Automatics...why so few?

LUCKY lol go 4.88! I wouldn't mind 4.56s with taller tires... Tractor engine with tractor gears!

 

Well said. A 4 cylinder with an auto is almost incomprehensible to me in a truck or off road vehicle.. They are gutless as they are. No reason to accentuate that fact. Auto's suck with low horsepower engines. As for off road they would even suck more with an anemic engine.

 

I got the manual for the same reason many others here did. More gear options behind a small engine. I personally like it off road too. Don't have any problems going where the auto guys go. I might run in lo when they are in hi. That's easier on the truck though.

 

If Toyota really wanted to make a 4-cyl automatic not feel slow, they'd give us a quick-shifting 8+ speed that would redline 1st gear at 25 mph and never let the engine drop below 4500 rpm with each full throttle shift after that up to 5th.

It would still be comparatively slow but would at least be fun to drive.

 

LOL!

How about a supercharged 4 cylinder Achates two-stroke diesel, now that wouldn't feel slow. The new military version makes what, 1500 hp or so

Joking aside, I'm really hoping that tech works out. I love simple designs and the Achates reinvention of the old opposed crankshaft design that can actually meet and beat modern emissions could really be something reliable and fun to drive.