Manual vs Automatic

YES

 

I did it, lost a few grand in taxes, but couldn't be happier. But I'm at a point in my life where I could absorb it without putting myself in a bind. Just be realistic about your financial situation.

 

Ironic no one trades their MT for AT

 

I've driven 500 miles so far and have enjoyed every one of them! Only issue so far is learning the clutch engaged/disengaged position. I've never driven an MT vehicle that was brand new off the showroom floor. I don't like feeling that gentle "thud" in the driveline as I bring the clutch out in the higher gears, nor being able to see my wife bobble-head out of the corner of my eye...

Guess I have a good excuse to keep driving... practice!

 

*Toyota Corporate* "Hey we've got all these teeth and no toothbrush MT parts and no-one wants them. Lets put out a really crappy auto. People will trade them in for MT trucks and we get them going both ways. Profit!"

 

I would like to know as well, I've looked endlessly. I had a TRD special edition fj , wish I would have pulled that nob but I wanted to leave it unmolested when I sold it.

 

So hooked up the trailer and zipped up and down I-135. Granted it was empty, but even doing 70 in 6th I was getting at least 15mpg. Pretty good for a six ft wide box that's nearly 8ft tall!

 

Maybe have this guy make one? His prices seen reasonable...

http://stores.ebay.com/Twisted-Shifterz-Custom-Shift-Knobs?_trksid=p2047675.l2563

 

Manual is good but it is not as popular as the auto. Yes there have been some that traded their auto for a manual but in the overall picture there definitely is a lot more satisfied auto owners out there or we all would be lining up to get the manual. I don't bad mouth the manual or the auto I think both or good trucks and each has an advantage over the other. I dont know what the ratio of manual owners to auto owners but say it is 1 manual sold to every 100 auto solds. The ratio definitely is highly skewed which would lend to the auto being traded in for a manual more so then manual traded for an auto.

 

Well, an automatic works for most people, so thats what most people get. An automatic 3rd gen wasn't going to work for me the way the 2nd gen auto did, so I went for a stick. What a lot of people are beginning to find out is that the new auto doesn't work for them either.

I don't think there will ever be a massive automatic exodus, but I do think that even Toyota can't deny that their new engine/transmission combo isn't the "one size fits all" that the 2nd gen's were. Case in point... I went to 3 dealers. All three said "why do you want the stick?" I said "I tow and I've been hearing several complaints on the gear ratios of the new ones." Not a single salesperson tried to argue with me or prove to me otherwise.

You're right... there are advantages to both. From where I'm sitting, the advantages of a stick far outweighed the advantages of an auto and I'm thinking that this is becoming the case for a lot more people than before.

 

No way is it only 1 percent, I think the national average of all vehicles is 6 or 7 percent so I would expect an enthusiast vehicle like the Tacoma to be a little higher.

 

if you can make that move without adding financial (or any other) stress, then i would say to do it. I'm really enjoying driving this truck. i have it setup perfect for me, and the MT is at the center.

i was flying through a winding dirt road through the hills yesterday, and doing that in the MT was one of the most engaging drives I've had in a long time. there's a lot of feel to be had on this truck with the MT... don't miss out.

 

Finally picked up my 6MT. After reading all the positive reviews, and test driving the auto, I went for the 6Mt without test driving. Surprisingly it feels a lot like ny old 2000 6MT which was fun in its own way. Heel toe shifting is super easy because of the rev hang lol. I was expecting a much different experience but it's still great for a truck. It's a much more "normal" driving experience compared to the auto.

 

That is a NICE looking pickup!

 

Nice truck, where did you get it if you don't mind me asking. I think I recognize the dealership

 

Where are your payments at, if you don't mind me asking?

 

I picked it up at Toyota of Saco Maine. It only took about 45 min or so and I was out. No discounts though.

 

The automatic definitely shifts early, probably programmed that way for fuel economy. I use sport shift when I want to control when it shifts like when merging on the highway. A lot of NH on-ramps are up hill so doing it that way is helpful.

 

That's what I thought, Prime