Stumped....Auto or Manual?

I had a 5 speed manual in my 06 and now have a 5 speed auto in my 09. I like them both.

I really like manuals and was nervous about going back to auto. But the taco auto trans is really nice (even though it's an 09 with odd shift patterns). Seems really strong and never gives me trouble. I would take either one.

Go drive them both. I think you'll be happy either way.

 

Like what problems??? I am only asking cause i couldnt find anything!

 

I had an '05 with a manual and currently have an '09 auto. Both D/C SB. The issues with the manual were the shifting wasn't as clean as it should be. I had to search a little bit sometimes. The clutch pedal squeaked every now and again. It didn't seem to have as much "get up and go" as the auto. Worse gas mileage. The auto has its drawbacks though too. It does lag sometimes and there is the slight movement of the driveshaft that seems to plague the Tacoma/FJ/4Runner. I bought the manual when I lived in the mtns and I loved it out there. I didn't really like it for city driving. It comes down to which you like more. Either way, it will get you need to go and should last a good while. Hope this helps somewhat.

 

X2!!

 

I had a 6spd and traded it in for an automatic a year later.

I HIGHLY suggest you take the 6spd for a good long test drive. There's a lot of quirks that go along with it. There have been multiple threads on the topic. DON'T assume it's the same as the other Toyota manuals, I came from a 94 Pickup and didn't even test drive the auto because I loved my manual so much. Big mistake... my 94 pickup with over 175,000 miles shifted smoother than the 08, and I'm not exaggerating.

Since the trade-in I haven't looked back. Love the truck a lot more now that I've got the auto.

 

you can get the stick in longbed, where did you hear that from?

 

I personally thought the 6spd flat out sucked. I've owned manuals my whole life (I'm 38) and it's the worst I've encountered. I actually really like the auto in these trucks. But that's purely opinion and something that's been discussed ad nauseum. Drive them both; only you can decide what's best for you.

 

On a doublecab longbed? No you can't. I tried. I cried (Ok, maybe not literally). The dealer even commented that a lot of people had complained of choosing auto over manual just to get the long bed. I even wrote to Toyota to ask about it, and they just said that there wasn't enough market for it.