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Tacoma mileage survey
For you guys who drive Toyota Tacomas, what kind of real world mileage are you getting? It would be great if you could post the year, engine, tranny type and mileage. I'll probably be buying one of these in the next few months and am deciding between the four cylinder or V6. If there isn't much difference in mileage I'll go for the six. No need to tow but I don't want to drive a dog either. The EPA numbers seem to be a bit unrealistic (at least they were for our Toyota Highlander).
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Tacoma mileage survey
The Highlander was EPA rated at 19/23, but we're getting around 15/17.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Never thought about the altitude or climbing. The V6 Ranger mileage is almost exactly what the EPA sticker says, the Highlander about 20% less. We live at 1100 feet and drive it 5 miles to the valley floor and back once a day. The valley floor elevation is about 150 feet or so. I figure about 15% of the miles are climbing up and down but not much climbing otherwise. The Highlander just may not be broke in yet at around 5k miles. I am really wondering what the real world mileage on the Tacoma is though. That truck has really bloated in size - wish it was smaller like it used to be. A full size diesel truck would be great but I just don't need that much truck 99.5% of the time.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Thanks DK! I'm sort of surprised there aren't more Tacoma owners around here. Not everyone needs to tow their tractors 
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Tacoma mileage survey
Thanks for stopping by. Please don't make a special trip on my account since a purchase is a couple of months off yet. I thought there were some tacoma owners here, but it seems not many.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Mark, you're right they've changed a lot. They're more like a mid-size now instead of a small truck. I'd just as soon have it be a little smaller for better mileage.
KT, the Highlander has an automatic. I don't think it's even available with a stick. The transmission logic should take care of the overdrive. 85% of our mileage on it is in flatland areas anyway. I think it's just not broken in yet.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Personally, I hate automatic transmissions. The Highlander is my wifes car and she likely wouldn't downshift anyway. The only climbing is about 4 miles/day on her way home - a small percentage of the total mileage. We didn't buy the limited package so there is no mileage computer. It was a few thousand extra for a bunch of stuff we didn't want or need that would probably break anyway. The name "limited" always bugs me - I've always wanted to ask a salesman. "In what way is it limited?". Yes, I know it's supposed to be limited edition but they dropped the edition and now it's nonsense.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Out here we don't have a lot of traffic but driving into town during rush hour is another matter. We don't do that often. I may be forced into getting an automatic because a)It seems Toyota doesn't sell tacomas with sticks anymore, and b)Lower back troubles are cropping up and the doc says the worst thing you can do for your lower back problems is drive a stick. But I still won't like it.
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Tacoma mileage survey
The doc says that lifting your left leg to clutch while seated strains the lower back. I suppose that depends somewhat on the seating position and whether you have to hover your foot over the clutch pedal or if you can rest the heel of your foot on the floorboard. In my case I choose to blame the lousy unsupportive seats in the Ranger. There is no lumbar support whatsoever in those seats but a lumbar cushion helps immensely.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Thanks for the info, dfkrug. My brother has an 04 4 cylinder 2WD stick Tacoma that gets amazing mileage but I need 4WD. The bloated size of the 05 models has me bummed, but it's either that or a compact GM or Ford. Sure wish they'd shrink it back down so it's a compact truck again.
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Tacoma mileage survey
DH, thanks for the info. I might test drive the I4 to see if it has adequate power. Most of the time I drive around empty and don't tow. We're north of the sunset about 12-13 miles due north from Forest Grove. You're right about the clouds, but the summers are gorgeous.
Peters, if there was even a rumour of them bringing the diesel Tacoma here I'd buy something used until then. Anyone hear any rumors?
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Tacoma mileage survey
Now if they could put a diesel in the tacoma I'd have it made. They could shrink it a little, too, but that wouldn't be a deal killer.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Diesel here is around 15 cents more. If diesel is 5-10% more but mileage is 20-25% better you still come out ahead. But mileage isn't guaranteed any more than fuel cost. I've heard the Jeep Liberty diesel is doesn't get a lot better mileage than the gas version. A lot depends on the price premium they would want. It seems like there's never a clear cut way to go.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Peters, the local Jeep dealer I spoke with had numbers that are different than your research turned up. He said people were getting about 21/23 with the diesel. Doesn't matter to me since we aren't buying one.
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Tacoma mileage survey
Anyone know what the 2007 Tacoma models have in store? I'm leaning towards the 4 cylinder if I get a 2006 since they are rated at about 15% better mileage than the 6. The Toyota 4 has the same power as the v6 in the Ranger and the Ranger has plenty of power for my needs.
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02-16-2006, 12:08 
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