New 2020 Auto vs Manual Transmission???

I waited to reply to this because I figured there would be some good answers to it to follow from MT owners , and there were .
It was great to see that none of the answers were derogatory towards the AT or the MT , but good explanations of some of the terms I mentioned on the MT . The AT dislikes are in dozens of threads but the MT dislikes are almost secluded lol , but still are there , especially in the OVTune MT thread as they are rightly so , waiting for improvements from Mat of OVTune .
Normally these debates on MT or AT get very animated so to speak , because of the quirks of both .
Truth be told , In my opinion , meeting EPA and CAFE standards has done a lot to degrade the "driver controlled" driving of our vehicles in general , whether it be a MT or an AT . I myself have not really enjoyed driving a MT since they went to hydraulic clutches as this coincided with all the EPA/CAFE changes in the later 1970's . My last enjoyable to me MT was a 1978 Pontiac Formula Firebird 400 , with a Super T10 close ratio 4SPD.
Anyway anyone thinking of buying any new Tacoma ( or anything else for that matter , if one truly enjoys driving )should try to get a longgggg test drive to make up their own mind .

 

The auto feels very similar to every other 6 speed auto I've driven. In traffic the ECT button made it very aggressive, a bit too much if traffic is heavy. I'm a hardcore stick shift guy but these days it's not mandatory like it was when Autos had only 4 gears and no manual control.

 

It all depends on what you like and your driving conditions. I have a rural route on curvy roads with <10mins a day spent in traffic.

I like my MT as it keeps me engaged in my drive. When I drive autos I am bored. I like to use the clutch and shift. I drive MT vehicles more aggressively than autos, rev em up and shift, downshift to slow etc. I've daily driven MT vehicles for over 30 years.

If you like to shift and don't sit in traffic all the time buy a MT. If not buy an auto. Simple eh?

 

Ive driven a few?

 

I really love towing with mine. You can keep it in whatever gear you want going up hills, maintaining ideal rpms for any situation (like I'll rev out a bit while passing uphill)

The one caveat is the dumbass tall R.
But I get around that by backing up in 4L

 

Interesting perspective

I was trying to explain to a friend why this MT is better than others I have owned when driving in traffic. I think you've nailed it. One can stay in a particular gear over a wider range of RPMs than I'm used to without bogging out.

 

agreed.

I’ve owned 4 MT vehicles and only 1 AT vehicle (benz), and I love being engaged while I drive. With that being said, this bullshit Sacramento traffic is getting worse and worse each year testing my patience with a MT Taco, so I’m considering a 2020 AT. Gets old some days commuting from Roseville to West Sac and back, 5 days a week...

I mostly went 2.7 5spd because of all the early 3rd gen issues I noticed during test drives on the freeway with hunting (AT).

I love my truck though

 

For the Tacoma, manual is the way to go

 

Drove a 2017 trd OR manual and my 2018 auto. Manual is going to be much much much more fun on a daily bases (shifting in traffic doesn’t bother me) and the manual has 4.33 gears in the differentials which is very noticeable when you are crawling around in 4L and 1st gear. Butttttttttttt, off road I’m going to have to stick with auto. Driving around in sand dunes was mostly annoying in the manual. Also off roading in 4 L over obstacles sucked in a manual. lastly towing at the limit of what a Tacoma can tow sucks with a manual , especially getting a 4000lb boat and trailer out of the water on a slippery ramp.

another random pointless victory for the auto is .... it’s faster. Obviously a pickup is not a dragster but any time I’d race friends 3rd gen manual (same cab, engine and 4wd) they would get smoked. No one is perfect with a clutch and no one is shifting in 0.1 seconds

 

I noticed this in sand as well and 3.92 gearing in my 2.7 - off-road (unless I had a taco box/dual cases), I’d rather have auto

 

Unless you don't like the manual and think the auto is the way to go.

 

That is some deep philosophical shit!

 

LOL

 

You also give up some features on an MT vs. the auto. TRD Pro/OR anyways. You do gain a sunglass holder, so maybe it's a wash.

 

And my sunglasses dont even fit in there so I keep a knife up there .

 

The Beatles- "What do I keep in my sunglasses holder I can't tell you but I know it's mine"

Am I too old to own a Tacoma? hehe

 

My sunglasses fit up in there, maybe they are low profile, lol.

 

Too old?! Not at all! You get by with a little help from your TacomaWorld friends!

 

Had a 19 OR AT that was totaled and when going to replace it my local dealer had same color, premium package in MT so I jumped on it. Both have benefits and neither were bad in my opinion, it just depends on what you want

 

The traction control in 4hi absolutely kills this motor churning through sand