She's mine for one more day...

The old truck's been good to me for a few years now and I'm gonna miss it (well, maybe not the tranny whine), but it's too painful to drive it anymore. Doc says I have some kind of arthritis in my back and of course the leverage from the clutch is exactly wrong to set it off. Work all day on my feet, no problem; five minutes behind the wheel, agony. I've endured it quite a while now, and it's been improving with physical therapy these past few months, but as for the stick shift I'm throwing in the towel on that one. One construction zone on the freeway and I'm stuck on the living room floor for the rest of the day.

Shoot, I've never owned an automatic. This is going to be weird.

I'm thinking I'll clean 'er up one last time tomorrow before I trade for the 3UR the following day. Maybe take some pictures for memory's sake.

 

We put men on the moon, why in hell do you feel the need to shift gears? It's not a Ferrari!!!

 

3UR? Tundra???

Dude, I've owned nothing but manual transmission cars and I commute in stop and go traffic. My knee is starting to ache and hurt in the mornings and again when i come home. I love driving manual transmissions and won't give it up till I have to. How many years have you been driving a with a manual transmission?

 

Cause it's fun?

 

Fun? You must be easily entertained...

 

Manual transmissions aren't for everyone. I still miss my manual occasionally.

OP, are you switching to a Tundra?

 

I switched from MT wrx to AT taco it was weird at first but I'm happy I switched I was getting so sick of stick. It makes for a nice easy drive to and from work epically in traffic.

 

Manuals are fun when you're young, but as you get older they put wear and tear on your body. Knees, back, etc.

 

Left MT's behind years ago, never looked back. AT's takes the stress out of drinking coffee during the morning commute.

 

I definitely prefer the auto on the tacoma. I had the 6 speed prior to my auto, and while it was fun in the mountains, the cons were annoying.

 

I feel your pain brother, I know my days are numbered. I'm still upset that I can't get out to lock my hubs. I M O a truck should have 3 pedals and locking hubs.

 

I owned nothing but sticks for years and years and years. Then the back got busted- L4/L5 - something about a moron picking up a lawn tractor- called the Wife from the rest area on the MA/NH border, couldn't do the clutch anymore, the leg wouldn't allow for it. Traded my beloved A6 for an Auto the following week. I've owned autos since. I miss the stick. Big time. It just engages the driving experience so much more. However, not being to walk to the car without agonizing, debilitating and constant pain, kills the experience first. It's all relative.

 

Mechanically, the manual has alot less parts.
And the manual is always in the appropriate gear.

 

Yes, less electronic s to fail

 

Especially in the winter, the manual is always in the right gear. I'm going to miss that direct feel when on the slippery stuff.

I was down to either a DCLB Tacoma or DC Tundra. Price was very close. I'm getting the 40/20/40 bench SR5 4x4 for about 34k. I picked the Tundra for a few reasons, like the bigger bed and more room up front, and the added truck weight will help when pulling a trailer.

It'll use more fuel but I don't drive like I used to. In the past 12 months I've only put about 6800 miles on my truck.

 

Well, done did it. Wasn't easy leaving it behind like that. It was the same feeling with my first car; it's almost as if once I'd been through it doing repairs with my own hands enough I bonded to it or something.

No regrets on the automatic. The return trip from the dealer was pain free.

 

It might suck now but think about how much more you be able to do without that pain. No more wasting evenings on the couch, cancelling plans, or missed opportunities due to back pain from your truck.

 

Feel you bud. The Tacoma is the first automatic I have ever owned. I had a manual F150 for 14 years prior to it with the gooseneck floor shifter. I broke my knee in a motorcycle accident and had to give up shifting as well. Some people will never understand the joy of driving a manual. I still look for the clutch sometimes when I'm reversing and reach for the shifter every time when coming to a stop.
Hope you find joy in the new truck.

 

Electronics yes. Have you ever had to tear linkages apart or drill out bolts out of a corroded lock out hub that is contaminated with water and won't turn because it's frozen in place? I like lockouts but they were far from invincible. They also went ''POP'' more then people think, even on the FJ40s they were the weak link right up there with the Birfield joint.

 

Drop a gear.....and dissapear!!!!

Well....maybe not in a tacoma.