Best Automatic Transmission- 1st Gen or 2nd Gen?

Hello All, this is my first post on Tacoma World. I previously owned an '87 pickup and '12 Tacoma Base both with manual transmissions. My last truck got totaled by a hit and run driver and I do a lot of sitting in traffic, so I am now looking for a truck with an automatic trans. I just rented a 2018 Double Cab TRD Off Road 4x4 for a couple of days and I found, like many of you, the automatic transmission to be terrible. I am looking at auto-trans V6 Prerunners from '01-'04 (first gen) and '12-'15 (second gen). I am wondering if either of these powertrains (with specific interest in the quality of the automatic transmission) is notably better. Sorry if this question has been discussed elsewhere on the forum, I couldn't find the info. If you could post a link that would help..Thank you!

 

I read on here somewhere that the million mile Tundra with the 4.7 had the same automatic transmission that the 2nd Gen Tacoma's have. The 4.0 V6 combined with the automatic transmission reliability is why I purchased a 2015. My transmission shifts great and never exhibits annoying shift patterns.

 

The first gen auto is by no means a bad trans, lasts forever, relatively snappy shifts, the same base A340 has been used in everything from Land Cruisers to Supras to Jeeps believe it or not. But it is only a 4 speed and its certainly not as efficient as the 2nd gen trans. The 2nd gen trans (A750) when behind the 1GR 4.0L would be my choice if I were to just buy a truck now, its a 5 speed, also found behind v8s in tundras and some choice 4 runners, very decisive shift points, doesn't walk around and hunt for gears all the time (helps that the engine it's behind has grunt and a great powerband for a truck) and has been known to hold up as well as the old A340 that it replaced, even when used for towing which it's predecessor has a harder time boasting.

 

Autos:
2>1>>>>>>3

Third gen MT is the best.

 

I'd say the A340 series is most predictable and easy to learn by foot/throttle. also super super good at low range crawling and finesse thru chunk