Auto vs Manual (Aussie looking for US advice)

Years ago manuals were more rugged, got better fuel mileage and were cheaper. None of that is true today. Yes, a manual will cost less initially, but be worth less down the road. Most of the time there are no downsides to an automatic and they are certainly a lot easier to drive in urban traffic. They are also a lot easier to use when towing. Trucks sold here tend to be geared way too high in order to meet government fuel mileage standards. With the higher gear ratios an automatic simply works better for towing, especially when backing a trailer up an incline. Years ago when trucks had much lower axle ratios it was a lot easier to tow with a manual.

But... From everything I've been reading the 3rd generation Tacoma's automatic just isn't matched well to the engine and it's performance suffers. Apparently the manual works better with this engine. But I have never dirven a 3rd gen so I'm basing that only on what I read here.

 

Eh.

 

autos in the 3rd gen have largely been a nightmare. get the MT. i have one and it's the Tacoma to have, no questions over here.

then get the OV Tune to unleash your motor but that's another topic. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...anual-transmission-engine-ecu-reflash.515734/

 

@Marshall R @St.Germain Thank you very much for the responses, I appreciate all the advice I can get. Unfortunately I don’t think I can afford a 3rd gen as my budget/I want to spend is about $12,000 - $18,000 (I want to save some money to spend on toys of the two wheel kind) but it’s helpful nonetheless.

 

ah sorry i missed that if you mentioned it. good luck getting what you need and want.

 

Oh no, don’t be sorry at all. I didn’t actually mention it so no worries, thank you nonetheless.

 

If you're looking at 2nd gens, I wouldn't be as reserved to get an auto. There's less of a gap in driving enjoyment between the two in that gen, in my opinion.

My auto was an 2011 sr5 dcsb and treated me very well. Certainly was quicker than my older MT.

 

It all depends on the traffic you expect to see. Few places have heavier traffic than we do but I am not in it every day.I like my manual, I have had many more manuals over the years than autos. It can be a big drag in heavy traffic and this clutch is light compared to others I've had.Luckily, I can creep along very slowly in 1st gear. Good luck with your search.

 

Americans like automatics because they are lazy. end of story.

 

Already knowing you like a MT, I say stick with the MT.
Lots of us love our MT’s.

 

Had a truck with the w59 (97) manual and have two trucks with the r150 manual (98, 08). Both are easy to use and I'm in Los Ángeles stop and go M-F. Dad had
a couple trucks with the a340 auto growing up (98, 00). Pretty bland like most truck automatics. Haven't tried a ra60 6 speed in a 2nd gen yet.

 

^ That pretty much sums it up right there. Basically the same reason why gasoline engines are so much more common over here compared to diesel (kind of).

I have the 5 spd auto in my 2nd gen and love it. The ability to select a lower gear is great when I want more control off road. Usually climbing over some bigger rocks or whatever Ill drop it into 1st or 2nd gear, low range. This is compared to the 3rd gen auto which, as far as I know, has the slapstick aka D+/- mode which I dont like in trucks. Also, if you've spent any time on here you'll know that there are a select few people who are very unhappy with the auto in general in the 3rd gens. So take that with a grain of salt. Bottom line, you're not missing anything. Just test drive a bunch of trucks and see what you likr

 

Honestly, both are fine choices. Really depends on your preference. I have a 2nd gen MT and I love it, but i'll be the first to admit it's about as smooth and refined as a farm tractor compared to the 20 other MT vehicles I've owned in my life. I'm almost 50 years old. I love driving and am a big fan of MTs. But if I were facing southern CA traffic every day I'd be awfully tempted to get an auto.

 

Its because Americans are pussies. That's all. No other reason.
Don't worry about your clutch in heavy traffic. I commute in Toronto with mine, and its 10 times worse traffic than Los Angeles. The government here is actively hostile against any wheeled vehicle that isn't a bicycle. We get 10 foot wide bicycle lanes for 10 bicycles per hour, and a single driving lane for 10 times more cars than we have capacity for, and the ONLY highway into the city has a capacity of about 1% of the traffic it carries.

I also snow plow.

200,000 km and going.

 

I have wondered why there are no diesels, or far less diesels anyway. Once I got my turbo diesel a few years ago, I thought I’d never go back to gas but here I am.

The reason you have mentioned is why I prefer MT myself, the ability to be in control of the vehicle more. Thank you for the feedback!

 

Thank you for all your replies, they have been very helpful! Although there lots of similarities between Australia and the U.S., there is also quite a few big differences and although some may seem minor, they leave you with a few pondering questions.

 

I just want a diesel because they sound so awesome in all of the touring videos that come out of Australia haha

 

Haha. They sound awesome and ARE awesome!

 

Who gives a crap what others think re auto vs stick. Just go with which ever one you like. If you like manual then get that, doesn’t matter what me or what others think.

 

It has to be something about yanks shifting with the right arm and aussies shifting with the left.

I spent a few years in Queensland and for a few weeks after returning to the states I had muscle memory shifting with my left arm.

Seriously, aussies (at least in Brisbane) just don't have the killer traffic jams that big city yanks do.