Tacoma engine?

ArlyA · Jul 17, 2017

We'll be traveling to a town with a Toy dealership for the weekend. I'm still trying to get the sales person to response so as we can test drive a plain jane truck with a manual and auto transmissions. I'll report back if that happens. Nonetheless, everyone's comments have been very helpful.

RoyJackson · Jul 17, 2017

ArlyA said:
We'll be traveling to a town with a Toy dealership for the weekend. I'm still trying to get the sales person to response so as we can test drive a plain jane truck with a manual and auto transmissions. I'll report back if that happens. Nonetheless, everyone's comments have been very helpful.

Just an FYI... Toyota doesn't sell a standard cab Tacoma anymore...just the extended cabs and crew cabs. I wouldn't be too surprised if there are no Tacomas with a manual transmission on the lot, either.

ArlyA · Jul 17, 2017

We are getting the access cab. I learned today that the dealer we planed to visit has sold all the 2.7 powered ones they had. Oh well.

dfkrug · Jul 17, 2017

RoyJackson said:
Just an FYI... Toyota doesn't sell a standard cab Tacoma anymore...
just the extended cabs and crew cabs. I wouldn't be too surprised if there are no Tacomas with a
manual transmission on the lot, either.

And, the "Xtra cab" has 4 doors, tho they are smaller than the crew cab's 4 doors.

I heard that manual trans sales in the US are now down to 4% of units sold. I buy only
manual tranny vehicles, but I can see clear advantages to ATs if you tow heavy trailers.

Most folks don't change the oil in their trannies, prob cuz the owners manuals usually
specify no change interval. With an AT, changing oil is hard, but doing it every 50-75K
miles can make a world of difference in its lifespan.

dfkrug · Jul 17, 2017

ArlyA said:
We are getting the access cab. I learned today that the dealer we planed to
visit has sold all the 2.7 powered ones they had.

My Tacoma is my only car (of dozens) that I bought new. The dealer told me you can not order
exactly what you want. Turns out, not true, according to folks at the factory I visited shortly after
the purchase.

Order exactly what you want, if you have the patience. Dealers want to sell you what they have,
even if it is the wrong color, or loaded up with all sorts of crap you don't want.

ArlyA · Jul 18, 2017

We are getting the base model and the dealerships near us do seem to stock them. The one we were communicating with and planed to visit, seems to have sold there plain innovatory off. At this point we are getting the SR version with the access cab, 4wd with the 2.7 engine. Since the automatics are getting the same fuel mileage as the manuals, I've become indifferent to either one, but the autos do cost more. Hardly care about the color. Do note that we don't stay up and night worrying about fuel mileages.

dfkrug said:
My Tacoma is my only car (of dozens) that I bought new. The dealer told me you can not order
exactly what you want. Turns out, not true, according to folks at the factory I visited shortly after
the purchase.

Order exactly what you want, if you have the patience. Dealers want to sell you what they have,
even if it is the wrong color, or loaded up with all sorts of crap you don't want.

dfkrug · Jul 18, 2017

If you don't care about gas mileage, the current 4-liter V6 is very smooth and powerful. But
the Taco is a big and heavy truck now, so don't expect to see even 20mpg. The 2.7 I-4
is very popular among those who want better mileage. The 2.7 is actually more powerful
than the 3.0 V6 that I had in my old '89 Toyota 4x4, my most reliable vehicle of all I have owned.

RoyJackson · Jul 18, 2017

dfkrug said:
If you don't care about gas mileage, the current 4-liter V6 is very smooth and powerful. But
the Taco is a big and heavy truck now, so don't expect to see even 20mpg.

Got to disagree with you...mostly highway, I'm seeing 21-22 MPG. Mixed, 19-20 MPG
This is in a 2016 Crew Cab V-6, automatic (6 speed).

I will say fuel economy when the truck had <15K miles wasn't as good as it is today with 25K miles.

dfkrug · Jul 18, 2017

RoyJackson said:
Got to disagree with you...mostly highway, I'm seeing 21-22 MPG. Mixed, 19-20 MPG
This is in a 2016 Crew Cab V-6, automatic (6 speed).

