why exactly is manual transmission so much better

Ignored and demoted

 

Good practice not to ride the guy's ass in front of you anyway. I do stay to the edge of the lane to shoo away any of the idiots who would cut in front, though.

 

I've owned 9 trucks and SUV's with manuals and 8 with auto's. The manuals give a LITTLE better control off road going DOWN hill. The autos have a LOT more control going UP hill. Unless you only drive one way trails that are all up or all down it evens out in the end.

In the 1970's manuals got 1-2mpg better than autos. In 2018 there is no difference. In the 1970's manuals were more rugged and dependable. In 2018 there is no difference.

Manuals cost a little less new, but sell for less down the road. Overall cost between them is a wash.

An auto is a LOT easier to tow with. Especially when backing into tight spots and when backing up hill.

Manuals can be a lot more fun to drive, but unless you don't understand how to use an auto it isn't any problem at all to manually shift it to get an auto into the gears needed. Both of my current trucks are autos, but I spend a lot of time manually getting them into the correct gear. Especially when towing, loaded heavy, and/or in mountains.

From a practical perspective in 2018 I'll pick an auto every time. But concede that there are times when I enjoy getting out on the road and stirring the stick.

 

Pshh I cut my teeth on the hollywood freeway with no AC, and a beater of a car with barely 2 hamsters for an engine. 405 doesn't faze me. It's not that a manual is terrible to drive in traffic, it's that traffic is a waste of time regardless of transmission, car, horse and buggy, whathaveyou. The one saving grace is that an MT is more fun to drive making traffic bearable. Otherwise, I would have to resort to texting or reading a book... nothing quite like that feeling of a perfectly matched shift.

 

How so?

 

If you drive in very mountainous conditions, the constant braking can overheat the brakes.

Engine braking can prevent this or save your life.

Imagine not having brakes going downhill, or having fading brakes with no place to pull over and let them cool.

 

And I learned to chirp them in 2nd on a three on the tree lol.

 

Because it never shifts unless you shift it.

 

Erm, the autos?

 

Sarcasm

 

The guy’s owned way more autos than me, so I was wondering what he meant... I’m no auto trans expert.

 

Disagree with both of these with the third gen Tacoma. With other vehicles they may be true but not with this truck.

My manual Tacoma is averaging >2 mpg over the automatic that I had doing the same driving. When towing that number is closer to 4-5 mpg better.

Backing up with the auto is easier but going forward with the manual is a much better experience due to the gearing, especially the rear end. I can cruise in 5th gear through mostly everything where the auto would typically be in 3rd or 4th. I averaged about 10mpg towing with the automatic at best and have seen 12-17 mpg towing with the manual.

 

I like the AT’s downshift on my 3rd gen while Im towing down a hill, S mode works well.

 

Me too, our driver’s ed car had three on the tree.

 

Never heard someone say I like the challenge of driving in traffic with a manual transmission.

I own an awesome Excelite screwdriver that has a precision head, feels good in the hand and I use it whenever I want to make sure I don't strip a screw.

99% of the time I use an electric automatic screwdriver.

So ask yourself is your truck mostly used as a tool or a toy?

 

That is exactly my merge technique. In urban driving I often skip third and go right to fourth.

 

Both. I too have rad tools. And it’s hella fun using them. And if driving in traffic is a challenge, then yeah it’s probably time to move to an auto. You gotta love what you do, and if driving sucks you have to change what sucks. I don’t even notice shifting in traffic, it’s just second nature. But my truck is a tool, and a toy. It does both things, and sometimes both at the same time.

 

Tool. 32K miles this year. Towed lots of work stuff. Carried lots of work stuff. Not a toy.

 

Been there. It wasn’t an issue for me. The creep technique.

 

The creep technique? Like as in being one, or moving slow?