Is the manual transmission that much better than the auto transmission?

manual trans are great on the right platforms. this truck is not one of them. you want to blip throttle for down shifts, heel toe, power shift 1-2, don't buy this truck. if you're a control freak and just want to be the boss, feel free to buy a m/t tacoma. otherwise just stick with the auto. grass aint any greener.

 

The war continues

 

I wonder if I should have gone Auto sometimes when I see longbeds - but then I'm like nah fhu$%#/ it! MT is too much fun to drive. Easy to live with also once you learn its torque curve.

Really fun truck to drive with MT. I also test drove the AT before I purchased and it was a no brainer. I drove the auto first and then manual.

 

Truth! The CVT even kills that excellent DiT 2.0l. I'm happy in the right seat just listening to the turbo whistle when I have to be in it.

 

Not worth it,and yes I love M/T,but the Auto are just as good now days.

 

That’s my problem, I bought my dream truck. I guess it’s just human nature to want what you don’t have.

I think I miss my BOV, Wastegate and Invidia R400 as much as the manual...

So it’s likely I’d be back to square one wishing I just had an STI if I bought a manual Tacoma.

Indecisiveness is my least attractive characteristic.

 

Don't know what the issue is I tow with my manual I plow snow with my manual and I like the ideal of choosing when a shift change is needed and being able to keep it in whatever gear I like. I have owned a hell of a lot of vehicles and I think only two were automatics. I'm very active in Vintage motor racing and we are all wondering what's going to happen when the youngers guys/gals want to race vintage.

 

It all narrows down to personal preference. I just LOVE that we all have the option of AT or MT!!! While other manufacturers have only one option... and that's another beautiful thing of owning a TACOMA as well!!!

 

When I test drove my exact truck but in an auto, it was terrible. I felt so detached from it plus the stupid thing could never make up its mind what gear it wanted. The sales guy said he'd give me $8,000 off the sticker if I bought the auto truck that day instead of ordering a truck the way I wanted, a manual. I told him that id rather drink turpentine and piss on a brush fire then drive this slush box truck. So we ordered one that took months but lordy it was sure worth the wait.

 

I learned to drive on a stick car a loooong time ago. Have owned a stick Jeep and a stick Ford for years. Also I was driving a company Ford truck with stick since I was the ONLY one who knew how to move it.
Do I miss sometimes driving a stick? Yes, but I drove sticks in NYC and was painful sometimes.
Another reason to own a AT is that:
- most taco owners are in the 40's
- they will keep the truck for around 10 years and sell it or trade it
- future buyers are in the 20's now
- they are the stupid generation
- they will be in the 30's when you'll be selling your MT taco
- AND THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO DRIVE A STICK!!!
Therefore your chances of selling your taco for a good price goes down since not to many buyers will know how to use it. THEY might entertain the idea of driving a stick car (sports) but NOT a truck.

 

The clutch is light and it shifts smoothly, it's actually quite enjoyable to drive.

 

Dude, you seem like you are a youngster. Drive the auto for a few years and then get a manual if you want one. If not, take a bath and get what you want.

 

When I was looking for a Tacoma it took me a few months to find that right one primarily because manuals are difficult to find. Owners tend to hold on to them and when they let them go it's competitive to get them. That might not be true in 10 years, I couldn't say, but I have a feeling the relative scarcity of stick shifts will mean there's always a market for them. If it was like 15 years ago when a manual was still called standard shift and most Toyota trucks were sticks you'd be right. Back then it was the people looking for automatic trucks that had to search hard. But anyway, one example I can give is a 1996 to 2000 4Runner 5 speed is sought after and if it has a factory locker and is in good shape you will be paying quite a lot for it.

 

I’m not for either choice. I like MTs but the model I wanted only comes AT in Canada, so my mind was made up for me. Also, I prefer an AT when off-roading for safety and capability.

However in regards to the Vin Deisel meme above, I’d much rather be calm and controlled Vinny with the AT, than the guy who looks like he’s violently pulling his pud while sitting in the Walmart parking lot creeping the soccer moms......so I guess it’s AT for me.

 

I guess I’ll never understand the divide here. I actively sought out a M/T even though I think I’m part of the “stupid generation” as mentioned above (Just remember, the generation before you probably felt the same.) Some people don’t want to have to shift on their own... they would rather eat a burger and/or sip a cup of coffee instead of paying attention to the road (or what gear to be in). If you want a MT buy a MT, if you want an auto, buy an auto. There are pros and cons to both.

 

Lol right.





"Does this truck make me look fat ?"

Haha OP do what makes you happy. It's up to you. The manual drives great and is still everything all manuals have ever been. If you like the features of the auto, keep the auto.

 

STUPID GENERATION:
- cursive writing? what??? I can text.
- mental calculations? wait till I grab my iPhone and use the calculator.
- spelling? wait till I grab my iPhone it has auto-spell.
- orientation on paper map or compass use? wait till I grab my iPhone it has a GPS map.
- oil change? wait till I grab my iPhone and look for Jiffy Lube.
- changing a flat tire? wait till I grab my iPhone and call AAA.
- home cooking? wait till I grab my iPhone and find a McDonald around.
- MT driving? are you stupid? why since there is AT.
- book reading? I am in college, we didn't get that far.
- mechanically inclined? wait till I grab my iPhone and call a handyman.
I can go a long way on this. I am surrounded by them.
As somebody said, the more advanced and developed we get, the more stupid we become.

 

For me, going with the MT was just a personal fun-factor thing.
Cement Manual T@co made it almost unicornesque too.

I have no use-case or requirement that drives a need for either, that said, just a subjective choice, I simply wanted it.
Haven't regretted it for a second.

 

Same here. I have the auto. Sometimes I miss manual, but most of the time I dont. I eventually want to get a little manual Camaro or Wrangler that I could actually have fun with on the weekends.