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]

yeah

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 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??