standard vs. automatic

so here I am about to plunk down 32 on a new vehicle which I intend to keep for many years.

about me: I drive about 10 miles to work and 10 back...I dont do an awful lot of highway driving but I do want to start taking weekend road trips this summer.

I have been driving a standard for quite a while...all 3 of my previous trucks and several other cars were standard.

I would like to relax for once in my life and not worry about shifting (and cruise control is a nice feature as well) but when I test drove a 2010 tacoma I found it feeling weird to be having the vehicle shift for me.

how is manual vs. automatic in a Tacoma in the snow?

are there any quirks to this model or toyota in general that i need to be aware of?

 

It is nice having the accelerator override pedal to the left of the brake pedal.
It is a Toyota after all...

I can never get used to having the car shift for me.

 

The auto is the best I have ever driven. It is very smooth and pulls better MPG's than the manual with lower RPM's on the highway. I say go with the auto. Works great in the snow too!!

 

the auto truck is higher geared, shifts smooth as butter gets slightly and i mean slightly better mpg.

The manual is usually bullet proof, a 6spd and is lowered geared, will pull a stump out of the ground in first and in 4lo.

 

The manual does come with cruise, so don't let that change your decision.

 

good lord...im actually considering TWO trucks just so I can get my manual fix

maybe that one can be my tricked out off roader

no wait, i need three....

 

I'd highly recommend you test drive them both.

I've always had manuals.... and I test drove both trucks. For some reason, the manual transmission isn't what I'm used to. Pushing the clutch in and the rpm's didn't drop - that bugged me BIG TIME.
I'm not about to buy something under the assumption *I'll get used to it*
No thanks.

I bought an Automatic and couldn't be happier. It's rated better MPG than the manual and I got the towing package which include transmission cooler.
Not that I ever planned to tow anything with this truck, but atleast I'm outfitted to tow (and IMO, automatics are better for towing).

 

I got the 08'DC OffRoad 6speed and love it ..... I have an V8 4 runner limited 2006 automatic for the wife , I drive the 4 runner for the dressed up look and the taco 6 speed for the fun and when i want to get nasty I drive the 1990 Toyota pu 5 speed 4x4 ....... if you want to relaxe and just drive get an automatic if you want to be part of the experince get the clutch............ Enjoy !!!!!!!!!

 

yeah, i test drove a double cab (i have no intention of a double cab but thats what they had on hand to show me) last weekend in automatic....ill test drive an access cab manual on thursday.

this was in the heavy rain last saturday us northeasters got, and as i was exiting the highway and coming down the access ramp i felt a little shimmy in the front end....perhaps it was the antilock brakes pumping. i dunno...but it sure felt weird to be in an automatic, im so used to my right hand doing something.

maybe this will be nice for road trips (once I put a camper on it)

 

When the anti-lock brakes kick in, you'll know it.

If you're getting older (like me, laugh)...it'll be easier on the knees.

I think the only real weird thing about the automatic is getting used to the lack of 'slowing down' when you let off the gas. Although, these Automatics slow down much better than any other Auto I've driven....

 

I too always drove a manual (standard) ... in all my Subarus, in my 1981 Celica and for the last 13 years in a 1986 4Runner. But when it came to buying a new Tacoma I ended up with an automatic.

My 4-cylinder, manual, stock 86 4runner weighed in around 3200 pounds. My v6 access cab Tacoma with shell is right around 4200. Big difference. And just given the laws of intertia, I found that the little bit of rollback with a clutch on inclines (I'm in the mountains) caused me to break the back end loose a lot more in the 2009 manual I was test driving than I ever did with my 1986. Especially on SNOW.

But the automatic is a pleasure to drive on snow, on ice, offroad. Not having to deal with rollback in a 4200 pound vehicle means much more traction on starts for me. If you live in a hilly place I'd say the same will apply for you.

So bottom line wait until you get some snow. Then go test drive both. Stop on an incline in both 2wd and 4hi and accelerate out. I think you'll find as I did that the auto is much better in such a case.

 

im only 2 years older than you....punk kid!

now i got a real dumb question....when stopping at a red light in an automatic, do you put it in neutral? or just keep your foot on the brake

 

I just keep my foot on the brake.

 

As everyone already answered ....foot on the brake.

Put it in *D* and just drive.

Since you're so used to driving a manual....you'll probably accidentally put your left foot on the brake a couple times. Been there done that myself.
Hopefully you won't be going too fast when you do it...

 

I have never owned an automatic, and have lived on both the NW and NE during the winter. I've had Tundras and Tacomas, (1st and 2nd Gen) and have never had a problem on snow with them, with the right tires of course. I will never own automatic unless I cannot physically drive a manual. For me there is no other. I like to feel as one with my vehicles and with so much electronics going into newer cars, I feel this is one of the things I cannot compromise.

The choice is yours. There is a reason it's called a MANual.

 

It should only be up to you.
The biggest advantage of the automatic if the ease of getting a autostart,
which i find very nice now.

 

oh yeah....those are nice in the wintertime

 

The only use I see for manual transmissions in the modern world is performance/driving fun vehicles, i.e. ponycars, exotics, roadsters.

For these trucks, auto makes daily driving a breeze and the gated shifter which allows selection of EVERY gear gives you all the control you need for off road driving.