Manual or auto trans for new Tacoma purchase?

A manual tacoma now days are like unicorns if you see one you grab it!

 

People always "geek out" when they see my truck is a manual.

 

Good people

 

Guys at work asked why I got a manual. I said it’s enjoyable to drive and more engaging. I asked if they liked manual vehicles. Only 2 out of 9 knew how to drive a stick. A real anti-theft device for sure.

 

Easy to figure out:

• Tacomas with transmissions which work well: Manual
• Tacomas with transmissions which don't work well: Automatic

 

I went with the Sport for a number of reasons; the top three are:

• The extent of my off-roading will most likely be across the lawn with a load of mulch
• The Sport has a firmer/sharper suspension which in my opinion, has much better road manners
• The Sport has road tires and as such, the interior is quieter

 

The Manual is already limited to just the TRD models as it is. The 2024 is going with a turbo 4 banger and l don't think any existing gearboxes they use will mate up to it so it's very doubtful you will see one after 2023.

 

I wasn’t dead set on the Sport, and I wasn’t overly against the OR. I knew I would never use crawl control. I haven’t even used 4wd yet. And I have a 1hr commute each way to work. So the Sport seemed like it would better fit my driving. And to be honest, I do like the scoop. I wouldn’t pay extra for it if it didn’t come with it, but I wouldn’t purposely NOT by the truck because of the scoop like a lot of people on here claim is their case lol.

 

i get drowsy driving auto and nobody will ask to borrow it and valets wont park it

 

Purchased my 22 TRD Sport. in early August this year. I specifically wanted a manual transmission. To date, I am very pleased with my choice. It is enjoyable to me to once again having a stick shift. I was fortunate that the dealership had one in stock.

It was a learning curve after leaving my F-150. My biggest transition was the position of reverse in the shift pattern. Scared a few people I'm sure at a traffic light the first couple of days of ownership.
I have pulled my small utility trailer w(maybe a 1200) # load & didn't know it was there.

Definitely drive one. I am a Ford truck guy, but they didn't have what I wanted. The Tacoma is a well-made truck in my opinion.

 

290,000+ on my factory 02’ clutch…still going strong! My 20’ is in the “too early to call” category, but expecting the best.

 

I just traded my manual in for an auto.
Maybe my views are skewed since I came from a Wrangler Rubicon that would crawl in 4-hi. I found the Tacoma to suck on hill climbs, even small ones. It’s not fun having the petal to the floor and the truck lose all power.

 

Finally! Someone else in this thread who feels like the 1st gear (and reverse IMO) is not right for this truck. I'm a fire road and forest road wheeler most of the time (2wd and cruising with occasional 4hi and 4lo), but the few times I have had to "crawl" 4lo is just weird in 1st gear. I am guessing it is mainly due to the dead gas pedal needing approximately 75% input before anything happens, either way, this was not Toyota's most well-thought-out plan.

 

Just curious, but did you give 4Lo a shot? There is a very wide speed range there for us. Climbing steep stuff just to see if there were exhaust smoke issues was never more than a gentle pedal.

 

Honestly, my biggest gripe with the M/T has actually been towing. If you're frequently backing up large trailers, the manual is kind of a PITA compared to an A/T.

Otherwise it's been great. I will say, there is a learning curve when it comes to off-roading with a manual if you don't want to burn up your clutch.

The KDMax tune was a game changer.

 

There are plenty who don’t like 1st or reverse. I wish both were lower. They will be when I regear though.

 

Definitely need the 2low kit for backing up trailers. I use 2low quite often just for idling up my driveway.

 

2010 with 160k and no clutch issues. I'd say that's pretty reliable.

 

Yup, owns an '07 but yaps authoritatively about 3rd gens. Same ol troll troll.

 

I hope you speak from experience? No issues towing through the mountains with my 3rd gen 6MT loaded with people!