My statement is based on "real MPG" #s quoted by Motor Trend, as well as anecdotes from friends. One has a
'15 with V6 AT, "Prerunner" 2WD 4D Xtracab, and he rarely gets over 20MPG on a tank.

You did not say if you had 2WD or 4x4, Roy.

"Your mileage will vary", or so they say. A couple of times I got 25MPG in my 3.4V6
4x4 Taco, but usually it is 19-21 all-around.

RoyJackson · Jul 19, 2017

dfkrug said:
You did not say if you had 2WD or 4x4, Roy.

My Tacoma is 4x4...

Of course, a lot of it is how one drives...I don't get on it often. I've also found the 6 speed auto gets a bit better fuel economy at 71-73 MPH (less downshifting at that speed). Shifting down to 5th or (rarely) 4th on secondary roads helps too...again, less downshifting.

dfkrug · Jul 19, 2017

BTW, the new-for-2005 4.0 liter V6 is heaps better than the 3.4 it replaces. More
power, smoother-running, and better MPG to boot. I really like the oil filter on
top, like BMWs.

Changing oil on my 3.4 is a PITA.

Around here, any used Toyota pickup will sell very easily, esp if it has a 4-cyl engine.
Construction and landscape workers just love them.

ArlyA · Jul 19, 2017

We are only looking at ones with the 2.7 engine.

ArlyA · Jul 24, 2017

Again! On Tuesday we are heading to a dealership to test drive the manual and auto tranny in a 2.7 Tacoma. This is at a different dealership and all these are 2+ hour drive from us. Is anyone interested? We can post photos and test drive impressions.

Hope everyone's summer had been nice! (northern hemisphere)

arrow · Jul 24, 2017

You want this one http://media.caranddriver.com/image...ightning-inline-6-photo-450614-s-original.jpg

bp fick · Jul 25, 2017

I have had my Tacoma, 4 dr, PreRunner, with 2.7L for two years now. It's been a flawless, if not exciting, performer. Mileage is excellent given the size, weight, wind resistance, etc with 20 in mixed and 24 on steady secondary state highways where the speed limit of 60-65 helps the economy.

The tail ends on Toyotas are notorious soft for off road performance, which I do not do. But, when towing a small camper and the box loaded, the headlights point too far upward. The was an easy fix with an Add-A-Leaf bundled into the rear spring stack. One and done.

Our little Ford Escape with the 2.0 Ecoboost can run circles around it, get better mileage and has 100 more ponies and 100 more ft pounds of torque. I mention this only because if Toyota would have offered a boosted engine in this Tacoma it would have made it a superior driving experience in every way.

Neither the Tacoma nor current, aged Frontier can compete with the cutting edge stuff coming from Ford or GM for that matter, but I am a committed 75% of "full size" truck guy. Flat out the Tacoma is already as big or bigger than my F trucks of the 70's and 80's. What will my next truck be? It's not likely built yet, so we'll wait and see what the future brings.

ArlyA · Jul 25, 2017

Well gee, guys. Thanks for the input. We test drove the 2.7 with both transmissions today and "ordered" the manual one. Both they had were the brilliant white color but we thought it was just to *&%@#* bright, so they're getting one in from another dealership that's gray in color.

Thanks to you everyone for the comments. :thumbsup:

TomSeller · Jul 26, 2017

ArlyA said:
Well gee, guys. Thanks for the input. We test drove the 2.7 with both transmissions today and "ordered" the manual one. Both they had were the brilliant white color but we thought it was just to *&%@#* bright, so they're getting one in from another dealership that's gray in color.

Thanks to you everyone for the comments. :thumbsup:

Congratulations! I was in the market for a used Taco a few months back and thought the 2.7 was the best choice and was what I wanted. I ended up with a used pristine FJ and the Toyota 4.0, also a very good engine.

ArlyA · Aug 16, 2017

Tacoma in the garage

Hey folks, Yesterday one silver (they call it cement) SR model showed up here. Thanks to all who posted with their experience using them.