Manual or auto?

understand about the DCLB option. LB is a big deal for some folk. i use a bed extender and it's great but it's not the same thing.

one more thing to say: i have seen MT owners talk about how fun the MT is over and over. since i've been on this forum i've still never seen one AT driver say it's fun like that. pretty sure i'm missing some raves tho.

 

Depends how good you are with a manual. If you're good, manual.

 

On the flipside I worry about a a branch or cornstalk snagging a tranny cooler line... and there ya sit.

 

Just bought a brand new TRD OR Long bed 2 weeks ago in auto. This being the first vehicle I have ever owned in auto ( did it for family reasons ) I hate it. I can not stand the way it shifts. I DO really love the truck but the shifting is an issue for me. I have about 500 miles on the truck now and still considering going back and getting a MT. The only issue is if I remember correctly you can not get a TRD OR in long bed in MT. real bummer.

To answer your question go MT always.

 

I really need to drive a AT model. Do they suck this much, or do folks go into after reading the forum looking for issues, or they really do suck?

 

Coming from an owner with an auto, it does not have as many issues as it seems. I know some think I am giving up my mancard for an auto, but you get in bumper to bumper traffic for hours and let us know how it works out for you. People are impatient. I understand it learns your driving, but I learned to drive it first. Large majority of owners have no problem. When people wine they get attention.

 

Well, I've broken my bones, but never snagged a trans cooler line. It's behind the skid plate anyway.

Issue is overblown. Mine drives quite nice. As did all the others I test drove.

 

Stop and go does suck with a manual, been there done that.

Working in a small town (pop 6000) and living in the county fixed that problem.

Never done either.

 

Oh and I use to have a manual s10 4.3 posy rear end

 

For 4.5yrs, I had a 40mi / 1.5hr or so commute that was mostly bumper to bumper. I was wayyyy happier the MT car that I had than in the automatic. The Taco has an even better 1st gear for crawling along in traffic. When I've been in stop-n-go traffic with it, I was working the clutch about half as much as I would have been in the car.

That's just me though.

 

That's just me though.[/QUOTE]

Everyone is different. Try that shit in Jacksonville traffic, and you will buy an auto. Truth

 

If you have even the slightest interest in the manual, definitely the way to go. I’ve put a lot of miles on both and the manual is definitely my preference.

 

I do have a tendency to break bones/ligaments haha. I’ll need to have knee surgery next year probably haha. That is a good point. also if other people need to drive is another point although the majority of people I know drive manuals.

I’ve driven car manuals my whole life. Stuck in Cali traffic sucks but now I’m in Seattle and don’t drive much so it wouldn’t be too bad

 

I do not have traffic to contend with and the closest stop light is about 8 miles away. Of course I drive through it on my commute, but maybe have 5 cars there at a busy day. If I had a stop and go commute there is no way would I have gone with a MT, been there done that for years. I chose to live in a country town of ~1600 folks because I hated cities (lived in Seattle).

 

I have a manual and live in Los Angeles...done it for the past 13 years. I don't think I have to describe what LA traffic can be like...I've driven my fair share of bumper to bumper. I'd still take the manual over an auto...I've never hated traffic any more or any less due to the clutch. I've driven it for so long it's just a part of the experience, I don't ever do it and think "man this would be better if I didn't have to work a clutch".

I do too much driving on a daily basis to not enjoy doing it, and having a manual makes it that much more enjoyable for me. Plus, my truck is also my recreational vehicle (offroading) and driving a manual offroad is far more rewarding in my experience than doing it in an auto. For people that see it as a chore, well that's what an auto trans is for I guess. Different stroke for different folks.

 

"Driving in traffic sucks. Driving in traffic with a MT sucks less."
~ @BeaverNation

 

Manual tows great. 5th gear is going to work well for that 3-4K lb range on level ground. If you regularly tow more than that, you should consider full size. Reverse is a bit high geared. That is my single complaint about the 6M transmission.

I towed 3,500lbs of Jeep and car dolly for 2,500 miles this past summer. Averaged just under 15MPG and did most of the towing in 5th until I got to the steep mountain passes.

I tow 1,000 lbs of trailer and 2 motorcycles and it stays in 6th getting 18+MPG.

I wouldn't own a 3rd Gen with AT from all the crap i have seen on here.

 

Some day, I will live on a 100 acre property in MT and ride around in a MT Taco...in my straw hat and Carhartt overalls. Until then, it's auto for me.

 

Towed 4000 lb camper for 5 camping trips and no issues. Actually like it better loaded down because it doesnt hesitate/bog in first 3 gears and power delivery is smoother.

 

exactly, lol.

If life sticks me into a shitty situation I can't control (like traffic), at the very least I know I can still control my truck.

Maybe I'm just a control freak