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AC Manual Transmission Owners

Discussion in '2nd Gen. Tacomas (2005-2015)' started by tbholle, Sep 9, 2011.

  1. Sep 9, 2011 at 8:01 PM
    #1
    tbholle

    tbholle [OP] Member

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    I am looking at buying a Tacoma in the near future and have been reading around on this site for a while. I have come across some conflicting reviews while searching and thus have a few questions.

    I live in Portland, OR and so most of my driving will be in stop-go city grid traffic. However I make frequent trips to Mt. Hood and Mt Bachelor and in winter will encounter snowy/icy conditions and light off-road conditions in other seasons. The only things I really haul are gear for snowboaring and camping and large furniture every now and then.

    I am looking at Access Cab models between '06 and '09. My dillema...

    2.7 4cyl SR5 vs. 4.0 v6 SR5. 2x4 vs 4x4 (Do I really need the 4x4 or can I get the PreRunner and throw some sandbags in the back?) Whats the deal with the manual trannys? Have read some bad reviews on these that concern me (sluggish between 1st and 2nd) Is the 5spd in the 2.7 better than the 6spd in the 4.0? vice versa? Of course I would love the best gas mileage possible, and have read some posts that say the 2.7 beats the 4.0 everytime, but others that say there is little difference.

    I am going to test drive some later this month but would like some input from people who have owned them for a while. Been hearing alot about how the truck differs from when new to after about 10k miles.

    Thanks for any input you can provide.
     
  2. Sep 9, 2011 at 8:05 PM
    #2
    wildjerseyfirefighter

    wildjerseyfirefighter I sell fishing and fishing accessories

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    I have the 4.0 liter, six speed..I love it so far, but I've only had it for a month
     
  3. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:14 PM
    #3
    extremachn1

    extremachn1 I am an asshole, deal with it!

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    Turd Furgison
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    TRD S/C, TRD quick shifter, AFE CAI, Magnaflow cat back exhaust, Fox racing shocks, TC UCA, All-pro expo leafs, Bestop soft top, Wet Okole black seat covers, Scan gauge II.

    I also live in the Vancouver area and hit Mt Hood every winter. You might make it up the plowed roads but there is no way you will make it up past government camp without 4x4, traction tires, and some weight in back. Especially if its snowing really good.
     
  4. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:15 PM
    #4
    Wally

    Wally Well-Known Member

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    I love my 07 AC V6 6 speed. When you first drive them, they'll feel a little on the clunky side but once you get your technique down, I think they are incredibly smooth. The clutch engagement point is high (don't press all the way down!) and the travel is pretty short (pretty much on-off so minimal slippage) so if you're sloppy you'll feel it.

    I slightly preload the clutch and shifter for an instant before shifting to take up any slack in the mechanisms and then it shifts very quickly and smoothly with minimal effort.

    1-2 and 2-3 are the hardest gears to shift smoothly because the ratios are high for off-road/towing so it does feel like you are driving a truck. However 3-4/4-5/5-6 can be so smooth you can barely feel the shift (and I mean barely).

    Heavy traffic can be a pain with any manual but you know that going in ... it's still a fraction of the effort of riding a bicycle around the block so I like that I actually get to move a little when I'm driving.

    Snow is a different story. I get giddy when I wake up and see 6 inches of powder on the road. It's my favorite time to have my truck and 4 wheel drive.
     
  5. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:19 PM
    #5
    TACK

    TACK Well-Known Member

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    ^ Wally summed up the 6-speed perfectly.
     
  6. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:19 PM
    #6
    Carson

    Carson Well-Known Member

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    I would definitely go with the 4x4 if you are going to be in snowy conditions. That said, i have not had any problems with my 6 speed. It is hard to shift smoothly, but it is a truck.
     
  7. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:31 PM
    #7
    Juggernaut

    Juggernaut Captain

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    5 speed here, plenty of power for me, and 22mpg at 75 mph (prerunner). Shifting 1-2 is not smooth though, but 2-3, 3-4, and 4-5 are cake.
     
  8. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:32 PM
    #8
    rydaniels

    rydaniels Well-Known Member

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    I have a 4cyl 4x4 5spd and I enjoy the truck thoroughly. I have the reg cab but the powertrain would be the same. I consistently get 22-23 mpg in mixed driving. My only complaint is the clutch...its a bit rough and not smooth at times but word on the forums is the 5spd manual is a bullet proof tranny and the only weakness is the clutch. Much like the 6spd, gears 1-3 can be interesting to get into but 4 and 5 are a breeze. Im pretty sure the payload capacities on the V6 and the I4 are the same the only difference is the towing capacities. The bottom line is to test drive the trucks you are interested in and go from there.
     
  9. Sep 9, 2011 at 9:46 PM
    #9
    easyeatlanta

    easyeatlanta Artificial Intelligence beats natural stupidity

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    ive had my six speed love the power of the 4.0 l and i have driven in some snow with my prerunner without sand bags and didnt have any problem and i get decent gas mileage but i also drive with my foot to the floor
     
  10. Sep 10, 2011 at 12:59 AM
    #10
    tbholle

    tbholle [OP] Member

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    thanks for the replies. the 4x4 sounds like the best way to go for sure. and most likely leaning towards the 4cyl 5spd. Sounds like either way the transmission is something ill get used to over time and not be too big of a deal.

    Is the v6 worth the upgrade? Used to drive a '98 4runner base 4cyl and was always unsatisfied with its power. I dont need anything super quick but that vehicle was a bitch on the highway trying to maintain speed uphill/passing other cars and dont really want that again.
     
