New 2020 Auto vs Manual Transmission???

Hey all just test drive an automatic trd offroad today brand new 2020. Have not had a chance to drive a manual tranny one yet and there isnt one in a 300 mile radius.... I have always driven 4 cylinder vehicles; Chevy Cruze, Chevy Colorado, Toyota Camry. All 4 cylinders. Now Cruze and Colorado were 6 speeds so I got every bit of power I could out of em.. that being said, the Taco felt slow... I was kind of disappointed with how it shifted. Very hesitant to down shift. Not sure if it's just something you get used to or what? But just want to hear from others who either stuck with auto or from others who own a 6 speed. Any input is appreciated because dropping $35k on anything, I do NOT take lightly.

 

I had a 2016 with MT and a 2020 with the AT.

Love them both.

It's not a race car.

 

Got an auto and traded it in 6 months later for a manual.

Expensive mistake.

The auto transmission is total cheeks. Abomination.

6MT and don't look back.

 

I've heard the $800 OVTune fixed all major problems for 6AT owners. Wouldn't know, bought the stick and haven't looked back.

 

Thank you for the reply! Oh man it sure isnt! And I'm not looking for one either. My point was that my Camry feels quicker than that. I will often have my family riding with me and I'd like to have reassurance that if I need to maneuver in a relatively quick situation, the transmission wont hesitate. Have you noticed a difference in "pep" going to auto?

 

The MT clique is strong here, and you have just asked a very loaded question.

Hopefully you aren’t in too much of a rush and can find a local MT to test drive.

I like the AT just fine, if you can read my signature you might understand.

Good luck and welcome to the forum.

 

These trucks make their power at higher rpm ranges. If you step on it, it will go. Otherwise is tuned to be sluggish and get better mileage.

 

the AT feels like it has turbo lag, you mash the pedal and there is a delay and then hold on the thing takes off like a rocket

fortunately for me, i just putter around town at 35mph and rarely have to get on the highway

 

ECT

 

How does it “operate different from most”?

 

If you decide to go with the 6spd I hope your flexible with color and options.

 

Well that's a first

 

So confusing. People all over in here complaining about mpgs and how fast or not fast a truck is. Buy a god damn car people. Trucks dont go fast and they dont get good mpgs.

 

Notice I am comparing a set of 4 cylinder vehicles to this truck. Nowhere did I compare it to a Corvette or Lambo or any race car. I mentioned the hesitancy of the transmission. If you read the previous post, I referred to safety for my family as the concern, NOT racing for pinks on the drag strip. It is not unreasonable in the year 2020 to expect a sense of urgency out of a direct injected v6 and modern 6auto.

 

I bought a 2020 DCSB TRD Sport 6MT last month. I also came from a car, a manual Mini Cooper S which has a 1.6L turbo four-cylinder (that I'm currently selling if anyone in Seattle area is looking for a super clean, low mileage go cart!). I had the exact same feeling when I did my first test drive. I literally pulled over in a parking lot to double check that the truck wasn't a four cylinder to the amusement of the salesperson. If you're coming from a car, the Tacoma is going to feel slow. I'll be extra honest with you, I was seriously considering a Ford Ranger which is a 2.3L Turbo 4-cylinder and it definitely felt quicker off the line due to all that torque being available at lower RPMs. It also felt more refined (you could argue car like) and the Ranger also gets better fuel economy. I'm a big fan of turbocharged engines (not everyone is I know) for those reasons. I would have happily paid extra for a turbo four cylinder + MT on a Tacoma.

You especially feel the sluggishness when accelerating from an initial stop, at say a stop sign or light. I did two more test drives at different dealers and I got more used to the lack of torque down low. I think part of this is figuring out the shift points. If you go with a manual you have more control over this obviously, including holding the car in a higher gear to maximize fuel economy. I've been switching back and forth between the Mini Cooper S and the Tacoma and while the Cooper is obviously faster with more low end pickup and go, the Tacoma doesn't feel like as much of a dog as it did on that initial test drive. Some of this is technique, some of this is getting acclimated.

In my area, about 5% of Tacomas on dealer lots are MT so it's hard to get exactly what you want. I wanted a loaded TRD Sport or TRD Offroad with premium, LED headlights, and Advanced Tech Package. If you're not used to driving a bigger vehicle, the 360 cameras on the Advanced Tech Package is very nice. The LED headlights are worth every penny over the halogens. Whether premium package is worth it is up to you. If you decide to go manual, keep in mind that only the TRD Sport has "brake hold" Hill Start Assist (note this is different than clutch start bypass) which is invaluable if you live in a hilly region.

 

i get good smiles per gallon

never track mpg, just get in start it and drive, fuel up when needed

 

get a prius for mpg

 

I know what you mean.
The Tacoma’s transmission seems to be to be geared too tall.

 

Long answer starts here:

This 2016 Tacoma is the first AT vehicle I have owned in more than 30 years of driving.

I bought it because I am older, want this to be my last truck, and had a few work related injuries that made me realize it isn’t practical to own a vehicle that no one else in my immediate circle could drive.

I have driven AT- wife’s car, other family members cars, rental cars, and from the beginning I see this AT as different.


Maybe just my being in the habit of feathering the gas with the clutch on acceleration made my driving style a better fit for this AT?

Maybe using the gears of MT to control braking allowed me to better appreciate the engine braking feature of this drivetrain?

From the early days in the third gen forum, I never understood all the “gutless” “constant shifting” “lack of pick up” “dead pedal” comments.

I rarely use etc or the shift limiter and never had any TSB’s.

I live in a congested area where aggressive driving is a high art form, and this truck scoots just fine.

For what it’s worth...

 

Hey man I came from a 2.4 turbo car and I bought that because I knew it was fast and I wanted FAST. Then I had it impounded for speeding and wanted something that was nice to drive and NOT fast. The Tacoma is not a fast vehicle at all! It is built on the tortoise and the hair mentality. It wasn’t built to win the speed race but built to win the longevity race. You need to decide what’s most important to you. I have a A/T drive it like a truck and it drives like a truck and I LOVE IT! Never once has “this truck is slow” crossed my mind because that was never something I was worried about during my purchase. Reliability, off-road capability, on road comfort, and looks(yes very important to me) and the Tacoma so far still wins in every aspect. Not trying to say buy a car if it feels slow but saying this truck was never intended to be a race truck(from the factory).