Always Had A Manual Transmission.. Can You Tell Me Your 3rd Gen Automatic Experiences?

My 2002 TRD 4x4 SR5 5-speed extended cab has been flawless. It has 172,000 miles and still has the original clutch and brakes.

We live in the mountains of Colorado and I use the transmission for deceleration pretty much always.

We do a bit of hauling with a 5' x 10' tilt trailer. Not very often, just mostly for hauling lumber and such from Home Depot for around the house and property projects.

I've been building new Tacoma's on the Toyota site and it appears the 6-speed manual is only available on the Sport model.

So maybe it's time for me to try an automatic?

If you'd be so kind to give me the brutal God's honest truth about your experience with 3rd gen Tacoma 4x4 automatics it would be very helpful.

Stuff like:

• Automatic Transmission use and maintenance issues,
• How long your brakes have lasted,
• Does Toyota have features built in that allows the automatic to slow down the vehicle... or is that "verboten",
• Any issues towing,
• Is there a towing package that I should be looking at?

That kind of stuff.​

I'm 58 years old and I've got my barn set-up with a 2 post lift... so I pretty much do most maintenance myself.... but that hasn't been much. The 17 year old '02 is pretty much factory fresh except for fluids, tires and filters.

Thanks in advance!

John

 

Do you need an access cab (AC+MT=Sport only in the states)? Otherwise the Toyota site will only let you build whats nearby, there might not be any DCSB OR nearby. You can get a dealer to find you a double cab OR if thats what you want.

Other than that, I have a MT but I can tell you that the AT does have a top gear limiter, so you could shift it to prevent it from shifting into 5,6,etc which will help with engine braking. Towing seems like it would be easier with the AT on this truck, MT reverse gear is killer. Backing any load up a hill would not be fun. I dont know as far as brakes go, but Im sure its within the normal expected life either way. Could be 50k could be much more, depends on your habits.

 

No issues with mine

 

Honestly it's different in the way it shifts from other automatics. Not bad but DIFFERENT. Some of what you want to know can only be answered by you after an extended test drive. I have had no issues towing. I believe all 2019 v6 Tacoma's come with the towing package standard.

 

I don't want to blame one specific component (ie the transmission) but the entire drivetrain system (Engine, Transmission, Rear End Gearing, Software) makes the truck feel incredibly weak until you're at/past 4k RPMs. Im talking about an 80 year old with COPD weak unless you're high in the RPM band. You can help this to some extent in S mode and/or using the ECT button but to just put it in drive can be very frustrating at certain times.

For example, today on the highway I was in D going 65. I gave it about 40% more throttle and literally the truck did nothing, just sputters like it can't get air - then it downshifts and goes from 1100 RPM to 4k RPM and you feel it move.

I have considered OVTune but honestly, with thousands of posts I don't feel like diving into that thread yet.

 

I like mine. I test drove it and knew what I was getting into. The power is there when you need it. With that said, I prefer the auto on my 2010.

 

Let me help you then, the jist of those thousands of posts is to buy it. Especially for what you mentioned.

 

there are happier MT owners, than AT owners.

 

I was avoiding this, but you lit the fire. I cant disagree with you.

 

Ironically enough, driving an hour on the highway in D I got 16.2 avg mpg when I got to my destination. On the way home, I put it in S5 with a few patches in S4, got 18 avg mpg.

 

Hey OP, Toyota offers a manual tranny in the TRD Off Road as well. I purchased one 3 months ago from Stevinson in Golden.

Try searching cars.com to find available MT's or simply call your dealer. I just so happened to stop by the dealer to find they had 2 MT's that weren't even listed on there own website yet.

 

Haha.. I don’t necessarily hate, nor love my AT but it could be better. But you can’t deny that there’s like 100 angry AT posts vs 2 for the MT lol.

 

I used to drive all MT before I bought my '01 Tacoma. I got the double cab that year and they didn't offer manual for that. It was the only thing that disappointed me about that truck.

I always used engine brake in manual. The '01 went through brakes pretty quick from what I previously experienced. Towing was never a problem with it either. I didn't tow anything really big with it either.

Fast forward to my '19. I was going to get MT but was really on the fence about it. The final decision to actually go with AT was just in case my wife needed to drive it. One big thing that I noticed is that the '19 does engine braking a lot more than my previous truck. You will really have to give it a test drive to find that out.

As for brakes and towing, I will need a little more time to see if there is any difference.

By the way, you can also get the Off Road with MT. You just have to configure it with the short bed. If you are willing to spend a bit more. The TRD Pro also comes standard with MT. Just none of the dealers are ordering it with MT.

 

I like the Auto trans for a smallish truck. When I'm light, driving around on dirt roads, city streets and hiways is a nice experience. When I'm heavy with firewood, I use S2 to crawl down steep slopes with lots of engine braking at speeds under, say, 40mph. S1 and GAS PEDAL will blast up lots of steep stuff.
The only irritating thing is the no tranny dipstick, and the picky temperature window you check fluid level in.
I wish Toyota had made any fluid temps available easy to see on some computer screen on the dash.
I'm liking the auto trans, and have no real complaints.

 

Bought a 2016 auto TRD OR. Drove it 50,000 miles. Now I drive a 2017 6MT TRD OR. I should have bought the manual from the start. It is better in every way than the auto.



Just checked my brakes the other week with 84,000 on the clock. This includes about 5,000 miles of towing all around the country. Towing in the auto was painful, for any regular towing I HIGHLY recommend the manual. The gearing is much better suited for it.


Buy the manual. You won’t regret it. I’m the only one around here that’s out significant miles on BOTH drive trains so let me know if there’s anything you want to know.

 

Come on in (waves his hand), the water's fine.

 

AT here and absolutely no regrets. Down shifts on its own when you slow down to decrease speed even more. Faultless.

 

After the reflash the auto isn't quite as terrible as it was.

 

The real question is, why do you want to get rid of your first gen?

 

I installed a used shiftsense pro. Night and day enjoyment.