3rd gen A/T owners, wish you bought manual?

Got it - so the ATs with crawl control and A-TRAC (found in the Off Road and Pro), and the MTs with A-TRAC (found in the Off Road and Pro) have the newer brake booster, while other Tacomas have the older vacuum booster. Thanks Shakerhood and TexTako!

 

No regrets on the auto. I've driven many manuals and logged hundreds of thousands of MT miles and can say with a straight face that I'm giving up nothing with the auto, other than the ability to lug the motor, the need to replace a slipping clutch in due time, and having to repeatedly pin my left foot to the floor in stop/go traffic. There once was a time I wouldn't have considered owning anything but a manual Toyota truck, but that was quite a few years ago and now that I'm older, I really see no benefit to a manual, other than it maybe being an added layer of theft protection, which I guess depending on where you live, might be the best reason to have one.

 

as i see it, the one thing left off the list is "fun or engaging to drive". that would be my list, of course.. not trying to put words in your mouth, but I've just never gotten over driving being fun first, and a way to get there second.

 

I use a lot of downshifting and engine braking when I drive MT. I do miss this in the AT Gen3, and I feel engine braking is a better tool.

 

nope!!

 

Props to you,

I have a long bed and it's just a bit too big to park and get around the busier areas of the city for me.

 

I use engine braking all the time in my AT.

 

I agree, a manual can be fun, but there are times, e.g., traffic, when it flatout sucks. I'm fine foregoing that bit of fun to avoid the suck.

 

Excuses excuses, there is way to do everything.

 

I'm leaning toward manual. I want a truck that is fun to drive and A/T is just boring to me.

 

that's easy... if you want a fun to drive truck then get this MT. i had to set mine up for my driving preferences but i am having more fun driving this thing than my last car, a VW R32 that was modified to the gills... this truck is definitely more fun to drive for me.

 

None.....asked wifey if she would like it if I got the AT this time around, and she said yes.

Got the AT, drive the AT, like the AT, and my cock and balls have remained attached to my body......go figure

 

Thanks! I actually test drove an AT and as much as I'm excited about my first Tacoma, I walked away less than thrilled. I just figured I'd have more fun off-roading. I hadn't even really considered manual until reading this thread, glad I did! Now I'm more excited about it

 

Give the manual a good long test drive. On/off the freeway a few times. Hit the higher RPMs, get used to the engine response across the different gears. It's a little unique but a lot of us think it's a fun drivetrain.

Edit: try to hit some backroads too.

 

Gave my manual a test drive today. Getting on the highway I saw a cement pro and wanted to see it closer. Don't believe the pro was doing the speed limit, but boy was the manual fun to wind up and crank. Caught the pro, wasn't as excited about the color as I thought I would be, but still looks nice.

 

Just went from 2012 gen2 to 2017 gen3, both 6cyl AT. New truck has considerably better mpg, in real-world conditions. I get 3 trips to town per fill up on minor & unpaved roads & lotsa grades compared to 2 trips with the 2012. Gen3 engine does it's work at higher rpm, feels grindy-er and more notchy, with more gears and a pickier shift controller. I'm not sure how much of the grindy sound & feel is just from higher rpms, or because the engine is still very tight at 1000 miles. Would say the overall driving experience was a bit better on the Gen2 on pavement, but I like the new truck off the road better for traction and handling. The significantly better fuel economy is something I care a lot about so I'm happy. I haven't carried a heavy load up the mountain yet in the new truck. That is something I do regularly, and it will have some bearing on my final opinion.

 

I went out of my way (4.5 hours and each way to be exact) just to test drive a stick. Glad I did. I personally found the manual shifter to be 3" or so further forward that the auto shifter. Not a massive amount but considering an old shoulder injury I was either jammed into the windshield or was reaching for the shifter which was uncomfortable.

I have yet to hear of one other complaint of the same thing so it must be my dimensions plus the injury. My auto however has only ONE complaint regarding shifting. I use cruise a lot and I find it is reluctant to shift back up from 5th to 6th at times if there is any incline or headwind. I can often hit the accelerator and let it coast back down and it will then upshift. I usually drive roads at 80kmh and the fuel economy is better than advertised. On the Hwy even if I do the actual hwy speeds the fuel economy is great with a drop once I speed up to the speed of traffic.

 

How does your friends manual get more MPG's than you? I get significantly lower than my friends sport on the hwy and even the EPA data shows that the Auto is superior in MPG numbers.

 

Probably because mine has 1500 miles and his has like 10k or so.

 

You mean when she doesn't have them in her purse!