Been looking at 01-04 DC Tacoma's

I've been looking at 01-04 3.4l 4x4 double cab Tacomas. Would like to get the wife one.
As of now I own a manual 3.4 ex cab, so my question is.....

How gutless is a automatic 3.4 DC compared to a manual 3.4 ex cab?

Thanks

 

I can't directly compare, but I had a '96 ext cab 3.4 manual 4x4 and now a '04 dbl cab 3.4 auto 4x4 with a cap. I don't know what the '04 was like new (second owner), but compared to the '96
it is pretty doggy, especially on hills. If you can keep the revs up it is fine, but the auto wants to kick into a higher gear too early unless you really keep your foot in it or shift manually. A 5-speed, manual or auto, would really help this truck.

 

Maybe it's because I've always owned gutless trucks, but I don't find my 3.4, double cab, auto to be all that bad, and that includes going up I70 into the mountains from the Denver metro area, I also have 265/75 tires on stock gears. Sorry I can't compare it to a manual tranny.

 

I had a 2003 Ex. Cab 5-spd V6 and now a 2003 DC. x2 on the Mileage - if I kept a light foot on the gas I could get 20 Mpg's ( this was best - usually it was 18-19) and now the best I've gotten out of the DC was 18.5 - same wheels and tires as on the Ex Cab.

As for performance - the biggest thing I noticed was towing. I know that you are supposed to turn overdrive off for towing, but on the flats I would try to run in overdrive to keep the RPMs down (3K @ 65mph with OD off, do that for whole tank and i'm down around 12-14 MPGs hauling our boat) - , and any incline it downshifts. The ExCab 5-spd I could hold it in 5th longer before feeling like I need to downshift.

 

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This is basically the same as my experience. I went from a 95 EC 3.4 5spd with 4.10s and 33-35s to 01 DC 3.4 auto with 4.10s and 31-33s. The MPGs suck on the DC. At best I get 18 out on the highway and 15 in town. Normally it's down closer to 13. My EC would get 18-19 in town and 20-24 out on the highway.

My DC seems to be a little more gutless, but I think that's just from years of driving a manual and this being the 1st auto I have ever owned. However, I have noticed that the auto is nicer when I am racing around in the mountains. Switching from D-3rd-D is the click of a button, no lag time and loss of momentum.

The DC is much nicer for doing stuff around town. Not having to fold down the seats to get into the back is awesome.

 

My last truck was a 92 with 31" tires and a 4 banger..... My 2004 DC feels like a Lamborghini compared to my 92....... But then again I drive like an old fart.

 

Did you use power mode? That'll help towing

 

The auto isn't terrible. I daily mine and it does alright. If you drive slow it will shift low enough to get decent mileage.

However if/when this auto dies I'm swapping in a manual for sure.

 

I thought the "power mode" just held the gears longer before shifting?

 

It's good for towing, achieving higher rpms. Switch off overdrive and power mode on and that should make a difference

 

Mine is pretty quick. And my transmission hasn't been cared for (previous owner was a moron). I raced my cousin in his 4.8 V8 Silverado and kept up with him so it'll be fine.