i4 2.7 manual vs auto

So I read the gear ratio in the 5 spd manual is better and more fuel efficient than the 4spd auto in the 2.7 4bangers. What's your thoughts on this?

 

IMO, a manual trans is a necessity for a 4 banger

 

This. I've owned both. The manual is a hundred million times better. Faster and more fuel efficient.

 

I couldn't picture driving my truck with 275-70-17's with an automatic.

 

I have an auto 4 banger with 265 75 16s and 3" of lift and it does just fine for me. Not a sports car or anything but still fun to drive.

 

I've heard the auto sucks on the 2.7L.
I like my 2.7L 5 speed with 33.3" tires. Might regear it someday for more getup & go.

 

Same exact answer from me. Word for word lol

 

I got the auto because of my bad knees and I have to drive in traffic. My only complaint would be that 4 speeds aren't enough anymore. Toyota should have one 6 speed auto for both the V6 and the 4 cylinder engines. More MPGs.

 

I can't imagine driving 70mph on the hwy on 4th gear. I figured that would rack up rpms and kill mpg. 5th is weak on the 4 bangers but I'm guessing that's good on gas since rpms stay very low on 5th.

 

I do about anywhere between 55-65mph on highway, hit stop and go traffic, and city driving. i average about 23mpg in my 2.7L..

 

Manual FTW with the 4 banger.

 

is that manual?

 

auto.

 

The final drive ratio is about the same for the auto and manual so there isn't much mpg difference. The manual is faster because the rpm drop is less between gears due to the extra gear. With that said, I had a manual trans on my 2.7l and it was a blast to drive. Just shifting gets old fast.

 

My truck is a dog on and offroad with the automatic considering a 5spd swap but dont know the ins and outs of the computer (what it would do) if I put a man trans in.

 

The gearing for the auto is actually mathematically better.

Auto has .71 OD compared to stick's .81 OD.

I'm guessing the automatic doesn't spend much time at highway speeds in locked torque converter and I hear a lot of complaints that it frequently drops into 3rd at the slightest load.

 

I think its all about the driver. I get pretty decent MPG's and I have a 5-speed. With a stick I'm constantly thinking about traffic ahead of me cause, being such a lazy ass, I don't want to shift too much and this kinda forces me to drive smoother and coast more often. Whereas with an automatic, I tend to take it for granted and accelerate too fast or stop at the last moment. Another thing is that with the stick, I know approximately how fast I am going and know when to let off the throttle depending on what gear its on. With the auto, I usually just accelerate until it feels right, but when I look down at the speedo, it's often faster than what I want the car to go.

Unless you commute mainly in the city, I'd get the stick.

 

I have the 2.7L I4 with the automatic. My truck accelerates just fine in traffic, has no trouble going 75 - 80 MPH on the freeway (up hill too) & averages 26 MPG.
If you enjoy shifting get the manual, if not get the automatic. Both are bullet proof, if some what obsolete.

 

Didn't even consider the automatic, I test drove both and hated it. It was fine in town but out on the road it sucked. Like one of the others said, a manual is a necessity for a 4 cylinder engine so you can maximize every bit of power the little 4 pot has!

 

Manual!