Manual or Auto?

While its true that most girls don't really like manuals, the other day I had to get a inspection sticker on my 06 Taco. I left my keys inside and a young girl of 17 came out and got in my truck to drive it into the bay for inspection, I was curious at first but she had obviously been brought up on standards ......
So for those ladies who love standard shift vehicles , I say GREAT ! Have at it.
Jeff, 06, V6, 6spd, SR5 ,4x4

 

we should start a new poll on how many of us got manuals so our significant other would not be able to drive them

 

I choose Automatic specifically for city driving. I love manual transmissions and would prefer that in most conditions EXCEPT city driving...and that out-weighs everything else. I had a manual in 2 of my previous trucks and in my jeep and it drove me crazy when in traffic. I finally gave up and went to an automatic. If I could afford to have an off-road vehicle as well as my day-to-day driver then I would go with a manual transmission on it.

 

No question that manuals are tough in city stop and go traffic. I was in Montreal recently and it was tough in mid day traffic with all those stop lights. I just could not wait till I could get out on to the highway.

Now as far as the possiblity of a thread for guys who by manuals so there SO"s won't drive them, my SO has driven nothing but a standard and would never drive an auto. She would rather walk. LOL

Jeff, 06,V6, SR5 6spd 4x4

 

Real men drive manuals. Before you automatic guys get out of hand and think I'm bashing you. I'm not, real men can drive autos too, it's just that manuals can only be driven by real men. Autos can be driven by real men, but they can also be driven by some of the people that are posted in the missleman thread too. LOL

 

Real WOMEN can (and do) drive manuals as well.... some of us just PREFER not to.

 

OH SCHNAPPPP!!! You got me there

 

My 1st 2 vehs were manuals, my mom and my sister can drive manual also.

 

I know I am showing my age but in 1970 one of the local girls in town bought a 69 GTO, 4 spd, which to those who are to young and do not know of Pontiac's performance history , were fast, performance car's. Regular tire burners. This girl really had a lead foot......and she had the financials to buy just about anything she wanted too. She just loved that car and was really good at speed shifting.
I have to say I lived in the rural country and with all the farms around, most young girls knew about stick shifts etc.

Jeff, 06,V6, SR5 4x4, 6spd

 

Salesman told me that the new auto's get better mileage than the manual's. I thought he was crazy till I drove an automatic. I was running about 600 less RPM at 70 than I do in my 6 spd.

 

I love driving my manual in the snow. I get a better feel for the road and can control the power to the ground better, at the expense of my clutch. I can't wait for my clutch to go out. Needs and upgrade. The brakes are much stronger than the clutch for a power brake.

 

I have to agree, better feel translates to more confidence in really snowy weather.
Two of my good friends, who have 04's, V6's with superchargers upgraded there clutch's , they did not burn them out, but just wanted an upgrade. Not sure whether they used TRD components or what, if I find out I will pass it on. They also pull a utility trailer when necessary.
They did all the clutch work themselves, as well as timing belts, brakes etc.
My neighbor with his 04, just did his brakes at 100,000 miles, I thought it was amazing that they lasted that long, but TW members think its about right. The only thing he should have done was get the new pins as the old ones were rusted in and he had to chisel them out. He substituted until he could get to the dealer....the NAPA parts store did not carry the pns. In reality they should be in with the pads or/and rotors.

Jeff, V6, SR5, 06, 6spd

 

I refused to look at an automatic an consequently had to drive rather far to get my tacoma. But it was worth it. Nothing beets the feeling of ACTUALLY driving a truck. Plus the wife can't drive one so my truck won't be get wrecked.

 

haha! 2 bad its all my wife drives. Untill her r32 she always had a 5 or 6 speed.

 

According to Fueleconomy.gov using the new fuel economy estimates:

2007 Toyota Tacoma 2WD 6 cyl, 4 L

Auto - 17 city/21 hwy/18 combined
Manual - 15 city/19 hwy/17 combined

2007 Toyota Tacoma 4WD 6 cyl, 4 L

Auto - 16 city/20 hwy/17 combined
Manual - 15 city/18 hwy/16 combined

 

Been driving sticks since the Dark Ages.
VW, T90, T86, SM420, SM465, AX-5

Test drove the '09 V6 6 speed (Getrag) and didn't like it. As previously stated, I thought first gear was too deep for normal driving and too tall to be a granny.
And then there's that renegade idle controller.

Test drove the '09 4cyl 5 speed (Aisin) and it's shift points were exactly the same as my XJ 5 speed Aisin....felt like I had driven that new Taco for a hundred years.
Bought the 4cyl access 5 speed 3 days ago

For wheelin' I definitely prefer a stick. I like the superior compression braking.
For traffic an auto excels, although in bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic, sometimes a deep granny can be excellent.
Just watch the big rigs, that's what they're doing....also helps to straighten out the flow and counteract the "zoomies".

 

Auto, city driving is a pain!

 

Manual. Learned to drive with a manual, have more control over what gear I'm in, and autos never seem to shift "right" to me. Maybe if I was oblivious to what was going on around me while driving I could ignore it and let the machine do it's thing, but I'm not. Personally, I think too many people just jump in their vehicle, select "D" and forget about what they're doing. Having a manual kinda forces me to pain more attention to driving. Makes me more alert, more observant, and less likely to fall asleep.

Sure, autos can be downshifted, but you can't put one in a higher gear than it thinks it should be in. A manual can do that so the torque at the wheels is reduced, thus reducing wheel slipping on ice, snow, mud, etc.

 

Broke too many autos, and put 300K on an old nissan 5sp before blowing 1st gear through the bellhousing at 90 mph. therefore standard FTW