2018 4 cyl 2.7L 6 Speed Manual Access cab 4x4

I have a feeling that at least some part of the auto-push is coming not from consumers, but from the manufacturers. Its a hell of a lot easier to cheat, err, tailor to the emissions tests that way. Why do you think the auto transmission in the tacoma has terrible shift points? So Toyota can tell the various governments we have a truck with 23 mpg with XYZ co2 emissions. On a stick shift, you have to put it into gear and run up the engine, shifting as per the EPA or CARB or whomever dictates the shift points. I bet under emissions testing, the auto is even more gimped to eek out the best possible numbers which you simply cannot do on the stick-- its in either 1st or 2nd or 4th or whichever gear they are in.

But on the whole, I agree, we should have better emissions, safer vehicles, and why not, auto transmissions. But lb for lb, apples to apples, the average slushbox auto transmission with the same gearing, same weight even, same conditions will never be as efficient as a manual for transferring power, nor will it have better fuel economy. A manual transmission is literally one of the easiest and most efficient ways to transfer power from engine to wheel, full stop. Now a DCT or PDK or the fancy auto-manuals with a real clutch, yeah those can be as efficient as a manual provided you dont burn up the clutch like on Fords econoboxes.

 

the impending doom of hybrids/electrics

 

I for one will welcome our electric overlords. Instant torque? Yes please! But even then, a DC motor can still use a transmission at least to keep the revs lower where they operate efficiently. And hopefully whomever designs the electrical systems is familiar enough with water crossings, because I sure as heck dont want to be doing a snorkel on a 100+ amp electric motor!