Old guy with a stick.

I love the manual and have never owned an automatic in my life to date.
However, after a recent left knee injury and the constant shifting in traffic in a city with lots of hills, the auto is looking way better for me.

I am actually updating to a DCLB auto. So now I can drink my coffee and eat my breakfast sandwich at the same time while driving work in the morning lol jk.

 

I'm in Maine maybe I never noticed it or didn't care but until I saw a posting I didn't even know it had an accumulator! Only reason I can see for it is a smoother engagement.

 

Funny. But I had to learn how to drive a stick drink coffee and eat breakfast early on or I would’ve been going hungry in the mornings for the last 30+ years

As a first time automatic transmission owner. All I could say is, “come on in, the water is fine”.

 

My first car was a shitbox Saturn with a 5spd, that was pretty much the only redeeming quality for that car.

When it died I ended up with an automatic Nissan Altima, which was a good car and even a good auto but I hated not having a manual. It's no longer a question, I will own manuals until I physically can no longer drive them.

FWIW I'd be wary of float shifting on a synchronized trans. Unless you are dead perfect rev matching the syncros have to make up the discrepancy, and it's a lot more wear when the input shaft is still connected to the engine.

 

Although my first choice was a MT, because of the price I recently purchased a slightly use (<8k miles) Tacoma with an auto. A few months later, I am questioning my decision and will most likely be trading this truck in for a MT in a year or so (provided they are still making them). I dislike the upshifting and down shifting the AT does all the time, I find it difficult to maintain a steady speed because you never know what gear you are in so the engine rpm and sounds are irrelevant. I find I am always on the brakes when coasting downhill because the AT does not provide the engine braking you get with a MT.

I want to drive the vehicle, not just be person turning the steering wheel and shifting the AT into the "S" mode is pretty useless. Just my opinion from a long time MT driver and BTW, I'm 65 years old.

2018 Tacoma SR5

 

I went auto because I wanted the longbed, but I debated for awhile before that. I’m really happy with the auto, I do miss rowing gears but that’s okay.

Also had a pretty severe injury to my hand a few months ago and wouldn’t have been able to drive at all for about 2 months if I had of went with the stick.

 

Yep. Never have liked trucks with slushboxes. Sluggish feeling and disconnected. Boring

 

No CrossFit here (middle age contractor and fat!) avowed meat eater (vegan by association) and have a MT! Bearded too (and it is majestic). Sadly looking at autos now (thinking about trading for a Tundra). Wish the Tundras came in a MT.

 

The only downside to choosing a 3-pedal Tacoma is that it still uses an old school ignition key. It feels like a step backwards if you come from a keyless entry, push button start vehicle.

 

Agreed.

No remote start would suck on a 5° day also.

 

I drove an auto for 4 years because it seemed more practical and then I bought a manual last fall. It made driving fun again. Dunno exactly what it is about it, but I love my manual.

 

It’s a bit squishy, especially when it dips to 0F, but I like it overall.

 

They make aftermarket remote start for the Manual Tacoma.

 

Ya? Do you know who makes it?

 

I am not sure but have seen it here in the 3rd Gen Forum, it is plug and play and will not work if you accidentally leave it in gear. If you do a search it will probably pop up.

 

I find my '19 Tacoma to be smoother shifting than my '93 MR2 or '91 Dodge Cummins and the Taco needs less pedal force to engage the clutch. I'm in my early '70s and I get some left knee pain when skiing but not when driving my MT.

 

@N2DesignsInc
Any input...on the manual remote start

 

I am 67, have been driving for 51 years and have never owned a vehicle with an automatic transmission. I bought a 2020 Tacoma TRD Sport about a month ago and it is also a manual transmission.

 

The accumulator is annoying sometimes but I have not removed it.

 

Hmmm... I do Crossfit but I have an auto. Guess I'll just have to stick to telling everyone I do Crossfit.

In fact that one dude that responds to every thread about having a manual I'm going to start responding I do Crossfit each time.