Potential "new" Tacoma owner

Hello. I'm seriously considering buying a regular cab 4x4 Tacoma. I understand the last year for this was 2014, and the only engine option is the 4 cylinder. I believe the TRD packages were optional, but they appear to be very rare, as I haven't been able to see one for sale anywhere nationwide.

Any words of wisdom, or things to look out for?

I'm also interested to know how the 4cyl does power wise, and what can be done with these vehicles with lift/tires while keep it totally daily driver streetable. I have another vehicle that's my more serious off-roader, but I'd still like to be able to take this vehicle up some mild trails and have a slightly more aggressive look if possible.

Thanks.

 

From what I gathered when I was truck shopping in June ...
If you want the Access Cab ... (Which has the 6' bed if that's a concern) ... You have the choice between the plain-jane SR (What I bought) only comes with the 4 cyl .. Or the SR5 ... Which you can get with either the 4 cyl / 6 cyl ... Either 4x4 ...
There is no 'regular cab' anymore (As in the seats are right up against the back of the cab) Just the AC ... Which is not a bad thing.
It allows you to throw some gear back there, whereas you might of had to put it in the bed before. It's a nice thing to have, and they are the 'half-doors' so no climbing or tilting the seats to get to the space behind the seats. If you are like me, who bought a truck with zero intentions of ever carrying around anyone other than a wife/buddy/ occasional mother-in-law (ugh)/ or mebbe a dog ... It works great, AND leaves you enough room to put groceries back there instead of the bed ... Which by the time you get home, your groceries will be all over the place. (Damn plastic bags.. LOL!)
OK, the 4 cyl ... It's is by NO MEANS any kind of power-house. I wouldn't say it's anemic, but your not gonna snap yer neck when you romp on the gas pedal either. I've had no prob passing up a slow-poke when needed.
Now I wanted the 4 cyl for the MPG .. And it's not that much better than the 6 cyl, but being as Toyota says I should get about 21 mpg, I've been getting 24-something after 2,600 on the odometer, so I'm pretty happy with that.
So far as off-roading ... The 4 cyl, is nothing really 'serious' .. I've been up some old logging and ranger trails in the mountains where I live and it's done OK. Hitting the ETC button works well. I'm not racing up Pike's Peak or anything like that, but it makes it and have had no probs. I haven't had any instances so far where I've thought 'I need just a little bit more power/torque' ... And again, I'm not trying to set any records, just wanting to get where I'm going.
BTW, you might appreciate all the extra room under the hood with the 4 cyl, over the 6 .. To me anyway, that is a big factor. Everything now days is choked with tubes and wires and all the other stuff .. But the 4 cyl is not that bad.
Hope this helps..

 

Not sure, but think the reg. cab Tacos got no TRD packages in the last few yrs., I've never seen nor heard of any. A 2.7, 4X4, with MT is fine. A 2.7, 4X4 with an auto is a weak puppy. The auto. trans. in the Tacos were geared quite a bit taller than the MT. was. Toyota used the same 4.10 differential gear for both, seems stupid but they did. I was completely satisfied with the power of my old "98" Taco 4X4, 2.7, with MT. I'm not satisfied with my 2013, 4X4, 2.7, auto. I've learned to keep in "3" instead of "D" until appx. 75mph. & it does a lot better. Also slight increase in mpg. as it isn't running in a strain all the time. If it weren't so expensive, I feel I'd be very happy if it had 4.56 or 4.88 differential gears, they should make it feel more like my old "98" did. Just my opinion.

 

Interesting about TRD. I have the brochure from 2014 but it doesn't say definitively one way or the other. I sure haven't been able to find one, but I thought I saw a picture in a build thread somewhere. Perhaps it was an older year though.

Too bad the engine isn't more powerful. I've been driving a manual for the last 10+ years, so I'm really looking forward to going with an auto again. Thing is, my 4 door Jeep with 35's is a real dog, so anything will probably be an improvement. On the highway, I'm back with the semi's on inclines. Improved mileage would be nice though. I can barely make it between gas stations in my Jeep.

 

If you, as you say, have more 'serious' OR rigs ... and looking for a Taco that you may want to take up some mild trails .. And want it as a DD ... You'd be spending a LOT of $$ for a TRD, that you don't really need.
Looking bad-ass ... Well, that's important to some, and you can do all the aftermarket stuff you want .. But if you just want (Close to what you want) the smaller cab with something close to being a DD and not asking a lot to do some serious OR'ing ... Mild trails, as you say ... No need to spend a bunch of $$ on something with extra beefed-up suspension, when stock will work just fine for what you wanna do.
And if you're looking for a good AT .. (Although there are a lot of Taco owners who complain about how the 6-speed, not being able to decide what gear to be in..) I've found mine to be perfectly acceptable. But I'm not pushing anything either.
I do know .. From actual people/friends who have one ... The AT Jeep transmissions ... They break, far to often ...
The Taco 6-speed AT .. While not to everyone's taste so far as shifting points/etc. ... It's been proven to be pretty rock-solid.

 

I would recommend driving both 4cyl and 6cyl before committing to buying. Personally, a 4cyl should be kept stock to maintain the driveabiility. It will suffer once to add armor or upgrade tire size. If you decide later that a regear is necessary, I say go with the 6cyl from the beginning.
" Damn, I should've went with the 4cyl!" - says no V6 tacoma owner ever.

