stick or auto

[exacto]

for my first tacoma,and my first car should it be a 4 or 5 speed stick or a auto transmission? i have driven my parents car, which is a auto, sedan car, but stick looks funner and cooler, but is there any problems , and i know i can eventually figure it out, but auto is that much easier.

My question is, is there any failures or defaults for the stick vs. the auto?

[Paul]

Search. This always comes out 50/50.

[freshdb]

Ya, that really depends, having had a stick for my first two trucks and now having an automatic, I'm on the fence. There are times where I'm real happy with the automatic and others where I wish it was a stick just because they can be real fun to drive. I commute in traffic, so most of the time I'm pretty happy with the auto. I guess it just depends on how you'll be using the truck.

[exacto]

ya, im just going to be driving to school and around my city, and maybe on the weekends go to the dirt with my friends.

[partyman66]

Stick is great fun and I feel like it also makes you more alert as a driver because you have to sorta be more awake while behind the wheel of a standard and pay attention to shifting and stuff(even though it becomes second nature fairly quickly). For your first car though, you've already got enough to pay attention to without learning to manipulate the manual transmission plus pay attention to the road.

I guess it makes sense to get an auto for your first car, although it would be nice to trade it in for a stick after a year or so of driving the auto.

[Rebuilt98]

My first car was a stick and I couldn't be happier, except when I lived in the suburbs of Chicago then it kinda sucked but for dirt I like the stick although it can be a bit tricky at times.

[bray]

Originally Posted by exacto

for my first tacoma,and my first car should it be a 4 or 5 speed stick or a auto transmission? i have driven my parents car, which is a auto, sedan car, but stick looks funner and cooler, but is there any problems , and i know i can eventually figure it out, but auto is that much easier.

My question is, is there any failures or defaults for the stick vs. the auto?

I'd say that since you seem to be young, go with the manual tranny. It is a lot of fun and I know you'd enjoy it. My only question is do you have any experience with a manual tranny? If no is the answer, you may go through a clutch or throwout bearing or 2 that could lead to more expense than the auto tranny. The A340 auto is used in great trail rigs and in many competition rock crawlers so they are great trannies also. You're just gonna have to weigh your options and make a choice based on the info you get. (I did say the manual is fun, right!).
When you get older like me, you'll really appreciate the auto.

[(Flexion)]

Many people will vouch for automatic if you are doing any type of rock crawling or steep climbing. Others will vouch for manual if you will be towing or are driving in snowy/winter conditions.

Personally, manual is the only way to go.

[bray]

Originally Posted by (Flexion)

Many people will vouch for automatic if you are doing any type of rock crawling or steep climbing. Others will vouch for manual if you will be towing or are driving in snowy/winter conditions.

Personally, manual is the only way to go.

I hope I didn't sound as though I was vouching for the auto (which is what I have). I felt that I was pushing towards the manual tranny because it's a great tranny too and he'd have fun driving it. (BUT) if he has no experience with the manual tranny, the clutch and throw-out bearing can get expensive.
Did you notice that I'm from Alabama, where you have to drive long distances to do any serious rock climbing?
Oh, and how is the manual better than auto in snow and icey conditions? My question to him was how experienced was he with a manual tranny, because he could get in much more trouble during acceleration and down-shifting in snow or icey conditions with a manual trannny without experience with the manual tranny.
In all honesty. the only reason I chose the A340 is that I heard it was a good tranny and I was tired of shifting. Many on here have chosen it because it works great on and off-road. I won't argue beyond this but I think he needs to know what he should choose with his driving experience because, as I said before, 'He sounds young'. But as I said before "the manual is fun".

[(Flexion)]

Originally Posted by bray

Did you notice that I'm from Alabama, where you have to drive long distances to do any serious rock climbing?

No, I didn't take this into consideration because I wasn't speaking to you.

Originally Posted by bray

Oh, and how is the manual better than auto in snow and icey conditions?

If you need to reduce your speed while driving on a sheet of ice, in an automatic, the only way to do that (realistically) is using the brake. Using the brakes in low-traction situations can mean certain death when your wheels lock up. In a manual, you can not only select the lower gear, but you have the option to feather the clutch so that you don't break traction.

And honestly, I don't think the replacement cost of the T/O bearing or the tranny should be accounted for when choosing a transmission. It will take 4-5 days max to learn to work a clutch. What should be factored in is the fact that an automatic transmission is considered an "option" which means you will end up paying more for it.

