Automatics...why so few?

[Newtstaco]

I just bought an 05 PreRunner Access Cab w/4 cyl. 5 spd.

I really wanted to to try and test drive an automatic. But I could not find a Tacoma Access Cab (not a PreRunner) 4 cyl. automatic in decent shape with low miles.

Should I have waited for one to come up for sale?

Are the Tacomas with automatics that rare, hard to find?

Anyone test drive a Tacoma an automatic and a 5 spd. before buying one?

[mainerinexile]

5 Speeds are more fun to drive than automatics, but I thought Toyota made more autos than manuals, so I don't know why you can't find an auto.

[genxer36]

Originally Posted by Newtstaco

I just bought an 05 PreRunner Access Cab w/4 cyl. 5 spd.

I really wanted to to try and test drive an automatic. But I could not find a Tacoma Access Cab (not a PreRunner) 4 cyl. automatic in decent shape with low miles.

Should I have waited for one to come up for sale?

Are the Tacomas with automatics that rare, hard to find?

Anyone test drive a Tacoma an automatic and a 5 spd. before buying one?

Maybe the reason is owners of automatics don't want to part with them. And the 5 speed owners are tired of driving them. Also the truck you bought is the most sought after used vehicle.
2005 Toyota Tacoma according to Edmunds.com

Originally Posted by mainerinexile

5 Speeds are more fun to drive than automatics, but I thought Toyota made more autos than manuals, so I don't know why you can't find an auto.

Why do people say they are more fun to drive? Just curious what makes it fun. I had a 5 speed & sitting in bumper to bumper traffic during a commute on a daily basis, is not fun at all. That is why I gave up on 5 speeds & have had automatics ever since.

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by genxer36

Why do people say they are more fun to drive? Just curious what makes it fun. I had a 5 speed & sitting in bumper to bumper traffic during a commute on a daily basis, is not fun at all. That is why I gave up on 5 speeds & have had automatics ever since.

Personal preference. Some people like to shift gears and decide when the transmission shifts instead of letting the computer do it for them. I personally like driving a vehicle with a manual transmission and do think its more fun, but there are also instances where a stickshift can be a pain and an automatic has it's advantages (such as when backing up a trailer or when doing slow-speed off-road driving).
As to why the OP couldnt find an auto-tranny Tacoma, good question. About a month ago I called around to several Toyota dealers in my area, inquiring about a base model 4x2 reg cab Tacoma with a 5-speed manual tranny and there were only 2 Tacomas within a 500-mile radius of where I live and both of them were automatics. All 3 salesmen informed me that most Tacomas nowdays are built with automatic transmissions and that I would likely have a difficult time finding one with a 5-speed.
Part of me thinks they just wanted to sell a truck that was already sitting on someone's lot as opposed to requesting one with a 5-speed from Toyota or making me wait for an '09, but I could be wrong. The car market has definetly shifted away from manual transmissions.

[CometKat]

Originally Posted by genxer36

Why do people say they are more fun to drive? Just curious what makes it fun. I had a 5 speed & sitting in bumper to bumper traffic during a commute on a daily basis, is not fun at all. That is why I gave up on 5 speeds & have had automatics ever since.

It’s a question of whether you enjoy driving or whether your truck is just a transportation device. People that enjoy driving like to shift their own gears because it enhances the experience. This would pertain to driving on a road vs. off-road. Of course if all you do is commute in traffic there is no chance to have fun driving so you might as well get an automatic

[Newtstaco]

I saw more than a few ads for REGULAR CAB Tacomas with automatics. However, I just did a search on AutoTrader, 500 mile radius, for Access Cab Tacomas and came up with less than 5 total. Probably a 3-1 ratio of Regular cabs over Access cabs.

Anyone here drive an Access Cab automatic?

