- pickup 263,336
- Grenada, MS
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- autoshopper.com
2002 toyota tacoma review this car review is specific to this model, not the actual vehicle for sale. Toyota tacoma boasts a heritage of solid service as a work truck along with a hard-earned reputation as a winning off-road race truck. toyota makes a tacoma to fit almost any work-related or recreational pursuit. The tacoma line starts with a simple two-wheel-drive work truck loaded with nothing but quality, durability and reliability. The price and content of the sr5 package varies with cab, engine, and driveline. V6 doublecabs and v6 xtracab 4x4's can be ordered with a similar limited package, which includes most sr5 content plus power windows, locks and mirrors. Choose between a 2. 7-liter inline-4 and a 3. 4-liter v6. The trd package adds bilstein shocks, locking rear differential, increased-rate front and rear springs, a larger stabilizer bar, p265/70r16 b. Goodrich tires, overfenders (color-keyed on limited models), and special graphics. also available from trd is a fully warranted, dealer-installed supercharger for the 3. 4-liter v6. The trd blower boosts output by 40 percent, from 190 to 260 horsepower. walkaroundfor 2001, the entire tacoma line received an exterior makeover to give it a more aggressive appearance. But that's where the similarities ended. the 4x4 has a tough, off-road look to it, with big, beefy tires and enough ground clearance to hop over medium-sized rocks and stumps. The s-runner is much lower to the ground, and is graced with tasteful bodywork add-ons that go well with its handsome five-spoke alloy wheels and low-profile tires. Changes included new door trim, orange instrument illumination and available white-faced gauges, a new fabric bench seat, full cut-pile carpeting, door pockets, two auxiliary power outlets located under the cigarette lighter, dual cup holders, a driver-side foot rest, tinted windshield glass, auto-off headlights and adjustable front seatbelt anchors. We found the large instruments easy to read, the controls well placed and functional. A new assist strap on the driver's-side windshield pillar was added for 2002. drivers over six feet tall will find the regular cab a mite cramped for space. The xtracab has a little more legroom (41. 7 inches versus 42. 8), plus room to recline the seat. xtracabs also get a 60/40 split front seat, comfortable for driver and passenger. The big bucket seats in the xtracab limited we test-drove felt too big for the cab, giving the space a cramped feeling. But they sure were comfortable. And that lumbar support in the driver's seat was a godsend on a long drive. The cloth trim seems to be of good quality. In the extended rear cab area there's a little table that folds up to serve as either a cup holder or as a support for a child-restraint seat. double cabs are reasonably roomy in the back seats. There's lots of kneeroom and good headroom, but the upright seatback makes them most suitable for short trips. They drive quite a bit differently depending on the way they are set up, but all do a good job in the roles for which they are designed. The two-wheel-drive basic work trucks ride smoothly and handle reasonably well. Rugged off-road versions offer impressive handling and capability in the rough stuff. The toyota 2. 4-liter is economical to run, with an epa-estimated city/highway mileage of 22/25 mpg when matched with a five-speed manual transmission. It delivers 190 horsepower at 4800 rpm, with 220 foot-pounds of torque at 3600 rpm. Even at that it's still reasonably economical with an epa city/highway mileage rating of 18/22 on a 4x2 with a five-speed manual. the five-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly and makes the tacoma more fun to drive. It feels like it would go anywhere, and get there in a big hurry. The trd suspension is fantastic, whether going slow or hauling. Even deep, bounding ruts failed to upset the handling in medium-speed corners. That stiffness pays off at higher speeds, however. Like all pickups, it feels much smoother with a little weight in the bed. The trd suspension developed by toyota and its off-road racing teams does a good job of smoothing out rough ground. on dry pavement, the tacoma 4x4 holds corners surprisingly well. This enables the tacoma to walk out of ankle-deep sand with absolutely no trouble. The locking rear differential is indispensable for driving in an area prone to mud and snow. Its 190-horsepower 3. 4-liter v6 produces a deep-sounding (but not obnoxious) exhaust note. The sport-tuned suspension setup includes tokico gas shock absorbers, increased-rate springs, and front and rear stabilizer bars. Ride height is reduced by one inch from the standard 4x2. Though a little jouncy when empty, the ride never felt harsh, and handling was superb. As long as the weather doesn't get too slippery, the s-runner is as entertaining as anything we've recently driven. It is so much fun that we kept searching for reasons to go for a spin. we used an s-runner to move some furniture from maryland to virginia and, like all pickups, it rode better when loaded down. Overall, the tacoma is an impressive package. there are bigger trucks and there are more powerful trucks than the tacoma. The double cab (introduced last year) adds rear seating or some. Power Windows✔ Bucket Seats✔ Air Conditioning✔ Alloy Wheels
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