4 vs 6 cylinders for a Taco

[duckear]

Newbie here, but lurking for some time.

I am considering a Taco for a new DD (1200 miles per month) and 'expedition' rig.

My 'expeditions' involve camping, hunting and fishing in nearby SE US states and camping/hunting out of my vehicle or using it as a base camp for hiking into hunting areas.

Not planning on any serious towing ( have a 3/4 ton Dodge and 1/2 Yukon XL for that!)

I am planning on getting a new or late model Taco in 4WD with a 5spd manual, but am torn on the 4 or 6 cylinder engine.

Is there a huge difference in performance? mileage? durability?
85% of the use will be highway/interstate at 60-70 mph, 10-12% in-town driving and 2-5% offroad

thanks in advance for your insights

[98sr5]

get the 6 i got one get around 17 city and probably 20/21 highway if im really lucky but the power is definately worth it i think the 4 is off by like 1 or 2 mpg higher. the engines are both good

[shahram]

I had the 2.7L, 4 cyl. in my '95 Taco and it was a great engine. Very very reliable, it has a timing chain vs. the timing belt in the V6, marginally more efficient, and frankly, I didn't notice any lack of pep, especially with a manual transmission.

[RHINO]

from what i see there is only a marginal gain in MPG for the 4 over the 6, and not having driven a 4 i cant compare power, but the 6 is nothing impressive, at least not mine. i'd say if you dont plan on any towing go with the 4 and manual.

[NILLIN]

I drive a 2006 2.7L Access Cab. I freakin' love my truck. I've also driven the 4.0L, and consider there to be a substantial difference in power, and a moderate one in efficiency, if ExPo members' reports are compared to mine. I've seen 27 mpg from an all-highway tank.

The only time I personally want for power is when driving over mountain passes. Also, I worry how the weight I'd like to add in modifications will carry as it adds up.

Ask yourself if you're the type of person who could be disappointed by a great, super reliable motor that just needs to be worked a bit harder. As I said, I love my truck, but there is room behind the wheel of the 05+ 4-cyl for disappointment if you like to get places real quick.

[Streakerfreak]

Is this for an 05+ or a pre-05? If this is for an 05+ then go with a V6. Remember the new Tacos are much bigger. Back in March 07 I first bought a used 4cyl 05 Taco. It turned out to be a big mistake when dealing with getting on a highway, mountain travel, and heavy hauling. Within a week I was regretting it. I knew I would be very limited with the 4 banger as I out grew it's capabilities. Luckily, I knew the dealer well enough to have them do an even trade for an 07 V6 Taco. I regret nothing now. I hated the 4cyl, but I love the V6.

[Nullifier]

I have a gen 1 tacoma (96-04) with a 2.7 and love it. It is a good match for my truck even with the 33" tires, armour, and gear. However if I was out for a newer Gen 2 tacoma (05+), I would not buy the 4cyl. The little engine will just not handle the newer trucks added size and wieght when you build it up with bumpers, winches, larger tires, fuel gear etc. THe new 4.0 V6 is a great motor for that truck and is the only motor to get imo.

[Jacket]

Welcome Duckear. You know, yours is one of those questions where the responses will be evenly divided. Obviously you should be sure and test drive both engines both in city travel, and on the highway and see what you think. They are both great engines, and if you plan to keep the truck close to stock, and don't tend to drive with a heavy pedal, then the 4 cyl could be a good choice. I don't know what the real world mpg difference is between the two engines, but I have to assume you'd get a few more mpgs out of a 4cyl/5spd than the V6.

[kcowyo]

Back in March 07 I first bought a used 4cyl 05 Taco. It turned out to be a big mistake....

Luckily, I knew the dealer well enough to have them do an even trade for an 07 V6 Taco.

You traded a used 2005 4 banger straight across for 2007 V6....? :Wow1:

Do you have pictures of the dealer in a compromising position with a barnyard animal or something?


To the OP, I've never heard a V6 owner complain they had too much power or poor mpg's compared to a 4 cylinder. I like the 4 cylinder's but they are easy to outgrow if you have big plans down the road.
.

[Streakerfreak]

You traded a used 2005 4 banger straight across for 2007 V6....? :Wow1:

Do you have pictures of the dealer in a compromising position with a barnyard animal or something?
.

Alright let me correct that. I was not clear, lol. What I meant to say is while the price was higher, I did not have to do a down payment. They just put my down payment the week before to my new 07 Taco. So basically after new paper work I just switched the trucks. They were able to work with the bank to clear things up.

[Rallyroo]

Alright let me correct that. I was not clear, lol. What I meant to say is while the price was higher, I did not have to do a down payment. They just put my down payment the week before to my new 07 Taco. So basically after new paper work I just switched the trucks. They were able to work with the bank to clear things up.

Ah, that makes sense now.

