2010 Toyota Tacoma Prerunner LB V6 4.0L TRD Package: Buying - Need Advice

[yh125d]

Ask yourself...


Do I really need a truck? Will I ever really use it? Do I need to haul lawn mowers, large appliances, small trailers, 4x8 plywood, etc? Do I go "off-road" much?

Am I really willing to pay 50% more in gas and a higher up front cost for a truck whose capabilities I may only use a dozen or so times across the lifetime of the vehicle?


Just saying... probably 50% of truck owners should have bought a car

 

[StarsFan4Life]

I am an IT guy.....

However, I spend a ton of time outdoors in my yard during the week and on the weekends. I do a lot of landscaping, and being a recent home owner (1 year), I think a truck is needed in case I do need to pickup the bigger items.

At 70 miles, yes, I do need a car....but I also need/want a truck for the reasons above. So, I can really get better gas mileage in the Chevy Silverado 5.3L vs any 4.0L V6? If this is the case, why wouldn't I go full size.

I do need a 4 door though, we plan to start having kids soon so a car seat must fit in the back and be "easy" to get to. This was at the request of the Mrs.....

 

[vi edit]

Just get a car that you can hook a hitch to and get the $300 utility trailer from harbor freight and use that the dozen times a year you need to haul anything.

Your commute is just too retardedly long to even think about getting something that gets low 20's or worse for milage.

That's the last I'll say about it.

 

[yh125d]

I am an IT guy.....

However, I spend a ton of time outdoors in my yard during the week and on the weekends. I do a lot of landscaping, and being a recent home owner (1 year), I think a truck is needed in case I do need to pickup the bigger items.

At 70 miles, yes, I do need a car....but I also need/want a truck for the reasons above. So, I can really get better gas mileage in the Chevy Silverado 5.3L vs any 4.0L V6? If this is the case, why wouldn't I go full size.

I do need a 4 door though, we plan to start having kids soon so a car seat must fit in the back and be "easy" to get to. This was at the request of the Mrs.....

Most midsizes with 6 cyl get only 1-3 mpg better or less than their bigger V8 brethren

 

[EightySix Four]

Most midsizes with 6 cyl get only 1-3 mpg better or less than their bigger V8 brethren

Those V6's have to work much harder to get/keep the truck moving.

 

[PricklyPete]

I know the new V8's are getting much better mileage with recent improvements/gearing/cylinder shut down/etc. But the BEST highway mileage that I got from the 5.3L V8 in my old Yukon (2002) was at least 3 MPG off what I get in my 4X4 Tacoma (2005) with a 4.0L V6...and I don't even have the automatic which easily can return 1-2 additional MPG on the highway. So lets say if I had gotten the automatic, I would have an improvement of 4 MPG (17MPG for the V8, 21 for the V6).

70 miles a day X 5 Days a week = 350 miles + 50 weekend miles = 400 miles a week

V8: 400/17 = 23.5 gallons a week
V6: 400/21 = 19.0 gallons a week

52 weeks a year and at $3.50 a gallon of gas:

V8: 23.5 X 52 X $3.50 = $4,277
V6: 19.0 X 52 X $3.50 = $3,458

So you're easily saving $819 a year in gas. In my experience you're going to save even more when you factor in city driving as my V8 in the Yukon really sucked down the gas in the city (I remember tanks as low as 10MPG when all I did was city driving). The V6 in the tacoma has been pretty consisten with its city mileage with ~16mpg with all city driving. So with that many miles having to be driven, there is definitely a case for the better gas mileage of the Tacoma...not to mention that he would likely get the Tacoma for at least a little cheaper than the fullsize.

All that being said, I agree with vi_edit if you really are only going to be using your truck for occasional runs to Home Depot. A $300 trailer is just (if not more) useful. Just get a car or small SUV that gets decent gas mileage with the number of miles you're driving each week.

 

[yh125d]

I know the new V8's are getting much better mileage with recent improvements/gearing/cylinder shut down/etc. But the BEST highway mileage that I got from the 5.3L V8 in my old Yukon (2002) was at least 3 MPG off what I get in my 4X4 Tacoma (2005) with a 4.0L V6...and I don't even have the automatic which easily can return 1-2 additional MPG on the highway. So lets say if I had gotten the automatic, I would have an improvement of 4 MPG (17MPG for the V8, 21 for the V6).

