Manual vs Automatic

Hi folks!

So I've got a 2011 SR5 that I bought brand new and it has been a dream to own. I live in Kansas, drive I-135 a lot (Speed limit 75mph), and make a trip to Kansas City once every two months to buy supplies for my woodworking hobby. I pull a 6x12 enclosed (flat nose) trailer. Trailer is never loaded over about 2000lbs; I load it with long boards and sheets of plywood that I want to keep out of the elements. I pull it in 4th gear and run at 60... it pulls a lot of wind and I want to keep my mileage up.

The 2011 is getting to a point where I may need to think about replacing it. I've heard a LOT of guys are unhappy with the new power train in the 2016-present Tacomas. I know the feeling... I owned an 06 Dakota with a 3.7L that, when driving into a 5mph headwind on the interstate, would NOT stay in overdrive.

My question is... is this an issue with the motor or the gear ratios on the transmission? Would a manual transmission behind the 3.5L be where it's at?

I'm curious if you guys think a manual transmission makes the truck a different animal or, if the new motor might just be a dog.

Thanks for any advice you can provide!

 

I test drove a 17 Automatic for a few days and could not stand the constant up and down shifting, I ordered a Manual. If I were you I would take one home for a day or so to get a feel for one to see if you can live with one.

 

I don't think that the motor is a "dog" but I can't compare to an older V6. The real point is, an automatic is NOT designed to tow in the overdrive gears. Doesn't matter what the manufacturer is. I had a 2010 hemi Dodge ram 1500 with an auto, and it wouldn't even go INTO OD in towing mode on its own. So, this truck you shouldn't take it out of 4th when towing.

 

Do you have the MT in your possession right now? What do you think of it? How is it in the higher gears?

 

I understand and I'm not expecting it to tow in OD. What I'm worried about is an empty truck that isn't towing anything unable to maintain speed in a Kansas wind.

 

No not yet, l ordered one and am hoping it feels better than the Auto.

 

When you get it give me a shout! Specifically I'm curious... flat stretch of highway, doing 75, will the truck hold itself in 6th gear (empty, not towing.)

 

Will do, l ordered a month ago but still have not got a build date yet, might be awhile yet.

 

I have a third gen MT and tow a 6x10 single axle regularly, weighing 1300-2200 lbs depending on load. The gearing on the MT is lower than the automatic - I tow in 5th at anything under 60, and on the freeway going 70, the gearing makes even 6th pretty strong.

That being said, the manual has two things that can be mildly inconvenient.

1. First is very short, which is useful towing and off road.
2. If you fly on the freeway at 70-75 regularly, your gas mileage is going to 15-16 MPG due to gear ratio.

That being said, I spend most of my life 35-60 MPH, and it absolutely shines at these speeds. I get tank averages between 18.5 and 22.5 depending on what I'm doing. When towing, knock 3-4 MPG off of those numbers. Not bad at all.

I bought the truck intending to eventually go to a slightly taller, skinnier tire when I run through the stock OR tires. The gear ratio on the manual will be perfect for that.

 

I have a manual trans. The transmission takes a bit of getting used to to get smooth (i've driven a couple other modern manuals as well as a couple older 69 and 80's vehicles, all were much much easier to drive smoothly.) But once you get the hang of it, you can be smooth most of the time.

Now as far as the engine, it sucks at low RPM (less than maybe 2500 RPM) no matter what. Weird surging/bucking/delay of power when pushing down on the gas. I cruise around 2500-3000 RPM in this truck to be able to have at least some power on demand if I need to get up and move.

I personally would never have this truck paired with an automatic transmission, the manual transmission is the only saving grace and it barely keeps the engine on the positive side for me.

On a much more positive note though, the truck performs fantastically if you do any 4wd off roading.


Oh I see people commenting on gas. I drive to work at roughly 75-80 mph and I get about 19 mpg. If I slow it down to 65-70, I get low 20's.

 

That is excellent information! Unfortunately I'm usually stuck running 75 on the interstate. Any slower and I'm bound to get run over. But a truck is a truck I guess.

 

The 6speed manual in the 3rd gen is AWESOME. I came from an 05 STI I had for 9+ years. This truck satisfied every "driving experience" feeling the STI provided and more. The psuedo "telemetry" mode on the guages (where it tells economy and trip data) is especially cool in the manual. It is a fairly good 1:1 show of your throttle action.

Short video running a tight stretch of road near home: https://youtu.be/43Y4oJIfXzs
I drive my truck like its the General Lee, or the Bandit car. Rally Truck style

Snow: https://youtu.be/4MVbO8OWgS8

the manual is great in this truck and you can do some really fun stuff with it. 6th gear at highway speeds will get you 15-17mpg at 70-80mph (inversely) in average weather conditions on a highway that has multiple grades. If you drove extremely conservatively, you could make the truck get 20mph with the manual trans.

 

What is redline on the new trucks? If I run at 70 in my 2011 in 4th gear, I'm running about 3100. The motor isn't exactly screaming but it doesn't sound happy... it'll do it, but it worries me. Red line on mine is 5500. I really don't want to run an engine consistently at more than half of red line

 

6k is red. 2500 is what I've found to be the optimum cruise in this truck. They put an engine in it with Max torque at 4k RPM and max hp at redline, it just simply performs much better higher up in the rev range.

 

The engine sounds kinda throaty!

I'm supposed to get 19 out of mine, but with interstate driving I can only muster about 17.

How does your truck do out on I-70?

 

Understandable. BadKitty just gave some good information on it confirming my experience with mileage at higher speeds. Of course the truck will easily run at 75-80 with the MT, but the gearing and longer overdrive gears on the AT will likely get you better mileage and be more "comfortable". My motor is working at 80.

This motor likes being wound-up more than any other truck OR toyota 4x4 I've ever owned. Coming from a car that won't seem unusual, but coming from a truck you will find the power band off until you get used to it. Personally, I would like this truck even more if they'd left the 4.0L in it, but as the 3.5 breaks in I have grown to appreciate the motor for what it is. It feels as though it will last a very long time.

 

Your motor is working at 80? 6th gear? That's barely at 3k rpm, if it's even there yet?

 

I know the feeling!

 

I have both the TRD exhaust and TRD intake also. The Truck glides like its 60's Detroit steel on I-70. I live in a 1-stop light town about 25 miles west of Indianapolis (Pittsboro) and work In the Center of downtown Indianapolis. I have 3 Seperate highway legs on my commute (I-74>I-465>I-70E into the city) all at various speeds. The MT in 6th gear will cruise 75-80 no problems at <3k. at those speeds youre looking at ~16mg maybe a little less with hard throttle action.

Compared to my previous vehicle (05 STI) the Tacoma 6speed feels like I blast through all weather and wind conditions, and when im "up to speed" it feels like its at a glide. Holds its line and maintains speed well.

With responsible driving on the city stop-and-go legs of my communite i see ~17mpg averages on a 27.3mile commute daily.

The telemetry function of this truck is awesome. pretty much leave the truck in this mode always.

 

It freaking awesome... you won't have issues other than MPG @ +75 in 6th gear. We drove a lot of highway this past summer/fall. Get the manual... you'll be glad you did.

70-75 is the sweet spot +75 the MPGs drop off... The manual has a lower gear ratio than the automatic.