Make an Argument for Manual Trans

Only true "shiftable" autos are cars with SMG (BMW M, GTR, Ferrari, Porsche, Audi, some VW,etc).

Definitely not the one in the Tacoma.

 

I test drove an AT Tacoma. It made bad choices on when to shift and the TQ didn't lock up. It was the one bad part of the test drive. I got an MT.

But who knows. You may love the AT. It's impossible to say without a test drive.

 

Side note: If my body was healthy I would have gotten a manual dispite the other reasons that I got the auto. Manual In my opinion is always better for back country because you can bump start (also control level is > auto).

 

That last statement is something I've never understood.

I've driven manual rockbuggies (200something:1 low range), manual built 85 4Runner, manual jeeps, and now an auto Tacoma.

The Tacoma doesn't have any less of this "control" than the manuals did. It's just a hell of a lot easier on difficult stuff.

 

Damn and you never see those let alone clean. Proper looking weapon man. My jdm boner is so impossibly hard right now. Do you slide that bad bitch?

 

He means exactly what he said. It's not at all the same thing as a dual clutch. Again, it's not "select a gear". If you put it in S6 it does not stay in 6th gear. Try it next time you are in your truck. S6 is the same as D. It will shift automatically like it always does.

S mode limits the highest gear. As in it will not shift to 5th or 6th when in S4 but it will shift between 1,2,3 and 4 as it pleases.

The purpose of it is for towing to keep it out of overdrive gears that will lug the engine when it's under load. It is not in any way shape or form a "sport mode" that is there for auto drivers to have fun shifting manually with.

 

I wanted the TRD OFF-ROAD with no intention of wheeling it.

I got the Sport because I needed an access cab and manual.

The point for me is short spurts of off road when necessary. The oh shit I need to get over there kind of stuff. I use it to haul my dirt bike around too. Most places I end up parking are a little bit off the road.

 

I used to competitively drift my Toyota Cressida. I sold it years ago and went to engineering school. I dont really drift the soarer at events, but dick around a little bit here and there. Once i get more suspension stuff ill probably drift it more.

Here is a video of it when it was still on stock twins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUZj27BoJPI

 

No locker, no thanks.

 

Hmmmm I only used it as an engine brake when crawling down and uphill. I never had it shift on me. But I will give it another go around.

Besides my confusion as to what my truck actually did. What you wrote makes complete sense (why not call it T mode then?).

Perhaps my truck never shifted because I never brought the rpms high enough? Wheel speed perhaps?

 

I think the S stands for Sequential

 

Jz is such a fantastic powerplant. Very sad I have not had anything with one yet. Tacoma 2jz big turbo swap when I longtravel this bitch?

 

Not if youre keeping it AUTO.

 

Well even that is a stretch too. I think about rally dog boxes when that word is thrown around.

Perhaps my truck never shifted because I never brought the rpms high enough? Wheel speed perhaps? I was just crawling. Only gave it small amount of throttle to get over rocks.

I mean you can totally have an auto with that engine. But, no if I go full retard on this build it will be a manual.

 

If you are stopped and have your truck in s4 and press the gas, the truck will move but be in 1st gear not 4th. It will shift up to 4th and no more.

If I am stopped and shift my truck into 4th press the gas and release the clutch pedal, I look stupid as I stalk and go no where.

 

I got bad knees and a bad back. Thats

Gonna have to play with it more. I used it only a handful of times for crawling (me no have the fancy control).

But your truck will make cool bogging noises and turn off without pushing the button! How neat is that! Everyone loves being the one to stall at a green light all the cool kids do it.

 

The manual trans with the V6 was smooth and shifted very easily. 2nd/3rd could be a little notchy but some cars/jeeps/trucks are just like that. I never had the impression there was an issue and i have felt the same sort of behavior in other vehicles that have gone well over 100k miles.

The engine management pissed me off to no end though. The rev hang if you don't shift it just right can be brutal, and the engine management at lower RPM's sucked big time. You HAVE to drive the truck like a sports car, you need to wind out the gears due to the torque/power curve. Also the engine braking completely stops at ~1500 rpm which becomes incredibly annoying when pulling into a driveway in 2nd. It makes it look like you dont know how to use your brakes, the truck jerks.

You need to drive it and see if you like it. It wasn't for me, but it wasnt the transmission that did me in, it was the engine it was paired with. I have a couple early 2000 era manual transmission vehicles now and it is so refreshing transmission/engine wise.

If you are absolutely set on a 3rd gen Tacoma though and it is all you are looking at, hands down go with the manual instead of auto.

 

Oh I don't got no stinking fancy button,good old key

 

What's interesting to me is, with the FJ Cruiser, the manual version had a torsen center diff which is why it was full time 4wd. I guess with the tacomas the transfer case is the same either way.

 

Limited-Slip Differential.