Tacoma 4cyl vs 6 cyl

[SunFlower]

I have owned.....

1987 Toyota pickup 4x4 with 22R motor (4cyl)

2000 Ford F-150 with V8

2002 Tacoma with V6

2008 Tacoma with V6

2008 FJ with V6

My current truck is 2013 Tacoma 4x4 with 4cyl

After all of these trucks I have concluded that if you don't tow, the 4cyl is my preference for motor.

 

[ExploreNorthernBC]

sounds reasonable

 

[Nessmuk]

If your towing needs are around 2500 pounds or less, the 4 cylinder is still a good choice.

 

[Azazruk]

Just got done towing 3100 pounds from CA to NJ with a 4 cyl was a bit slow over the hills but averaged 19 mpg and with less power it kept me from getting tickets.

 

[brianjwilson]

"Kept me from getting tickets." I hope I never catch myself saying that and feeling ok about it. Haha

I felt like the stock v6 was barely adequate, so I supercharged it right away.

I feel great about the 4 cylinder in my wife's car, but it's a turbo diesel. I pulled a cargo trailer from KY to OR with it, 70-80mph towing at 30mpg. Why even get a truck with a four cylinder? That's just me though.

 

[Azazruk]

Haha thanks for the humor. Yes, not having capability to go much over the speed limit can get annoying at times and a super charged V6 sounds like one fun time. When a get that need for speed feeling I will take the bikes out for a while. The truck works as a good dependable utility vehicle and will get thru the dirt just fine.

 

[Nessmuk]

I suppose at close to 62 I find that the ability to cruise along at 80 on an interstate is enough. The 2.7L 5 speed is quick enough for me. Pulls my 6x10 cargo trailer into the mountains of West Virginia well enough too. The fact I had my 98 2.7 ,until I bought my 2015, without a single engine issue also factored into getting another 4cylinder.

 

[Stoffregen Motorsports]

"Kept me from getting tickets." I hope I never catch myself saying that and feeling ok about it.

You know you're a redneck if you've ever towed over 100 mph.

I guess I am lucky enough to have multiple vehicles, so I do my towing with a Cummins powered Dodge. But here in CA we need that kind of power to get up and over the mountains. There's a lot more to a truck than the motor though. Brakes and weight factor in too while towing.

I used to tow a race car with a Volvo 240 wagon so I do know where you're coming from. Limit the weight you will be towing to about 3000 lbs and any modern Toyota will do it.

 

[jim65wagon]

You know you're a redneck if you've ever towed over 100 mph.

I'm not a redneck yet! Close but not quite.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

 

[Greenbean]

2.7 is the way to go for me also.

Love the reliability, kind of nice not changing spark plugs every 30K miles either.

Nice SR you got there Nessmuk!

 

[Dances with Wolves]

When I lived in Florida a 4 banger was adequate. Now living in the west, there is no way it would work for me. Fully loaded with the AC on, my 4.0 struggles up a few passes. Out here in the oil patch on some of our highways(only 2 lane) doing under 65 mph will get you run over by a triple tanker. Those guys are in a big hurry.