Manual Transmission to Auto

I had a 2017 TRD Pro automatic and hated it. Absolutely brutal! What was Toyota thinking with that. I loved everything about the truck except the transmission. Sold it and lost very little, as one does with a Taco. I pick up my new 2018 with a manual next week. Unfortunately not a Pro, they are virtually impossible to get in Canada.

 

yeah I've driven a M5, and more.

I'm 100% sticking to what i say. it's ok that you don't get what I'm talking about, because you are the one missing all the fun this chassis can provide ON ROAD especially with the MT. definitely not me. i miss no fun.

setup is a thing. so is skill. without those it's a truck, as in "block of cheese". tweak the setup, learn the skills to tap the setup, and you will have more fun than you can believe.

you really should ride with me sometime. you'd be surprised. just sharing.

 

I am thrilled with my manual. 2017 TRDOR. No problems whatsoever. Everything I currently own has a manual tranny. Auto is simply not for me. Too mainstream nowadays. Not very fun either....

 

I see where the OP is going with this. Honestly after driving my 6spMT for over a year now, the thing that really irritates me is . . . . . . it’s too much fun to drive. I could be having a terrible day, I get in my truck, push in the clutch, turn the ignition and a smile comes over my face. You can’t put a price on that.

 

Manuals are pretty sucky in stop and go heavy traffic. However I have always had a manual. Learned to drive on one back in 1967 and had one ever since till I got my last car, a 4runner and no manual available. I like it fine and in stop/go bumper to bumper it is really sweet. But I wholeheartily get those who love their manuals.

 

I gotta say, if I find myself in North Texas I'd like to have that invitation extended to me.

I've read your stuff and it seems you fine tune the he'll outta everything possible. Peeps don't do that without the skillsets to capitalize on those changes.

 

Would not have bought Taco if not for manual option in the configuration I wanted.

1.5 year 17000 miles later and there's still nothing else on the market I'd take over it with price taken into account.

Fwiw, I'm 24.

 

The problem is if you creep in first gear at a constant speed, you need to maintain distance between the car in front of you since they are constantly stopping and going. But if you have any distance between you and the car in front of you, moron will keep merging into the lane in front of you and take away your distance. So you're stuck either being cut off endlessly or pressing that clutch endlessly.

 

I let the cutters go and it doesn't bother me. Not even close to worth trying to fend them off. The difference in arrival time to your destination will be negligible.

 

In stop and go traffic, if people keep cutting in front of you, you will never get home.

 

Yeah perhaps in a densely packed downtownish place with stop lights every 100 yards. I dont ever see that. The situation I'm talking about is heavy traffic but still constantly moving enough that you can do what @jtmiller2011 was saying.

 

The trick to driving in traffic with either transmission, is to either plan your route differently, start earlier, or don't live where you have to deal with much traffic at all.

Everyone is always in a hurry, and that doesn't help either.

 

Watching Daytona 500...not seeing any AT's

 

Probably not a lot of Tacomas either.

 

Newp, but the Camry drivers are moving pretty well...trucks are Fridays

 

I find an auto in the dirt and rocks is very boring. But I'm backwards as all hell my daily is a bone Stock 80 series Land Cruiser (very capable offroad even in stock form, especially with all three lockers), and I only drive my taco for offroad trips. The cruiser is an awesome daily with its robust auto (shoulda put that behind the 3.5) and the taco is tons of fun to hoon on the street and in the dirt/rocks. I could drive a manual anywhere but I can only stand an auto on the streets.

 

Dumb. Just dumb. Also generously trollish.
I'm going to brag about having owned an upper echelon German sport sedan while comparing it unfavorably to a very capable (and extremely fun to drive) off road vehicle.
After that I'm going to go to a Lagavulin forum to tell them that their whisky tastes like dirt and beer is much more refreshing.
Two...different...things...dude.

Fun is a rather subjective word. If you don't think the things you can do in a Tacoma (that an M5 couldn't possibly consider doing) are smile inducing, spine tingling, silly fun then you are truly on the wrong forum.

For the record, I have fun just driving this thing around town.

 

Well said!

I look forward to driving as well. Sometimes I come up with silly reasons to just run to the store for nothing, just to row some gears.

 

Manual is why I bought mine! Wish the made the long bed in a manual or even the Tundra.