4x4 auto or m.t.?

hey, he asked for opinions

I've got nothing against autos, but personally I won't likely own one until I start a family and it becomes more of a practical issue.

 

It's all good. No harm, no foul.
I tend to be a rather pragmatic individual anyway.
Carry on!

 

That video just made my day.

RJM

 

MTFTMFW! Your traffic would be a bear with one though.

 

I've been buying 4X4 SUV's and trucks since 1977. A total of 8 SUV's and 6 trucks. Eight have been manuals, 6 have been automatics. In 2016 I'd take the auto every time. The fuel mileage is now the same. Most vehicles now are rated to tow more with an auto than a manual. Long term reliability actually favors the auto in my experience. You might wear out an auto at 300,000 miles while the manual may last 400,000. But you WILL need at least 1 clutch before 400,000 and maybe 2 and that is getting expensive. Off road the auto is a lot easier to use 99% of the time. The only time I think a manual works better is driving down steep hills. Even in 4 low most automatics aren't geared as low as I'd like in 1st gear. But there are ways to overcome that. Manuals in most cases are geared too high in reverse making them a bitch to back a trailer up hill. Like my driveway!!!

Maybe because I've used a manual so much (still have a manual Wrangler as well as the Taco), but when I drive an auto I still shift up and down as needed. Especially in mountains. I've driven 30 miles on mountain downgrades and never touched the brakes, just using the transmission to keep me at a safe speed. If you just enjoy shifting gears that is the only logical reason to buy one. But I wouldn't want a manual in a daily driver. I drive the Wrangler when I feel the need to shift gears.

 

Thanks Marshall. I realize that for sure. I guess what I am really looking for is why you (or anyone else here) prefers manual over the auto aside from the obvious. In my case, I am leaning toward an automatic because 95% of the time I will not be using the 4x4 and the crawl mode is appealing to me in case I go off road and it looks like it would solve that low gear down steep hills issue, unless you mean on a highway... Not sure I'll even go 4x4 at this point because of the rare time that might need it. I loved my 95 mt 4x4 taco but it had less bells and whistles as they put in these days AND I lived in Colorado so I had more of a need than I do L.A.

 

Well written. Sound. Thx.

 

Manual all day every day.

The automatic transmission is one of the major down falls of America.

 

I live and commute in LA and have only had manuals the last 10 years I've lived here. Dealing with stop and go traffic is no big deal, no more annoying than it is if I'm in an auto. If I keep enough space in between me and the car in front of me during traffic I don't need to keep putting the clutch in and out. Just have to adapt to the driving style.

Although there is one particular on-ramp where I live that I avoid like the plague (steep incline, 2 lanes that merge into one right before you enter the freeway). That one starts to hurt my left calf if I get stuck on it during rush hour.

 

Lol

 

Go with what fits you.

Personally, I used to deliver food in Downtown L.A traffic with a 5spd manual and take the 10fwy. in stop/go. My calf workout days are numbered but I would do it all over again if I could choose. So, I'm in the market for my 2nd automatic vehicle (traffic being the major factor).
Honestly, if it were up to me, the '16 Taco would be optioned with adaptive cruise control... maybe someday.

Another note:
I was at Toyota of San Bernardino yesterday and they had a Manual '16 TRD 4x4 off road DBCSB in Silver for $34,600'ish on the lot. I figured it was somewhat rare as I have been looking at online inventory and visiting dealerships ever since the '16 Taco was released.

 

Good evening.

I currently own a 4x4 trd off road in manual transmission. I believe there are pros and cons to each, however, I think that the manual is much more comfortable to drive when dealing with hilly areas and off roading is not bad either. I suggest you look into the 2nd gen tacomas.. They are great.

Oh wow, look here! I just found this one by happenstance and I think it would be the perfect fit for you.

http://prescott.craigslist.org/cto/5542736858.html


How crazy! You should totally buy it. The owner is great and probably not even desperate at all.

 

Really? My dclb 4x4 is about 4800 on the scales. Maybe those scales are off.

 

Go with your gut. I have a manual but my commute is very little stop and go; oftentimes once I hit I80 it does not come out of cruise until my exit. People are b!tching about both the auto and manual. Take it all with a grain of salt. My fleet consists of 2 sticks and one auto. My auto is an older one-ton pickup. I actually prefer the auto in it as my son has learned to drive with it (and my daughter will as well). When I use it I am typically hauling a large trailer so I prefer the auto for backing and driving around town.
My Tacoma is kind of a fun vehicle for me and I like rowing it but I would have been happy with an auto as well (and just checked the d@mn fluid level myself and not been angry and worried about for days on end).
Buy what you want; you are the one making the payments.............

 

Thanks. Yeah the TRD Off road MT are tough to find. Carson Toyota just got one as well.