6 Speed Manual or Auto Transmission ?

To each there own, I just think everyone should know how to drive a manual. When I was 18 I valet cars. We had to write A or M because people could not drove a stick. The job was to park cars not certain cars I thought it was ridiculous. When I worked part time as tow truck driver, same thing some drivers couldn't drive a stick. It's crazy to me.

 

Granny gear is at least possible with 4LO. Unfortunately, no way to overcome the absence of a real overdrive.

 

Need to atleast be thankful Toyota still offers a manual, Ram is the last of the big three to offer one to my knowledge.

 

On the 2nd gen Tacoma, the manual has a 1.00 5th gear ratio and a 0.85 6th gear ratio. The auto has the same 1.00 4th gear ratio and a 0.72 gear ratio. Thus Overdrive gearing for both manual and auto 2nd gen Tacoma. Believe these gear ratios are correct.

 

Correct.

Having put quite a few highway miles on my 6MT, however, I stand by my assessment of no REAL overdrive. 6th gear should be taller than 0.85. The truck turns too many unnecessary RPMs at highway speed. While it may not be able to handle the 0.50 ratio my Shelby does in 6th gear, I think something closer to 0.65 would be considerably better than 0.85.

 

^ Completely agree

 

Yes agree. 6th gear is just a 6th gear, not an overdrive. This transmission is laid out like a sports car transmission, not a truck transmission.

Also using 4lo is not a substitute for a granny because you have binding to deal with on hard surfaces. I got granny by installing a manual twin stick Tcase that allows me a true 2wd low gear.

 

Agree on all counts. Should have more clearly stated 4LO MAY get you close to "granny gear" functionality, depending on surface and purpose. Without physically changing out gears, there's no way to get overdrive.