Very dissappointed in test drive

After already deciding on my new truck (2017 4 door SR5 4x4 metallic gray) I test drove one yesterday. The non-stop shifting of the auto. was completely unbearable. It was to the point that I was glad that the test drive was over. Right now I am totally bummed out.

I don't want to switch brands and don't want a Tundra. Is an OR with a manual trans. going to be the way to go? How is towing with this configuration?

I have an auto in my '13 and have loved it. The auto in the test drive simply SUCKED. I've read about some with issues and it seems they are for real. Is it possible that a different one will be ok?

Thanks for help.

 

The transmission learning PID on a brand new lot truck is going to be shit and will definitely suck. The transmission needs to learn driving habit and have time to build a shift curve based on driving style. My truck shifts great.

 

manual trans yes, the only way to ever go!, towing with a manual trans if Far Superior compared to towing with an automatic...

I understand what you are saying, but paying brand new car money and having to let the car get used to you with time just sounds terrible...
these days processors learns much quicker than that.

 

In the words of Car and Driver... "If a manual transmission doesn't improve your driving experience you are driving the wrong vehicle".

 

Ok, but I want to know about the manual as far as towing, etc. I can get an OR with a manual for roughly the same price as the SR5 with auto.

 

Don't do it!

Keep your nice running and reliable 2nd gen. If you trade for a 3rd gen, expect a boatload of regret.

Just read all the recall/problems/issues in the 3rd gen section, and perhaps wait a while until Toyota gets them fixed, if ever.

 

I mean, my train of thought would be just look at the majority of tractor trailers.. they can control their gears much better with a manual.

and look at all the new tractor trailers with automatics and how many are laid up because some crap sensor is toast and the waiting time for repair and or replace is months

nobody likes their vehicle laid up out of service for months...

 

possibly you could find someone with a similar truck with 5K miles on it and give it a try. Even then, if the shifting was acceptable, you might not like the smaller engine or the power band and shift mapping with the 3rd gen.

 

I bought my Tacoma last Tuesday, less than a week ago. I had test driven one, same truck but different color, a few days before that. On the test drive I found the truck response and shifting hesitant and sluggish. But toward the end of the ride I found that if I was a little more on it, gave it a bit more throttle when I wanted to move out from a stop or pick up the pace, rather than ease into it, the truck responded fairly well.

The one I bought is better, but I'm not sure that's the truck or me. I think it takes a while to grow accustomed to any unfamiliar vehicle. They all handle a little differently. I have no regrets and feel the automatic OR performs just fine. I have a Challenger SRT and yeah, that's a whole different animal, as one would expect. I didn't buy the OR expecting it to perform like a muscle car.

 

I have an MT and tow with it weekly. Friggin beast especially on the interstate. Just rev it to 3 or 3.5K and watch it pull.

I've had a 2nd gen and a 3rd gen. 2nd was great... but fell on it's face towing. The 3rd gen MT is perfect for the OP's needs.

 

I love my A/T works like a charm, great fuel economy but it can get bogie under heavy traffic maneuvering at times and to avoid it or for much better performance S Mode is the wtg winner.

I'm thinking Toyota could have design it to start in S mode and then shift to D mode automatically at speeds above 45mph and that would have made EVERYONE but the EPA happy.

Oh well, you can't win them all you know
Cheers

 

Keep what you have until it croaks. If you don't like the 3rd gen auto now, you probably won't like it much better when you are paying for it. Test drive a manual and see if that works better for you. If not, you have a solid truck now.

 

The little under powered 3.5 gas guzzler will always struggle lugging around 7/8 of a full size truck body.They keep making them bigger and cheaper.It's an American thing.

 

If you're able to get the SR5 auto and OR Manual, it is an absolute no-brainer to go with the OR. You will have complete control of the transmission. /Endthread

 

This is interesting. I'm aware of the learning curve of the engine/transmission on brand new vehicles, how does one drive during break-in to get the "best" shifting patterns? I typically drive light footed so if the above is true, I may need to drive it a bit harder for it to learn this way and (hopefully?) shift at slightly higher RPM between gears?

 

https://youtu.be/LpUaALo7oQI

Maybe this is more up your alley?

 

Hillarious response.
All the recalls ? A cps ? Did you sell your car when your airbag was recalled for replacement ?
Bolts on a diff need tightening. Wow.
If snowflake shi* like that bothers you, you need to be ubering. Don't buy any car.

Not one issue here.

 

OP read this again and again and again.....

True wisdom here.

Not everyone likes how the new AT drives, doesn't mean there's a problem with it but you should at least like it before buying.

I drove quite a few 2nd and 3rd gens, sometimes back to back before deciding on my 3rd gen, the truck just felt more refined. I've had my truck for 18 months now, no issues, no CPS or Diff recalls (or leaks) and have been very pleased with it and how it performs.

But what I like may not translate to what you like so if you don't like either transmission of the new truck, stay with the old truck you say you still love.