2022 TRD Off road - Manual or Automatic???

Test drive one and see how it feels. I know everybody here can give their opinion, but you really don't know until you drive one. However, I will say the autos can be fine on the test drive, but give it a little bit and you might not like it. I've had several stick daily drivers and really just like to get in my truck, put it in "D", and go. If I want to drive stick, I'll hop in the beater. The 3rd gen automatic can be temperamental; it'll shudder and buck sometimes, or shift in and out. Over time you learn what it'll do and it'll learn what you do. You'll tip in the throttle more as needed and it'll shift how you need.

 

I actually loved that truck. It had no power windows or any options. It had a full vinyl bench seat and was very plain with hub caps and step and tow bumper. Of all the vehicles I've owned, that's the one I remember the most. I bought it in '84 at age 19. It was only a year old with 15k miles. Now they're called square body trucks. It's rare to even see one here in New England now.

 

The throttle response of the manual is excellent. At highway speeds, there is no hunting for gears, which contributes to a more engaging driving experience. Neither the MT nor the AT is perfect; it’s a matter of what’s important to you. That’s the “best” choice.

 

I had a 2019 DCLB because I valued the longer bed over anything else at the time. Well fast forward to now and I have a 2021 MT cause the auto was awful IMO and now I couldn’t be happier. It’s a blast to drive and I love how it actually stays in the gear that I want it to be in Wish I would’ve just sucked up the shorter bed the first time around.

So the advice I tell anyone debating this is if you’re even somewhat considering the manual, get it.

 

I think there are Manumatics or Autouals options...... Gear ratios are just barely as important as knowing the engine speed rpm where you achieve the ideal horsepower and torque while driving...overtaking on the Freeway/Highway, towing, hauling, etc... As long as you have kept your radiator and transmission oil cooler with required amounts of fluids, you won't overheat anything driving @ ~4000 rpm. ...opinion from my experience anyway.

 

You can push start a manual.

 

I agree with the above, kinda fixed it up a bit tho. Get away from here before its too late. Enjoy whichever you choose. Crawl control only actually works to climb difficult hills. Besides that its never pulled me out of deep mud or sand. I would have gotten a sport instead if it had a rear locker...maybe I should do that, get a sport and put a locker on there.

 

depending on what you do off road, an automatic will make it much easier on your overall blood pressure. If youre experienced in manual transmissions and you are an experienced off roader then go with the manual. If you arent experienced in one or the other (or both for that matter) off roading will get exponentially harder.

And for the record im a moderately experienced off roader and ive owned manuals my entire life until my most recent vehicle simply because I chose to buy a truck that isnt offered in manual transmission anymore.

All the advice aside, listen to the others on here. It all boils down to preference and feel. Get out there and drive both and decide for yourself. I entered the off road scene several years ago with a manual and the learning curve was extremely steep because when you are climbing over obstacles in a manual it demands your full attention to several different areas at once

 

There is no difference in traction between a-trac and crawl control. The actual difference is crawl control controls your speed using the skinny pedal and the brakes for you. With A-trac you have to do it yourself.

 

So, I am old enough that my first car was a manual shift. Drove large construction trucks with manuals too. Had my manual for six years. It was fun to drive for a while but became a real drag as a daily driver, much worse of a drag if you had any traffic to speak of. The combination of the clutch and the the manual transmission are more expensive to maintain than an automatic.
Also, a manual is much harder to drive and control in actual off road conditions where you would actually need the low low gearing that people are talking about.
Definitely go with the automatic especially if you haven't driven a manual for a number of years already. Off-roading is much more difficult in a manual and you definitely don't want to be just learning how to use a manual too.
I like manuals but they definitely have a lot of down sides which is why they are disappearing from the market.

As for what the various crawl control modes do, there is a great thread on Tacomaworld here. Once I read it and understood this my enjoyment of off-roading in my Taco went up 1000%:. Third gen automatics have two separate items MTS (or multi-terrain select) and crawl control. Crawl control automatically controls your speed in 4 Lo. I found this to be just "meh"--not very useful. MTS on the other hand lets you select 5 different terrains (from all rock to all sand) and it helps the truck control the transmission to fit each of the terrains--this is really helpful. People confuse these two items with "Atrac" (as they have in this thread) which was on older versions and is not the same.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

 

I can pop the clutch for ya, but I ain't pushing.

