to keep 00' 2.7L or get 02' v6

[mrtoastyjr]

i have been thinking about this for a while and i really need a second opinion from some toyota people.

i own a 2000 taco 2.7L extended cab. its 4wd 5 speed, manual locks, windows, ect. i have owned it since about 90k and now has 111k on it. the first owner was my father who owned it since new so i know all the service on it since day one. it has alway had the oil changed with castrol syntec every 5k. it has stock wheels with 31" All-Terians.

my father inlaw owns a 2002 taco v6 with the TRD package. power locks, windows, keyless, rear diff lock blah blah blah. it is also a 5 speed. his truck has i think around 60k on it and he bought it from a toyota dealer with 50k on the clock. so i don't know what service if any has been performed, i don't know if it has been in an accident, mine hasen't.

i guess what i want to know is should i part with my trusty 2.7L to go v6 or not. i plan on getting some 4 wheelers and hauling them north and i don't know if my truck could handle that. his truck has a toyota hitch whereas mine is a u-haul. his bed is rhino lined where as mine is the bare paint floor that is begining to rust. i feel like my truck is a dog on the highway and it would be nice to have a little extra torque when needed.

so could you guys give me some pros/cons of each and if possible maybe some opinions on what to do. i have heard the L4's are more reliable than the V6's. i dunno what to do. im torn, I WANT BOTH!!!

sorry for the length of this post

[The Phoenix]

The 3RZ and 5VZ are both very great engines.


The 3RZ is a gas saver for the most part. Offers way less torque than the 5VZ.

I myself love the 5VZFE. It has so much potential and there are some trucks out there with 400+ at the crank on a completely stock engine. In my opinion, it is one of the best Toyota engines ever produced and is practically bulletproof.

If I were you, I'd go for the v6. Also, I'm on my 4th Tacoma.

[mrtoastyjr]

thats kinda what i was thinking as well. i am a honda mechanic by trade and a couple of people that i work with tell me of the issues with the v6's head gaskets and water pumps. i guess that was an issue of early models and not the current v6's. i guess im just being over parinoid about it. im exposed to people that neglect cars and beat them into the ground and expect them to run forever. im a true believer of a well maintained car lasting for easly 500k plus. but you gotta take care of it.

[The Phoenix]

Originally Posted by mrtoastyjr

thats kinda what i was thinking as well. i am a honda mechanic by trade and a couple of people that i work with tell me of the issues with the v6's head gaskets and water pumps. i guess that was an issue of early models and not the current v6's. i guess im just being over parinoid about it. im exposed to people that neglect cars and beat them into the ground and expect them to run forever. im a true believer of a well maintained car lasting for easly 500k plus. but you gotta take care of it.

The people you work with know Honda engines, not Toyota.

The 3VZ (3.0L V6 Pre-Tacoma) had similar issues to what you were describing.