakeModel=&search_type=both&distance=75&min_price=1&drive=4+wheel+drive&rdm=1298725214783&marketZipError=false&advanced=y&fuel=&keywords_display=&lastBeginningStartYear=1981&end_year=2012&showZipError=y&make2=&certified=&engine=4+Cylinder&page_location=findacar%3A%3Aispsearchform&body_code=0&transmission=Manual&default_sort=newsortbyprice_DESC&max_mileage=75000&address=17859&color=&sort_type=priceDESC&max_price=18000&awsp=false&make=TOYOTA&seller_type=b&num_records=25&cardist=74&standard=false

 

BTW--- if your really hung up on having a manual transfer case, it is possible to switch to the FJ Cruser T-Case...
Seen a few that have done it.

You'll be happy with the 4 banger & there are a few other mods to get even better mpg.

 

Nah I'm not THAT upset over it to go through that kind of expense and fab work. LOL. Thanks for the tip though. It just feels so much more rugged and "truck-like" to me and I would prefer it. Plus there's nothing really to fail either, not that the electronic ones are really fail prone (at least I don't think they are on the tacos are they??) with all advances they've made over the years in electronics.

Yeah I've been reading on here about some of the headers and airbox/drop in filter mods that help too. I'd LOVE tobe able to get a consistent mid 20's out of a 4wd truck! These 2.7's have enough power to hold 5th on the highway on hills don't they? I just don't want to be constanly having to downshift on the highway, I'd rather just put it on cruise at around 65-70mph and go. I think I may go find a yota stealership and take one for a test drive just so I can get a "real world" feel for one. Kinda like "a test drive is worth a million words" LOL

 

It depends upon what size hills you're talking. I found myself down shifting a lot to maintain speed on the WV turnpike. I have no problem with having to downshift on smaller hills around Louisville, KY or Southern IN.

Downshifting is just a part of owning a manual though. I don't know many vehicles you wouldn't want to downshift while trying to maintain speed on large hills.

My experience is without cruise, but there have been times in WV where I have had the pedal down to the floor in 5th and speed still couldn't be maintained, so I would assume you would have the same issue while in cruise.

Sorry to give you some bad news

 

The area I'm in isn't super hilly but if Ihead towards wb-scranton or williamsport there's some pretty decent ones that even my titan will kick down out of 5th if there's even a slight headwind or if I'm going around 75+mph which is pretty rare these days because I found it goes from around 13mpg at anything over 70 to low 15's if I keep it at around 65-67mph. Huge difference for just a few mph. I think it might have something to do with running 78lb a piece 325/65/18 mud terrains. LOL

I guess if I go this route to save money I'll just have to learn to deal with downshifts on the highway.

 

My reg cab 4wd gets 25-26 mpg at 65 mph (oregon speed limit)and 21-23mpg in the winter with winter blend fuel. I have an open diff,never get stuck but I'm thinking of adding an lsd.
My previous truck was a diesel silverado weighing 7000lb and got 22 on the freeway 16 in town. Both trucks have 245/75 r16 oddly enough. The raw power of the diesel was great, but I feel the 4 cylinder delivers enough power, a simple downshift to 4th and no grade slows it down.
I traded due to a few recalls, a few things that needed a recall and didnt , plugged fuel filters due to biodidiesel B10 and me riding a bike to work leaving a tank lasting 5 weeks. The other thing that made me trade was some TSA problem(Terrorize Some Americans , not transportation security agency imo) , and some surgeries making me decide to cut expenses.

No regrets whatsoever getting the Tacoma ,once I got it i liked it more n more. Welcome to TW!

 

Welcome to TW!