Wheelin': Man vs Auto tranny

I drove manual Toyota pickups for 30 + years and would have bought a manual with my last truck if they had had one on the model I wanted. However, the one TRD on the lot was auto so I thought I'd give it a try.

I have to say that I'm sold on these 5-speed autos. I first took it to our "river" (river in name only unless it floods -- it's really just deep sand surrounded by sand dunes). My auto Taco, with stock tires aired to 32 psi in FWD high had no problem going anywhere my nieces with their ATVs went. Conversely, in the past I would routinely bog down in the same area with a manual when shifting gears, especially towing a trailer.

I used to live in a really hilly city too and for years had to use the emergency brake at pretty much every stop. I like the auto on hills much better than the manual on hills now. In other circumstances, say when you need to look out a side window, the auto is good too because you don't have to move back to shift. Going down hills I can shift it into lower gears for engine braking and this 6-cyl auto gets better mileage than my last 4-cyl manual did. I'm sold on the autos now.

Edit: The one thing I don't know is how long autos will last compared to manuals. My last auto pickup was a '72 Ford, which was a piece of junk compared to the Toyota I replaced it with. I'm sure that the auto transmissions, especially Toyota's are much better nowadays.

 

I wouldn't attempt a shift on a steep climb with any transmission, but keeping the fluid cool does help minimize the effect described

 

x2 both of these.

I got the tow package not because I tow a lot, but just for the HD alternator, tranny cooler, oil cooler.

Being aggressive about fluid changes is a good idea too. I'll probably have my tranny flushed at around half the mileage Toyota suggests on account of my usage.

 

I prefer autos. I want to focus as much as possible on keeping my truck off of obstacles. I understand the advantages of a clutch, but it is just one more thing to think about.

 

After wheeling my manual a few times, I was VERY hard on my clutch. With that said, that is the first time I have every wheeled a standard transmission. I have driven manuals for a few years so I know how to drive them on road, but off road was very difficult. jandrews is right on the money about auto vs. manual off road. I really liked my manual transmission in my truck and have zero complaints as far as on road driving, but because I want to wheel more I am switching to an auto transmission. I am sure there are people who are extremely good wheeling standard transmissions, but as it turns out I am not one of those people lol

 

I disagree with your blanket statements. You fail to take into account ease of repair into your narrow view of transmissions. The 4cyl manual gets better mileage than the auto. The mpg ratings for all manual vs auto comparisons are very close: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/bymodel/2008_toyota_tacoma.shtml

I don't need extra buttons to control downhill towing or wheeling. I don't have to ride my brakes to keep my speed in check either. My brakes last longer (85k so far). I can fix my own transmission(I plan to drive it till it's no longer cost effective to do so). I don't mind shifting and clutching in and out no matter what traffic is doing.
I may stall out occasionally, but that's usually due to operator error. I'm man enough to admit that.

 

wheeling mah 6speed in a rock garden is scarey...allot of e-break and gas/clutch feather (not so smooth most times with me)

Everywhere else...love the manual

 

NOT. Maybe if you have 3 feet?

The nice thing with the auto is you can have one foot on the brake and one on the gas. A lot better control when going slow.

Manuals are fun for thrashing (I was young and dumb at one time) if thats what your into. I have had plenty of both and it seems the auto will be easier on the drive train in the long run.

 

not if u got the ecu flash done at toyota

 

One foot on brake one on the gas...​

That's one reason that I'm not taking my '06 in for the brake pedal/ECU flash recall. I've driven it for six years and it's never "accelerated out of control" on me yet.

 

same here....

 

You guys can't heel toe...? I did that every offroad trip in my manual tranny truck. No park brake. Hill so steep the carb wouldn't get fuel. No park brake. Had to hit th gas with my heel, brake with my tie, and clutch with my other foot. Very easy and useful once you understand it.

 

I like being able to pick the gear I want to be in when i want to be in it. And i like being able to launch it at whatever RPMs I want. Its not that bad offroad, and I enjoy driving it on road and on open trails. A manual with a crawler is the ultimate setup. I will always drive manuals....

 

he has trouble reaching the peddals

 

Apples to oranges?

I'll take the auto with dual cases over the manual with it.

Just sayin'.

Can do both of these with the 2gen Auto tranny.

 

Well i learned something today. but i still prefer a manual.

 

Probably not. It locks under certain conditions, but I think it's all ECU controlled.

Which is fine; but yeah, neutral, rev to desired RPM, slapshift...if you really wanna do that to yer truck...

 

When you guys say "Auto trans with manually selectable gears", what exactly do you mean?

I mean, I know that when downshifting an auto you can limit what gears are available to it... but I get the feeling you guys are speaking about something a bit different?

One thing that's turned me off of autos are watching dudes struggle up a longer sand hill where the auto downshifts half way up the hill and they loose their momentum. I pissed a lot of people off when I put my truck in gear lugged up it on my first attempt.

 

auto transmission. , but you can also choose the gear you want. also a "drive" option obviously.


you are correct in saying that you are really only limiting the gears available, but you can still drive it like a manual if you chose to.

 

You sir better keep an eye on that ato hybrid bumper lol