About to pull the trigger on a 23 Offroad Manual transmission Tacoma tomorrow.

Ok I searched the forum. Went two pages and didnt see anything about Manual vs Auto. So Ill start one. Tomorrow I am going to drive 35 miles past 3 dealers to TRY and pick up a 23 Manual transmission OffRoad Tacoma. These things are literally a white whale. If you see one pop up. You better put money on it and lock it up because around here it is gone in a day. I can get an automatic all day. Ive had 4 vehicles that had manual. I love it. I have a CDL I can drive an 18 speed too. To me it is about being connected to the vehicle. However. This is a 4WD vehicle that I intend on having a 15-20 year relationship with AND I will be taking it offroad for sure. So TacomaWorld denizens. I dont mean to start a holy war.. but Do I really need the manual? Or is it just going to make it harder to drive offroad? I do love a good manual but it does require some coordination and thinking. What do you guys think? If I decide to get a automatic that is 5 miles away and they have one 2k cheaper. I guess I am looking for your thoughts. Day 3 for me here. Loving reading all these threads.

Ive never done serious offroad with my Ranger/F150/ or Willys Jeep. I FULLY intend on doing it with my Tacoma. All those were manual.

I saw @TacoGranny say in a towing thread no one needs automatic anymore and raises a really good point about techs not knowing how to drive stick either.

So do I fight for a manual or just drive down the street and get the automatic offroad in the color I want that is right there. The manual is in white. (Which matches the van I have now that I love)

 

I like the manual a lot and Don’t at all wish I got the automatic. I see the same sentiment from 99% of the manual owners, which have a pretty strong presence here. Common complaints are how tall R is, the odd clutch feel with the accumulator, and the plastic pedal. Otherwise it’s a pretty good setup. I did regear mine because i didn’t like stock gearing, but most are plenty happy with stock gearing (except R).

 

Welcome here. You say what 90% of the people say when buying their 1st Tacoma. Either one is fine. If you have not off roaded yet the Tacoma won't make you drive off-road. I've had both. I prefer the automatic because of the super tall reverse gear that is pretty much impossible to back up without slipping, especially a trailer. Either is fine.
Oh, there are hundreds of these threads like this. Google 3rd gen Tacoma manual vs automatic and it will show all those threads here.

 

Just FYI

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/consolidated-super-white-040-paint-issue-failure-thread.689940/

 

you sound like a diehard manual guy, so defiantly test drive an automatic before you consider buying.
I used to love manuals, but now prefer autos and I like this one, but it is different, without a tune it constantly tries to upshift,,, even when the engine needs more RPM's.

 

I have never owned an automatic vehicle and plan to keep that streak as long as possible, so I am a bit biased however I am really enjoying my manual off road so far. I park on a somewhat steep hill and have no issue backing up it, particularly starting from a point that's less of an incline. Every time I drove my wife's car when we go out I am that much more thankful that all of my vehicles are manual as I am reminded how boring and non engaging automatic transmissions are, even if her car is faster it's not fun just pushing a pedal in order to go fast.

 

I wouldn’t own a Tacoma of it didn’t have a manual transmission.

 

Plan on doing the accumulator delete mod. Mine only lasted 5k km before I got sick of it and went the Dremel route. I put 600km on my brothers auto trd sport when he bought it in 2017. Wasn't a fan, manual is the way to go. It's alot easier to deal with the tall reverse gearing after the ADM. I personally am very happy with the stock 4.30 gearing. I'm coming from a colorado on 35s with 4.56 gearing, which as far as I can figure is equivalent to 5.29s in the taco.

 

Do it!!

So much more control with the MT.

 

Damn right you are. Good luck!

 

The manual is way better geared than the auto. That’s the first thing I noticed. The next thing is that the manual feels way more peppy as well. I’ve inadvertently peeled out a few times trying to be hasty.

Get the manual!

 

Oh I have.. I test drove a Offroad and I test drove a Sport both in Automatic. It was fine.. you know point click and just go. I think I read here too that KNOWING your Tacoma helps with the transmission hunting and I think the ECT helps the trans shift later too. Maybe the auto is fine.. Less screwing around. It did sound like from my research that if I did go manual I would hate that accumulator and want to take it off.

 

So in 6-8 months you'll be on here goin' - I shoulda bought the manual

 

I've owned 3 Tacomas one of each gen so far. All of them manuals. I tow with them and go on basic off road trails. I love the control and connection you get with a manual. I also like to drive let's call it spirtily, only way to go is 3 pedals.
The 3rd gen is my favorite so far.

Get the manual if you can and like 3 pedal cars.

I will avoid autos as long as I possibly can.

 

Lol Damn it.. You arent wrong. It is funny figures the WHITE one (I heard of the white paint issue before here) is the only one in Manual it is like within 100 miles of Cleveland I am competing with all of yall for a 23 O/R Taco.

 

I waited over 4 months for my manual to come in. Could have had an auto at any time. The manual is a totally different, and much better driving experience.

 

Manual guys are like CrossFit guys. They will tell you without asking. I had both. Reverse is horrible. And, white paint supposedly falls off. I have a white auto.

 

Why would the engineers screw up reverse like that?

 

Says the guy with the auto.

I mean you're not totally wrong .

 

Super White here… 21TRD Sport DCSB Auto. No issues with paint and I lived out of my trailer and Taco full time for 9 months and had it everywhere off road. Why did I get an auto? I had to go from 2 wheels full time (KTM 1090 Super Adventure R and a Ducati Multistrada Gran Turismo) to a truck because work took me to really cold places. Chip shortage forced me to compromise and get an auto after having manuals forever. I tow heavy with my 81 GMC Dually with a 7.4L and 4speed. I tow light with my Taco and will say, my only regret is not having a manual transmission.

You will not like the transmission hunting in the auto, will need to monitor temps if you tow, and would be smart to invest in an aftermarket transmission cooler if you plan to do serious crawling or fun stuff in the dirt. Hell, not towing and with mild 275/70/17 BFG KO2 E rated tires on stock gears I see temps on climbs spike to 220-230 which is soooooo uncomfortable for me as I am used to trans temps in the 170-180 range. Gearing to 5.29 from stock and a Setrab 900 series cooler with 2 fans are in my future but I would much rather just have a manual and leave the gear hunting between my ears rather than outsource it to the ECU.

You cannot go wrong in either case, but being a gear jammer I think you will be happiest with the manual. Check out the 4.88 Mega Thread and the 5.29 Mega Thread as you sound like you want to do some serious off-road driving. You’ll probably want to consider gears after you get a good baseline for how the OR does in the dirt and sand and mud.

A somewhat recent pic of my rig. More in my build thread in sig.