Manual or auto trans for new Tacoma purchase?

Or you can just get a TRD Sport. It has hill start assist.

There's the handbrake too.

I tried numerous automatics. Even the Porsche PDK, and the newer BMW DCT, which while they perform great, I still wouldn't choose them.

 

Are you searching nationwide?
Are you searching for new, used, or both?
Crew Cab or Access Cab?

I found my 2023 AC 6MT TRD Sport by making filters for it on cars.com and cargurus.com as well as manual searches and calling dealers.

Typically, the trucks were reserved as soon as they were listed.

OR would have been preferable, but for 2023 Sport is the only way to get AC 6MT 4x4. Fortuitous since I was trying to keep the initial cost down.

 

Every Tacoma in good condition sells, there is a butt for every seat.

 

Manual transmissions are fun in toys like bikes, or sports cars, but i don't consider a truck a toy. Even my 450 lb snowmobile thats got over 120 hp., has a torque converter system...thats what i call real fun.

 

I’ll not argue one over the other and agree with several posts that it is a preference vs better. The only two scenarios that I prefer an auto is in heavy traffic and water crossings. Other than that I prefer a manual transmission for the ability to chose engine speed matched to gearing. A manual in 4 low is hard to beat crawling and in soft sand there is no comparison. Based on my experiences, the autos frequently over heat when running for miles in dry beach sand during hot summer months. As far as durability, in Tacos both seem to be great. A buddy has an almost identically built 02’ with an auto as my 02’ manual. His trans just failed at about 350K…my manual is still going strong with the original clutch, but I am only at about 290K. Who knows the case for mine at 350K, but I do know I can replace the clutch, pressure plate, pilot bearing and so on myself for much less than his $6500 repair cost. To be fair I am biased heavily towards a manual, but that is after experience with both in four Tacos over many years. And yes, my Taco is my “Toy” used more for recreation than daily transport.

 

It's certainly a preference thing. I have always preferred manual transmissions and not necessarily in vehicles that are sporty. In my view, it makes everything more fun to drive.

 

If a manual is a toy I'd hate to think what an auto is

 

I'm mainly looking for a new model. I'll likely have to have it ordered/built/whatever you call it. I look at used, nation wide, with low miles - talking around 4k or less, so yeah, new again lol.

Crew cab, short bed. I don't need that extra space in the bed. Plus my stupid garage wouldn't be long enough for the long bed.

With some of the builds I make on Toyota's website, I am building it for at/under 38k for either Off-Road or Sport. I'm not a big bells & whistles kind of guy. I still drive my '06 Chevrolet 1500. I can't find another truck that drives as good or rides as smooth as that does.

 

Auto is a "luxury" of course! lol

I look at a manual gearbox as an "art" to driving.

Every driver has their preference as to when to go to the next gear...when to downshift...even when to go into neutral.

Most everyone has their rev-point (the limit of RPMs before going to the next gear).

I just don't think bashing one way or the other is of any value other than to antagonize...which I know is prevalent on forums.

 

As far as the engine rpm matching the gearing, i've seen no issues with this in my tacoma, its auto shifts right when it needs to. I feel toyota got it close with their automatic. If this truck had 4.11's it'd be perfect. Imo, it is all about preference whether choosing an auto, or manual, you gotta be that person that needs something different like this oddball quicksand color. I've had too many clutch related issues with toyota compact trucks in the past to pick another manual. Maybe the tacomas have gotten better idk.

 

My Tacoma is the first auto Ive had, and I love it.
Stock it shifted like dog doodoo, 33s/35s made that worse.
Got a base Ov tune and that made 35s bearable with stock gears, tranny didn't hunt.

Current setup is 37s/stock diff gears, and have a Blackhawk tune. Truck has pretty good power still, doesn't hunt, and the tune has a gear lock feature which comes in handy.
I dig it and would hate to have a manual in my case and for what I use the truck for, but its all preference. I do miss the "sporty" feel but its also just a economy truck and an auto is nice for long drives, traffic, etc.
Ill probably regear the diffs with the Manual trans diff gears, just to take a little load off the tranny.

 

Even with it to the floor there was zero power to the truck. It was a hill that my Jeep would drive up in two wheel drive. But yes, switching to 4 lo remedied the situation. I guess I expected more power in 4 hi.

I wheeled with my friends and they called it gutless. Even my wife was like you should probably go trade this back in for your Jeep.

But as much as I hate on the manual, I am loving the auto Tacoma and don’t see myself getting another vehicle.

 

I just traded my trd off-road manual to Larry H miller in Sandy Utah. It had 4700 miles. It only had the blackout package and bed lights.

 

Getting older (just hit 50) and driving my 03 m/t Tacoma sucked. I was worried but so glad I went with the manual. Shifts like butter. Love driving it and it’s taking a little to get used to such a high clutch pedal but I enjoy it. No looking back.

 

Both the DC and AC are 212.3" long. I guess the much more rare DC with 6" bed is 226" long.

 

I guess you got one of those slower gen 3 tacoma's like a buddy had. I see no shortage of power from mine.

 

There are a few like this and vocal too... One that comes to mind has a name of a nocturnal animal....

 

That is where in my mind, the MT excels over the AT. No problem towing up and down hills. Box was loaded with belongings and 4 people in the cab. Dry weight is 3,020#. We were probably pushing 5,000# including the topper.

 

Nice... and now I know for certain how those rims, in that colour, look on a red DCSB Sport!

 

I haven’t been in another manual Tacoma so I have no comparison. It just had zero power under 2k rpm’s. The auto I got is night and day difference.