[genxer36]

Originally Posted by Bakemono

Personal preference. Some people like to shift gears and decide when the transmission shifts instead of letting the computer do it for them. I personally like driving a vehicle with a manual transmission and do think its more fun, but there are also instances where a stickshift can be a pain and an automatic has it's advantages (such as when backing up a trailer or when doing slow-speed off-road driving).
As to why the OP couldnt find an auto-tranny Tacoma, good question. About a month ago I called around to several Toyota dealers in my area, inquiring about a base model 4x2 reg cab Tacoma with a 5-speed manual tranny and there were only 2 Tacomas within a 500-mile radius of where I live and both of them were automatics. All 3 salesmen informed me that most Tacomas nowdays are built with automatic transmissions and that I would likely have a difficult time finding one with a 5-speed.
Part of me thinks they just wanted to sell a truck that was already sitting on someone's lot as opposed to requesting one with a 5-speed from Toyota or making me wait for an '09, but I could be wrong. The car market has definetly shifted away from manual transmissions.

+1 for you on why to drive a 5 speed. Thanks

[gm3bow]

I drive an access cab automatic. I've driven my dad's 07 reg cab manual i4 (awesome lil' truck), and i feel pretty even about both tranny's. My taco's got pep, though I do wish I had a manual tranny when I hit hills. I love my taco.

[Bakemono]

A manual transmission is only as good as the person driving it. A manual transmission aint worth a thing if the driver doesnt know when to shift and how to smoothly and quickly shift from one gear to the next.
If you dont time your shifts correctly and you either lug the engine or rev each gear out too far, you wont get the best possible milage.

[Newtstaco]

Does anyone know what the production numbers are for Tacoma 5 spds and automatics (excluding PreRunners, 4X4'S, AND DC's)?

[350TacoZilla]

give me a call in 300K and let me know how many auto trannies you have went through at $2000 a piece vs us manual guys and our clutch replacements at $200 a piece LOL I love manuals...but one nice thing for auto's is any idiot can drive them...and with the way people drive anymore thats why auto's are more popular. honestly I bought my ex a 99 tacoma 4cyl 4x4 auto reg cab...buddy of mine has 98 4x4 auto 4cyl reg cab... girlfriends dad has 99 4cyl auto ext cab... around here there are more auto's than 5spd's I drove 200 miles to get my truck cause it was a manual ...also ALL the 1st gen double cabs are auto's and it sucks cause i wanted one at first..but I dont want an auto as my daily driver

[Bakemono]

Well, with all the issues Toyota is having with the 5-speed and 6-speed manual transmissions, I think Id bet my money on the automatic.

[SilverMac]

I've had both. Manuals are fun... in sports cars. Not bad on the open road, either. There is no place in the DFW Metroplex that driving a manual is fun (too much traffic)... The auto is just as fast, gets better gas mileage, and is warrantied. I'm just too damn old to keep shifting, I guess. I really like this auto compared to many I have driven.

[05TacoTRD]

They don't make a 4cyl Prerunner in Auto.

Also, I'm pretty sure the Auto V6 is faster than the manual V6.

[350TacoZilla]

hmmm usually manuals get better mpg than autos and I heard about them having problems with the 6 speed but never the 5 speeds from first gens

[bdub85]

The only time I enjoy a manual is on a race track. Driving on the baltimore/washington parkway(shit ton of traffic) daily with a manual really sucks. If there wasn't so much traffic around here, I would have a 6 speed taco.

[tmantstud]

My 98 2.4L 5spd. kicks but against all the other auto tacomas that my friends have. I get 30 Mpg! because most of my driving is country 55mph. roads with no stops. My truck has 250,000 miles and still runs strong with an original clutch, no slipping or problems. I enjoy driving a manual much more than an auto. Any monkey can drive an automatic but to truly experience your truck and become a better driver a manual is the way to go. With a manual i feel that i have more control of the truck at all times, especially in bad weather.

[Bakemono]

Originally Posted by 350TacoZilla

hmmm usually manuals get better mpg than autos and I heard about them having problems with the 6 speed but never the 5 speeds from first gens

On the '05+ Tacomas they are having issues with the throwout bearings going bad and they also have issues with a casting flaw on the output shaft of the transmission.
Check out the '05+ Tacoma section of Toyota Nation. The manual tranny issues are well-documented.

[tmantstud]

My bearings are just starting to get a little stiff and worn out but mostly just in the reverse, 1st, and 2nd gears. They're not bad enough to worry about yet

[350TacoZilla]

05+ would be the problems with the 6 speeds...not 1st gens 5 spd...