Rookie Tacoma owner here

After lusting after a Tacoma for a few years, I went and bought a 2016 SR5, recently. Figured to meet some like minded folks here, so hello to all !

I picked an access cab SR5 with the I4. I read a lot about it being under powered, but wanted the bullet proof reliability. I drove a couple TRD V6, and found both to be very buzzy, annoyingly so.
So after my first 1000 miles I can report that I'm not dissapointed that I chose the 2.7

What I've learned is that you just have to learn to drive it. The ECT button is wonderful, and it stays on most all city driving. On the highway, I use the "sport" shifter to keep it from lugging, going up hills, etc. Maybe a bit of a workaround, but I'm OK with it. And I saved 5 grand, over the V6 TRD

Anyway, I'm a Texan and love trucks.Recently from a Camry, so you can imagine how good being back in a truck is for me.

I'll be lurking here and there, so see ya'll around !

 

Welcome to TW.

Pics of the new truck?

 

Hi Joe, thanx for the welcome. I'll post some pix... when I figure out how to do it !

 

We don't believe you

 

Welcome to the club!

 

Congrats on your new Tacoma and welcome!

 

Thanx fellas.....OK heres a couple pix. Love the two tone interior

 

Welcome to TW!

 

Thnx man. Better hope Lundberg doesnt see that stapler

 

Welcome to TW.

 

Welcome and nice truck!

Be forewarned, this site WILL empty your wallet!!

Mark

 

New interiors are so nice looking!

 

specially when they still have that new car smell

 

One Month review-- Tacoma SR5 2.7 4 cyl/ 6 spd auto

ya know, after a month of ownership of this truck, I am starting to have more than a smidge of buyers remorse on the 2.7 4 cyl/6 speed auto combo. I've had several occasions since first post, where on the hwy, I had 20+MPH headwinds, with some minor hilly overpasses, and its a challenge to maintain 65-70 mph. 6th gear is worthless in this situation. Just put in S-5 and mash the gas. You'll bounce back and forth between 4th and 5th gears, and you'll be staying in the right hand lane.
Hindsight revelation--It might have been worth the buzziness of the 6 cyl, to get the torque to pull those overdrive gears.

So for anyone surfing here for opinions, prior to buying a 2016 Tacoma, my suggestion is go for the V6 if you do much hiway driving. The two V6 I test drove had the buzzy vibration, that I could feel in the gas peddle and the steering wheel at cruising speeds. Both brand new TRD's. But I dont imagine they ALL have that symptom? I've read here and other reviews that its a hit-n-miss thing with the 2016 V6. No one really seems to know why.

On the plus side I am getting a combined 24.5 mpg (75% hiway) and the 2.7 4 cyl is a pretty smooth runner. Runs fine around town, but any resistance.... wind, loads, hills, etc. It just doesnt have the torque to perform well, especially if you have more than one of those factors present. Probably better with the manual tranny if you really are set on the 4 banger, and its better MPG. I'm thinking Toyota has to do something do this old engine design, soon. The truck has gotten fat, outgrown it I guess. The 2016 Colorado 4 cyl offers 200 HP and Fords Ecoboost 4's, even more than that.

So, my feeling is in a couple yrs, when I'm right side up, I'll trade for whatever the 2018's have in a V6, or maybe they'll introduce a turbo 4cyl by then...who knows?

 

hello fellow Texan Taco owner.

 

A fellow Texan...Howdy and welcome. Tons of good info here. I'm in Fort Worth, where yat?

 

Welcome to TW, nice truck.

 

Welcome! Sorry to hear you're having a bit of buyer's remorse over the 2.7l....you could always supercharge it though with that money you saved by not getting the v6

Not sure though if the current 2.7l superchargers will work with the 2016 setup

That two tone interior is sexy as hell

 

Hey thnx. Yeah, I ALWAYS have some buyers remorse. Some days I hate it, and some I think its not so bad. I'll settle in somewhere in the middle eventually....as for 2016 and the superchargers, I dont know. I dont think they've done much modification to the old 2.7 since day one, have they? Kinda like the 300 cu in straight 6 Ford F-150 used to have. Was a helluva solid engine, and plenty power, just not smooth and sexy as a V8. Difference of course, is that one had plenty of git-up. I think they just phased it out 7-8 yrs ago..maybe longer.
I'm afraid Toyota will can this 2.7 soon, and offer a turbo 4 next year....that'll really get my goat !

 

oh, and forgot to say YES! on the interior. Not only the two tone, but updated electronics and really comfy and ergo for me. I have zero complaints about the interior...they hit a tater there