bought a Subaru instead of a Tacoma

Oh I have no problem with the vast majority of people preferring an AT. In fact I believe the AT is superior in every current vehicle these days in every way.

There are just a small few who enjoy driving a stick and see the drawbacks as more than worth it.

 

First and fore most I hate traffic and know that I would be in lots of trouble if I had to drive in it every day, shit even once a week would be dangerous. I regress.

I agree with leaving space and just coast along, the problem is the assholes that see any space between as the opportunity to the golden path out. I am a firm believer that humans being assholes make traffic problems, if every one was kind and patient it would go way faster.

 

I used to have a manual BMW M3, it was old but in great shape until a local maroon decided I didn't want it anymore. Now I have the truck and a 325 XI. Not quite as much fun but ok anyway.
I've owned both manuals and autos and I like both until I got older and my legs aren't as strong.

 

I have owned a Jeep Cherokee Chief with full-time 4WD (75), 3 Subaru 4WD wagons (77, 80, 86), and 3 TRD Off Road 4WD Tacomas (01, 05, 10)... and other non-4WD vehicles, too.

The quality of the Japanese brands blows the socks off the American brands. The A-TRAC Tacoma blows the socks off all other 4WD vehicles in sheer off highway power and travel. The Subarus were amazing but they are no pickup truck by any means. If not Toyota, then Subaru for sure... if they made a real truck instead of the Baja or BRAT of years past.

 

If you keep vehicles for a long time, manual trans will last much longer...usually just the clutch goes out, much cheaper to repair. I prefer manny over autos, but do like the new sport mode autos...still would buy a manny over it, hate to see the repair cost on those trannies.

Though don't quite understand the OP's logic, getting Suby over simply just buying a Tacoma Sport.

 

Well with an auto, you generally see people ignore the fluid flush/fill interval entirely. By the time it's slipping and mis-shifting you're potentially already boned. At least, that's the way I understand it: with regular fresh fluid you're pretty good to go. Running it on burned up old fluid is when AT's shit the bed.

With a manual you can drive a slipping clutch for a long time and not see too much of an ill effect.

This was my Miata's clutch when it came out at 85,000 (Me being the 3rd or 4th owner, mind you!). Daily driving was no issue, you wouldn't have ever felt it slip. Bang out a shift at redline, though, and you would clearly hear the RPM not settle.

 

Yep. I got 250K out of my last clutch in my Tacoma. Autos tend to fail around 100-150K at least for what I have seen, like you said, people in general don't take care of them. New Toyota auto trans is what $4-5000 to replace? New clutch and flywheel was $500 for mine....totally rebuilt R150F is $1200 from Marlin. Can't imagine the W59 or the RC62F being all that much more to rebuild.

 

I've been a licensed driver for 43 years. In that time, I've always had AT LEAST ONE 4wd. At times, 2 or 3. I've owned quite a few cars, a number of high performance cars.... 2wd trucks, motorcycles, etc....In years past, I've logged as many as 80,000 miles in a year. Now days I average closer to 30,000. Quite frankly, I LOVE to drive. I still own a Harley, a '69 Z28 Camaro, and my current Tacoma. (On my 4th) No one loves the "driving experience" any more than I do.

All that said, after owning auto's and sticks, you couldn't GIVE me a 4wd with a manual transmission.

I had over 400,000 miles on the last Tacoma......an automatic.....

The ONLY transmissions I've had to replace in a 4wd well ALL sticks. '92 Ford Ranger. '00 Tacoma. '99 Dodge 3/4-ton

 

ever driven in snow or off road? what about work on them? AT may get better mpg and require less driver input but i certainly wouldnt say better in every way. if you want a true idea how much demand for nice a manual can be look at the Porsche 911R. "used" go for 3x msrp and the only really special feature is 1 more pedal than most performance porsches

 

If you got the boxer engine in yo forester get ready for a motor swap before 100k. Our 13 was rolling coal @85k and we just got the motor swapped a month ago.

 

bye

 

It is all personal preference. My Trooper is an auto....put less than a 1000 miles on it last year...put 20K on the Tacoma. Can ya tell which vehicle I like to drive the most? There are other reasons why I prefer mannys...dad has been in a wheelchair for the past 40 years. You never know what tomorrow might bring...pushing in that clutch reminds me how lucky I am. Around town I either walk or ride a bicycle. Only really need a vehicle as a commuter for work into the city and back country exploring.

 

I'm from South Dakota.

And a driver's car wanted in a manual is different from a consumer car for the masses.

 

Yeah I've owned 2 Foresters 1st one was pretty good 2nd one sucked balls. My wife loved the thing, used it for shopping, going to work, and running around the mall parking lot. 2nd one manual transmission blew up at 60k, last one I one owned. Aka the "lesbian wagon" not That there's anything wrong with that! I love lesbians!

 

Right. Because a Forester with the seats down can haul so much less than a short bed with a topper haha.

At least there isn't a one-wheel-drive option on the Sub.

 

Except a double cab doesn't need to lose 3 seats to get that cargo capacity.

 

They fold forward. It's like a tailgate, but seats...

Point being, the Tacoma is a great truck, but it's not like it's the epitome of all that is a hauling/working truck. It doesn't even come in a long bed.

 

Long bed is 8'+.

 

I miss my built wrx for the fun factor, but the 6 puck sprung clutch sucked for a daily. Miss my ford fx4 tremor for the low end torque and spool drool, but regular cabs suck.
Taco gets me outside fishing and hunting so I can say it's my fav...just wish it had more balls hah.

 

Well it depends what part of the world you're in...here even F350's dont get used as trucks...other parts of the world, they load the shit out of the little trucks...

Think there is a Toyota under dar...



Toyota doesn't make a long bed midsize truck in the States...they do elsewhere though. Manual trans and diesel to boot...