auto love?

An AT is fine, and I've owned several. But I tow and prefer the lower gearing of the MT Tacoma.

 

Manuals are definitely more fun. I've only driven and owned manuals for the last 25 years. I traded an S2000 for my Taco so even in a manual configuration the Taco would've felt pretty agricultural in comparison. That doesn't mean it's bad, just polar opposite. I also had to consider my wife's input since she drives it from time to time so an auto made sense for a few reasons. Another reason I considered was mobility now and in the future, as we fully intend to keep this truck for a very long time. I still enjoy driving manuals, but probably would only buy one in a sports car now, even though it's more for the engagement of driving than actual performance as modern autos are not the sacrifice they used to be.

 

I never was bothered by the traffic, drove in the best/worst of them.

But when I sprained my left foot at the gym and had to learn how to drive without clutching, that was my reality check.
And without a spare AT vehicle at the time, that was the end of FuN and a more sobering approach on how to select my next vehicle and one the wife could also drive in a pinch.

 

I drove a manual for years. Fun as hell, but I need convenience.

 

amen

 

I have 3 neighbors with 3rd gen tacomas; 1 had a 1st gen with 350k miles on it before trading it in. Every single one of them loved their trucks. Also all 3 did not go on tacomaworld lol.

 

I wanted a manual, I miss driving a stick. I wanted a double cab long bed though, and that was a non negotiable so I was stuck with auto. They drive fine, The only 2 things I didn't like was on the highway with cruise on, it dropped to 4th way to eagerly, but without cruise it held 5th/6th fine. That, and the learning that the tranny does was killing me... My commute to work consists of 3 miles of 25mph streets, and the tranny learned this as my driving style. As a result it would rush into 6th and just bog when I drove outside of my typical commute. I got OVtune to correct that.

 

Another vote for manual. Easier to repair. Fun to drive.
If you know how to drive a manual pretty good then you won't be shifting too many gears in traffic (nyc traffic).
Personally, if weather permits and traffic is expected then I just use my motorcycle most of the time, which again of course is also manual(Yamaha WR250X).
There's nothing wrong with automatics except when there is. They are obviously costly to repair. If you are in the transportation industry then it might be worth it to have an auto but for daily local driving or vacation trips manual is my choice. I don't off road much because there aren't many places nearby unless it snows. I'd pick the manual for off-road journeys too!

 

In my book this is yet another reason to not have a manual. I want the thief as far away from me as quickly as possible. Manual drivers will get to chat for a while with a pissed off thief with a gun about the value of being fully engaged with their driving. Let me know how that goes for you

 

After years of driving manuals, my last two Tacomas have been auto. Made the shift(no pun intended) to AT and never looked back. Love the convenience of it. The only way I would go back to a MT would be for a sports car, but don't feel the necessity of a MT in a truck. I haven't experienced any of the problems talked about here with the AT.
Also... I love my truck, just don't feel like I have to shouted to everybody or defend a transmission. Too old for that, lol and I'm happy with my choice

 

Noticed a lot of people comment about if it was a sports car, it would be more needed (a manual trans). I agree with this. I think with trucks they are more a utilitarian vehicle so the joy of driving isn't as fun as a quick car. What I really wanted to find out was if true, serious off roaders used manuals or autos. All because reading around it seemed 50/50 so wanted to see what you guys thought. I think back in the day manuals were more common on the off road scene, but after what people here are saying it seems its still split pretty well.

I think I'd feel a lot worse driving an automatic in a sports car. Thats a sin! Unless we're taking exotics or DSG equipped trannies.

 

You might think these trucks are only utilitarian but I can tell you they are fun to drive.

 

I should have said less fun than a sports car in manual. Manual is always fun!

 

I was set on getting a manual but in Canada we couldn't get the DCSB off-road in manual only in Access cab so i tried an auto one. I didnt really feel what everyone was complaining about, maybe only that it really doesnt want to get up and go when you press the pedal, you need to stomp it to get going. Ive driven my wifes Outback 3.6R with a cvt many times and the Taco didnt feel weird at all in its shifting patterns. So I waited to find a manual sport taco to try and boy was I unimpressed. Maybe its from only having driven cars with a stick and not trucks but that tranny is janky and clunky and it feels like shifting a bigrig I was really disapointed. So I tried the auto again but on a 2017 and I ended up buying it. ECT and sports mode make it better. The Taco auto really feels like it wants to be fuel efficient and maybe thats why people complain...

 

The reality is, the stick is dying out. So more old school guys are going to preach about it. Just like music. At 40, I'm finding myself starting to sound like an old man with the "whats this crap rock thats out nowadays... no one makes good music anymore". Which actually is true. New music SUCKS. Especially in the rock scene.

 

Also, whats with the transmission overheating thing off road? How legit is that? Only when doing some serious stuff?

 

Now he's quoting himself, I haven't looked to see if he "likes" his own quotes too...at least he got an avatar

 

Well, coming from a semi hard core off road group of friends, nobody gives 2 shits about your transmission. Seriously nobody.

 

Was a mistake, meant to edit it but thanks forum police

Oh, and nobody cares.