After driving our new VW Jetta TDI from Charlottesville, Va to just east of Columbus, OH on a single tank of fuel and going up EVERY hill in WVa in 6th gear without losing any of our 72 mph speed and getting 44 mpg over and 42 mpg back, this is what I want from Toyota:
Develop same or buy the front end of the Jetta from VW, slap a Tacoma bed on the back about 18-24 inches rear of the front door with independent suspension in the back.
Since Toyota cannot or will not do it, maybe VW will. I don't care. This is what I want.
Dodge did it in 1981-83 with its 024 sedan. Very nice (and my favorite) pickup.
On the trip in April, we had to downshift the Tacoma on many of the WVa hills. Its 175 hp 2.7 liter engine just does not have the moxy/gearing of the 140 hp 2.0 liter turbo diesel on the Jetta. CERTAINLY, not near as economical either. Think it got 27 mpg on the April trip.
__________________
Ralph
The natural gardener
God's original intent
After driving our new VW Jetta TDI from Charlottesville, Va to just east of Columbus, OH on a single tank of fuel and going up EVERY hill in WVa in 6th gear without losing any of our 72 mph speed and getting 44 mpg over and 42 mpg back, this is what I want from Toyota:
Develop same or buy the front end of the Jetta from VW, slap a Tacoma bed on the back about 18-24 inches rear of the front door with independent suspension in the back.
Since Toyota cannot or will not do it, maybe VW will. I don't care. This is what I want.
Dodge did it in 1981-83 with its 024 sedan. Very nice (and my favorite) pickup.
On the trip in April, we had to downshift the Tacoma on many of the WVa hills. Its 175 hp 2.7 liter engine just does not have the moxy/gearing of the 140 hp 2.0 liter turbo diesel on the Jetta. CERTAINLY, not near as economical either. Think it got 27 mpg on the April trip.
hehe
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295/65/18 Goodyear Duratracs:2.5" lift in the front with 1" rear Block
JBA single exhaust:HID's W/Led's inside:Nfabs
E&G grill insert:ARE Z topper:Overhead DVD for my son:Front DVD for me
I want my old 1970 Land Curser back with the newer V 6 engine, lockers front and rear, lifted, 36 MT’s and getting 80 MPG. Well! I wish! Oh, and I’d like to jump in the way-back machine and go back to 1975.
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2007 TRD Off Road Extended Cab
V6 Automatic 4X4, Shrockworks sliders, Yokohama Geolandars MT 265/75 R 16.
Last edited by GrumpyOldMan; 11-29-2009 at 01:24 PM.
you are comparing a diesel to a gasoline vehicle and a vehicle that is half the weight of the other. diesel's are made to pull (hills in this case). they're like a locomotive....it takes them a little longer to build up their steam, but once they've built up its hard to stop them.
Last edited by music_man185; 11-29-2009 at 02:15 PM.
Cummins 4BTA. 3.9L 4 cylinder. 170 horse, 300+ ft lb and can be turned up considerable amount. They're kinda heavy, but i don't see why some front springs wouldn't settle it.
The VW Jetta TDI is a whole world apart from the VW pickup of the 80s. This one's quiet with no stink and no smoke and worlds of power.
The TDI is MUCH stronger than the 4 cylinder Tacoma. They're near the same weight, TDI @ 3250 # and Tacoma access cab @ 3500 #. If the TDI running gear and sloped hood were put on on the front of the Tacoma with the rear differential and heavy leaf springs eliminated, it would be about the same weight or less.
__________________
Ralph
The natural gardener
God's original intent
Toyota sells D4D 4 cylinder diesel Hilux truck in other countries.
I sold my Taco a few months ago in big part due to the low mileage (and I wanted to get out of debt).
Mahindra is supposed to bring a small 4 cyl diesel truck to the States. In the few years I'll need a truck. If Hilux/D4D is still not sold here, I will go for an Indian truck.
I spent some time in Australia a couple years ago, and much of that time was spent drooling over the Hilux diesels. That's what I want - for Toyota to bring the best selling truck in the world into the US It's gotta be pressure from US automakers keeping that truck out of the states...
I spent some time in Australia a couple years ago, and much of that time was spent drooling over the Hilux diesels. That's what I want - for Toyota to bring the best selling truck in the world into the US It's gotta be pressure from US automakers keeping that truck out of the states...
The truck is already here...just not the diesel motor. The Hilux looks like arse if you ask me...just drop in the motor in our current model. And unfortunately I don't see that happening anytime soon especially with the current Admin. and Congress.
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hehe
It's gotta be pressure from US automakers keeping that truck out of the states...
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