Toyota screwed me, need advice

[BackroadBomber]

Well, when I bought my 2011 Tacoma brand new, obviously I had fuel efficiency in mind. So of course I had my salesman find me a truck with as low of axle gears as possible, 3.31's to be exact. Now I've owned this truck for a year, and I'm getting under 23 mpg average. Which seems kinda funny cuz There's people on Tacoma world.com who are getting up to 27 mpg with their 2wd trucks. Seems to me that a big difference for a few hundred pounds worth of 4wd parts. So it dawned on me that maybe my salesman lied to me. 2200 rpm at 60mph seems kinda high, anyways. So I checked the sticker in my door jam. Yep, 3.31's just like I was told. I checked about 4 web sites and they all said the same thing. So I just forgot about it untill tonight. I was.thinking about it so i sat down with a calculator and figured it out the hard way. 5280 feet in a mile divided by tire circumference in feet, times axle ratio times 5the gear ratio = engine speed, right? Well apparently I'm supposed to be at just around 1770 rpm's at 60. Did a little more digging online and found out that several people are noticing their door jam sticker is wrong. Apparently since 05 every single regular cab 4cyl 4wd Tacoma came with 4.10s, it was the only option, which if I do my math the same appears to be what I've got in my truck. So now I'm stuck paying 20k for a tiny little truck when I could be driving an f150 with a v6 and get the same mileage. I have no idea what to do about it. Obviously I'm extremely angry, and I'm not willing to shell out almost $1000 to have a gear swap done. I was just wondering if anyone has any advice as to what I should do, before I go to the dealership and start screaming untill I'm Physically removed. Because its taking all I have not to.

[Patrick]

Call the national number and ask them about it.

[niky]

If you complain that they lied about the option, and that your purchase hinged upon the gear ratio, then maybe... just maybe... they'll swap it for free.

[sgtlethargic]

I think I'd want to be certain of the gear ratio. Find out how to determine it on your truck (stamped on the gear(s) or count teeth?) and pull the cover. I'd probably reuse the gear oil, unless you want to go with synthetic or something else.

Or, maybe the data plate has that info.

[roosterk0031]

23 mpg with 4x4 is pretty good, I doubt gearing will make any difference. 2200 rpm at 60 is only 150 above my stratus and you have a 2.7, it couldn't keep 60 mph at 1770 on most roads. If you think it could, try overside tires, tall & skinny, I don't think you'll like how 1st gear works.

Even if gearing would make a differnce, not $1500's worth(if your going to tear into them get some LSD's), install LRR tires when it's time, drive slower, drive smarter.

It's not the 300 lbs in steel, it's the 4-5" higher and xfer case losses.

Still if you expected more the 23 your expections were wrong.

[Frank Lee]

You can check ratios by jacking up the axle and turning shafts and counting how other shafts turn.

[mcrews]

It's not the dealer.....it's toyota!

If you REALLY have the wrong gear, then the sales contract is void. Toyota misrepresented the vehicle.
Call the owner or GM. Exdplain the facts. tell him your not 'blaming him' for misrepresenting the car. BUT you want to talk to a regional rep from toyota.

[tjts1]

Did you notice the window sticker?
Fuel Economy of the 2011 Toyota Tacoma 4WD

[Rick323]

I'd say it's mostly the saleman's fault, he should have known Toyota didn't sell 4cyl 4x4 with 3.31 gears (I'm pretty sure Toyota (or anyone) doesn't make 3.31 gears for the front axle). Toyota is to blame for the wrong door jam sticker. What did the window sticker say?

Unfortunetly, most salesmen don't have a clue about the vehicles drivetrain they sell. They know cup holdes, seat adjustment, sun visers etc .....

[mcrews]

Originally Posted by Rick323

I'd say it's mostly the saleman's fault, he should have known Toyota didn't sell 4cyl 4x4 with 3.31 gears (I'm pretty sure Toyota (or anyone) doesn't make 3.31 gears for the front axle). Toyota is to blame for the wrong door jam sticker. What did the window sticker say?

Unfortunetly, most salesmen don't have a clue about the vehicles drivetrain they sell. They know cup holdes, seat adjustment, sun visers etc .....

What?
toyota has the wrong door sticker and it's the saleman's fault for "not knowing"???

get a grip.
1. why the jump to place blame on the salesman....that's gonna get the problem fixed????
2.The sticker is wrong. That's a manufacture problem.
3. And since the internet wasnt invented yesterday, more than 1/2 the blame goes to the op. He tells us he bought a 4x4 for GOOD GAS MILEAGE!!!!!!????
4. And he did ZERO research to confirm his information??????
5. He knew what he wanted....AND IN 2011....he put all his faith in a salesman......please......help me here.