Automatic owners, how do you like it?

You are correct, my bad just assumed2nd gen

 

I love having an automatic. I use my truck as mainly a freeway queen. Auto prerunner dc v6. It's nice for traffic. Not looking forward to switching to my commuter car which is a stick... Hope this helps
Edit: after reading the post below mine i wanted to say i too love to shift. It is easier on the brakes.

 

I have a manual on my 3.4 '02 Access Cab 4x4 and I love it..I like the idea of being able to shift myself....either way you will enjoy your truck..good luck in your new truck

 

Yes they are. Wish they were 5 speeds though. Probably get better mileage anyway and have better gear selection on the highway.

 

Had my dcab prerunner for over 13 yrs as my wife was driving the truck too and we love it, last yr I converted the truck to a 5speed manual I love her more. Auto is not bad just not my preference

 

Maintain it fluid changes every 30K or so. Add a secondary cooler or bypass the radiator cooler and run a separate cooler. Keep temps at bay not too cool and not too hot.

 

it all depends on how you intend to use the truck as to weather a standard or auto is better.

standard pros:
better gas mileage
you control when it shifts so you can better control engine rpms

standard cons:
clutches wear out and need replacing which is a big job but not hard to do
parking or stopping on hills is hell on clutches and can burn them up fast if you say, get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic going uphill
stops and starts pulling a trailer, when going to the boat launch with a boat can equally be hell on clutches and can burn them up fast

for these reasons I would never want a standard for a street use truck but for off roading I think the control of a standard is better suited in that role as long as you don't use it to haul trailers with or expect to get stuck in traffic with it. trust me you need 4 feet to do the pedal dancing required for slow moving rush hour traffic or dealing with hills and ramps.

 

I think a auto is better for rock crawling as well. Same thing as start/stop on really steep hills. That and the auto doesn't have the bearing failure issues like the 5 speed's under heavy use.

imagine pushing 42's up this crap with a 5 speed.

 

I'm a little late but for that cheap something is wrong with it.

Should try not to use the Cruise on roads with hills. Like you said it shifts too much and uses up fuel. I can keep the speed better without shifting by using my foot. The flatter the better for roads obviously. I stopped using it many years ago unless I go to Florida (lower VA the rest of the way)

already corrected yourself

normal driving you don't need to change the AT fluid that often. only under "Special Driving Conditions" listed in the maintenance do you need to consider this more. as always check the fluid nonetheless and go from there.

 

You can flush out your fluid to the newer full synthetic fluid and fluid life is greatly improved. I had my auto rebuilt for HD aplications with shift kit. It had 220kon it at the time and the trans shop said everything looked brand new inside of it