Just reporting that I sold 1of my 4 runners and bought a taco. The reason is that I will be using the vehicle for consultant wrk with reimbursable mileage.
I looked at the ford half tons with eco boost engines and Tundras.
Initial quality of the fords seemed spotty. Some of the assembly was not complete of interior panels and the dealer was having to fix things in make ready. they did drive well. What I really didn’t like was the predicted rate of depriciation rate they would take as I would take putting them to work. The predicted maintenance was also higher. (Kbb)
The tundra is huge! And the gas mileage was unacceptable and would cut into my Margin so it was out.
My need was a 4wheel drive to access some new acreage, roads are mogul to dirt and sand. Initially looking at 3k miles a month. The taco has lower depriciation with miles, lower cost of maintenance and the estimated gas mileage and road safety features sold me.
Lane departure, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are nice when you are logging a lot of miles on country roads and fatigue management becomes paramount.
Initial 50 mile trip home from the dealer netted a computer reported 24.5 mpg. Even if that’s 10%off it’s good.
The 2gr-fks engine has finally won me over. I was initially resistant to this direct and port injected modified dual Otto/Atkinson cycle engine, but it is basically a gr engine just like the 2gr fe and the 1gr fe with some additions.There are a lot of complaints about premature upshifts with this vehicle, the trick is to stay on the throttle. The engine likes to rev, and people used to the 1gr will instinctively let up on the throttle as the refs climb and this promotes an instant upshift. If you steadily tip into the throttle as you accelerate it does not do that. Maybe Toyota updated the ecu a bit but it drives better than the 2017 I test drove last year.
As far as build quality, it is A partially open Channel ladder frame instead of the boxed frame on my beefier 4 runner. However for the environment I will be using it, this is a mileage burner and comfort, economy and capability ruled my decision.
Getting the off-road vs the Pro was a value decision. It will get me through anything I should encounter while working.
I will report how it holds up to use.
I looked at the ford half tons with eco boost engines and Tundras.
Initial quality of the fords seemed spotty. Some of the assembly was not complete of interior panels and the dealer was having to fix things in make ready. they did drive well. What I really didn’t like was the predicted rate of depriciation rate they would take as I would take putting them to work. The predicted maintenance was also higher. (Kbb)
The tundra is huge! And the gas mileage was unacceptable and would cut into my Margin so it was out.
My need was a 4wheel drive to access some new acreage, roads are mogul to dirt and sand. Initially looking at 3k miles a month. The taco has lower depriciation with miles, lower cost of maintenance and the estimated gas mileage and road safety features sold me.
Lane departure, blind spot monitoring and adaptive cruise control are nice when you are logging a lot of miles on country roads and fatigue management becomes paramount.
Initial 50 mile trip home from the dealer netted a computer reported 24.5 mpg. Even if that’s 10%off it’s good.
The 2gr-fks engine has finally won me over. I was initially resistant to this direct and port injected modified dual Otto/Atkinson cycle engine, but it is basically a gr engine just like the 2gr fe and the 1gr fe with some additions.There are a lot of complaints about premature upshifts with this vehicle, the trick is to stay on the throttle. The engine likes to rev, and people used to the 1gr will instinctively let up on the throttle as the refs climb and this promotes an instant upshift. If you steadily tip into the throttle as you accelerate it does not do that. Maybe Toyota updated the ecu a bit but it drives better than the 2017 I test drove last year.
As far as build quality, it is A partially open Channel ladder frame instead of the boxed frame on my beefier 4 runner. However for the environment I will be using it, this is a mileage burner and comfort, economy and capability ruled my decision.
Getting the off-road vs the Pro was a value decision. It will get me through anything I should encounter while working.
I will report how it holds up to use.
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