Auto vs 6 speed: Help Me Decide!

I have no idea why anyone would want a AT. The second I hear someone say "but traffic" I just walk away. We obviously are just wired differently or something. Like you can't move your feet a little and fidget your arm? I dunno. I also have only owned MTs my entire driving life so (2006-present).

 

Manual

 

Three reason for a manual.
*fun to drive on the road and on the beach.
*good therapy for my ankle that has 7 pins in it.
*theft is low because most people don’t know how to drive a stick

 

After driving an '88 manual Toyota pickup for 26 years, I went auto with my '16 Tacoma. No regrets; my auto trans has been fine for flatland driving.

 

I came from an Audi A4 that had a nice MT. Wanted the MT because it had a higher residual value but preferred the auto after driving both '19 Tacoma's. Hard to explain why -- maybe just tired of shifting and wanted something more laid back. Pretty sure boat launching is easier and safer with the auto. There are 22k Auto and 1k Manual (new) Tacoma's for sale on cars.com for a reason. Driving both is the best way to decide.

 

That is about 4.5% which is pretty close the quoted 5% MT Taco take rate.

That could be interesting to track long term to see if something can be gleaned about folks holding on longer to the AT or MT.

 

Test drove an AT (twice) as no MT was available for test drive. Seemed fine to me ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ ... but I still bought a manual DCSB OR sight unseen. It is a decent manual, easy enough to drive. Not the most powerful vehicle I've ever driven with a stick but it works fine.

FWIW I'm renting a Ranger Lariat this week - it feels to me like it hunts a lot. I've driven the 5.0 V8 with the 10-speed and that is a fantastic pairing. As is the 3.5 TT. I prefer the AT from the Taco over the Ranger. As a bonus, the AT has CRAWL and MTS.

 

Also engine braking is amazing in winter weather conditions.

 

I'm the same way, had a manual WRX, FRS and Focus ST but there is just something nice about having an automatic truck.