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Poor mileage acceptable to Toyota - READ ONLY
69 messages, Last post on Jun 24, 2003 at 5:04 AM
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What is this discussion about? Toyota Tacoma, Fuel Efficiency (MPG), Truck
#30 of 69 oldharry by rlafaver
Mar 16, 2003 (5:26 pm)
I think you might be right. But it doesn't matter anymore. This thing saved my life today. In heavy rain on a 25 mile long interstate bridge in south Louisiana this morning an old guy in a new Cadillac came onto the highway up an exit ramp, and when he realized I was going to hit him head-on he turned right across the highway. I had to brake and shoot left fast without losing the tail-end. Just when the rear-end was about to let go the anti-lock brakes kicked in and I shot through a hole about three inches wider than my truck at, by that time, about 50mph. The control was phenomenal. This Tacoma can drink all the gas it wants. Forget this post. I take it all back. Today is my 60th birthday, and this truck gave me a pretty good present. God bless Toyota.
#31 of 69 2002 Toyota Tacoma V6 2WD Double-Cab mileage by ilmor
Mar 16, 2003 (6:35 pm)
More info...my Tacoma has the V6 and automatic, 2WD (Pre-Runner) with 5800 miles on the odo. Current combo city / highway (commute to work) mileage this week was 15.8 mpg. That's with one other person in the vehicle and no other loads, hilly and flat roads (no mountains).Manuf. claims 17 / 19 for this vehicle.
As for the discussions about Nissans, well, they have less horsepower and are slower than the Tacoma's, so there is a tradeoff. I would rather pay a little more for the fuel and have the power and quality of the Toyota, personally.
#32 of 69 by buffalonickel
Mar 17, 2003 (8:28 pm)
Have an 03 Taco that is at 19.5 mpg. I have just over 2K miles. I noticed a difference in the last 500 miles and I think I actually have been accelerating more since I am over 1K. I have a 5 spd and usually take third gear out pretty far. So I would say my mileage is improving from my first fill up at 16.5 mpg.I live in Missouri in the Ozark foothills so the terrain varies more greatly than it would in St. Louis or Illinois.
I thought the newer automatics were supposed to be better on gas mileage.
B
#33 of 69 buffalonickel by rlafaver
Mar 18, 2003 (6:33 am)
The city mileage for the auto and manual are the same, 22 mpg. But the highway mileage is better for the manual, 27 mpg opposed to 25 mpg for the auto.#34 of 69 rlafaver by abc246
Mar 18, 2003 (12:16 pm)
God bless Toyota? Funny how you think. Maybe luck had something to do with it. I bet Toyota didn't even design the ABS system that just became standard this year on your truck (GM made it standard on many models in 1992!). How about God bless the old man for turning away?Now back to the topic. I bought a new Nissan Frontier in 98 with 5 speed manual and the 2.4 4 cyl. That truck could only manage average 17 mpg with a lot of highway driving. I traded it in for a Chevy Silverado 4x4, auto, with 4.3 V-6 that gets the same mpg and has way more power!
I think some manufactures sacrifice mpg to meet emission laws if thier engine control technology is not state of the art.
#35 of 69 abc246 by rlafaver
Mar 18, 2003 (8:19 pm)
Sorry if it disappoints, but I've driven more miles than many truck drivers, and I can tell you that this Tacoma handling in an emergency is fantastic. You had to be there to feel it.The mileage thing is, I think, the attempt to burn more fuel with less displacement. Hence, 4 valves per cylinder. But I agree that at this point big block V6s like GMs 4.3 do a better job of converting fuel to power with very favorable differentials. But in 4 cylinder engines, the Toyota has it all over the S10 4 banger in power. Sadly, this is a result of burning more fuel in nearly the same displacement. I think you have to compare the Toy 4 to a GM 6, and in that comparison the GM will win. GM makes excellent engines, and they sell a V6 at a price competitive to the Toy 4 cylinder. On the other hand, I've owned an excellent S10 that I really liked, but its handling pales in comparison to the Toy.
#36 of 69 Tacoma MPG by stoutbrewer
Mar 19, 2003 (5:18 pm)
I bought a Tacoma Double Cab with the V-6. So far have been getting just over 16 MPG right out of the box. California switched to the alcohol cut gas and this cuts economy a bit more. I drive a combo of stop and go, sit at the drive thru up to 80MPH spurts on the freeway. I figure reducing the drag in the truck bed will help on the freeway runs. If you own one get used to it, it sits high and has to punch a huge hole in the air. It's a truck, want economy get the 4 cyl I guess. My Honda CRV took a while to get its mileage topped out. Buy a K&N air filter, they help out also.#37 of 69 What to aniticipate? by mazdaprofour
Mar 20, 2003 (7:46 am)
Hello, I plan on buying a:2003 toyota tacoma
PreRunner Regular Cab
4Cyl Automatic
This vehicle has a posted 19/22 miles per galon rating.
What should I expect and what are realistic numbers that you may have seen?
#38 of 69 mazda by sc0rpi0
Mar 20, 2003 (8:06 am)
Don't start thinking that you won't get the sticker mileage....my 4x4 V6 gets it. I always get my 17 in the city and 19 on highway (when I can pace myself, and even if I drive like a maniac, 85-90, I'll get 18). This thread was probably started by an isolated incident.I would suggest that you get a manual with the 4-banger. From what I usually hear from other Tacoma people, mating an I4 with an auto tranny is not a great idea. Of course, this would mean that you'd have to get a 4x4, since currently Toyota doesn't offer a manual prerunner. Too bad.
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