The Rusty Gear

Anyone have one of these? Are they any less "peppy" than my '88 with the 3.0?

I'm looking at buying a 3rd gen and was wondering if I should pass over any 4 cylinder (they seem unusually cheep ie $6k less than a V6)

lee

runners with the 2.7 are less money because they generate less power and can pull less weight. but theyre known to be good engines.

Phisherman

I have one and it's got more pep than the 3.0. I think somebody just bought a 3rd Gen w/a 3.4 off eBay for like $6,600 USD. I would look for something like that before you get the 4 cyl.

AznSky

schaeffer and casey have the 2.7

tulsa_97SR5

I looked for several months to find a 4wd 3rd gen with 5spd & 4cyl. It's plenty of motor for how I drive. I would have to drive a 4cyl auto to know for sure, but I'm pretty sure I'd pass on that combo. I'm very pleased with mine FWIW.

The Rusty Gear

Is the drivetrain different between the 4cyl and V6? I know with my first gen the V6 had bigger front brakes, rear diff etc.

kevin444

The 4cyl auto is pretty slow. A 5spd 4cyl could probally catch up to a v6 auto during take off and just pull it through in the low end.

paranoidandroid

HEY! i have a 4cyl auto, and its not that slow. ok ok, so it is compared to my prelude before...and it cant tow anything...and wind resistance really plays a factor when going up hills....try getting the manual in my opinion..

i still love my runner though. the engine itself is pretty peppy. its the auto transmission that REALLY doesnt enable the power.

kevin444

I also had a 4cyl auto before it struggles on slight inclines.

bflooks

i have a 98 4runner with the 3rz/5spd combo. the bigger brakes comes with the bigger wheels. mine came stock with the 16" wheels, and as a result, the 4.56 gear ration. the auto does not have that choice in gearing (or so i dont think). with out these gears, i feel it would be a dog! but, i do 95% highway driving, and until i hit some mountains, i can pull along with traffic in 5th at speeds as low as 50mph. also, i am getting 21mpg and that is cruising at abut 80mph! i have 119,000 on it now, and it still runs strong. i love the 3rz, and for me, it is exactly the right amount of truck for my lifestyle. don't get me wrong, you aren't winning races, but if you want reliability, and decent mileage, the 3rz is it. just make sure you have the proper gears for you size wheels you have!

pfbmgd

I love my 2.7 .I bought it to carry my hockey gear .I drive 90% highway to work . I get on average 24 mpg . I don`t tow so who cares about towing .Getting on the highway no problem .It may not accelerate like a porche but I have no trouble keeping up with traffic. Getting from 100km/hr to say 125 km/hr takes a downshift and a bit of time .But once there no problem keeping the speed . I found putting in 89 octance the runner goes up highway inclines much better than with 87 . I also noticed that power is slightly up . If you tow stay away .

sschaefer3

The 2.7 comes with a Dana 44 front axle.



I guess V6's only come in IFS.

pfbmgd

Jealous of Schaefer .

Nice runner !

Beartracker

Wow, I think some of these answers are really funny. I have owned nothing but 4x4 all my life and I'm 58 years old. Had Dodoge power wagons, Trail dusters, GMC Chev suburbuns, big and small engines . My Tacoma 4x4 2.7 auto will go anywhere they would go . Keep in mind that there are allot of people out there who don't even know how to drive a 4x4 with an auto tranny. For some reason some people believe that you you only have two gears , drive and reverse, Lol. They forget about 1st and 2nd. It also pulls a trailer with no problem at all. It won't pull it as fast up hill as a 6 banger but it will do it. As for climbing hills I drive mountains all day long every day here in south central WV and it sails up a down these hills without grunting.
Off road it does great also and I think it would climb a rock wall in low range 4x4.
No problem getting up to speed on the expressway either and I can set the cruise on 70 and sit back and relaxe.
Please guy's don't underestimate the 2.7 . The 2.7 4 cyl Toyota is also known to be one of the longest lasting engines of any engine manufactured.
If your looking for a truck to lay rubber everytime you take off the 2.7 aint it. If you want reliabilty and power enough to get the job done , good gas milage then the Tacoma 2.7 is the truck.