2016 TACOMA AUTO VS MANUAL

Yeah test driving both would be a good idea.
The transmission on my WRX is a quasi hand-built racing tranny and I've got the short shifter and stiffer bushing installed so compared to that the Tacoma transmission probably won't be too impressive. I think a lot of it just comes down to driving style, if you want more control of the engine or if you just want to put it in Drive and step on the gas and go and not have to think about it too much.

 

Well I see a lot of posts stating that a manual hurts the re-sale value. I would have to disagree, or would at least state that it is a geographical issue. Where I live, a manual truck will sell just as fast as an automatic. Moreover, with the low production numbers of manuals in the 16 Tacoma and the high demand, I believe it will make the manual Tacoma will become more desirable.

I have owned several pickups over the years and driven dozens related to my line of work. I have never seen a model that preformed so differently as the 16 Tacoma. Plain and simple the manual is a superior truck. Go to the dealer climb in both and you will see.

Now this is just my two cents! If you are an adult male and can not drive a stick, please back away from your electronic device and do not come back until you have learned how to drive a manual. Also, fathers, please your teach your sons how to drive a stick, it is a right of passage. Don't let them boys be pansies!!!

 

I wish my SR DCSB 2.7 was available with a manual trans. I've had sticks for most of the time I've been driving. That being said, the auto on the 2.7 is not bad, and seems to be getting better as I put more miles on the truck.

 

Yes! My sentiments exactly. I can't believe how belligerent some of the "auto" fans are on this site. I love my manual, it drives and shifts like butter lol. It's my favourite truck, and I just came from a loaded 1500. When I bought it, it was a non issue to get it. I had the choice of any colour, and had it in a week. This was last Oct when the truck was just released. Like I said before, maybe it's a Canadian thing. I also don't feel I'll have any trouble selling my truck. I agree it will be more valuable because of the lack of them.
I just don't get what the bashing manuals is all about.

 

My .02 cents. I have owned a number of Tacomas over the years. Some of them were manuals and some have been autos. I was like a lot of you and thought a truck wasn't a truck unless it was a manual. I enjoyed every manual truck I owned. My last few trucks I've owned have been autos. I decided to switch to auto because some times my wife might need my truck and she never could get used to a manual. I have gotten used to the autos and have to say I like them just as well as any manual I have owned. I hear manual owners stating they don't have erratic shifting like the autos. I guess not if your the ones shifting the gears. My auto and any auto I have every driven going up a steep hill with cruise control set will downshift to try and maintain the speed you are driving, thats just the nature of the beast. The manual transmission if left in 6th gear on a steep hill is going to lose its speed and not maintain its speed if it needs to be in 5th. My previous gen 2 5 speed would drop to 4th on a steep hill to maintain speed being 5th was its overdrive gear. My 2016 will drop to 5th on a small hill and 4th on a big hill being 5th and 6th are overdrive gears on the 2016. The point being that 4th gear was needed in both my gen 2 and my gen 3 Tacoma. I don't think anybody's manhood should be judged by weather you drive an auto or a manual. Maybe a better judge of your manhood should be if you drop your pants and see who is wearing pink panties.

 

I have had a MT in every vehicle I've owned since 1974. I enjoy the control of a manual but after having an automatic in my 2010, I will never go back to a MT again. If I buy a sports car again maybe I'll get a MT. Everything else will be a AT. One clutch job and the negates the increased cost of the AT. Modern ATs get better mileage and IMO are easier on the engine. In a MT there is a tendency sometimes to lug it down and put extra strain on rings and bearings. Towing heavy payloads kills a clutch but an AT doesn't think twice about it. As far as the 2016 trucks shifting all the time, what do you expect from a many geared transmission? Go drive a Ram truck with an 8-speed or a Ford F150 with a 10-speed and you'll know what I mean. It is designed to pick the gear that balances fuel economy with torque needed and with many to chose from it's going to shift around. This isn't the day of a 3 speed cruise-o-matic slush-box anymore. I wish the Tacoma had a 8/10-speed instead. If you want it to stay in the same gear without shifting then maybe look at something with a POS CVT transmission. Those are like driving a tote-goat with a centrifugal clutch.

 

Cost differential between a comparable auto and manual is $1500. Clutch kit costs all of $300 tops and I can do the job in an afternoon. Last two Toyota pickups I had went over 250k on the original clutch. I think I'll save my money now and take my chances. How many times is that slushbox going to require service before I get around to even thinking about the clutch?

 

The biggest problem is that there are so few combinations available in manual. I could care less if somebody wants an auto, but not being able to get a manual in any bed/cab/engine/trim I want sucks. I would pay extra to get a DCLB SR5 4x4.

 

I agree if you are doing it yourself but most don't have the time, tools, or skill to put in a clutch. I also can't seem to get more than 100K out of throw out bearing. Maybe it's my wife with her foot resting on the clutch.

 

Ugh, my wife bought a gutless Impreza with CVT for a high MPG commuter. I HATE driving that thing. Seems like all the gas pedal does is make it grunt louder. "I think I can. I think I can." We're trading it in for my upcoming Taco so she can have her V6 RAV4 back now that she doesn't commute much.

In theory I thought they sounded great when I first heard about them. What could be bad about constantly being in your peak powerband? Maybe they're better behind a real powerplant.

 

I had a 2013 Accord for a while that had the 4 cylinder and CVT. I really liked it but Honda seems to be able to tune their CVTs very well.

 

I would love to drive a MT again, but traffic where I live makes that a fool's vehicle. In fact, a coworker needed to sell his 3 year old Tacoma because his back was hurting from all the clutching on his commute. I also hate CVT's so an AT is best compromise, just wish they offered more control with paddle shifters.

 

Don't slip the clutch and you won't be doing clutch jobs. I have, so far, never spent a penny on transmission repairs.

1990 Chevy 186,000 miles and original clutch when I wrecked it. I towed large Airstream trailers with it. Then, 1995 Dodge w/Cummins 206,000 original clutch when I sold it. Towed large trailers. Current car is 2003 Honda Element. 285,000 miles and still original clutch which works fine despite towing heavy cargo trailers a lot.. I expect the same with my new Tacoma 6 sp manual TRD OR w/premium tech. I love my new truck so far!

 

Your statement is based on observation of other vehicles/engines, and a certain logic that is based on the seat of your pants.

 

Not to mention that one TRANSMISSION REBUILD on that AT can often be a flip of the coin between putting it back on the road and junkyarding it. Given that a clutch tends to last around the same time as an AT, you have to add in the AT rebuild cost to the difference in purchase price.

So really, you would be looking at $300 vs $1500+$6500=$8000.

 

Ok...bye.

 

How are you guys liking the 6spd?

 

I needed the longbed more than I needed to tell the truck what gear I wanted to be in.

Besides, I already have a better shifting manual transmission to drive.... and it's also boosted.

 

Exactly. I hear other people say that the manual is lame because it does not have crawl control. Atrac is pretty much the same thing, limiting the power and well spin.

I love the manual.