[snipecatcher]

If you for some reason decide to go with the 4 banger, BE SURE it has proper gearing, unless you plan on replacing them anyways. Mine had 3.58 gears, and I absolutely hated it. That truck left a bad taste in my mouth when it comes to the 2.7. It also seems that the 2.7 idles a bit rougher than a 3.4. I have a pretty heavy right foot, and I consistently get better gas mileage in my current V6 than I ever did with the 4 cylinder. I honestly don't know why people buy them anymore, the V6 has just as good a track record as the I4, more power, and gets about the same mileage.
-Dan

[Brian894x4]

If I was buying a vehicle as a long term investment now, I'd be very concerned about fuel prices and where they are going.

There's also the potential for higher taxes, fuel guzzler taxes or use taxes on SUVs, trucks and other vehicles with V-6 or V-8 engines. I'm definately not agreeing any of that is a good idea, but we're seeing things like that be tested in my part of the country and it's pretty scary.

Gas prices are headed to $4/gallon now or higher and all that considered, I'd want a rig that got the best mileage possible, while still having at least adequate power.

That said, I drove a 22RE truck for years with only 100 h.p. and 2.5 tons of weight adn I hated it, but it never kept me from going anywhere I wanted to go in the end. My FZJ80 makes a lot more power, with even more weight it's much more enjoyable to drive, but definately not to gas up. I'm renting a 4Runner for the weekend and the power from the 4.0 V-6 is just incredible, but I'm only getting about 16 mpg in combined highway/forest road driving.

I have a feeling the 4 cylinder model could be worth its weight in gold if prices go higher. The problem is, for all we know, oil prices could crash down too. So, in the end, it's all a gamble. But we do where the odds are at least.

[Rallyroo]

I have a feeling the 4 cylinder model could be worth its weight in gold if prices go higher. The problem is, for all we know, oil prices could crash down too. So, in the end, it's all a gamble. But we do where the odds are at least.

Oil prices crash down? I wish for it to happen, but I doubt oil prices will ever drop down to say the days of $2/gal, $1/gal, etc.

[cruiseroutfit]

Having driven plenty of both I can surely feel the power difference, if you really don't notice it you must not drive like I do :D Seriously though, both are great motors, solid engineering, very reliable relative to similar offerings, and decent economy wise. I've never owned a 4cyl Taco so I can't compare the long term fuel economy with the 6 cyl. trucks I've had. A member of the Wasatch Cruisers is a factory trainer for Toyota, a die-hard Cruiserhead and extremely well versed in Toyota's as a whole... he once told me that the 5VZFE was likely one of the best motors Toyota ever produced, just a solid motor... I couldn't agree more.

I spend alot of time in my FJ40 too, its got the I6 and while it has gobbs of torque and decent power, it really lacks the "get up and haul" that I have come to love with my Tacomas... could I live without it, sure... I did for years DD'ing an old FJ40, but in the end I wouldn't choose the 4cyl over the 6cyl based on a minor cost savings??

[musicmaan]

I drive a '98 TTac with the 4banger, and I gotta tell ya, I love it. I run a shell with a rack, tire, and lights on top, and so it acts like a bit of a wind shovel on the highway, and is a dog on the hills, but pull the shell off and there's enuff power to get around. I have never figured out the mileage, but with all the shat hangin off my truck I don't think it would be all that great anyways. If you plan on keeping your truck fairly clean, I would highly recomend the 4 cyl. I have driven the 6 cyl TTac, and yes it has more low end power, but if you aren't hauling or towing anything, I wouldn't get it. I just purchased a '2000 6 cyl 4Runner for the wifey, and I'm not yet convinced the six is a better engine. Good luck with the purchas... either way, it's a Toyota.... can't go wrong with that!!!

MM

[Brian894x4]

Oil prices crash down? I wish for it to happen, but I doubt oil prices will ever drop down to say the days of $2/gal, $1/gal, etc.

Well, a couple things could crash oil prices or at least bring them down. One would a world wide recession which limits demand. Two would be discoveries of additional oil reserves that are easy to reach, or use of current local discoveries that we haven't drilled for yet. Three would be peace in the middle east, or at least more stability and a new regime in Venzualia, or at least stabililty. Four would be a crash in China and India's economy that reduces their demand.

Lesser thought off possibliities that could bring prices down is dramatic increase in refinery capacity and also a single national blend of fuel for all 50 states, that could be legally used in all 50 states and every single gas station in the country.

Of course, a betting person would be wise to assume high prices are here to stay and will likely go higher in the future, but I've played the prediction game many times and have been proven wrong, so I've learned to look at all possibilities.

Sorry for the hi-jack. Getting back to the topic, for me, it would depend on the vehicle's use. My FZJ80 is a horrible gas guzzler, but it's a recreational vehicle only, so I can choose not to drive it. If I were buying a commuter, I'd be far more concerned about gas prices and gas mileage.

