Manual or automatic?

Manual. Didn't care for the auto when test driving.

 

Love my MT, great off-road and on. If you tow anything, 2WD low mod is a must IMO.

I can drive it for 8 hours and not get bored, throws are not long at all. Most of the time i shift by flicking my wrist, elbow stays on armrest.

 

If you are already familiar with manual transmissions, then I don’t understand why you are asking these questions. In any case, here is my opinion.

The only significant advantage of a manual transmission in the modern world is that it is more fun to drive for those that like them. I love mine.

Is it harder to get unstuck? That depends on how you are stuck. In general it is more challenging to drive because of the need to devote attention to that 3rd pedal.

Harder launching a boat? If the ramp is steep, yes. Too hard? Not at all. You can use 4lo on the really steep stuff. It saves the clutch as 1st gear isn’t super low.

 

You gonna use it as a toy or a truck. A manual can be fun to drive, but there is no reason to choose one over an automatic anymore. If you plan to tow or haul anything the automatic wins hands down. Literally no one is using manuals for towing or serious work anymore. You haven't been able to buy a manual in a 3/4- or 1-ton truck in decades. Same with medium duty trucks and buses. The military phased out manuals almost 40 years ago. Most 18 wheelers are now using automatics because they work better.

A big part of that is that modern engines aren't designed to work at their best with a manual. And the Toyota manual is designed for a sports car, not a truck. In the quest for optimum fuel mileage most modern engines need 3500-4500 rpm to get torque vs 2000-2500 rpm in old school trucks when manuals were common. It is near impossible to maneuver a modern truck with a manual in tight spots or to back one. The torque converter in an automatic offsets that negative.

Some complain about shift points not being ideal with an automatic. I've never seen an automatic that I couldn't manually select the best gear to be in for driving conditions. I just don't have to use a clutch.

There is a reason why 2wd low range isn't a factory option. Back in the days when 4X4's had 3 sticks in the floor and manual locking hubs it was very easy to shift into 2 low. But there were also warning labels in the trucks and owner's manuals warning drivers not to do so. I've seen broken U-joints from those who ignored the warnings.

 

I look for those kinds of excuses to drive it hahaha.

 

I miss a manual in a few ways, my Tacoma was the first automatic I’ve ever bought but at the time I also had my Harley so didn’t give it up completely. I don’t regret it and will get a Manual again. Wasn’t an option for the tundra though.

I’ve gotten unstuck easy in a stick before rather easily. Never off-road’d in one before driving a truck.

 

Just don’t floor it in 2WD low and you will be fine. When I use it, 99% of time I just release the clutch, no throttle.

 

Correct answer is manual for a toy. Rumor is 3rd gen is the last gen for a manual.

 

This article sums it up nicely. Get 'em while you can.
https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2022/08/stick-shift-manual-transmission-cars/671078/

 

First car I ever had was a manual - back in '75... that's 1975 not 1875 for you smart azzez... LOL.....

Been driving manuals off and on for 45 years - and being a bit long in the tooth it gets to be a bit of a chore...
So, I'm happy as a clam with my AT. .. but truth be told sometimes when approaching a stop light I instinctively get ready to clutch and
position my arm to 'take it out of gear'.... old habits die hard.

 

Manual. It’s an anti theft device basically.

 

I wish I got a manual… I do mostly highway driving anyway and I miss shifting

 

Get the 6MT, don't be a Soccer Dad.
Auto Taco excuses:
"I've had manuals my whole life, I just chose not to this once."
"I just got the auto so my wife can drive it too."
"How can I hold a Butter Burger, a Big Gulp, pick my nose and shift?!"

 

Manual 100%. People can say all they want about how these days an automatic is the only way to go, but no matter what I just can’t f’n stand them and the Tacoma automatic is one of the worst ones. No way I’d ever buy one.

if you have any preference about when yours shifts, then an automatic really isn’t the right choice. They will never shift when you want them to, 100% of the time. Most of the time they will always be in the next gear due to fuel economy and emissions goals (that don’t actually work out in real world) and you have to practically floor them to downshift. Yeah, you can manually control an automatic but that isn’t usually a very natural experience and I consider a bandaid.

For me the manual is a no brainer and I think a lot of people still agree.

 

When I purchased, I looked at a few options. My wife told me to buy the manual because I wouldn't be happy... she was right. I love my manual Tacoma. I wouldn't have it any other way. And just to note, I drive daily in the city, stop and go. Still wouldn't have it any other way.

 

Punishment fits the crime. People don’t stumble into the 2LOW mod by accident. They either find the thread on here where kits are being sold, or they do extensive wiring mods themselves to make it happen. Throughout either process, they will see a bunch of disclaimers warning them of the potential risks. If they’re talented enough to install via either method, then they likely already have a smidgeon of understanding how 4LO works and what 2LO is doing to benefit. I imagine they can easily figure out the damage the torque multiplication can cause if handled irresponsibly.

I say all this to mean that if anybody acts dumb with 2LOW, they probably deserve the damage that will incur. If they are smart enough to make it past the mod stage and have working 2LOW, then they probably are smart enough to use it responsibly.

Just a guess, maybe I’m giving people too much credit. It is an extremely nice solution to the problem though and if used responsibly is a magnificent improvement to the truck if one wants a stick.

 

boat ramps and getting stuck are irrelevant for the trans if you can drive it. Get what you want, I used my auto for crawling and my manual as a DD but doing 60k a year my knee just couldn't handle it anymore

 

Pistol grip shifter and baby finger shiftingAww day!