4x4 v6 6 speed or auto?

lol
anyways, OP ask the kid what he wants, and go from there?

 

He was looking at the 6 speed last night, I'm thinking he might be better off with the auto. He wants it to haul his freestyle bike and drive some offroad in the mnts. and desert around here. My prerunner LB should be here in Jan. I had to submit the order and then it gets put on a waiting list to be built. The cool thing is that it will be shipped right to where I work. All I have to do is wait until they send me a Email that its ready for pick up, get the keys and drive it home.

 

I would do whatever he feels more comfortable with. Standard transmission can get really old after a while, but it can be very fun as well. I had a standard but got to the point where I just wanted to drive without worrying about shifting so I went to auto. . . . Now I miss my standard.

 

Every kid should start with a manual transmission. You can always learn to drive an automatic.... my wife still can't drive a manual (of course I love that because the Tacoma with the manual is completely mine) and it really limits her. She can't take over driving if we're in my truck, she can't drive some of her friends' cars, etc. It limits me when we go to buy a new car. Get the manual now and let him decide if he wants an auto later on someday.

Btw... he's one lucky kid to be given a Tacoma. My first car cost me all my savings - $250. That was long before most of you were born. Second point.... not that he's likely to tow anything, but there is no comparison if you're going to tow. You want the manual. I own both and that's my rock-solid opinion. I will never pull with the auto/FJ Cruiser if I can use my manual/Tacoma instead.

 

OP , what configuration ?

Sport , Offroad , or SR5 ?

Doublecab , Access cab or reg cab ?

 

DC, SR-5

 

That's half the story

 

OK

In case you were unaware , the DC SR5 comes in longbed (6') or shortbed (5')

The longbed is only available in auto , I believe the shortbed is available either way in the US .

Not sure if bed length was a consideration as far as hauling bikes etc .

 

My opinions:

Manual tranny:

Good for offroading, better MPG, more control. Horrible in traffic.

Auto:

Lot less work, much easier for a DD. Worse MPG

I had a 5 speed in my 2001 3.4L and it was my daily driver. I now have the 4.0 5spd auto, and will not trade it for anything. You can relax more, no need to worry about stop and go traffic.

 

Actually the 2nd Gen autos get better MPG than the manuals

 

Depending on who does the testing, the 5-spd auto actually gets better acceleration as well:

6-spd manual 0-60 mph in 7.4 s, 1/4 mile in 16.1 s.
http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezf...lication/feb23ec3e3d528b1ee7eaaf3516dafd3.pdf

5-spd auto 0-60 mph in 6.9 s, 1/4 mile in 15.6 s.
http://www.caranddriver.com/var/ezf...lication/2f1a9baffa1fc778661ac4bf4aaa6a02.pdf

 

I've got a DC Sport 6 speed I love it it's fun off road but it is a pain when it's time to pull a boat out of the water good mpg

 

Auto

 

Btw... he's one lucky kid to be given a Tacoma. My first car cost me all my savings - $250. That was long before most of you were born. Second point.... not that he's likely to tow anything, but there is no comparison if you're going to tow. You want the manual. I own both and that's my rock-solid opinion. I will never pull with the auto/FJ Cruiser if I can use my manual/Tacoma instead.[/QUOTE]

My first car. 1991 Dodge Monaco, $50 bucks and I loved it.

 

get the 6 speed for him, like an above user said it is a dying art, plus the girls dig it trust me on that one!

 

This, my dad did not give us the option of driving an automatic, we were gonna learn to drive a stick proficiently first and foremost. My first vehicle, a 1980 Jeep CJ5 was a 4 speed, my Tacoma is a 5 speed, i am a manual man forever, i will always own at least one for as long as i live.

 

that vehicle is "vintage" looking.

Auto.

 

And those needed refinements are what makes it the funkiest AT I have ever driven.

Concerning original thread, OP has received some excellent advice from the posters.
Manual or AT is a personal preference.
Manual was my preference my entire driving life.
Tacoma was my first AT, worn out knees changed my personal preference.