[asteffes]

duckear,

The 4 cylinder might work out just fine if you don't add a lot of weight to your truck. The extra heft of a bumper, winch, larger tires, second battery, camper shell, in-bed camping quarters, etc., will really hurt your fuel economy when used as a daily driver.

[preacherman]

Oil prices crash down? I wish for it to happen, but I doubt oil prices will ever drop down to say the days of $2/gal, $1/gal, etc.

I live out here in the oil field in the middle of one of the largest oil production areas in North America (west texas). Several of my friends are high up in the oil industry one even is a big wig analyst for an oil company. They say (and I am inclined to believe them) that barring any major event (like we figure out by next week how to make gas out of water) oil will most likely never go back down below the $3 range (give or take 15-20 cents). While $100 a barrel in not here to stay $75+ is.

[duckear]

thanks for all the comments.

Right now, i am looking at some used Tacos....mostly 6's but the $$ saved will buy a lot of gas to make up for the difference in mpg.

[DaveInDenver]

I wouldn't trade my 22R-E for anything. It's slow, but so what? It is soooo easy to work under the hood when the engine is not shoehorned in there. Not to mention that headers cost half as much (there's only one!) over a V6, doing a head gasket or having the head ported is cheaper (there's only one!), there's room for stuff like a compressor under the hood.

Power is perfectly sufficient (and the 3RZ-FE is head and shoulders above the 22R-E on that) in my 5,200 lbs truck at 5,280' AMSL and I still get 20~22MPG in all highway driving. Yeah, the passes on the Interstate are slow. Big whoop, traffic is so bad anymore that you can't do the speed limit anyway. Sit back, relax, chat on the ham, listen to some tunes, take in the world as you're passed by all the wound-up, stressed out, gotta be-gotta go people rush to where ever they are going.

But you may not agree since it's a whole life philosophy I got going. My slow, aging truck is an integral part of that as both a way to force me to slow down and catharsis due to the hobby of turning wrenches. A lot of people like driving vehicles with tons of power, but me I'm happy just bouncing along at 60MPH and enjoying the trip.

[Martinjmpr]

I live out here in the oil field in the middle of one of the largest oil production areas in North America (west texas). Several of my friends are high up in the oil industry one even is a big wig analyst for an oil company. They say (and I am inclined to believe them) that barring any major event (like we figure out by next week how to make gas out of water) oil will most likely never go back down below the $3 range (give or take 15-20 cents). While $100 a barrel in not here to stay $75+ is.

I'm sure it seems that way now but I also remember when gas hit $1/gallon back in the late 70s and we were assured it would never go down below that level. Yet, almost 20 years later I purchased gas for under $1/gallon on numerous occasions between about 1997 and 2002. Just saying that making predictions like that is a fools game - you never really know what trends are going to come down the pike to change consumption rates.

[Bergger]

I currently have an 03 with the V6. I drove a 95 2.7 Tacoma for 8 years prior to buying my current truck. As already mentioned both are outstanding motors. I loved that 4 cyl but I simply out grew the regular cab 4cyl so I moved up to the V6 dbl cab. Living in Colorado and going up to the mountains alot the 4 cyl did okay but you definitely felt the lack of power as compared to the V6. Especially if the truck was loaded or towing. If you plan on towing at altitude or carrying a lot of weight I'd go for the V6. The marginal mpg benefit of the 4 cyl does not out weight the power benefit of the V6 IMO.

[Cackalak Han]

I drove a 96 Tacoma 4-cyl 5-sp for a couple of years a while back. Great motor and transmission (BTW, if you do get a 4-cyl, you MUST get the 5-sp. I cannot even imagine how slow an auto would be with the 4 banger). However, if I was carrying a load at all, it could definitely be felt. Since then, I've only gotten V6's (went to a supercharged 98 4Runner. Wow, what a difference! :D), then an 02 4Runner and now a V6 Tacoma. Even the 3.4L V6's aren't the most powerful engines, and compared to my friend's 4.0L V6, it's definitely the underdog. However, it gets the job done. I have sufficient power to pass going up a mountain pass, merging onto the highway and hauling whatever I need without feeling like the engine is wringing its last bit of power out. I would never go back to an I4. Also, I get 21MPG on the highway with a shell.

[Lok47]

I drive a 1999 2.7 5 speed TRD Extended cab and it has done everything I have asked of it. It's my daily driver and I get 21 mpg in town/highway. My driving usually consists of a mix of in town/70+ mph highway/rush hour traffic.

I haul a motorcycle and gear to Tucson and get 19 mpg cruising at 75 + mph. It's reliable and efficient. If you're coming from a V8 or V6s, it's going to be a tad on the slow side. When I went up to Flagstaff, it wasn't able to climb the mountain like a V6/V8 equipped truck, but a downshift took care of that issue.

If you can deal with that, it's the best compromise of efficiency and capability that is available on the market.

I have no regrets opting out for the 2.7 over the 3.4.