How do you like your Automatic?

I feel the same, Mr Cash.

 

Having driven manuals most my life and the last 35 tears in Toyota 4x4s I say that right now with my 2022 SR V6 auto I was a lot smoother with MT and controlled the power better when and where I wanted it.
However that said my V6 flat out jumps when I stomp it to pass. If I don't mash the pedal it seems not sure exactly what it wants to do. Today I started trying out shifting it manually when I like where the RPMs are.
Much better, especially in town traffic and lights. But I've only had it 2 months. Needing left ankle fusion forces me to AT. Took a couple weeks to quit lifting my left foot looking for clutch after I got it.

 

Agreed with all of this. Very briefly had a 2017, shifting was awful. Have a 2021 for better part of a year now, shifts just fine. I think they did listen to the complaints and tried to improve

That said, I think it still holds gears too long on cruise control in drive. But, as he stated, put it in S6 and no problems at all, shifts promptly.

 

Not only Tacomas but many new vehicles seem to work better when the throttle is used aggressively. The idea seems to be, keep the revs up in the sweet spot and the fast shifting multi-speed auto works to keep the engine in a narrow rpm range instead of the old school way of loooong flat torque curves and minimal shifting.

I have no idea what I’m talking about as it relates to what the engineers intended really…. It’s just ‘seems’ that way.

 

I have had manuals all my life from a 68 mustang through Gen 1 and Gen 2 Tacoma trucks. I loved them all. With that said when I got my 2018 4x4 Tacoma I got an Auto for two reasons. One it has a higher overdrive and gets better gas mileage due to that and I was tired of doing the clutch in stop and go traffic (it is my daily driver). I love it and have had none of the issues I read about in the forum. Would buy it again. My $0.02.

 

ECT button helps and is noticeable, but the auto likes to lug (run a gear or two high) and doesn't always downshift when you mash the fun pedal. I do wish I would have opted for the manual at times and other times I enjoy being lazy and letting the Tacoma shift on its own. It's not a fast vehicle by any means and the manual trans, or clutch I should say, has a few quirks of its own on the third gens.

 

TRD OR "premium" doesn't come with the LED's? You aren't getting any "premium" package then.

Regardless, test drive and inspect before you buy. I mean, test drive it for a good drive. Take it around the town and on the highways. I've had dealers try to accompany me before and I just tell em I'm not interested anymore. They back off. Drive it yourself, stop in an empty parking lot, get out and look everything over.

 

Totally agree. Love thay it downshifts on a decent. Was a little surprised when it first did it.

This. ^^

I've got 1100 miles on mine now. I did notice it feels like it is hunting a bit. Kind of annoyed me. I did notice it likes to be run out a bit. But it has been one of the nicer autos I've driven. It's not a Beemer.. it's a truck. I guess my expectations dropped when I decided to buy a truck.

I will say though, compared to the day I bought it(7 miles on it) to today, the shifting has improved along with the fuel mileage(slightly, Averaging 18.7 currently) I've either begun to figure out how it likes to be driven, or it is figuring out how I drive.

Love my little Taco TuRD Sport.

 

The auto is perfectly fine. Like mentioned, its how you drive it. This will be my second attempt at the auto Taco. The first was an 18 and now a 2022, it is an improvement. If I decide down the road I don't or can't love it I'll hunt down manual.
It's a great truck overall.

 

I drive a 2013 I don't understand the question? Just sayin!

 

That's not a transmission issue, that is an engine issue. There is nothing wrong with the transmission. The problem was putting a mini-van engine that needs 4600 rpm to get power in a truck. You just need to push the skinny pedal closer to the floor and let the engine run. If you need more engine speed manually select the best gear for your needs. All newer vehicles are programed to get into the highest gear possible, as soon as possible, to squeeze one more MPG out of them.

It's the engine that is doing the braking. The transmission is just doing a good job of getting you in the right gear so the engine can slow you down.

 

The stock auto is good with me, drove a 2018 for several years before selling in this crazy market and now I’m waiting on my 2022. No issues, no need for aftermarket fanboy tunes.

 

I'm happy with my '22. Had a couple of surprise shifts when I wasn't giving it enough of the skinny pedal. Otherwise, I think it will last a good long while!

 

Yes, understood, my phrasing was not the clearest. The engine does the work, but the transmission sets the needed gear ratio.

The point being, despite all the hate the 3rd Gen AT gets, it's been consistently intuitive enabling engine braking for me so far.

 

Bought a used, stock 2018 in 2019, it had the "shifting/transmission hunting" issues. Traded the 2018 for a used, stock 2020 in late 2020. Damn if it doesn't drive wonderfully. None of the previous issues. No clue as to why?

 

I have a TRD Offroad Premium as well, does not come with factory LED headlights in Canada. Sucks.

 

I have a 20 turd pro and I'll say I like the auto. It has decent mpg and decent power for the everyday driver. For the size and weight of the truck, I personally am very happy with it. I never had any issues with hunting for gears, but that's because I'm an aggressive driver. That is I speed, but safely and on the left (and get the heck out the way of overtaking drivers). That said, I added a Magnuson SC for fun and the automatic....well....it's a crap load more fun to drive. But, I didn't add that because it didn't have enough power. Just to fulfill a childhood fantasy! hahahaha

 

I have never seen the word "premium" used to describe packages so often. There is like 6 total options lol, and all of the very so much differently. I guess I also have a premium, it just didn't come with leather, moonroof, jbl, or the 360 camera. Came with everything else though. But IMHO, premium should mean one thing: fully loaded. That means every option.

Of course... Where is the fun in marketing with that? Hell, it worked on me. I overlooked some things. But I'm not mad about it at all. I originally wanted a pro, then after seeing the forums I knew I was going to dump all that extra money into my own stuff.

 

I've driven manual transmission vehicles since I started learning to drive in 1969 - learned on a '64 VW. Still have a '96 BMW Z3 that I bought new and put a UUC short shit kit on to give me the fun time I enjoy when pushing a well-balanced car through the corners.

My 202 Pro is an AT and I am perfectly happy with how it performs. Shifts fine, has plenty of power to do what it was designed to do. Driving an AT, just like a MT, takes some finesse with the gas pedal to do it right, IMHO. Once my truck learned my style, it settled in nicely. Couldn't be happier with my truck.

YMMV.

 

Yeah cruise control isn't amazing but to be fair I don't think I've liked cruise control in any vehicle I've owned thus far. I like to be in control of my speed with my foot specifically because my muscle memory is a lot better through foot-to-pedal. I don't think I could trust myself to not clam up in a potential safety matter.