Why shouldn’t I get MT on a 2020 TRD Offroad?

Hi,

New guy and found this ridiculously active Tacoma forum, so I thought I’d ask...

I’m going to trade my late model Colorado in on a 2020 Tacoma TRD Offroad or Pro (hard to find a Pro, so probably not going to be that). No prior Toyota experience.

I’ve found several MT’s and I am warming up to the idea of a stick. I don’t completely understand why the MT is rated so much worse on fuel, though I’ve heard it’s because of the different gearing.

I have a lifetime of experience with MT’s and only had an AT for the past year, interested to hear why you guys would choose the auto over the manual.

Thanks!

 

I am old, have a physically demanding job where injury is always a possibility, and my wife refuses to learn stick.

I plan on keeping this truck for 20 years, and thinking ahead is something I just do.

Really like this AT truck, the first AT owned in more than 30 years of vehicle ownership.

 

Get the manual if you are ok with that. I ended up with an auto just due to the circumstances and timing of when I purchased. The color and trim level was more important to me and the color was getting discontinued. I think I would have preferred a manual, but hey, my priorities were in a different order.

 

most wont recommend the Auto over the MT. as my daily driver and my other vehicle is a stick i needed something for the Atlanta stop and go traffic. The AT is fine for what i want incase i break my ankle again was brutal driving with a stick.

 

This is my first AT and I'm completely happy with it. A big selling point for me that these Aisin trannies are bulletproof and last a very long time. I also wanted a change.

If I had to do it all over again I'd likely still get the AT.

 

Traffic is the reason and over two decades of shifting was enough for me.

 

I think you’d be crazy to get an automatic in any vehicle where a manual is offered. I like having the connection to the vehicle and being in control of the gear at all times. Plus it just makes driving more interesting.

If I had to deal with miles and miles of rush-hour bumper-to-bumper traffic on a daily basis (most peoples’ theoretical rationale for not wanting a manual) I wouldn’t live there...

The automatic on the 3rd gen Tacoma in particular has a bad reputation for hesitating and poor shifting decisions. I would find that infuriating.

 

The MPG is not that much different, if at all.

It does indeed come down to:

A) Traffic patterns. As stated, stop and go in a MT is liveable a couple times a year, but every day? FTS. AT

B) Off roading. AT wins in many categories. If you want formal controlled crawl and any type of related OR driving then AT.

C) But anything, and the pure pleasure of selecting your own damned gear. MT plus you will have a few mandatory mods.

Either way, get the OVT tune.

 

Go with the MT.

 

when i went to the dealership in summer 2018, the MT choices were poor. so i tried the AT. seemed ok and i did remember
occasionally getting stuck in freeway traffic with an MT and it was miserable. always had MTs my long life. if i off roaded i would definitely go MT.
i do miss actually driving the truck so some regret having the AT. they will work the kinks out of the AT in about 5 yrs. but for now it is acceptable (especially
since i got it reflashed in 2019 by dealer - holds gears longer trading slight mpg for slight performace). in 5 yrs the choice will not be MT vs AT. it will be AT vs self driving.

 

My trucks a lemon and has that stumble in the tune from factory that ovtune didnt cure - and myriad other issues - but

my primary reason for not recommending the M/T is the serious lack of low-end torque on the 3.5l, especially without OVtune. If you’re in a hilly area like san fran or Seattle, or if you’re at altitude like Denver, or if you’re trying to pull a big ass boat out of the water - you have to slip the hell out of the clutch to get going. The motor just wasn’t really designed for a manual transmission to be behind it. It’s got jack shit below 2 grand, and will absolutely fall on its face if you stomp on it from idle. Ovtune adds some punch above 1k but if you don’t get it up there on your launch, it falls on its face

it’s fine at sea level, empty. But if you’re loading it up for overlanding, she ain’t happy

not fun on technical off-roading either, it idles at a speed low enough it starts to rattle, and it doesn’t keep itself alive over obstacles because it just doesn’t have the power at its low rpm. Only manual trans vehicle i’ve ever had that just stalls out instead of idling over everything.

i really want to like my truck, but it’s not thought out well - the interns designed it

plus it’s a pretty uncouth manual tranny. Lots of rattles and vibrations

side note my 4x4 went out in a white out blizzard so i’m not happy with the truck at all

 

Get a crew cab short bed automatic v6 4x4 if you ever want to sell it. 99% of people who walk onto the car lot want that configuration.

 

I don’t understand people that don’t have the patience to go to a dealership, explain to them what configuration you want, and wait a few days or weeks for them to find it.

If you want a blue crew cab with a manual and they don’t have one on the lot...make them find it. My local dealer traded with a dealer four hours away to get my exact configuration.

You are going to be driving this very expensive purchase for many years. Get your preference and don’t settle.

 

As a used vehicle, the manuals are rarer and command more money. Automatics are a dime a dozen.

 

I love my v6 MT. Plenty of power for me. I'm old though and am never in a hurry. Usually shift around 2k rpms and I have no issue getting around. RPMs on the freeway are sky high due to the low gearing but that's a trade off. Super happy I went with the MT.

 

If you don't get a manual how are you going to be able to tell everyone you meet that you drive a manual?

AT is perfectly fine. Get what you want that suits you, personally, best.

 

Significantly smaller resale market too though. Dealers love to command a premium for the manual on new cars, although I think it's dumb because they purposefully order fewer of them, and manuals generally cost less than automatics lol. But I digress...

Yes manuals are generally more fun to drive, although these autos aren't too bad either. More features and modes to play with than the old days where you just had PRD and L.

 

I've seen the re-sale discussion before. SUPER easy to sell a MT. I have found while listing Volvos, Subies, etc......MT brings REAL BUYERS out. I think for whatever reason MT drivers can be cheapasses. And lurkers, ready to pounce. Waiting for somebody FINALLY to have a MT to sell.

 

True. If you sell on the private market, you will probably have a lot better luck. Trade-ins are where it can be problematic though in my experience... sales people LOVE to downplay the manual and use it as an excuse to lowball you. "Oh, it has a manual? hmmm yeah those are harder to sell..."

But honestly who cares. You gotta enjoy the truck while you have it so get whatever you prefer.

 

There hasn't been any measurable difference in fuel mileage between manuals and auto's in years. Manuals used to be 2-3 mpg better, but no more.

If you plan to tow you want the automatic. None of the manuals I've driven in the last 15-20 years are geared right for towing. The problem is that 1st and reverse are not low enough making it impossible to make slow maneuvers while backing a trailer or even moving it forward in close quarters. You have to get too many rpm's from the engine and slip the clutch too much. Automatics just work so much better.

If you enjoy stirring the stick while driving then buy a manual. Under the right conditions they are fun to drive. At other times a PITA. But there is no mechanical or financial advantage to a manual long term.