Titan to Tacoma??

I have no problem getting on it and passing people on the highway. this truck is very responsive.
I just have the stock trd offroad wheels, 265-75-16 with about a 2" lift, I drive 80% highway and 20% city, my last three tanks were 19.2, 19.2, and 19.4

that is after changing my driving a little, started doing only 65 on the highway(compared to 70mph before), never cruising at over 2,000 RPMs. thats the best mpg mod I could have ever done to the truck.


my last taco that had 33" tires the best I got was 18.6, so it depends a lot on how you drive.

 

I usually get 16 mpg with my Tacoma (mixed driving, not aggressive), and I've heard people say thee Tundra's get about 15 MPG. Highest I have gotten is 18.5 highway with my Tacoma. I have not had direct experience with the Tundra, and don't know if you have, but I have heard that more than once on these forums. Anyway, I think the mileage on the Tacoma's is more in line with a full sized truck, not what you would expect from a mid-sized, and definitely not the 18-22 that was on the sticker of my '06.

With that in mind, I think the OP would spend more than he saves if he sold his Titan for a Tacoma.

 

From my experience, no full-size V8 truck on the market today gets better than 13-14 MPG's for daily driving around town. Realistically, they get about 12...you really have to take it easy on the throttle to get over 14. My point is that it is a lot of effort to achieve 15 MPG's in a V8 truck. If you drove your V6 Tacoma the same way, you'd get 20+.

 

I traded from an 05 Dodge Ram quad cab Hemi with the 20' wheels 2wd. For me it was for a number of reasons, mpg's was part of it but it's not a huge difference. I was averaging 14 mpg with the Ram and I am now getting 18.5 with the Taco. I do miss the Ram, I miss the power of course and I miss the interior space a little. The overall size is a double sided sword. I miss the big truck but I love being able to fit into a parking space with a lot more ease and can fit into my garage. But I must say that if my Ram had been a 4x4, I dont think I could have made myself do it. That was part of the reason to trade also. If I wasn't getting a 4x4 I wouldn't have traded. I have wanted the truck I have for a long time. Maybe you need to make a pros and cons list to help decide? I did this in my head and had way more pros than cons. But the big con for trading was the fact that my Ram was paid for. But on the other hand I probably wouldn't have been able to afford the Yota without the big trade in value. One more thing also in coming from the big truck, I feel like I'm in a sports car now, lol. As far as hauling, I haven't done much yet, but plan to buy a ultility trailer. Had that in mind when I went with the short bed. Good luck!

My pros for trading

Mpg's (plus the Hemi took mid grade)
Wanted a 4x4
Smaller
Bluetooth hands free
Eased our parking sitituation at home as I can now fit in the garage.
Reliability
Value
Tell tell signs that I was heading towards sinking money into repairs
Insurance is a little cheaper
Eased my temper/road rage on the road

Cons against

Ram was paid for (big one)
Miss the power
Miss the hauling/towing capacity
Miss my sunroof........thanks Toyota (for not offering one)

 

you guys also have to take into account(for fuel mileage) the fact that in a large truck the engine makes a huge difference.. just take this example of my old GMC... 96 Sierra extended cab.. only had a 305.. i put 33x12.5 tires on it, wide ass wheels, and a leveling kit.. i got 10MPG... now if this truck had a 350, i would have definately been pushing 14-15MPG... the Power:Weight ratio is a big one.. maybe not as much in newer, lighter, cheaper built, fuel infected vehicles.. but it is still a factor..

Oh yeah.. if youre looking for mileage.. the best ive done w. my truck was 18.9. worst was 16.5(driving like an asshole)... my girl took it and got 19.8 once and i hated her for it.

 

couple things that get ignored all the time, e-load tires, rotational mass, going to affect mpg, and yet people still cry about mpg afterwards...

if you're thinking about doing this trade for the mpg, it'll take what 10+years to start saving money...
if for other reasons then who cares...do it, whatever makes you happy.

