Auto vs 6 speed: Help Me Decide!

We replaced the family 2001 Taco for a 2011 Frontier Crew Cab. It is a dependable truck, but I hate the overall driving experience, ie mushy brakes, super heavy steering, and rough ride. I am looking to replace my daily driver with a new Tacoma O/R Crew Cab within the next year and I am really stuck between going auto or stick. I will outline pros and cons; I am curious to hear your opinions and also if you have any other info to add to help me make a decision.

Auto

Pros:

• Easy in traffic (I live in CT and i95 traffic is hell)
• No clutch (Left ankle injury that lingers today)
• Better MPG

Cons:

• Heard transmission shifts like crap
• Long-term dependability could be a problem

Manual

Pros:

• Total control of shifts
• Funner
• Dependable and smooth

Cons:

• i95 traffic
• Possible left ankle won't like it in future
• worse MPG

 

Your Pros and Cons are very subjective so it pretty much comes down to what YOU want.

The only thing I can comment on is the "Long Term dependability," it should last forever.

 

Depends on how serious your ankle injury is. I honestly think youre the only one who can answer this and no one on an internet forum can answer this for you.

The manual 3rd gen tacoma is quite possibly the easiest manual trans car to drive. I have taught my sister-in-law and a few cousins how to drive in it. Very forgiving clutch engagement and soft pedal.

That being said, go to the dealership and see if you can do a long term test drive with any manual tacoma they have. This is going to be the most difficult part as less than 10% of Tacomas are manual. From there you will be able to tell if your ankle can handle the load of a clutch pedal.

 

Traffic would make the choice for me. If your traffic is anything like we have here i can see a clutch being a quick wear item.

 

I have a manual. If you're smooth and you time it right, this transmission is totally traffic-friendly. I live in the Hampton Roads area of Virginia and frequently deal with traffic. The truck's clutch is super forgiving and decently light, meaning that if you're smooth, you can crawl at low speeds without it juddering or having to really ride the clutch. I prefer it to having an automatic and having to stand on the brake the entire time. Just a thought. Test drive both of course.

 

I guess the summarization of my post is: If the auto trans. is as bad as I have heard, then I rather have the 6 speed and deal with traffic and possibly ankle soreness. Looking for members to chime in and confirm and/or add their additional view of choosing which trans.

 

The auto trans was bad enough to make me get rid of the 3rd Gen.

 

I've had no issues since day 1 with the transmission

 

I have an auto transmission and it is fine. A truck is a truck and not a sports car. If you want faster response, you just press the ECT button. I have a sports car and when I want to drive a manual and have fun, I drive that. I would not want a manual transmission in my truck.

Edit: Go for a test drive and decide for yourself.

 

Get the six speed. They're both six speeds

 

contrary to popular belief, the MT actually gets better fuel economy than the AT in every day driving. If you always drive <55 mph, the AT will do better but anything beyond that the MT will best it by 3+ MPG in my experience having put significant miles on both drive trains.

I had an auto and traded it after 18 months and 50,000 miles for a 17 MT that I've now had a little over 2 years and 90,000 miles. Best trade I've ever made. Don't repeat others mistakes, buy the Manual from the start.

TLDR - the auto sucks, buy the manual.

 

Manual

 

I have a 2017 OR 6-speed and not only have I had zero issues with it but it's a blast to drive. Complete control of the engine.... wouldn't have it any other way.

 

I did this as well. Must be something there...

 

wait, there are cons to having a MT?

 

Adapt, improvise, overcome

 

one of the points of having a MT... my job I'll do it.

 

clutch with the crutch. problem solved. once you are past first gear you can just no clutch. 2 feet are just a luxury

 

if a Tundra had a stick i might be able to fit a crutch in it. but not in the Tacoma!

 

Clutch is very light in this truck. Buttery, buttery, buttery smooth.