Manual or Auto. -------The big decision.

After having my '99 as an auto, I insisted on getting a manual on my '10. While I love the nostalgia and it feels like a real truck, I gotta admit it, I'd get an auto next time. The cons outweigh the pros.

 

I have the manual. Love it. I've been driving manual transmission most of my life, and the Tacoma transmission isn't the greatest - the main problem is the heavy stick-feel. It's kind of like stirring oatmeal. Also, reverse is geared way too high. You can do like 35 MPH in it. Some people prefer a shorter throw on it, but I don't see the sense in that.

It's solid and easy to use. I like it.

 

Workman also wanted to trade his 2006 off road for a 2012 manual tranny offroad....After driving one, he unfortunately thinks he will stick to the auto. While Workman had fun driving the 6 speed, it was only fun because it had been over a year since He drove stick and that used to be all that He drove. With all the complaints about the 6 speed, Workman realized that he actually liked his auto! Workman wishes that Toyota had produced a solid 6 speed, then he would definitely get one.

During the process of driving a 2012, Workman also had a moment of clarity. He did not need a 2012 offroad, his 06 with 86k is not even broke in yet, and paid off. Workman will just wait till 200k, then think about a new truck.

 

X10000000

 

Bingo!

 

Not sure where in northern California you are but one more advantage of an auto over a manual is driving in traffic!

I love the 6 speed in my Corvette but in traffic it's a pain in the a$$.

 

It looks as if the AT is the transmission of choice. At the end of the day it comes down to your driving habits and needs.

On my plus side, even with the AT my wife still doesn't want to drive my truck ... she is "afraid to break anything" ... ... damn, I love her ... .

 

Well you have the inverse of me, my wife wants to "practice driving manual trans" with my 6 speed.

 

I'm glad to hear somebody else thinks the reverse gearing is ridiculous . I'm putting a twin stick tcase in mine partly so that I can use 2lo in reverse. It needs to be half what it is. Trying to back up an incline, over rough ground, or to hitch a trailer is just a nose bleed.

Part of the reason I put a short throw in was to reduce the reach created by the long throw in 3rd and 5th.

One last comment about the manual/auto debate for wheeling. I've been wheeling for close to 40 years and probably 80% has been with a manual. The best auto I used was a custom built C6 with a B&M click shifter. What I have seen is that both transmissions can be used well, but the manual requires more skill and experience. It's not as forgiving as an auto. You have to look at a situation and know the truck well enough to chose a gear. I'm not trying to slight auto drivers. I think the auto is easier to drive, and that is a good thing. If you look at the circumstances you encounter when off road, most of them boil done to preservation of momentum. Autos are much easier to use in that regard. A lot of reluctance to use autos stems from experience with older technology tramsmissions. I'm a holdover from that crowd too. Most of the older ones were just 3 speed for one thing. You could get manuals in 4 and 5 speed. Now that is not a problem. One big issue with older autos was the lack of compression braking available on steep decents, and non lockup torque converters. Newer autos are much better and even offer equal or better fuel economy. They aren't just for the lazy anymore .

 

I have a 2012 6 speed and absolutely love it. Its fun and I have no complaints at all. I haven't had any of the problems what was discussed here. I wonder if the 2012 transmission was quietly upgraded.

It'd be interested to hear from someone that drove a 2012 and a pre 2012 manual to compare.

 

I started 4 wheeling about 55 years ago, mostly with manual transmissions. Had a T100 with an automatic for about ten years. I still prefer a stick shift. If I were stuck on a specific model and the manual transmission had a poor reputation, I would consider an auto, though. One question--folks are saying the autos get better gas mileage. Is that based on the EPA ratings or real world measurements? I know the ratings on the Honda Civic are the same for manual and auto transmissions-36 mpg, but my wife's manual gets 43 mpg in everyday driving and close to 50 on the highway.

 

Manual gets real world less miles per gallon

 

I have a 2007 and I've driven a 2012.. The 2012 was a little better, and I felt that the most on downshifting. It still has some of the problems though. There have been several revisions to internal parts starting in 2007. It's a usable gear box, but will never be a great one.

 

I take a lot of internet opinion with a grain of salt. I figure that probably 95% of American's drive an automatic, so I'm not surprised when 95% of American's on forums argue in favour of an automatic transmission.

 

He is going to the dark side!

 

Good point, I like it. You'll get more auto votes just cause more people drive auto. But there are quite a few people here that are manual veterans and say the manual is bad.

Another member said something along the lines of "I'll take the shittiest piece of shit manual over a good auto anyday." I like that one...

Yes, manual gets 1-2 less miles per gallon.

 

I've had an 05 and 09 tacomas before my 2012. The transmission in the 12 is much improved over previous years. The stick feel is lighter, and it snicks into gear in a very satisfying way. It still sits too far forward in the cabin; I think it would be ideal if it were about 3 inches rearward.

I suspect the reason a lot of people think the manual sucks is because of the throttle following. It takes some getting used to.

Anyway, calling the tranny "bad" is way overstating things. I had a jetta that would pop out of reverse unless you held it in gear. Hell, I learned how to double clutch on a POS ford with three on the tree. Driving this thing is like living in the future.

 

I just traded my 07 6speed for a 2012 5speed auto. The manual was fun but got worse gas mileage, 1st gear was way too low (shifted into 2nd before getting through most intersections, use of a clutch in traffic sucks and my girlfiend couldn't drive it. The auto is easier to drive and more practical for everyday use.

 

With manuals, there are inconsistencies with applied rpms vs mph. Highway speeds on my 6speed were at higher rpms than my auto. Also, if i dont operate the clutch correctly, then i can slightly over rev the motor while letting the clutch out...

 

Most of the cars I've owned have been manual(just one wasn't, now two). This is the first truck I have ever owned and it's an automatic(Second vehicle that's an auto). I live in a big city and there is a lot of traffic, a lot of stop and go traffic. I remember how many times I would get so mad from all the shifting that I've had to do just to go a small distance. I was dreading when I was getting my automatic that I wasn't going to like it, even after the test drive. Once I drove around for the first week or so I was hooked, I loved it. I was still looking for the clutch 2 weeks after I bought it(force of habit). I was okay in flowing traffic, the stop and go traffic etc. Driving on the highway I did miss a little not having a manual. When it came to the winter conditions I found it was one less thing I had to worry about. I love traveling around in my automatic Tacoma.

Would I ever give it up? Nope.
Did I make the right choice? Defiantly.
Would I suggest an automatic to someone else? Yes!

Right now being only at 8500 km's I have no complaints what's so ever. Yeah! A small part of me wishes I got an standard but mainly for highway driving. As you can read a lot of members on this board are very happy with the decisions they've made to when it came to an automatic. No matter whatever one you choose(cough! Auto) you're going to be very happy with.