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

The auto transmission is the Achilles heel of the 3rd gen. The updated programming didn’t solve much IMHO. The Atkinson cycle is a fundamentally high RPM, low output engine and an automatic transmission enhances the problem.

 

Ha!

Whatever makes you feel better son.

 

Any vehicle will last if "you stay on top of it".

 

What a flawed survey. MT is higher yet they sell a ton more AT's. Look, I enjoy driving a MT and have done it for 50 years. In a sports car bussing around for fun they are perfect. Other than that, they have fallen behind modern AT. Modern ATs perform better, get better fuel mileage, allow the vehicle to take control in critical situations, and cost less over the long term (have someone put in a clutch or 2 and you're over the cost). I think those that drive MT are more passionate about their transmissions and so got to comment.

 

There is no way changing a clutch would be more expensive than repairs to a modern 8,9, or 10 speed automatic's.

 

I adore manuals and will almost always buy them, but fuck does it get annoying in stop and go traffic

 

Neither sir.

 

Will agree that ATs have come a long way and in some ways perform better than MTs. They shift quicker and get better mpgs, not sure about lasting longer. They will definetily cost more if you plan to keep your vehicle for a long time, 10-15 years. My last clutch lasted me for 7 years and it was still good, then i sold the truck. A lot depends on the driver, some drivers rev the shit out of the engine just to get moving. I cringe when i see that.

But the main thing here i think, is the fun factor goes out the window with AT.

 

OP, Yes you should buy it. Oh, "but which one?"...again Yes.

Grab life by the horns and yank that buck which ever direction you want. Muster up all the confidence you can and forget about the opinion of other people with this particular choice and choose what YOU want. Or flip a coin...

 

Auto v6 4wd access cab SR model unless you have backseat passengers, then crew cab.

 

OPs next thread will be: "should i get the sport or the offroad?"

 

Wish they made SR v6 6spd with 4 doors... That would have been my choice.

 

Yeah a Red or Tan one with the black wheels and a factory short throw shifter.

 

I am with you. Life is too short to drink crappy beer. This much I know !

 

And then talk me out of a Ranger .

 

We used to drink a lot of Old Milwaukee because it was the cheapest . The first one was a little rough but after that it was all good .

 

If the DCLB had the option of a manual, I would have purchased that. Been driving, and even currently own a stick shift vehicle for over 52 years since I got my driver's learner permit and license, and the act of going through the gears never bothered me, even in heavy traffic even in NYC and Atlanta traffic. It's all what you want in the vehicle configuration you want to purchase, and what you care for. I personally wanted the double cab with the long bed, as that configuration was more important to me. As far as automatic issues: I can live with them, as there is a fix out there.

 

I think Bud Light is better tasting than Coors Light. I am not saying that Bud Light is a great tasting IPA or something like that.

 

I'm trying to take a temperature of the room on if the automatic is objectively terrible like some people say. In the past I've always been a "no stick no buy" sort of guy, but I don't really care one way or the other anymore, I want the best locomotion device.

In any case I got around to test driving an automatic today and it seemed fine. Some highway driving, some bumper to bumper traffic, it was inoffensive. A couple shifts were a bit rough but at the end of the day I'm hyper aware of the transmission behavior while I'm judging it, it's a truck not a sports car, and this particular truck had like 15 miles on it so it should smooth out if anything after proper breaking in.

 

I love my 17 pro manual. Love driving it so much my garage queen never comes out anymore.