Any negatives for the manual transmission

What are the perks for the stage 2 clutch?

 

Someday, I would like to feel the bite of the clutch. We'll see how long the stocker lasts.

 

You don't "gain" A-Trac on the MT vs the AT. The MTS (multi-terrain select) on the auto is renamed "A-Trac" on the MT and is still only available on the OR and Pro trims.

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/


Personally, I don't know if I'd get the MT with the tragic low end power the taco has.

 

Put an ARB. You can use it in 2wd 4hi and 4lo. The elocker can only be used in 4lo and are a little picky.

 

how about you get ATRAC instead of MTS? would that make you happy? You get ATRAC in the same trim that would have MTS/CRAWL in an auto. Also ATRAC has been around for many years before MTS. They do similar things but they are different systems, not just different names for the same thing.

The MT is geared much better for the powerband of the 3.5. Turns out, the MT can actually use 5th and 6th gear. The difference in gear ratios (both in the transmission and differentials) makes this a completely different truck between the two drivetrains.

 

A-trac and MTS are the exact same system and identical technology. MTS gives you adjustment of the effectiveness of the A-trac system, so it is superior, or at least more adjustable, in that way. All other aspects are 100% identical.

 

The only tragedy here is the tune that Toyota loaded on 3rd Gen. The engine is very good and capable with low end grunt when properly tuned.

 

I don't think we can split that hair any tighter?

 

more bite, feel, and easy modulation, less slip. way less.

 

Tomato/Potato

That's what I said.

They are tuned slightly different because of the different transmission, but they are the same principal and the same technology.

I know it has better gearing to compensate for the tragic powerband, but I still would rather have a torque converter. My old '88 F-150 with the 300-6 was great with a 5sp because had the powerband of a cummins (obviously this is an exaggeration, but you get the point). I suspect this anemic little 3.5 would drive me mad under any condition that isn't flat, unladen commuting. I'm sure it's because I'm used to driving vehicles with torque (my '90 302 mustang, '69 390 F-100, '71 300-6 F-100, '88 300-6 F150, and 2.3L Turbocoupe), but even my girlfriends 3.6L Jeep Wrangler feels anemic.

 

the difference is, the gearing in the MT allows the vehicle to actually operate in the powerband of the 3.5 unlike the auto which tries to cruise along at 60 mph at 1500 rpm where there is no power. Drive them both and then you'll understand.

the 3.5 makes plenty of power, you just aren't able to actually utilize it in the automatic (unless you regear)

 

Agreed, after owning a 2017 automatic and now a 2019 manual. Manual is much better suited, but automatic with the 4.30 gears would have been perfect.

 

I mostly like my MT but I gotta say that 1st gear sux. Either lurches or bogs, down.

 

But 4Runners have both an ATRAC button and MTS? It has to be two different systems.

 

No they don’t. The trims with Crawl Control have MTS, the SR5 trim only has lowly A-trac (due to the missing select dial).

Same exact system. One has a dial.

 

The 4Runner TRD Off Road has both an ATRAC button and MTS dial. What's the use of both things if they say they are the same system?

 

They both have a dial AND a button. The button turns it on, and the dial selects what terrain you are driving on.

 

I guess I’m wrong. That’s fuckin weird. Probably just extra buttons to fill the holes that all do the same thing.

I can’t think in Japanese, so I’m unlikely to figure it out.

Don’t press the unlabelled button on the right!

 

Even the fellas over at the Runner forums cannot figure out the difference between ATRAC and MTS. It does seem like Toyota was just filling that hole with an Atrac button on these Runners that have both.

 

The struggle is /real/