Gears For Driving

I have a 2017 Tacoma access cab TRD 4x4 off road with a 6 speed/gears S mode automatic transmission. What gears do you all think is best for city and stop and go driving, interstate highways, and country roads? Shoiuld I jnust keep the trani in D? Just asking Thanks

 

Ask again on Friday.

 

I use S5. D will gearhunt between 5 and 6 too much and revs fluctuate, S5 keeps revs fairly consistent and "instant mpg" higher. Not that I get 45 MPG, but closer to 30 consistently for "instant" when I let it "cruise" down roads and into intersections all balances into a decent overall MPG.

S-mode is useful off-road (gravel, big rocks, etc) to naturally keep speeds lower without using brakes ... brakes cause skidding on loose surfaces.

 

depends on your goals.

s4 is recommended for towing, and tends to limit gear hunting. running it more like a manual definitely peps it up. but both will cost gas mileage.

the best way to maximize gas mileage is to leave it in drive.

 

Reverse.

Toll booths pay you.

 

Roll down your window, cuz the quarters come flying.

 

4.88 gears.

 

Normal automatic mode if I am doing easy country driving with light traffic.

Around town, if I am on busy 35-45 MPH roads where cars are constantly stopping, turning, pulling out, and changing speeds, I smack it over into S4 to keep the revs around 2000-2200 instead of 1100. That way it will just go when it needs to instead of having to drop from 6>4 every time I want to accelerate a little.

On the highway I almost always limit it to 5th to keep it from going 5-6-5-6-5-6 all day. Sometimes out west on long grades or if there is a 30 MPH headwind, I will max out at 65 MPH and limit it to 4th because it can't maintain speed in 5th and keeps dropping to 4th.

 

When I had a loaner auto, I kept it in S4 with ECT around town. S5 on highways around town and S6 or D on a road trip.

 

On stock size tires just leave it in D

 

Leave it in D and enjoy your automatic. Don’t over complicate your life.

And ignore all the people that recommend s-mode for anything other than engine braking. See owner’s manual.

CAVEAT: there’s nothing wrong with using s-mode for other things if it makes you happy.

 

I didn’t like being in 6th gear at 40-45 mph. It felt ridiculous. There were 0 downsides to leaving it in S4.

 

That was not my experience with my 2016 automatic. The gearing a shifting were the best I’ve ever experienced with an auto. However, I’m a manual transmission guy. My complaints were the same with every automatic I had.

In any case, read my edit after you quoted me. I think it s-mode makes you happy then send it. I just feel the need to debunk the myth that it is necessary for truck and driver happiness.

 

We all have different preferences. At first I thought that automatic was okay, but after a week and a half I was begging to get my truck back. Even though it felt “faster” than mine, I enjoy mine much more.

I saw the edit, I think do whatever makes the driver happy. Some are happy in drive, some are not. I hate lugging an engine and that is what that automatic felt like it was doing…until in cruise control, when it did the polar opposite and bounced in and out of tall gears constantly on even the most slight of grades. I’m all good with downshifting, but constantly dancing across 3 gears every 4 seconds is obnoxious as hell, and that is what it did every time you hit any bit of road that wasn’t flat.

 

My 2016 was the only vehicle I ever traded in and I traded it primarily for the manual but also the other OR functional features.

I experimented with s-mode as a simulated manual, but wasn’t satisfied. It felt awkward and clunky. I just left it in D after that.

 

Keep it in 1st gear, first gear = first place, your trani doesn't like D.

 

if you’re not in first you’re in last

 

4th is 1:1 and 5th and 6th are both otherdrives - it is a total dog in 6th at 41 MPH and limiting it to 4th around town is like driving around in 5th gear in an '80s truck.