Manaul again?

Big mustang guy myself, what kind do you have?

 

Thanks for all the comments, this has been very helpful so far

 

I've got an auto and have no issues...I do drive the truck a lot - 60K so far (it is my primary vehicle). I use/need my 4WD very often and enjoy the automatic on and off road....I doubt if gas mileage is going to be a noticeable difference (especially at 80+MPH)...my son has the Standard shift on his 02 Tacoma and he prefers that over the auto...he is also 18...I've had countless knee surgeries and while driving my son's standard is not a real issue I certainly enjoy the convenience of the auto. Either way good luck and stay safe.

 

I'd seriously consider investing the money saved from going manual in lieu of auto towards a 4.88 or 5.29 Nitro swap. That, in my humble opinion, is the single best decision you could make for drivability and driving experience.

I have had numerous knee surgeries too. There is definitely something to be said if your left knee sucks, but proper seat positioning helps a lot!

 

I wouldn't want either one in Automatic, good that you have no regrets though.

 

From my personal experience, real world mpg is better in the MT than the AT

If you buy the AT, plan to regear

 

I think at the end of the day, the best way I can sum it up is I have a better overall driving experience with the MT over the AT.

Ar the end of the day if I don't enjoy driving my truck, why bother.

 

Yeah - that's actually one of the reasons (even with my auto) I prefer manual seat adjustments, LOL. We have 3 other vehicles that have power seats and only one has the memory buttons (to put the seat back exactly to each driver), the others with out memory, I can never seem to get the seat back to the exact right position...I realize it is my imagination! I'm the only person ever to get in my truck - except for maintenance...and the dealer knows to never adjust my seat. Bad knees suck...but I've got bad knees, back, wrists, etc...part of getting old and years of martial arts...But better old than dead (not sure my wife agrees $$$$$).

 

Preach.

 

I've had both an AT and a MT 3rd Gen. I traded the AT in to get the MT. Get the MT.

 

If the Auto was a 4 speed and had no manual control of any kind I would recommend the Manual. Since it's not 1990 anymore and it seems you have nothing to prove from buying a stick I'd recommend the automatic.

 

What problems did you have with your manual?

 

3.5L loves high RPMs

 

same here.

 

Another nod for the "manaul" here. Don't forget about the clutch start cancel button. I've never had to use it as described but it's a nice feature for those less experienced. I usually just use it to start my vehicle without hopping in and physically depressing the clutch which is not its intended use. Toyota doesn't reccomend using it like I do for obvious reasons.
https://youtu.be/JD1jMD_J6pU

 

I have a 2016 manual, and I run the Ovtune premium FOB tune. Best part of my day is the long sweeping right hand on ramp. Hit that at about 3500 in 2nd gear, and as it straightens out, hammer it. It just pulls hard all the way to 6500. Makes me grin like an idiot.

I really like to choose my own gears, so it was no choice for me. Test drove the 2026 auto, and it just didn't suit me. Course, that was a 2016, so they may be much better today.

 

Why you lettin up early? Still got 500 rpm to the limiter lol

 

Chicken....

 

I had an automagic 2013, which shifted funky for me (see the OD clunk thread in the 2G forum for all the symptoms I was experiencing. Allegedly there was a TSB to solve that issue andd that truck's thirst for 93 octane, but I couldn't get the dealer to do it for me. They ended up replacing the transmission under warranty which changed nothing.

That being said, I had no intention of selling that truck and didn't plan on getting a 3G truck. Life intervened and I found myself in need of a new truck. I wanted another Tacoma but seeing all the threads about funky shifting made me gunshy. The 2G truck never shifted right for me, so I figured if no one but me was complaining about the shifting, but everyone was complaining about the 3G shifting, I'd hate it.

That being said, the non-linear power delivery of my 2016 drives me batty. I need to get the TSB flash done at my next service, or I'm going to flash it myself. The OVTune is tempting, but I figure I'll keep the maps OEM until my 5/60 is up. It's not like in my turbo Subaru days, but one less thing to point at is a good thing.