70 miles a day X 5 Days a week = 350 miles + 50 weekend miles = 400 miles a week

V8: 400/17 = 23.5 gallons a week
V6: 400/21 = 19.0 gallons a week

52 weeks a year and at $3.50 a gallon of gas:

V8: 23.5 X 52 X $3.50 = $4,277
V6: 19.0 X 52 X $3.50 = $3,458

So you're easily saving $819 a year in gas. In my experience you're going to save even more when you factor in city driving as my V8 in the Yukon really sucked down the gas in the city (I remember tanks as low as 10MPG when all I did was city driving). The V6 in the tacoma has been pretty consisten with its city mileage with ~16mpg with all city driving. So with that many miles having to be driven, there is definitely a case for the better gas mileage of the Tacoma...not to mention that he would likely get the Tacoma for at least a little cheaper than the fullsize.

All that being said, I agree with vi_edit if you really are only going to be using your truck for occasional runs to Home Depot. A $300 trailer is just (if not more) useful. Just get a car or small SUV that gets decent gas mileage with the number of miles you're driving each week.

Like you said, things are much better for V8s now. Your yukon was 8 years ago, a full size SVU with a smallish V8. A half ton pickup with an updated V8 would be quite a lot better


But I agree with the trailer option. Get a 4 cyl equinox/terrain. Much roomier on the inside, rear cargo area, and a trailer hitch. Yeah it'd be slow as shit and pretty poor MPG the few times you DO drag a trailer, but getting 34 highway the rest of the time would be worth it.

 

[PricklyPete]

Like you said, things are much better for V8s now. Your yukon was 8 years ago, a full size SVU with a smallish V8. A half ton pickup with an updated V8 would be quite a lot better

Maybe so...but the platform is the same between the full size SUV and the truck...and so are the gas mileage ratings. On top of this the Vortec 5300 that was in my Yukon is basically the same engine in the new Silverado/Tahoe. And it is their midsize V8 (4.8L being the smallest, 6.0L being the biggest). I'm just not convinced that the real world numbers on essentially the same engine have improved that much. Just seems like a lot of EPA trickery to me...but I could be wrong.

As for a V6 in a Tacoma having a lot more work than a V8 in a Silverado...

Tacoma 4x4 Access cab Curb Weight: 3950 4.0L 236hp/266 ft. lbs
Silverado 4x4 Access cab Curb Weight: 5286 5.3L 315HP/ 335 ft.lbs

That's a LOT more weight for that V8 to lug around....over 1300 lbs! It results in a 16.7lbs per HP for both trucks. So I'm still not seeing the Silverado beating the Tacoma in gas mileage.

 

[yh125d]

Maybe so...but the platform is the same between the full size SUV and the truck...and so are the gas mileage ratings. On top of this the Vortec 5300 that was in my Yukon is basically the same engine in the new Silverado/Tahoe. And it is their midsize V8 (4.8L being the smallest, 6.0L being the biggest). I'm just not convinced that the real world numbers on essentially the same engine have improved that much. Just seems like a lot of EPA trickery to me...but I could be wrong.

As for a V6 in a Tacoma having a lot more work than a V8 in a Silverado...

Tacoma 4x4 Access cab Curb Weight: 3950 4.0L 236hp/266 ft. lbs
Silverado 4x4 Access cab Curb Weight: 5286 5.3L 315HP/ 335 ft.lbs

That's a LOT more weight for that V8 to lug around....over 1300 lbs! It results in a 16.7lbs per HP for both trucks. So I'm still not seeing the Silverado beating the Tacoma in gas mileage.

lb/hp isn't as important for highway mileage as rolling resistance/drag/gearing/etc (unless you live in a hilly area that is)

For example, a chevy equinox 4cyl is 3945 curb weight and 182hp. That's 21.6lb/HP. Yet it's rated 29 highway and is bigger inside than most midsize pickups

 

[vi edit]

Cylinder deactivation and a rear gear setup for highway cruising can make a difference in economy, so can better areodynamics of the newer body styles.

 

[LTC8K6]

My 08 5.7L Hemi Grand Cherokee 4X4 hits 22-23mpg consistently when cruising on 4 cylinders on the highway. A 2wd one would probably get one better...

 

[PricklyPete]

lb/hp isn't as important for highway mileage as rolling resistance/drag/gearing/etc (unless you live in a hilly area that is)

For example, a chevy equinox 4cyl is 3945 curb weight and 182hp. That's 21.6lb/HP. Yet it's rated 29 highway and is bigger inside than most midsize pickups

I understand...but the default response with regard to Full size trucks with V8's being better gas mileage wise than mid-size trucks is always that the V8 has "less work to do". I'm saying that isn't really true.

