I guess it depends if you are talking about 4x4 or 2wd and auto vs. 5spd. I have not ever driven a 4cyl but I expect it to be plenty for what you have described. Do not let the size fool you - it is quite powerful from what I understand.

 

the 2.7 would be more than enough for what you've described your needs to be.

 

I have the 2.7-4cyl. it's rated at 150 H.P. and I have the optional 4:56 gears, it hauls butt! I usually beat v8's from a light!:naughty:

 

i've got the 3.4 with the M5 and its got torque galore for a 6cyl. but the 2.7 should do just fine. only downside to the 4 is that if you ever have any medium size loads you'll be kicking yourself for not getting a bigger motor. test out both, find a dealer that'll let you take it home overnight and put it through your paces.

 

I test drove both before i settled on my 3.4, and i had a 22re prior to getting this one.

The thing that made the sale for me was that im constantly making long drives, usually with some kind of medium weight load in the back, and I like not having to downshift everytime i hit an uphill grade.

dont get me wrong, i loved that 2.4, and would have gotten the 2.7 if the guy hadnt been asking a firm 11k for an 01 regular cab standard.

sounds like the 2.7 will be plenty for what you want to do, and it ought to get slightly better fuel economy.

 

Thank you all for your input...

 

Get the v-6. The 2.7 liter is pretty gutless and is only rated 1 MPH lower than the 3.4L. My dad has a 2000 toyota tacoma extended cab with the 2.7 liter 4x4 manual and it is geared very strange, can't shift into 5th until 50+ MPH without lugging it and is gutless on any type of hill, have to drop it down to 4th or even third on the way to my house. This is compared to my 3.4L Toyota 4runner which can pull the same hill in 5th if it has too. And it is much heavier. Get the 3.4L.

My dad's only regret about his tacoma is he didn't get the 3.4L. Gas mileage is almost identical in hilly areas because you're going to have to floor it and downshift for hills.

Also: the only two engines available with a 4x4 are the 2.7L and the 3.4L. The only reason you should get the 2.7L is if you find one incredibly cheap for some reason.

 

I totally agree with zippo. I have owned both in the past, 3-4X4's with a 5 speed, that 4th and 5th gear can be a problem and not just on hills it is pretty sluggish on the highway even without a load. As stated by others it will pull it and it runs great but it is sluggish. I now own a 3.4 4X4 ext cab and in no way would I go back to the 4 cyl even thought I don't tow anymore. Try them both and make sure you get on the highway and really get on it and try to pass someone, you'll see the difference. Gas mileage is maybe 1 or 2 miles per gal different between the two. Also better resale value! Good Luck

 

Ive never owned a v-6 taco, but ive got 4 4bangers. 3 of them are 2.4's and one is a 2.7 Ive towed my 19' crownline(3500lbs.) with all of them. The 2.7 is a powerhouse compared to my 2.4's. With stock tires the 2.7 will pull great and run around with no problems. Put bigger tires on it and you will be lacking power. My trucks haul 1500-3000lbs daily and have no power issues. Between the 3 2.4's ive got over 500,000 loaded miles logged from coast to coast.

 

Just bought a used '04 2.7 4x4 5 speed, and I love it. I think it is fine for occasional loads and offroading. I test drove a 3.4 4x4 5 speed, and it didn't "feel" much different, just noisier! I'm sure it would be different if hauling loads a lot on the highway, but the 2.7 works just fine for me.

 

i have a 1997 2.7L, 4x4, just hit 228,000 miles... i still tow the trailers, pulls the car dolly with cars on it and i still haul stuff in the back, she grunts a bit and doesn't like the load very much, but she gets the job done, and hell, i get 320-340 a tank. so, i definately have no complaints.

 

I was tired of having the manual in traffic, the 2.7 auto did not have the power to merge on our insanely short entrance ramps for the expressway. I got a '95 3.4 Auto Ext cab, took me 2 months to find one, lots of 2.7's , people hold on to those 3.4's though. The traffic here in TX is either stop and go or balls to the wall. Not much in between. And then there's Houston, where 70MPH is the minimum on IH45, for the right lane.

 

4 or 6 cyl

I had a '96 4x4 xtra cab 4cyl. I was very happy with it as a daily driver, hauling loads up to 1000lb, and minor off road for hunting. It had a helper leaf spring added raising the back end up a bit which helped with loads{And,I must say made it look kinda cool}. I would drive more carefully with those heavier loads as I could definately feel them but it worked fine.
The 2.7 liter engine was peppier than my '91 2x4 short cab. Sometimes I would have to downshift to pass,or get up a steep hill, but so what?! To me it was part of the enjoyment of using a stick. Mileage was 18 in winter and 24 in summer. The oil filter was easy to get to. One turn of the key started it on the coldest day in February. The manager at my garage tells me the 4 cyl is a better built engine. He also hates the 2.7L in automatic. He says it is under powered. I have never driven one. In January I was told my frame was rotted out and to sell it for parts. I had untill inspection in July.
I badly wanted another 2.7 stick, but also decided I had to have a TRD model. They are rare in 4 cyl but yes, they do exist. I was ready to drive from NY to VA where I found 2, but when I called they had sold. Then my head gasket blew. Soooooooo...
TRD won out . Now I have a V6 xtra cab 4X4. It definately is a bit faster. Gas mileage was 17mpg in cooler April temps and 19.6 to 20.3 in summer.
What little off road I,ve done I can say it does climb better. The Diff locker is great though I may never really need it. The oil filter is harder to get at but do-able.
In the end I have been very happy with my '02 V6, but if you take away the TRD I would happily buy a 2.7L again.
It is a close call for me.

 

It's been commented before about 4x4 vs Prerunner can sometimes just be about "testosterone"

A similar comparison can be made about the i4 vs the v6.

Either engine is "good" and either will be reliable for you, and as said, will not differentiate much with gas mileage - with a couple exceptions. (when needing to really "push" it the i4 will be full throttle, where the v6's torque won't need as much throttle)

But really, it's just about beating's one chest.

The 4 cyl will have less torque and be, as some might say, "gutless" compared to the v6. But it is not to say it's powerless. Several people above have explained they're perfectly happy with their 2.4's and 2.7's...

I come, myself, from having driven one 2wd 22R, two 2wd 22RE's and then a 4x4 22RE. When I test drove my 4x4 v6, I fell in love with the "comfortable power" it had. The off-the-bat torque is enjoyable when you're pushing it or when you're presented with the need for quick acceleration, like a short freeway on ramp or passing grandma's sedan.

If you want something that's a bit meatier, v6. But the i4 will do you fine, and be faithful as a horse. Sometimes I wish I'd gone with a 4 cyl 2wd, but I still love my truck.

 

Hi,

I have a 2.7L I4 with an automatic, and it's not gutless. A friend of mine has the same engine in his 5spd Tacoma, and his performance is the same as mine.

 

very well stated sykostick!

 

i also agree its all in preference on the chest pounding theory. I had a 2.7 4x4 5-speed and was very surprised at the ease that the 4banger propelled the truck. My 22R (84 4x4 5-speed) had no where neer the power of the 2.7. I found myself having to look down to let off the damn gas as i would be doing 80mph sometimes. if you tow frequently i would recommend the 6 but if its just a rig with occasional heavy load duties i would get the one that i got a better deal on.

I'm getting a 2000 V-6 5-speed now but only cause its a good deal. If i could find the same truck for the a bit cheaper and a 4banger i would.