Auto or 6sp Manual

Nice TRD add ons.

One of the issues with the aftermarket air intakes is many cannot be accurately tested on a dyno because the “supposed” added HP doesn’t exceed the dynos standard deviation of error.

 

Well, he did ask.

 

I have an 18 pro and have the standard air filter.

 

Have the new Sport 6MT. Just hit 600 miles yesterday on it after getting it Monday. Highway at 65mph, I avg 22mpg. When I get up to 75mph, I'm getting 20mpg if I dont use cruise, 18mpg if I use cruise. Back roads here in Maine, extremely hilly, all 45-55mph roads, keeping it in either 5th or 6th, getting 26mpg.

The 1 thing I like about the MT over my 17 AT is I set cruise for whatever road I'm on, and no gear searching on hills as the auto did. It definitely has the torque to get the truck over the hills, so still has me thrown off that the AT would always shift on the same hills I'm driving on now. I understand the gearing difference, which might be the reason. Maybe people should regear their autos? Loving the change so far, and haven't regretted it at all.

Exhaust going in Monday (Stainless Magna flow, as the Flowmaster 40 sounded amazing till about 3500rpm, then sounded very tinny, and almost like a riced out Civic. Hated it above 3500rpm. Hopefully Magnaflow sounds better. If not, Hello Borla)

The clutch is definitely a little odd, but only took me a couple days to get used to it, and now no issues. My fiance, who's only ever owned MTs till her T4R Pro we got her in March has a hard time driving the truck, (laugh my ass off every time she tries to put into reverse, she's never had a 6spd, and the R location throws her off bad) and yes, R gearing. Wtf Toyota? No purpose for me needing to go 25mph in reverse at just above idle to back into my driveway.

As for heavy traffic, idle in 1st gear, speedo won't even move, just crawls along, no bucking or issues at all. Actually surprised how well it worked in 1st at extremely low speeds. Much Better than any past MT I've owned. I do need to check on the TSB though. Stepping on throttle at low rpm, trucks a little doggy, around 3000rpm, feels like it loses all balls, then around 3700rpm, it's like a mini turbo kicks in and takes off. So odd and inconsistent. Hopefully the TSB addresses this. If not, hello OVTune Turbo when it's released.

 

I've driven MTs all my life and learned to drive on a three on the tree. I waited a month to get my tacoma so I could have the MT with the setup I wanted. I feel like I'm just a passenger driving an AT. That said, there are times I'm feeling lazy or in traffic where I wish there was an automatic button.

 

The MT will be alot more of a fun experience. If your on the highway or drive alot and are worried about MPG the Auto would probably be better long term choice.

 

If only the DCLB could be gotten with a manual transmission. This is my very first car with an automatic and I have no issues at all with the AT. I actually love it and use S mode where appropriate. Once the transmission settled in it's been quite nice, and all that shifting everyone complains about generally keeps the RPMs where they need to be. Still have the '88 Carrera in the garage for when I need to shift. Oddly, or maybe not, the power bands on both engines are relatively the same - 3500-6000 but driving conservatively, the Tacoma rarely goes above 3K.

"If my knees weren’t so bad I would have the manual..miss my gen1 5speed..just me though.."

Dude, I drove both my manual transmission cars with bad knees for fifteen years, only on the old Toyota truck I rarely uses the clutch. Pretty only to start with. 300K on it when I sold and never an issue with the tranny or the synchros. My knees are now five years old and I couldn't be happier. Had a double total knee replacement and was driving within a month and now on the bicycle two or three days a week. If they're that bad and you're not too young it can be a life changing surgery.

 

I get the appeal of MT in a sports car or even a sporty car, but in a truck it might as well be an auto

 

It has its purposes. In snow, I prefer a manual in a truck. Gear changes are more predictable for accelerating in slippery weather. Same as off roading or mud. Won't downshift in middle of my trying to accelerate or keep wheels spinning when needed.

 

I agree. Especially in snow, you have a lot more control of the vehicle.

 

6 speed MT all day, I test drove both and had no hesitation in going with the manual.

 

You can also downshift with too much RPM and wash the rear end out which can make a manual extremely dangerous on a icy roads. This is especially true with high torque engines. My 7.3 Powerstroke has a 5 speed manual and it doesn't matter how low of RPM I'm in, downshifting makes the wheels lockup and skid so I have to put it in neutral and coast/brake to slow down when it's slick out.

 

Negatives and positives in both.

 

Pretty much how I feel. Only exception is my 7.3 Powerstroke because the automatics they offered back then were lackluster, problematic turds. If there was a way I could swap a Allison 6 speed auto in it you bet your lucky stars I would!

 

Oh I Agree completely. Amongst other things, for my initial statement to hold true, you would assume the person driving is proficient at matching revs and won’t be downshifting aggressively as to let the wheels slip. Also in a vehicle like you described, I can see how it would make things more complicated.

 

Some people don't get it, thus the automatic transmission. It's all good.

 

The way I look at it is this...

I would rather DRIVE my vehicle than just RIDE in it...

 

I go auto if u want the crawl control really cool feature can get you out of most

 

Maybe I'm just to cautious but I put auto's into neutral when slowing on ice as well. For me, on ice and snow, I prefer to have complete RPM control and the ability to feather the clutch or quickly remove power as a variable.

 

I have driven a 17 MT for almost 2 years now.

Here's the deal.

--Without the new OEM tune, the MT sucks.

--With the new OEM, the MT is actually great.

I feel the details of the garbage original tune have been spoken about on TW in atleast 1000 threads, so I am not going to elaborate.