Manual vs Auto

I found this article recently :

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/artic...-get-your-300-000-supercar-with-a-stick-shift

As I was reading it, it seemed to me that manufacturers of vehicles want to maximize the performance by using computer aided shifting. Sure, a machine can shift faster then a human, but now it is more like engineers vs engineers rather then drive against driver. Sure, the engineering of a car is a vital role in the package, and the driver is still a very important part of it also, but I would rather see the human skills being up front.

 

My 2009 Regular cab 2.7 l 4 cyl 5 speed manual transmission gets 16-18 mpg on short trips and 21.n on long trips on the interstate or secondary highways. If I drove the 60 mph I expect it could get 24 mpg on the interstate, I've been meaning to try it but it's so boring. I've got load range E tires on it because I had them left over from an F250.

 

At 8k you're in the full-sized pickup truck category. If you can get it around 5-6k you'll be fine with a taco.

 

After looking into how much a car trailer weighs it looks like I will be in the 7000 pound range

 

Yep, go full-sized. Towing 7k with a half or 3/4 ton will feel like nothing is behind you. It will be far safer.

 

It will be a one time haul, most other stuff I will tow is around 4000 pounds. I will go with the off road.
I will be hauling a car from california to alaska, which after looking at trailer weight should be around 5700(+/-500 for extra stuff I might add to the trailer) pounds rather than 7k.

 

I've towed 5-6k a handful of times behind mine. You feel it, it's there. You'll have enough power to make it move, stop and turn. You will need trailer brakes and good foresight to avoid abrupt movements. Just drive like there is a glass of water on your dash.

 

Yep, that is the plan.
I towed with my father's tundra(around 7000 pounds), that thing is a MONSTER. 80mph through texas was like nothing. Just gotta stop early and keep your distance.

Luckily, for the road up here hardly anyone is around so I should be okay.

 

I bought a 2017 Tacoma DCSB TRD Off Road 4x4 with a 6MT and have been extremely happy with it. I had to wait over 2 weeks to get the truck I wanted, but was well worth it. Most vehicles I've owned have been MT and I do not regret the decision one bit. I've had it for 7 months now and have to commute from the suburbs of Atlanta to Atlanta daily and have no issues in traffic. If you know how to drive a stick, it's no issue sitting in 1st or 2nd hear during the slow stuff. Even in traffic I get 18 to 20 MPG since the final stretch of my commute is not too bad. We had some significant snow this year and was so much fun driving in that with 4WD. Didn't even have to use 4LO. I get bored now if I take my automatic car to work since there's no connection to the vehicle. MT is the way to go. These trucks will be worth so much more down the road since only about 3-5% come with a MT. Not my concern since I plan to keep it forever. Love it!

 

You got off really easy only having to wait for 2 weeks to get your Truck.

 

Tell me about it. I knew what I wanted, color and all. I went to a second dealership and one was already on a train heading for SC. They intercepted it and brought it to me. Best decision ever. I would've waited longer and was fully prepared to order one if I had to. I got lucky for sure.

 

It took about 4 Months to get mine but was well worth the wait!

 

Of course, you couldn't "back out" of the deal cuz it was a pia to get it into reback!

 

Had 17 auto for 10 months, couldn't stand the trans any longer. Picked up a 18 6mt and love it

 

Drove mine of the lot same day with only one mile trd off road exactly what I had to have. Thought for shore it was going to be a at I’ll never forget the way my girlfriend looked in and smiled then said it the manual

 

Wow 5 %.

Manual really is dead

 

As much as I try to tell myself these new new automatics are better, I still can’t make the change. I do find that my 3rd Gen 6sp MT isn’t as easy to drive as my 2012 2nd Gen MT. I am down shifting much more on the big hills, obviously due to differences in gearing.

 

My friend is trading in his 3rd Gen AT for a manual with 80k. He’s driven over a million miles in Toyota’s and Tacomas all MT up to now. 2016 he decided to go Auto since his hip is giving him troubles. Now he said he’ll deal with it and go back to MT.

This isn’t to bash autos, they serve a purpose, my daily driver is CVT auto on a Toyota, it’s a great trans, no shift points up or down. I just prefer a manual on a truck as some other people do.

 

Another benefit to owning a manual

 

I had a 2nd gen OR auto (even though I really wanted a manual, was told they couldn’t locate one)... hit a deer. Meh.

Then I bought a 2nd gen Sport MT (was told they couldn’t track down an OR MT)... sold it for a good profit. Yay!

This time though... I refused to buy a truck unless it was an OR MT... That’s exactly the 3rd gen I got. Now I am happier than a pig in poop!