4cyl vs 6cyl

what are the total power differences. I was looking at an 02 Tacoma, short bed, 5 spd, 4WD, but the guy said it was a 4cyl. Would i have any trouble with that or is it really weak??

There is a significant differance in power....but, YOU should test drive both to determine for yourself.

If you can afford the V6...GET IT!

yea, i think last time i drove a V6 and i LOVED it. It had ALOT of power for a truck, i was amazed. Ill try the 4cyl, but im sure i wont like it as much as the 6. :smile:

I have a 96 tacoma 2.7 liter 4 cyl. I love it. Very peppy and it tows my 3000lbs boat. They also have a 2.4 liter 4 cyl. Absolute dog. V6 does have more power, but this little power house has met all of my needs.

I was an advocate for 4cyl Toyota engines, however I recently bought a Tacoma with a V6 and I love it. The power difference is very noticable especially on hills, where before I was pulling them and losing RPM now I can pull steep grades with power in reserve. One thing I can say is that the 2.7 4cyl motor has come along way from the 22R 4 cylinders. In fact the HP difference between a 2.7 and the older 3.0 V6 is like less than 5 HP. So either one will be sufficient.

I just pickedup a '99 2.7 4 cyl and like it a lot. I test drove both, noticed a bit of difference, but the 6 was about 2 grand more and got less gas milage. I guess it depends what you want the truck for but the 4 cyl has plenty of nuts to it to screw around with.

I prefer the V6 for power and economy. If you work the 2.7 hard, it will actually get WORSE gas mileage than the V6 under the same conditions. Buying the V6 makes more sense no matter how you stack it. If the $2k savings is that important in the short term then get the 4 cyl. But if you nut up for the V6, you WILL get that back at resale time. Same is true for the TRD package. There is a higher demand for the TRD package with the V6. A four cyl. is a poor choice speaking from an investment perspective.
HOWEVER!
You will not see many 6cyl motors in race trucks. (Toyotas, of course)
The 4cyl in race trim ROCKS! And it does not have the reliability issues that the V6s do.

V6 all the way baby

I personnaly have a v6, it is a great engine. great power, 5000lb towing capacity. I love it. however, the 4cyl is also a great engine, nobody does it like toyota either. first off you should find out if it is the 2.4 or 2.7L i wouldn't reccomend the 2.4L. second the 2.7L has more torque in the low end than the 3.4L!!!! Third what are you planning on doing with the truck? if there are dreams of huge tires and big lifts in your future, then by all means go with the 6. but if you are not going to modify it too much and just use it for the weekend camping trip or a trip to the lake then by all means go with the 4. After all it is an awesome engine, and better gas milage. so there you have my opinoin, for what ever it is worth.

i have had 6 toys in 25 years (2x, 4x, long bed, short bed, standard cab, extended cab, 22r, 3RZ) and am currently running a 2000 4x extended trd 4 cyl 2.7L (3RZ). my friends have the 6 cyl 3.4L engines and superchargers too. those trucks rock hard, you can even spin your tires on the wheels (if you lock up the rear in 2wd).

the stock 4 and 6 cyl engines get nearly the same mileage under a light foot. but if you race your 6 cyl, the mileage drops a few. the supercharger drops another few. Also, a racer will replace brakes and tires much more often (granted on any engine). the tacoma rotors are also prone to waggle under frequent hard breaking. Also 6 cyl oil changes and tuneups cost more.

i drive my trucks like trucks (not a racer), and my stock tires went 60k+ miles, have nearly 70k miles on the breaks (with 40% remaining), and have gotten a top milage of 26+ mpg (usually about 22) on the hwy, and usually 20 in town.

the 2.7L truck will go anywhere, but you cannot race the grades. i drive in and over the sierras often at reasonable freeway speeds and hauling much gear, but i spend a little time shifting or knocking out of cruise. in town, there is no disadvantage for me, as i drive very conservatively.

also, i have helled out (race chase) quite a bit in baja, and up to 11k feet elevation in the white mountains and all over, the 2.7L keeps up with anyone with diligent rpm control, and goes *anywhere* with the compound low gears.

get the 6 cyl if you race or tow a big payload. if you are economically minded and drive like a truck, the 6 cyl can still be reasonably efficient (never efficient as the 2.7 considering buy-in/operation/maintenance/insurance costs). the 2.7L is a great truck for gents like me.

The One thing I liked about my previous 4 banger is that when Me and My budds did the back trails me with my tiny 4cyl and them with there 6cyl nissan and toyota's was that they had to watch there gas needel alot closer than I did. The Siera Nevada doesn't have a gas station behind every bolder. and yes if your racing a truck? then your going to get poor gas mileage but what a 4x4 is meant for is crawling around, people that take there store bought trucks racing off road usualy wind up spending a lot of time in a gaurage or body shop.

i went with the v6 because i had planned to lift it and get bigger tires... now that im probably gonna sell it in a year when i move i probably should have when with the 4cyl...

I bought a 4x 00 ext cab adn put 6" of lift and 33x12.50 tires, it has really good power I have a landscaping bus. on the side and it pulls a trailer w/ mowers great and i also plow snow with it, its got alot of power for me

i hav a 3.4 liter tacoma and i love it it has 190hp 220 tq and it is great 4 4wheeling

I have an extended cab '02 Tacoma 4wd with the 2.7 4 cyl. and 5 speed. I love it. For my needs it has plenty of power including for light towing. HOWEVER, if you're thinking it will get better gas mileage it really doesn't. I calculate my mileage almost everytime I fill up and the best I have ever had is 22.5 MPG. The average is between 19 and 20. I guess the engine has to work a bit harder than the 6 cyl. would. But the 4 cyl. has been exceptional as far as reliability goes. If your truck is a short bed with regular cab it will surely get better mileage than mine.

like night and day

this is an old thread, but I'd thought I'd respond also. Get the 6. I've driven both the 4 and the 6 in an 2004 tacoma. The 6 cylinder is much better

I own two rental properties and I need a truck I can plow with. I realize probably I should go with the v6 but there is a 99 reg cab Tacoma 2.7 auto 4x4 with 75k for sale here in town for $8500. It is in perfect condition with a clean car fax.
Do you guys think this truck will be able to handle plowing?

Thanks
Jim

4cyl is a much better built engine that is much easier to maintain in the long run.

otherwise the 6 has more power obviously.

I have a 97 Taco 2.4L and it has no balls at all. I can't even get out of my own way half the time.