Ok, if you read my other post, my commuter is a 92 honda accord. Great car that gets me A-B. But every time I want to take the motorcycle out or explore a backroad, I have to steal the 4runner from my wife...and she complains.

Why do I want one?
-A bed to haul the KDX200
-4wheel drive
-4cyl with stickshift
-A vehicle to make a man machine (the accord is not so manly..)
-something to explore the backroads without getting the question..."where have you been".


Are there any major issues with the tacoma 4cyl and standard gearbox? I would say I picked the 4runner because it has a history of reliability and made in Japan. I don't know if any of that is true for the Tacoma......

So, am I crazy?

 

Why would you be crazy? There are times I wish I still had my '97 Extended cab 2.7L 4 banger. They are great trucks...

 

Hey dude, 2.7 is a great engine and the 5spd's behind it are great as well...
you can get a reg cab or x-cab (if ure over 6 ft, id suggest a x-cab) they're nice trucks.... go for it!

 

Just don't buy any Tacoma older than 2004. That was the last year that the real Tacomas came off the line. 2.7 4x4 with auto or stick will treat you right. Mike

 

Did you mean "newer"?

W4R - I might go as far as considering an older pickup with the 22re. I had an 87 5spd that covered exactly what you described. It was fun, reliable, got very decent gas mileage (for a 4x4) and would go just about anywhere stock. Even towed my VMAX around in the bed, that was a 600lb bike.

 

Ant Yota 4x4 or 2wd is great you will not be dissapointed. They will do anything.

 

Whatever...have you driven an '05+ Tacoma? Try the power of the 4.0 and you won't look back.

 

I have driven two '05 Doublecab 4x4's, one was auto, one was stick.

I hated the auto, it really "searched" for the right gear, the stick is the way to go!

NO DOUBT, the 4.0 is awesome but, I wasn't real impressed with the size deal, might as well buy a "fullsize" truck, and the price is RETARDED!

I missed out on a real nice '02 Doublecab 4x4 that was converted to a 5spd manual and had a 4" lift with 33's about a year ago, oh well, life is full of regrets!

 

I have been looking for almost the same. Just as with the 4Runners, do NOT get the 3.0 V6. I am looking at a few 93-95 trucks and 96-00 Tacoma's. All 4-cyl 5 speed. The 4 bangers (2.4L - 2.7L) are all great engines and easier to work on than our V6's. I mtn bike and hunt a lot, so I need something that I can just throw my muddy/dirty stuff in without worrying about messing up the carpet or stinking up the interior on the way home.

 

Crazy? Not at all. Get one. Lock it. Armor it. And take it just about anywhere. Especially for what you described as your uses, it will be more than adequate. I know the 22re better but Edmunds shows MPG at 20/24-25 for a 2.7 equipped 4runner. They don't have the EPA info on Tacoma's for some reason, but it should be the same or better for the lighter truck. Keep it stock and enjoy the simplicity, efficiency, and reliability for years. Check this out as an example (although with a V6):
https://www.yotatech.com/forums/f144...aefer3-104081/

 

Well the Tacoma is not made in Japan. I'd say the pre-95.5 trucks are stronger overall, better leaf springs, fully boxed frame, and I'm not sold on the Tacoma rack and pinion steering for a 4x4 but maybe that's just me. On the 4 cyl Tacoma they seem like great engines, about the only problem that sticks out to me is the exhaust manifold seems to crack/break on a lot of guys. There is a racing team over on customtacos that runs the 4 cyl engine drag racing and it is very fast.

 

"real tacomas"??

damn fastkevman that avatar looks horrible! what has toyota come to!

 

11db, Lol, sorry about that and yes I did mean don't buy anything "newer" than 04.
In 05 the composite beds were coming apart, paint was falling off, tail gates were bending just from sitting on it or loading a bike and many other problems.
If you want speed and thats all you care about then the 4.0 is the way to go. If you dependability off or on road then the 2.7 Toyota engine can not be beat no matter how hard some of them try and they are faster and have more power then some would want you to believe. Cruising down the freeway at 80 mph. is no problem. I buried my SP one night and it was still climbing. Off road in low range 4x4 it wants to climb a wall and has the power to take you just about anywhere in standard 4x4. Mike

 

2.7 with the 5speed has been great to me , even though i am a 4runner I still love the engine.

I have a friend that is considering selling his taco. 2000, 2.7 4wd, 5speed, regular cab. 120k miles. It has OME 881's on Bilsteins with AAL in rear and spring-over shocks in rear. So if your interested in something like that, just pm me and i will send you his way. And he is in memphis tennessee

 

Here's that racing team's videos, they are using the Tacoma 2rz-fe engine in a Celica with a few mods
http://www.paradiseracing.com/media.htm

 

Yeah that motor is amazing 300,000 Miles is not unheard of

 

you could just get a trailer for your dirt bike...