2016 TACOMA AUTO VS MANUAL

I believe I said everyone should learn how to ride a motorcycle. Defensive driving is absolutely a necessity and can be the difference between life and death. This automatically crosses over to when you drive because it becomes instinctual.

 

I wasn't going to touch that because I am an ex motorcycle rider and it prepared me for.....riding a motorcycle.

Riding a bicycle would accomplish the same things with respect to driving / riding defensively. Nothing is learned IMHO, by putting everyone at risk on a motorcycle when they are not inclined. Riding a motorcycle is too dangerous to include as driver training for driving a car IMO. Am trying to be polite about this...but really my friend.

 

My wife drives a stick, but I wouldn't want her to ever drive a motorcycle.

 

Yay another auto vs manual thread to drag all the overworked arguements out of obscurity

 

You think riding a bicycle is the same as riding a motorcycle? Unfucking believable lol! I've got 125hp at my rear wheel on my motorcycle. Give your head a shake buddy.
The thing is, I'm not bashing autos, I just don't prefer them. You like autos AND continue to bash manuals, that's the difference with my argument over yours. I've said enough, over and out lol.

 

Wow...I'm not impressed you have 125 hp between your legs. That just takes money, not judgment. ...

"I believe I said everyone should learn to ride a motorcycle. This automatically crosses over when you drive......."

"You think that riding a bicycle is the same as riding a motorcycle ?"
No, I think it's BETTER. ( safer for sure and more in the realm of what everyone can do)

You have a right to an opinion and thank God that's all it is and you aren't deciding who gets a license.

Tell you what. You be the one to volunteer to ride on the back of a motorcycle in traffic with kids who have never learned to ride a bike first. 99% of all kids learning to drive aren't even emotionally and physically equipped to climb on a motor cycle and ride...UNLESS THEY HAVE LEARNED TO RIDE A BIKE FIRST. You have everything ass backwards.

 

I dont know how to drive an automatic! and dont want to learn!

 

First, you amputate your left foot, then hold your phone in your right hand. Then, it becomes pretty straight forward after that.

 

If you're any good at driving a manual , that wouldn't effect you there either

 

I've driven a stick 90% of my life. They were in 2 WRX's. Manuals are fun when you have a sports car but the fun doesn't outweigh the hassle in trucks IMO.

I will forever drive manual in all "spirited" cars I buy.

 

Well then, you are that one exceptionally capable and gifted driver. We all knew that from the onset.

 

Seriously though , the whole " you're more alert , aware and connected to the driving experience in a manual " argument is over played , I used to be able to answer my phone , eat , whatever when I was driving and I never thought about what gear I was in or when to shift , it just all becomes , dare I say , automatic

 

I don't doubt that......until I spill a piping hot latte in my lap, then I am acutely aware of the manual's limitations. And still, we won't even talk about the legit advantages....just to keep it light.

After four plus straight hours behind the wheel, I would say "screw the correct gear", let it lug a little bit.

 

I've had 9 vehicles, 7 standards.

As OZ said if you are comfortable then eating/cell phone are never a concern.
I have never split anything because I was driving a manual. If you are trying to drink when you should be shifting you're an idiot. If your holding the cup in your hand all the time you're also an idiot.
There is a time and place for eating in a vehicle, and in tight city driving in stop and go traffic is not that place.

I bought a 2011 6speed Taco and hated it. Rough transmission, piss poor gear ratios and horrid MPG. I sold it for an auto Limited and prefer the switch. I will only buy a manual in a sporty car from now on.

 

In 2005-2015, the V6 with MT had a MUCH lower gear ratio than the AT. Because of this, the engine would spin a lot faster, and burn a lot more fuel.

 

And from what I understand, they did not change a thing for 2016. Makes no sense, Toyota....???

 

Generally speaking though, you will have to admit, eating and drinking while driving is a fact of life for the majority of drivers. It's always a question of when you do it. IMHO, drivers feel they can just get away with it much more often in an auto. People do....

 

For sure everyone drinks/eats, talks on their phone, text messages, looks back at their kids, puts on makeup, changes CD's or iPod songs. Cars have many many distractions.

I was just stating that standard drivers have to pick their moments to do these tasks a lot better than automatic drivers. Nothing worse than being in neutral and the light goes green and you aren't ready, or someone hits the brakes without warning, starting on a hill.

All of these are simple tasks that can be complicated if you aren't ready with both hands and both feet.

 

I dunno about driving a manual making you a better driver, or any of the other points made in this thread ... I've driven automatics that are great and shift at the right time that you expect them to. I've driven built automatics behind rumbly V8's that chirp the tires just from transmission fluid pressure being so high (rev up to 4500+rpm, let foot of gas, manual shift to 2nd, and CHIRP with no throttle input). Some automatics are so smooth you'd never even know they are shifting the gears, and that's real nice in a luxury car or something like an F150 Lariat. I've also driven automatics that felt like complete shit to me and didn't seem to respond quickly to input, jumped gears too often, and in general just didn't feel connected to what I was doing. Sadly the new Tacoma automatic seems to fall into the later category, but I only have my experience from test driving them. Some people say it learns your driving habits and programs itself to meet your needs. I'm not really sure if the Tacoma auto ever gets better to the point I'd be happy with it, but what I do know is the manual, to me, feels a lot more enjoyable right out of the box.

The Tacoma manual is definitely not a sports car transmission. It doesn't go snick-snick-snick between gears like a Porsche or Mazda transmission, or even firm positive shifts like a T56 or T5. It has a soft feel to it when shifting, but not horrible, it just doesn't scream "row the shit out of me," like a decent sports car would (banging gears on a T5 with Pro 5.0 shifter is sublime ... until that 2-3 powershift results in you leaving parts along the track ... muh'bad). I just like how the throttle/engine responds a lot better with the manual in the Tacoma. I am not sure how to describe it, but it just feels more connected. No regrets from me about going with the manual...

To each their own, and people should buy what makes them happy and meets their needs. Don't worry about what makes others happy. When you buy stuff because it's what you need/want, and not because of other people, then in my experience your life becomes happier.

 

No, nothing changed. Just ALL of the transmissions are new, except for the 5MT on the 4cyl.
Also the V6 engine is changed. New engine may not suffer as badly when running at a higher speed.