I understand that there is a lot more that affects gas mileage...if there wasn't, both would be getting identical gas mileage.

 

[PricklyPete]

My 08 5.7L Hemi Grand Cherokee 4X4 hits 22-23mpg consistently when cruising on 4 cylinders on the highway. A 2wd one would probably get one better...

Impressive. Is that on the trip computer...or have you actually seen this after testing with mileage per fill-up method?

 

[LTC8K6]

Impressive. Is that on the trip computer...or have you actually seen this after testing with mileage per fill-up method?

Both. They pretty much agree. I was quite surprised on a trip from NC to PA. I was relying on the EPA estimate of 18 highway and thought I'd have to fill up way before I actually did. Apparently the EPA test doesn't use 4 cyl mode much.

I also read that MDS only worked between 40 and 60 mph, but found out that's not true either. Mine will use 4 cylinders even at 80mph on a flat stretch.

Heck, I've learned that if I accelerate carefully enough, I can do so without triggering the other 4 cylinders.

The trick is to keep that steady speed as long as you can so that it never runs on 8 cylinders when you are cruising.

 

[PricklyPete]

Both. They pretty much agree. I was quite surprised on a trip from NC to PA. I was relying on the EPA estimate of 18 highway and thought I'd have to fill up way before I actually did. Apparently the EPA test doesn't use 4 cyl mode much.

I also read that MDS only worked between 40 and 60 mph, but found out that's not true either. Mine will use 4 cylinders even at 80mph on a flat stretch.

Heck, I've learned that if I accelerate carefully enough, I can do so without triggering the other 4 cylinders.

The trick is to keep that steady speed as long as you can so that it never runs on 8 cylinders when you are cruising.

Very interesting. You are the first person I've heard to praise the cylinder deactivation this much...but it does have me intrigued. Other people I know (who have had it on GM vehicles) have said it has not improved their gas mileage...but they may not be giving it the necessary attention to max it out...or GM's implementation may be worse. Either way definitely a cool technology.

Anyone have it in the Pontiac GT and seen remarkable gains in highway cruising?

 

[LTC8K6]

I wouldn't say the gains are remarkable, just noticeable. Beating the EPA hwy numbers is not really remarkable for any vehicle.

I think the later versions of Chrysler's and GM's cylinder deactivation were more effective simply because they added a dashboard indication of when the engine was running on 4 cylinders. Prior to 2008, there was no indication of when the 5.7L hemi was in 4 cylinder mode. I think it helps the driver to have the indication.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

If I am looking at used Chevrolet Silverado's, how far back does this "cylinder shutdown" feature go on the yearly models? What exactly is it called so I know what I am looking for. Can it be had on a 4 door Silverado with less than 20k miles for around $20k?

 

[joutlaw]

If I am looking at used Chevrolet Silverado's, how far back does this "cylinder shutdown" feature go on the yearly models? What exactly is it called so I know what I am looking for. Can it be had on a 4 door Silverado with less than 20k miles for around $20k?

I believe they have called Displacement on Demand and also Active Fuel Management.

I'd look for a 07+ new bodystyle with the 5.3. My co-worker ended up getting a 2008 Sierra Crew Cab 2WD completely loaded in the low 20K area.

As far as I know the only the motor with the AFM is the 5.3 that's available in the Silverado 1500s. I think they are also E85 capable.

 

[StarsFan4Life]

So, I should just go ahead and cut the Tacoma out as an option based on the V6 4.0L engine? I can get better gas mileage in a 5.3L V8, correct?

 

[Pneumothorax]

So, I should just go ahead and cut the Tacoma out as an option based on the V6 4.0L engine? I can get better gas mileage in a 5.3L V8, correct?

As a previous owner of both a current gen Tacoma 4x4, and then a Frontier 4x4, I would just avoid the mid-size market. I would routinely get 15-16 mpg in these mid-size trucks. Meanwhile, my buddy's Tundra 5.7 liter V8 gets the same mileage, BUT has much more power and carrying capacity for not much more coin.

 

[yh125d]

So, I should just go ahead and cut the Tacoma out as an option based on the V6 4.0L engine? I can get better gas mileage in a 5.3L V8, correct?

Yeah noones saying you'd get BETTER mileage with the V8... but it'd be within 1-2mpg probably depending on the model. The basic idea is, if you're getting a truck... go full size half ton. If you don't need a full size (read, ACTUALLY need), get like a midsizeish SUV or something and a small trailer