 

I don't think there's a 6cyl option for regular cab though. Otherwise it would be no contest.

 

Yes, the 2nd gen reg cab only came with the 4 cyl. No TRD packages were offered with it. Pre 2008 you might find one with a mechanical lsd, but that is highly unlikely. The 1st gen came with a v6, but those are also extremely hard to come by.

As for modding a 4cyl reg cab, don't let anyone tell you you can't do it.

Nothing specific to look out for really, I'd be getting the manual. The AT will rob you of what little power you do get. The bench seat is no bueno, but you can swap in buckets and some did come with them stock.

You know, normal used car stuff, check for rust, look thru the service history/ talk with previous owner..

Ask me anything, I freaking love my little truck.

 

Back in the 90's there were 6 cyl. in reg. cab Tacos, but they were weak, not much different from the 4 cyl. There has been a guy on this site who has put a 4.0 in his reg. cab from a donor long Taco. I think he said bring him a donor Taco with a 4.0, your reg. cab, & appx. $2500 & you could have a reg. cab 4.0. Great idea, the ultimate Taco, but too many $$$$.

 

You probably already know this, but a 4 cylinder automatic truck will be a similar experience to your Jeep at climbing steep grades. However, DO NOT listen to these silly V6ers who think 266 lb.ft. of torque is something special in a truck that weighs almost as much as a full size. I used to have one, with a weekend's worth of camping gear it returned 4 cylinder power with 8 cylinder fuel economy. If I ever own another 4500 lb. slow heavy gutless Toyota, it will be a Land Cruiser, not a 2nd or 3rd gen Tacoma.

I'm much happier with my 4 cylinder regular cab. What it lacks in power, it makes up in pure bliss camping and off-roading. Put a shell on it and you've got a fun little maneuverable side by side ATV with its own sleeping quarters. A set of mild all-terrain tires and a rear diff lock will make it very capable while barely impacting MPG. You don't even need to lift it, regular cabs usually sit a bit higher anyway.

Not only are regular cabs superior off-roaders, they also excel in urban areas. Even with a lift, 33" mud terrains, 4:88 gears and armor, mine gets better city MPG than my former bone-stock double cab V6 Tacoma got on the freeway. It is laughably easy to navigate crowded parking garages, street parking in traffic, tight coffee drive throughs and ultra-busy big box home improvement stores. Since I live in a crowded urban area with easy access to the outdoors, I have achieved regular cab nirvana.

 

Looks great. Is that lifted? I took a quick peak at your build thread and it looks about the same as "day 1". I'll spend more time with your thread later.

 

Yes it's about a 2" lift. Cosmetically I've never wanted to deviate much from that classic utilitarian Toyota pickup look. The biggest undertaking I've done is gears and diff locks.

 

I may not be the best to answer this as mine is a 2WD and I've not done anything to it that might make it more trail-worthy, nor will I..but I love my 2010 regular. Got it with 6600 miles, has 114K now.

I live in New England and have driven it in the shitty weather almost all the time. Only time I remember eschewing it is in a blizzard where our governor instituted a 24 hr driving ban and one of my cats was suddenly injured, we took my wife's Rav4 to the emergency vet b/c it has AWD plus fit the 3 of us.

 

Looks just right to me. So 2" and 33's? Did that just require new springs, or is there more to it? If it's in your thread, I'll just start digging there.

Thanks everyone for the input.

 

No TRD option for the reg cab and the 3.4 V6 was 95-97 with MT only I believe. Since they are getting harder to find, you might want to look for the cleanest/lowest mile one but be prepared to pay for it. I see a bunch of 2001-2004 reg cabs listed for $9-15K with most over 100K miles. The 2005-14 trucks are even more depending on mileage. Mine has about 3" of lift with 33" tires and I wouldn't really want to go more than that.

 

Been driving reg cab 4cyl AT’s as company work trucks for the last 5-6 years. Latest one was a 2013 I believe. Great little commuter truck. Power was decent for a 4 cyl, no trouble passing semis & such up hills fully loaded. That was usually FULLY loaded as in canopy, ladders, & packed with tools & materials. Definitely always wanted more room up front tho, an AC would have been perfect. Pretty tight if your over 6’, and the bench seat is not great. No experience with it off-road as it was a company rig & 2wd. 4WD versions seem to be pretty pricy these days, at least around this area

 

Yes, just Old Man Emu leaf packs and coils. That's the the cheap, common, durable brand used on Toyotas all over the world.

 

This one is near me. Thoughts on 150K miles?

https://phoenix.craigslist.org/wvl/cto/d/glendale-2011-toyota-tacoma-single-cab/7249345752.html

 

I'd look at a 4 door along with the reg cab too

Can't add 2 doors when ya run outta room later in the reg cab

Just in my SB DC on my daily excursions by myself...

Throw in cooler...backpack.....rifle....extra clothes....fills up fast

Just a thought.....we all use our trucks differently

 

Dang those stretched out Tacos look loooonnng. For me, Reg.cab or nothing even with the mandatory 4 cyl. My Dodge Ram 4X4 is also a Reg. cab Short wheel base......Of course, just my opinion