  11. Sep 10, 2011 at 1:12 AM
    #11
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

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    I have an 07 AC 6spd. 1st gear is jumpy as he'll but it's not bad Wally described it pretty well. Now i only get 16mpg with it after my mods. Before my mods I was averaging 19mpg
     
  12. Sep 10, 2011 at 1:14 AM
    #12
    tostidos

    tostidos Well-Known Member

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    The 4.0 by any means isn't fast. If you plan on towing anything and don't want a hassle I'd go with the 4.0 if you aren't going to usebthe truck as a truck much I'd suggest the 4cyl for mpgs if that matters much for you
     
  13. Sep 11, 2011 at 9:17 PM
    #13
    joes06tacoma

    joes06tacoma Well-Known Member

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    5 speed trans is better for power with the four cylinder and pretty much everyone here agrees you are going to get better mileage with the four.

    I just returned from a trip to the mountains and I am glad I have the V6. I drive a 4cyl at work and I know it would drive me crazy on trips into the mountains.

    The clutch pedal arrangement on these trucks has always been uncomfortable for me. Traffic sucks.

    My opinion is get the v6 auto. It gets better mileage than the v6 manual, it's not a pain in the ass in traffic, and it will be less stressful to drive in the hills. Yeah, it's not going to be as cheap to operate overall, but it's so irritating to not have any power on tap.
     
  14. Sep 11, 2011 at 10:31 PM
    #14
    MountainEarth

    MountainEarth Well-Known Member

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    Take the v6 auto and the I4 manual for a test drive. Decide from there.

    The v6 auto has an EPA estimate of 16-20mpg but I, and a lot of guys, tend to be on the high end of that (my last tank was 19.87mpg).

    The I4 manual has an EPA estimate of 18-20mpg, but 20-22 seems more reasonable. You can increase that with good hypermiling technique if that's your thing, but in stop-and-go, if you don't control your RPMs, and tend to rev high with a stick, you'll be closer to 18 than 22).

    The worst mileage of them all will be the v6 manual. The I4 auto, the most gutless. I for one don't like manuals in a truck in stop-and-go. In a small commuter car, no problem. But not a truck. But I wouldn't get an I4 auto in an access cab 4x4.
     
  15. Sep 11, 2011 at 10:43 PM
    #15
    TacomaBuzz

    TacomaBuzz Well-Known Member

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    I'm seeing 25+ average Mpg with the manual 2.7l 4x2. I had the 4.0 L V6 and I am pretty happy with the power of the 2.7L. you won't win many races but It's plenty powerful for most and much better fuel economy!! I shift from 1st to 2nd pretty smoothly, just rev a little higher and ease the Clutch out slowly.
     
  16. Sep 11, 2011 at 10:50 PM
    #16
    MountainEarth

    MountainEarth Well-Known Member

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    Yeah the key is 4x2 which has an EPA estimate of 21/25. The 4x4 drops that same engine & tranny to 18/20. Adding a transfer case and all those extra components adds about 500 pounds to the truck and a whole lot more drag. But as the OP seems to have come around on, I would never get a 4x2 if I drove in Cascade snows up to Mount Hood. Pacific range snows are so dense, wet, and heavy. Even with a 4x4 out there, I'd carry a set of chains for the rear.
     
  17. Sep 11, 2011 at 11:15 PM
    #17
    drewskie

    drewskie Well-Known Member

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    I've had both the 6 speed and now the 5 speed (prerunner), I love the tranny with the 2.7, it's easy to shift and pretty smooth. I haven't really noticed and sluggishness, but i will tell you I rarely need the 5th gear, even when the cruising the highway. Also, most of the issues with the manuals are with the 6 speed.
     
  18. Sep 11, 2011 at 11:33 PM
    #18
    05RedTaco

    05RedTaco Nom Nom Nom

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    I have had 2.7L 5 speed regular cab and now have AC 4.0L auto. First to say that i HATED the gearing between the 1st and 2nd gear in the 5speed. When going through turn at 15mph, its too fast to shift to 1st. The tranny wont allow you to shift to first above 10mph and its too slow to shift to 2nd... So I had to slip the clutch to get going. The 2.7L has NO power below 3k.

    Now the 4.0L with the auto I absolutely LOVE! The auto shifts smooth, sometimes I wont even notice the tranny changed gears! The 4.0L has GOBS of low end torque, in normal driving it shifts around 2k rpm.

    Merging onto the highway or passing on the highway, the 4.0L is superior to the 2.7L.

    I have had BOTH trucks overloaded. I had two atv's and three guys in the cab in the 2.7L regular cab and I had 25 60lbs bags of concrete in the bed of the 4.0L. The 2.7L performs OK, BUT has to rev HIGH to get up to speed and to keep with traffic. The 4.0L barely breaks a sweat.

    Take it from the guy who had both... Get the 4.0L access cab auto, you wont regret it. If you go with 4x2 get the TRD off road with the locker. I have the locker and LOVE it. Locker works wonders and gets me to place where 4x2 truck with open diff could never go!
     
  19. Sep 11, 2011 at 11:53 PM
    #19
    UndefinedTaco

    UndefinedTaco I'll eat all your food.

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  20. Sep 12, 2011 at 12:12 AM
    #20
    Poke Tako

    Poke Tako Mall CRAWLer.

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    OP I say go with a V6 4x4 since you frequently go to Mt. Hood and Bachelor. In addition, get a set of Duratrac tires or sipe your tires. I had a 2000 Prerunner with studded snow tires with sand bags in the bed and still got stuck several times in the Meadows parking lot.
     

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