Should I buy an automatic or manual Tacoma? (2021)

Guess I could've clarified and said "upgrade to a TRD model so I could even have a manual." Sadly the days are gone where you can get a manual in the base model!

 

Yeah unfortunately 2017 was the last year you could get an SR 4 Cylinder Manual.

 

That's my truck, SR Utility Package MT. Got one of the last ones made. Great truck.

Customized with Clazzios leather seat covers and an OEM Hilux leather shift knob.

 

That's more like it! You have to UPGRADE to get a manual! - THIS is progress in the car industry!

 

Awesome, hang onto that one!

 

I miss manual, but Maybe I am getting “old”. Only 33 and really, Manual is cool, but for super short trips/long trips, I think automatic is the way to go. Save the manual for an actual sports car. Just my opinion

 

I have a manual it’s great at times …daily highway and hour commute to work sucks ass . Wish I had auto..

 

I never gave the automatic a thought. Now if it was the 10-speed from the F150 I may have given it half a thought.

 

Agree. I got $4100 off msrp off my manual in August of 2020 when dealers were still recovering from the plant shutdown.

 

I dont think I would hesitate on either transmission. Alot of negativity on here about the auto but let's face it, at least 200k tacomas sold each year since 2016 so thats around 1 million auto 6 spd tranny's on the road with no major issues other than some complaints of too much shifting. I personally love manuals. 3 of my 4 vehicles at my house are manuals. I can sit in traffic for an hour with no issues with my manual. Im in my 40's.

What is interesting is 5% of tacomas sold are manuals. But yet the pole for this thread is manuals recommended over autos by almost 2 to 1. Sales dont reflect that though.

 

Final answer? (previous 11 pages may or may not have skimmed)

Yes. You should get a Tacoma.

 

You should definitely get the auto then.

 

2 of my buddies have AT 3rd gens, no issues at all, shift great. The issue is definitely overblown.

 

The shifting issues on the autos is a little overblown on a stock truck. When you go up in tire size then it’s relevant. I regeared to 4.88s which turned out to be very necessary to find 6th gear with 33” tires. As long as you control yourself and keep RPMs under 2k you can still get good mpg.

 

Automatic for sure, especially if you’ve got a 4cyl. The 4cyl and a manual was horrible to drive in anything but off-road applications. 1st gear was seriously 1-5mph before it was screaming for the gear change. Drove me nuts. I recently upgraded to a v6 auto and i love it.

 

I had a manual 2000 Tacoma and really miss driving it. There is just something about a manual vehicle. I traded it in for a automatic Tacoma so my wife could easily drive it.

 

You don't have to use first if it's low. I start in 2nd (v6) from anything other than a complete stop.

 

I couldn’t start from anything but 1st gear. Trying to start off in second gear would make the whole truck shudder in agony.

 

Until this latest Tacoma - a 2021 - I have only driven manual pickups and cars since 1976 which means I've driven a stick longer than quite a few of the posters have been alive.
Maybe it's some kind of unicorn but my SR5, AC, 4x4, LB, AT has been flawless and without any of the 'gear hunting' I've read about on here.
I'm very happy with it and see no reason I would ever go back to a manual. But hey, that's just me.
You sound a guy who has put allot of thought into this, and that's good, I think you'll be happy with either one but I certainly agree that when/if you ever sell/trade your truck the 4x4 will fetch a better price down the road.
Good luck - this is the fun part of buying a new vehicle - the 'what should I get' part...