Should I buy an automatic or manual Tacoma? (2021)

I had an 06 with a manual and found it to be weak in the clutch. When taking off with a heavy trailer I had to feather the clutch or it would squeal. The 5 speed auto in my '13 is strong and reliable.

 

Doesn’t matter...






...to me what transmission your truck has. Buy what you like best.

 

IMHO if you are asking, you will be fine with both.

For me, it was only MT taco or no taco for me. My 2nd choice was Pro4x 6spd frontier. Glad toyota offered MT in v6 DC config.

 

2WD low mod is a life saver sir. Took me about 1.5 hrs to install.

It works beautifully, highly recommend!

 

You could get AC LB Sport with a 6 spd in US.

In CAN you can get AC OR LB 6spd.

 

OV tune performance tunes put the "lack of low end torque in 3.5L" argument to rest. I will run circles around a 2nd gen.

 

Was this mod plug and play? how hard is it to install? Just taking apart the inside and plugging something in?

Thank you in advance

 

Yes, it was plug and play. I bought a harness from a member on TW. Google 3rd gen 2WD low mod tacoma world.

Just had to take apart the dash and lower airbag, all you need is flat scredriver and 10mm socket. Amazing mod.

Actually here it is. I forgot to mention, i had to buy a small switch from ch4x4.com. Let me know if you have more questions.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...FjAAegQIAxAB&usg=AOvVaw14hkXINAdAcx5YKTi-U_uw

 

I'm happy with the AT, but the MT is what got me looking at Tacomas in the first place. I second the calls to test drive them both. I understand where you are coming from about the availability though.

What it came down to for me was the availability of AT and the distance of my commute and not wanting to do nothing but shift.

 

Haha! sounds good, what about a 1st gen or the Ranger in a drag race

 

Buy what makes you happy. I did. Really I would have to put effort into caring any less than I already do, about what other people think.

 

Haha!

Well, if we are talking about the new ranger with the ecoboost, then 1st gen taco will lose in my opinion. All the other rangers, the 1st gen will smoke them i think.

I had 07 ranger 4x4 4.0 5spd and it was good off the line but thats about it.

 

A Taco with 3 pedals, a bypassed/deleted accumulator, and OV tuning is the driving experience I’d highly recommend

No matter what great trucks

 

Everyone will tell you to buy a manual. The reality is only about 3% of Tacomas sold are manuals. Either all the ones who bought manuals are on this forum or they are secretly driving automatics.

 

Do they still do open citizen class at Mission Raceway? Best way to find out who’s king of the slow mid size trucks haha!

 

One pro's of driving manual, is that my shift points aren't alway the best and sometimes downright rude, but no one to blame but myself

 

Great question! Im not sure about the mission one

I do know there is a raceway in kent, like harrisson area thats open.

 

In 2018 bought a new TRD sport 6 spd manual. I taught my son to drive it that year when he was 14. He is almost 17 now and I believe that learning to operate a manual transmission has made him more attentive to the physics involved in the operation of a motor vehicle. Our other car is an Audi Q5 with an 8 spd auto which is the best auto transmission I've ever driven. I use the Taco as a DD and my son prefers driving it over the Audi. I don't mind because only his friends who have taken the time to learn would even dare to get behind the wheel of it. Manual transmissions limit to whom you can loan the truck. I count that as a plus.

 

k

 

I was in the same position when I was shopping for a midsize truck in 2019 ,
I tried the tacoma automatic first , I found the gear hunting annoying ,
And the shift points of the transmission confusing .
When I drove the manual sport as a comparison , I was impressed .
The 4.3 rear gears work well with the 3.5 liter . It’s a good match .
Tacoma’s are good trucks , you’ll be served well either way .