 

I got anywhere between 18-21 highway on stock tires in highway mileage. Now I stay right around 18 with 265/75/16 Goodyear Duratracs. Haven't seen over 19 with them. Doesn't really bother me though.

 

Thanks all to some very sound advice. I do realize it'll take many years for the gas savings to make up the loss I'll take when trading in my Titan but...I've got my Titan where I want it, time to trade it in and start a new project, right?

Taking a look at a Tacoma tomorrow, we'll see how it goes.

 

good man! worse case gas goes back down go back to it !

 

Thanks. Trying to resist the 'impulse'. I did walk away from the 'deal' the other day. Was offered a 2011 DC TRD OR 6MT for $29K-ish (good deal) but only $19K trade in for my Titan (not so good of a deal). Still waiting for a call back but I don't suspect it will come...

 

Could not...resist...urge...

Sooo..out with the old:


and in with the new:



Looks like I have some work to do:

 

The Tacoma 6 speed is widely regarded as a poor choice. Do your research and you may end up with an auto.

Also, unless you get the 4 cylinder, the real world MPG is way less than 20. Unless you are doing 55-60 mph all day, which I don't consider real world. With winter blend, you can expect 15-16 mpg and summer is more like 17-18.

Just some things to think about.

 

Nice Taco and you picked the best color.

 

I went from a lifted '00 Tundra w/ 34" tires (14 mpg) to my current lifted '05 Tacoma w/ 33s (16 mpg) and I wouldn't go back. The mileage isn't great, but it's still better than it was & there's a noticeable difference @ the pump.

 

I'm just the opposite. I think I would prefer the size of a fullsize over the size of the Tacoma, and just take the small hit on mpg. I seem to have miscalculated the need for a bigger/deeper bed. Just two days ago, I was in another situation where I ran out of both depth and length with my bed, and this is a regular occurrence. If you're not hauling much, or carrying many people, the switch to a Tacoma makes sense.

Looks like to made the decisions already, congrats!

 

See pics above your post, deal is already done. Those photos were taken at the dealership during trade-in.

Regarding the 6 sp I'm sure it will be fine for me. I've owned auto's for the last several vehicles and miss being 'engaged' while driving. These forumns definately highlight any negatives one may experience with there car, aftermarket part, etc. For every vocal negative opinion on something there's usually 3 X's that who are quietly pleasantly satisfied.

In reference to MPG's, I'm not expexting 20+ all the time but I do know my driving style...every vehicle I've owned I've been able to surpass the factory suggested fuel consumrtion rate by several MPG's... when I choose to.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

I had an '05 6.0 LE Crew with everything but the cassette deck. Except for Vent Visors and a bug deflector, I kept it stock. From what I remember, I was getting about 16 mpg highway. It was a great truck and I NEVER had a problem with it. I traded it in, however, when gas spiked in 07 - get this - two days before it hit $4.00 in central Indiana. Drove an 07 Altima (32-34 mpg hwy) for 4 years and just got my Taco last month. Getting about 20 highway with the Toyota. Now, I really enjoy being back in a truck and the Tacoma rides as smooth as what I remember the Titan did. It's your call, but I would agree with the suggestion to drive the Titan until the 3rd gen Tacomas are out and reviewed. Then you will have more choices.

 

Congratulations on your new truck looks really good, and welcome to TW.

 

I'm still waiting for them to offer the 4.6 in the taco, I might have to wait a long time... To bad though because with a v8 in the taco it would have both power and somewhat good mileage because of the power ratio.

 

I had a 06 titan 4dr LE, i loved the truck for the most part, the rear axle locker went out, cost 3,500. then a month later i broke the front axle housing just messing around, fixed it myself for 950. after that i decided to sell it and get something better on gas and more reliable, overall i still miss the size of the cabin but thats about it. there drivetrain sucks, tough motor though. Heres a picture of both of them, just got the tires and wheels on the tacoma.