Glad to see so many satisfied Toyota fans out there! I am on my 5th Toyota truck. It is a 98 Tacoma extended cab 4x4. Has 70k on it and still looks great. Performance however is pretty dismal. It has the V6 in it which is pretty much a dog when going over passes or any type of steep grade for that matter. I've kept up on regular maintenance. Recently had the valves timed, spent $140 at the dealership for some type of high performance fuel injector cleaning, changed all the filters, etc. The thing is still gutless on the highway. Maybe I just got a lemon, but have a question for all you truck guys. Since I need new tires, would going down a size or two in tires give me better performance on the highway? My current tire size is 31x10.50R15. What do you guys think? Thanks in advance!
Levi

Levi, I am shocked at your lack of performance in the mountains. My 2000 with the V6 eats them up. I run the same sized tires you do also. Is this towing or just driving? I tow a 5x10 trailer with my ATV and gear on it without too much problem. tom

Pumpgun, thats running dry! I don't expect any type of sports car experience from a sixbanger in a truck, but would at least like to go at or near the speed limit over the mountain passes(75mph). Really makes me mad when I am bogged down going 60 over a pass and an older(80 somethings model) Ford Ranger or Chevrolet S10 screams by me!

Was there a big change between the 98 and the 2000 V-6? I do the screaming past the fords and chevys lol. What altitude are you driving in the passes? I am running up to 10-11,000 with no problems. tom

Tom your killing me! I've heard similar reports from other Tacoma owners as well. I don't believe there is any horsepower difference between the 98 and 00 model. Both are 190 HP I believe??? The passes I run over quite a bit are around 7-8k. Best quit knocking her too much as she has been very reliable though!

Levi,
Do you have a std or an auto? I have the TRD package with an auto tranny.
I also have a button to cut the O/D and a ECT (electronically controlled transmission) button that allows the gears to wind out further while climbing. They make a big difference in the mountains. tom

I remember back in 1980, when the Toy 4 x 4 4WD truck was the apple of my desire. It still is, if you rule out classy Jeeps and the occasional refurbed Bronco. Was in Moscow, Idaho at the University. My girlfriend and I walked to the Toyota dealership after our weekly pizza outing and oogled the vehicles. I looked at the sticker and said aloud "Ten thousand dollars for a pickup truck! They must think we're crazy."

I stand corrected.

I've always been and still am a Toyota fan. I am in the market for a new 4x4 with a baby on the way. My daily driver is a 98 Tacoma x-cab. Going to need the 4 door action soon!
Anyhow, went last weekend to help a buddy on a construction job. He had a T-100 with the 3.4 liter V-6 that we traveled in, and I drove back home. It was underpowered for me, but it had 350,000 miles with no oil burning, and I couldn't believe how tight the suspension was still. It just kept my feeling for these trucks running strong than ever.
Now the question is: the new CrewCab Tacoma will fit a baby seat easily, Will the Tundra??

Tom, I have the auto transmission as well as the TRD option. I am thinking about dropping the tire size down to the 235R15s. Hoping that gives me some power I am looking for. In theory I would be pushing 2" less rubber per tire in terms of width. Unfortunately, I loose an inch of ground clearance in doing this.

Frontstuffer wrote:

Quote:

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...you think your going broke with the f250 wait until you have to buy a cylinder head or a clutch for that yota. Thats not the force your feeling looke.
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Our '87 4 Rnr died recently. I'm thinking it is the head/head gasket. The head was machined once before about 8 years ago, so I think that's what puked

Is it going to be cheaper/easier/better to get a used engine than to replace the head? It ran great until it no longer ran!!

Thanks,

--Mike