Automatics...why so few?

My 2.7s were all 5 speeds. I tried out autos for my wife's sake...but the 4 speed had such wide gear ratios, it was really poor with highway travel and hills. From lugging to redline and nothing in between when I tried it out.

 

I have driven both and the auto needs a few more gears between gears. The manual also gets better MPG by far. My friend has a regular cab standard tacoma.. gets about 19.. My 4x4 5 speed access cab gets 21

 

That ^^^ is one of several reasons for there being more manual 4-cyl. The 4-speed automatics are terrible transmissions. The first gear ratio is unbelievably high, and the gear spacing is quite wide. I expect there to be a lot more of the 2016 4-cyl sold with AT, since the new 6-speed looks like a winner, at least on paper.

 

Without a doubt. So good are these autos in my Wife's Venza, her 2.7 four has sufficient power in a 4000 lb car to both be quick off the line and a reasonable cruiser at any speed to 90 mph. The transmission is amazing and always shifts quickly and is always in the right gear. It will surprise a lot of people and make the archaic four quite usable. It has a sport mode which shifts gears at the flick of the wrist, making manuals obsolete in the minds of many. This same setup is used in the 2016...it will become the transmission of choice for most four cylinder owners.

 

I feel like Charlton Heston "from my cold dead hands" in reference to the 5spd. If the 2.7 tacoma was not available in a 5spd I would never have bought one. Autos behind a 4cyl are a waste of time it's one of the main reasons I despise my gf's 2014 Carolla. There are some few a fsr between situations off road I will admit that an auto would have been easier, but who off roads cause it's easy? One of the main reasons I picked toyota other than they're far superior in off road vehicles was the fact that you can still get a manual truck

 

Yes.

 

You are talking about the autos of old in Tacos... 4 speeds. You can't paint them all with the she brush. If you are a manual kind of driver, you will remain that way. But, for those who want an auto but were turned off by the old sucky 4 speed, the six speed auto WILL be a huge improvement. Will it convert guys and gals like you weened on manuals, no, at least not until you have your first rotator cuff surgery....that's what changed me.

Oh one other thing.....I love cruise control and cruise with the six speed is awesome.it engine brakes to maintaine speed and has enough ratios to be functional in any environment including frequent hills. Cruise with a manual and a four is very very limited...

 

I was mostly referring to the 6speed featured in many newer toyota's. I actually grew up with the old gm 3 speed autos lol manual just unleashes the potential of a vehicle. Be it a truck or car. I also had one of the old yota autos in my 88 4runner again slush box. I'm for sure biased I prefer my 5spd to anything.

 

I learned on a stick, been driving both for a couple decades. Both my trucks and my willys are still sticks and the clutch in my f250 is enough to make a grown man cry. The rest of my vehicles are auto. I've shifted enough gears in my life, next truck will be an auto. Most of the downsides to a slushbox stopped being an issue years ago. They're efficient, tow well, in many offroad situations are better etc. Its a matter of preference, and over the years my preference has changed. My kids, assuming i can find one when the time comes, will learn a stick also. Tha no reason to hamstring yourself.

 

So...the question is...will the new 6speed bolt up in place of the 4 speed??

 

I don't see why not, I don't think anything on the block has changed just gotta get all the electronic dohickies

 

^You will need the 2016 4-cyl ECM, harness, and shiftgate. Cost will be prohibitive unless you find a crashed donor truck.

 

I have 2015 access cab pre runner 2.7 automatic. Manuals are for those who cant sit still while driving. lol

 

lol have you driven both? The auto 4x4 has a hard time getting out of its own way

 

Mine is 2wd it does really good. It only has 4000 miles on it and keeps getting better and better as it breaks in.

 

Ohhh then yeah its good. My friend has an auto reg cab tacoma with the auto and it ran well.. I had a 2wd manual before my 4x4 and noticed not difference other than gas mileage between mine and his. Now 4x4 I test drove both and you want the manual.

 

I have the at, its not that bad. Yet i am slow and old, haha. I actually looked at a manual shift, they wanted blue book value, very cool truck. I hesitated because of the manual though...the traffic has seemed to almost double here in the last 15yrs. So, i found an auto and its good for this area, if i were in a hilly, mountain rural area, would have specifically bought the manual.
One of the things about test driving a new 4cyl auto, they do seem bogged down...yet i can say, once broken in, they seem quite a bit better, just my 2cents.

 

Auto regular cab 4wd here. I was going back and forth between auto and manual but went with the auto to get the bucket seats and so my wife could drive it. Neither is quick by any means but the manual does seem a little peppier. The automatic has a crazy high overdrive, which is great for mileage but tends to downshift a lot, especially now that I'm on 32s. But overall, I'm very happy with it.

The auto trucks should come with 4.56s. It would still turn less rpm in OD than the manual with 4.10s.

 

THIS lol thats how I felt, I wish the Manual had another OD... turning 3000 at 70 wont hurt anything its just weird in today's times

 

LOL...I think mine turns about 2000 at 70. I'd rather have it at 3000. That 2.7 w/auto and 285s is a dog. I just can't decide between 4.56 and 4.88s.