I've been looking for used Tacos and ran across a '99 with virtually all I'm looking for in a small work truck. However, I've never owned a Toyota truck this generation. It has the 2.7L with an auto tranny. How does it compare to the 5spd MT in terms of performance/gearing, fuel economy, and reliability? Thanks!!!

 

If given the opportunity, I would always pick the manual transmission. I tow a lot, and a lot of times I tow HEAVY stuff. I like having direct hearing instead of hydraulic couplings.

 

Sometimes, especially with old used trucks, you've got to take what you can get. My ideal would be exactly what I've got: 3.4L with a manual tranny. But I'd be willing to settle for about anything in good shape and well maintained, depending on what I'm going to use it for. Like fierohink says, if you're going to tow, you're going want the 3.4, and the manual tranny is sure nice.

 

I already have 5.9L Dodge Ram for heavy towing. But, it sucks on gas, so it's all gets used for. My bigger focal point with getting a Tacoma is overall fuel economy, really, and the option to occasionally tow..... hence leaning towards the 2.7L. And, that '99 is super nice with a custom/one-off camper shell. But, I do wonder also about the AT. For instance, I drove a '92 4runner with an A340H for a lot of years. It kinda sucked in that it had a hard time with staying in 4th gear even unloaded. Seemed kind of tall. Moreover, the drop down from 4th to 3rd was quite abrupt even on mild hills and didn't use cruise control very much because of that. I just wondered if the AT's in these 2.7L Tacomas might be like that. (Then again, maybe the 3vze was just simply underpowered...haha)

Keeping options open, I'm also looking at '97 Tacoma regular cab with 3.4L and 5spd. It's in a little rougher shape and no camper shell, but it's half the price of that '99. I'm told the mpg's are less than 20 avg., so that's a bit of a deterrent

 

Sorry I've got zero experience with auto trannys.

The 3.0 was definitely underpowered.

Yes, the gas mileage is underwhelming on all these trucks. I've never done better than 19mpg highway.

 

Well I may be a day or two late here but my experience with the 2.7 and 5sp MT is that you'll be disappointed with the performance of the AT with that engine. My guess is it would be hunting for the right gear quite a bit in hilly terrain.

Manual mileage is about 25mpg imperial (about 21 US). I've had as high as 28mpg imperial (23US) and as low as 18mpg imperial (15 US).