Tacoma decisions

Lately I have been looking to replace my 2002 Tacoma SR5 X-Cab. I have an '89 Coleman Sequoia tent trailer that we pull ocassionally which is about 1,200 to 1,500lbs. My old Tacoma was a 2.4 4cyl and I mostly used it for commuting. It did OK as a tow vehicle for the trailer but steep hills were a problem.

Should I look for a V6? I have heard that the V6 doesn't get great gas mileage. Is the newer 2.7 4cyl better and more powerful than the earlier 2.4 4 cyl engines? The newer Tacomas are bigger than my old one and seem to be heavier as well. Does the extra weight negate the increase in displacement?

I drove a 2014 Tacoma Access Cab with a 2.4 4cyl and an auto trans and it seemed like a slug, and that was totally empty. I just drove a new one today at Toyota of SM with a 2.7 4 cyl and a five speed. It seemed a little snappier.

(The Toyota salesman told me that the 2016 retooled model will NOT include a base model Tacoma, only PreRunners and 4x4s. Has anyone else heard that?)

The base model Access Cabs aren't available with a V6. You can only get the V6 in the PreRunner and 4x4 models. The 4x4s are way too expensive and I'd never use it. Plus, they are heavier and would use more fuel. The PreRunner is only available with an auto trans.

So I guess my choice seems to be a base model Access Cab with a 2.7 4cyl + manual 5 speed (similar to what I had before), or a PreRunner with a V6 and auto trans.

I used to be really against the auto trans models but I guess I could live with one.
What kind of gas mileage could I expect with the V6 Tacoma? It might be nice someday to get a solid-wall trailer instead of the tent trailer, and the 4 cyl couldn't pull anything more than the tent trailer.

But... We don't take the tent trailer out much anymore so it might not be such a big deal. My wife's Camry has a V6 and won't get the gas mileage that her Corolla got, so I probably should look to the 4 cyl to save gas...

I'm going to primarily use the truck as a commuter to and from work, and to ocassionally haul my kayak to the mountains, as well as pull my tent trailer from time to time.

Thanks in advance for the advice,

Jeff

 

Buy what you want and need, if not you'll regret it. Id go with the v6 if you want to get a bigger camper. Couple guys I talk to get 20 in summer and 18 in winter. Stock, 4wd, auto

 

I'm a 1st gen, 4wd, 265s, 5spd. 18 - 22 my sister has a 2010 auto, probably 25 to 26. Feels more powerful than mine.

 

As far as the 2016 not having a base model, that is true. They got rid of the 5lug "lowrider" drive train entirely. So now all 4x2 models have the same suspension height, in essence making them all PreRunners.

If you are very concerned about fuel economy and you can wait, you should wait until the specs for the 2016's come out in the next couple months. The 4cyl will be the same but it will be getting a 6 speed auto which will bump up the economy and the responsiveness compared to the current 4 speed auto. However, production on 2015's is going to stop "soon" as toyota switches to 2016 models so whatever stock is out there will dwindle and might start to limit your options on 2015's.

 

No...

 

Thanks for the replies. I will probably buy one that is a year or two old, and try to find a deal, on either a V6 Pre or a base model 5 speed Access Cab. I don't really care about color but I don't want black or grey. I just can't believe how much they have gone up in price. I paid $17,000 for my '02 2x4 SR5 X-Cab out the door brand new in '02, and then spent another $1,100 on a color-matched Snug Top shell. It was a good truck until some bimbo woman rear ended me in May on my 50th birthday. I was sitting at a stop light in town and she hit me at about 35mph and didn't hardly brake. Geico totalled it and gave me almost $10,000. It had 135,000 miles and didn't even burn oil. The only thing that ever went out on it was the clutch switch that disables the starter if the clutch isn't fully disengaged. I thought the starter was going out and replaced it, only to find that the actual problem was a $20 electrical part. I'm still in PT, with a fractured vertabrea in my lower back. When will this nightmare end?

 

I swore I included that it is a 5 lug

 

I think it would be nearly impossible to find a V6 manual PreRunner with low mileage. I've been looking online and haven't seen any... yet.

I just today drove a new V6 auto PreRunner at the local Toyota dealer. It was nice, but felt big and heavy, and was almost $30,000! More than I want to spend. I'm glad I got to drive it though. I don't really need a 'lifted' truck. I've had two different 4x4s in the past and hardly EVER used the 4x4. Once or twice off road, and once or twice in the snowy Sierras. I think that the 5 lug base truck would be fine for me. The 4x4s just had a lot more maintenance with additional fluids, etc. Plus, the raised suspension would be difficult to get in and out of for me, and the bigger tires would no doubt be more expensive to purchace when the time comes to replace them.

I guess now it comes down to a base 5 lug 2.7 I4 with either the 5 speed or an auto. My Coleman Sequoia tent trailer has a GVWR of 1995 lbs. The Toyota service dept said that either trans would pull it equally well. They didn't have a preference.

 

The reason you buy a pre runner is it's less than a 4x4 but looks like one, not that it saves fuel. The consumption is identical as what kills the economy in these trucks is the wind drag and the taller pre runner with more exposed tire makes a difference.

That said I get a solid 18 average in my 4x4. 21 isn't hard to get if I do the speed limit. I imagine if Toyota put the V6 in the 5 lug it and geared it right 25 mpg wouldn't be hard at all, too bad they don't.

 

Does the 2.7 4 cyl have similar power / mileage in the PreRunner compared to the base 5 lug models? (I know that the PreRunner is a little heavier and taller than the base trucks. How much would that affect the mileage? I've heard that the PreRunner has a stiffer suspension which might be better for towing the tent trailer, but I think i'd still rather have the higher mileage 4 cyl than a V6. Less maintenance too.
Would a 4cyl/auto Prerunner be OK for towing a tent trailer with a GVWR of 1995 lbs? I think the V6 might be overkill for my needs. Plus, they seem to be a lot more expensive.

Thanks,

ONT-