 

Mine did that occasionally on the factory fill, I changed to Motorcraft XT-M5-QS fluid and the problem went away. The transmission seems to shift slicker also. This fluid meets the Toyota specifications. Rock Auto had the best price.

https://www.motorcraft.com/us/en_us...ull-synthetic-manual-transmission-fluids.html

 

Just curious how you figure that a Manual is more expensive to maintain? I have daily driven a manual for the past 36 straight years and only replaced 1 clutch in all that time, outside of that the only maintenance is has been a few lubrication changes.

 

Welcome to the forum

Rather than asking us, ask yourself:
Do you like to shift
all day
every day
in all situations?

There is no right or wrong choice, you are the guy sitting in the drivers seat every day (and making the payments), might as well drive what you like.

 

utter nonsense

I would never have an auto Truck

 

Just like manuals better. No reason needed.

 

The only reason I chose automatic is that my girlfriend can drive it. Otherwise, I will all into the manual. Cherish the manual!

 

Sounds like you need the new version of the Trail model ... SR5 trim with a rear locker and sweet bronze grille and wheels.

 

I just picked up a lightly used 2020 MT TRD-OR after a prolonged search. I was going to order a new pro but didn't want to wait and this truck is Sick (Thanks Montucky Taco).

I did test drive a TRD PRO auto and it seemed fine. I didn't get to go on any real hills though to asses the gear hunting issues. I think the manual feels a bit quicker (it probably isn't) just because you get to choose when and where you shift to maximize the power band. Mine is lifted on 33's so it's still pretty slow with stock gears. I wouldn't want to re-gear yet, but I'll I'll see how towing and off-road driving go.

Fuel mileage is still going to suck with either transmission. This truck does not have one of the fancy new 8 or 10 speed units or a DCT or CVT that do show improved economy over a manual.

I have driven mostly manuals my whole life and generally find them more engaging and entertaining to drive. I live in the mountains though and probably would enjoy it less in city traffic. I like being able to pick and hold my gear going up and down hills and passes, which just doesn't work as well in an auto, despite paddle / button manumatic shifting. 1st gear is low and barely gets you off the line before you are in second. If you haven't driven one, the manual feels pretty old-school compared to a modern manual in a sporty car (my prior GTI for example). When I got it I thought "this feels just like a 15 year old truck ... in all the good ways". The shifter is pretty notchy and it has a long through and there is a noticeable spot when the clutch takes up, which makes the truck lurch just a bit.

As noted above, MT trucks are going extinct and a manual transmission naturally aspirated basic truck will be pretty "special" in a few years. I'm hoping to keep mine forever, or at least until I can teach my kids how to drive stick on it. Will probably have some kind of fun EV eventually and keep this for camping and wheeling on the weekends.

Good luck with your decision. People who don't like or understand manuals will say they are archaic and suck, and people who want a manual all have their own reasons. As stated ... go with what YOU want and don't look back.

 

The manual has hill assist . The 4.30 gearing on the manual is much better for
A poor aero dynamic , heavy truck with the small 3.5 l . The mapping of the automatic
Transmissions on modern day midsize trucks , is generally inadequate . # 1 complaint
In most forums for years . Autos shift for MPGs , manuals are shifted for smiles per miles
Your criteria for deciding is shortsighted . You can be one of the herd ( autos are everywhere).
Or you can own a vehicle that’s bound to become a classic .
Its sad that soon it will very difficult to buy manual shifting vehicles .
In my opinion its a political decision. The cancel movement wants to remove
Individuality from the masses . Madison ave has decided that we need
Massive distractions , ( bells &whistles ) as our primary criteria for buying
A vehicle . We are bombarded every day as to , why an auto is so much
Better than a manual . The government wants us , dumb , lazy & compliant .
I love my 2029 manual sport , 40 k miles . Perfect for the mountain terrain
I drive in every day.
I will keep driving it until the wheels or my left leg falls off .