School me on the base model 4x4...

4x4 will get you through almost anything, unless you are an off road enthusiast

 

My son has the Regular Cab base and has done the YELLOW WIRE MOD, and it gets the job done! Without the yellow wire mod all you will have in L4 is open differentials. With it, you get the same moderate traction control that you have in H4.

Might be helpful: https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/traction-controls-2009-2014.310726/

 

I have a pretty base 2015 2.7L 4x4 with a manual transmission and I'm very happy with my purchase. For the love of god though don't get an auto trans. Man they are gutless. It's still gutless with the manual, it's just easier to drive it like a dump truck and you have to keep up momentum.

Gas mileage is pretty good around town, I get 18, and highway is about 21 if I stay under 60. On my recent road trip to Chicago I rolled at 75-80 with the AC on the whole way and only got 18.5. So it's decent on gas until you have to put your foot down up a hill.

If you need a basic truck that will last and get you around in all types of weather and terrain, and won't break the bank, the 2.7L 4x4 manual trans access cab is a solid choice.

 

No Regular cab available anymore. Only holds 2 people and doesn't get 40 mpg. A base 4x4 will be a beauty for you. Will do anything a v-6 will, just a little slower.

 

I almost bought a regular cab last year, but couldn't find anything other than an auto locally, so I held off. Really glad I did. I would have hated the lack of cab space after a few weeks of ownership.

 

With the bench seat you can fit 3 adults in it... just not comfortably.

 

Tell that to the Government.

 

I beg to differ most of the times I get stuck is because of lack of clearance or flexing out. I'm definitely an offroad enthusiast and wouldn't have any other truck.... well maybe a jdm 80 but no other north American truck

I didn't start wheeling till I bought my taco my other trucks were either street machines or dirt bike taxis

 

I had a late model (2014) I4/5spd Access Cab. It's tad under-powered. If you add a tall cap that weighs several hundred pounds, it will exacerbate it's lack of power. If you go with a V6/Auto you'll lose a couple mpg around town, but your highway miles will be very competitive with the I4... plus it will handle the weight of the cap, and whatever else you load into it.

I recommend testing the I4 and the V6 prior to committing.

 

From Toyota Tacoma chief engineer Michael Sweers himself:

http://news.pickuptrucks.com/2015/05/up-close-tacoma-chief-engineer-goes-deep.html

 

I love my base model. I had a 2007 regular cab 4x4 manual and had to part ways due to finances. However, finances are back! Just picked up a 2015 base access cab with the 2.7L manual in 4x4. I'm not sure what else you need. Even the base has enough bells and whistles for me, with the main love of the manual 2.7 in 4x4. No back seats is a plus in my book. I added the rearview camera myself. I think the mudflaps are coming off and I might add some running boards... Great truck and great package.

 

Wow. That's one truck I really wanna see. A two door sport.

 

Yeahhhhhh. Pretty sure they meant access cab on that.

We've pretty well threadjacked this thread for the 2016 reg cab hypothetical, and the OP didn't even exactly say he wanted a regular cab. Let's just say that the few early indicators that there might be a 2016 regular cab were probably misquotes/misinfo/wrong, it won't be happening, end the threadjack and resume our regularly scheduled programming.

 

Two points in response to above posts:

2016 4cyl is, according to the linked article, auto trans only.

Current auto gets slightly better mpg than the manual.

 

What, does one guy have to sit on the passengers lap? It's snug with three adults in the front of my F-350 work truck, and that cab is huge.

 

hey OP, be sure to get the 4x4, the 2wd is pretty much useless once off the pavement or in winter conditions, anybody that states different is likely just a hater cause they made the mistake of getting a 2wd and like to get off the beaten path. the only significant difference when it comes to performance off road with the trd models is the locker, otherwise suspension travel and clearance are the same. the shocks might be different but they certainly aren't worth the extra cost and don't offer any extra travel.. you will be very happy unless you find the truck underpowered. for the little extra money if i were doing it again, which i will eventually i would go v6, the mpg from the 4cyl isn't super awesome unless you drive like a granny to get the good mileage, which of course is the norm for any vehicle. as suggested also upgrading to a quality tire is important, the stock tires are not so great.

 

What I meant by that was 4x4 will get you through almost anything on paved roads.

 

Lies and slander lol

Seriously though there's no way. Unless you're reving the piss out of the thing. But when your dive the 5spd like a normal person it'll win hands down everytime

 

Get the 6cyl if going 4x4. The gas mileage difference is negligible. Plus, once cruising hwy speeds it evens out. With a cap, it'd probably be less. Plenty of people have made the mistake of getting the 4cyl 4x4 for MPG and come up only 1-2 better then the V6, especially if you add 265's.
Don't believe the BS in the MPG thread of claims of over 20mpg in 4cyl 4x4s lifted and about 600lbs of armor. People like to exaggerate for some reason. There are a good number of threads of disappointed buyers who went with the 4cyl.

Base model will be fine. Anything else is addable down the road. The engine and drivetrain you're pretty much stuck with unless you want to fork over major $$$$.

 

Yeah I will definitely get the 4x4. Sounds like the base model will definitely suit my needs. I will definitely be getting the manual as well. Most likely the 4-cyl. though, but if I wait for the 2016s I've have check out the new mpg numbers and see how they compare.

No problem on the derail regarding the regular cab. From everything I've read though, they will not be bringing that back...