Focus more on what you realistically will be able to adjust to and what you will need in the future, not what your current driving experience is. For example, in a few years, will you want to tow something? Will a girlfriend be driving it? Do you plan on keeping it for 200,000+ miles?

[bray]

Originally Posted by (Flexion)

No, I didn't take this into consideration because I wasn't speaking to you.



If you need to reduce your speed while driving on a sheet of ice, in an automatic, the only way to do that (realistically) is using the brake. Using the brakes in low-traction situations can mean certain death when your wheels lock up. In a manual, you can not only select the lower gear, but you have the option to feather the clutch so that you don't break traction.

And honestly, I don't think the replacement cost of the T/O bearing or the tranny should be accounted for when choosing a transmission. It will take 4-5 days max to learn to work a clutch. What should be factored in is the fact that an automatic transmission is considered an "option" which means you will end up paying more for it.

Focus more on what you realistically will be able to adjust to and what you will need in the future, not what your current driving experience is. For example, in a few years, will you want to tow something? Will a girlfriend be driving it? Do you plan on keeping it for 200,000+ miles?

OK, I'm trying to focus. I'm been thinking about towing, so I've installed a trans cooler and I don't have a girlfriend but I do have a wife (which I bought an '04 4-Runner for) and she seems to like my A340 too. As for the rest, I'll let you know how that goes. I plan on keeping my '99 for a long, long time. I've had 4x4 toyotas since 1985, strait axle with the 22re. I've had 5 others in the past few years of trucks and 4-Runners with manual and auto trannys alike. Are you in touch with the new generation? Do you think that (aside from him), his girlfreind is gonna know how to drive a stick? Now I just have to ask how old you are? I'm thinking un-married and 25-30 years old. I only say this because the younger generation has been with cars and trucks with auto trannys and that seems to be the trend with the new-age drivers. Hence my suggestions.
As far as my need to brake in icey conditions or other conditions, my ABS has been great! It's saved me twice in the past 8 years that I've had my truck. Did you know it's my off-road rig too?

[Mark2003DC]

I used to own a small sports car and it was a stick shift. I would never have anything other that a stick shift in a sports car because I drove it pretty hard and I like having direct access to what gear the car is in. In my Tacoma I have an automatic transmission because I don't see any point in having a stick shift. It isn't a sports car and I don't try to drive it like one. I just put it in drive and motor on. A stick shift and be quite a pain in the butt on steep slopes. You also have to think about replacing the clutch when it wears out on a stick shift.

[DakotaTacoma]

Originally Posted by exacto

for my first tacoma, and my first car should it be a 4 or 5 speed stick or a auto transmission?
My question is, is there any failures or defaults for the stick vs. the auto?

Go with the stick.
I basically learned to drive a stick with my first Taco 10 years ago. I still have the same clutch with 130,000 miles.

When it comes to maintenance like fluid changes the stick is much easier to do yourself - Just drain and fill, and only two bolts to unscrew.

Besides fluid changes, the only thing I have had to replace were the shift bushings like 80,000 miles ago.

I won't go into the advantages of a stick over auto on and off-road, cause you did not ask, and 50% of the people here would disagree

[adkfreeridex]

i would say stick. besides everything listed above, its is a good skill to know how to do...incase you have to drive a friends car for whatever reason or something like that

[partyman66]

Originally Posted by Mark2003DC

You also have to think about replacing the clutch when it wears out on a stick shift.

Automatic transmissions have clutches inside them as well(you just don't actuate them with your foot), and they wear out too. There are 4 or 5 clutches in most automatic transmissions and when they wear out, the cost to replace them(transmission rebuild) is significantly more than replacing the one and only clutch that a manual transmission has.

[Sloth]

Well said.

[Full_Tilt_Fud]

Manuals are a pain in the ass......both off road and on......and there downfalls when it comes to slow speed controll and smooth power aplication more than cancell out the so called "fun factor".

I have an auto in my taco and a 5 speed in my 4runner and I hate the stick more every day......especially after wheeling the taco......the amount of extra controll you have over the truck with the auto is night and day.......my 4runner will be an auto soon.

Get an auto....add a good cooler.....and never look back.

[exacto]

i have a limit on my money, so is the stick cheaper in the long run or is the auto, becuase im not going to have a lot of money since it will be going to upgrades, gas and school.

[partyman66]

Stick is cheaper in the long run.

Here is why:

1) You will get slightly better fuel economy with a manual transmission(less parasitic drivetrain loss, better gear selection availability due to the extra gear, and fuel is usually cut off in a manual tranny when you coast with the vehicle in gear above a certain RPM.... I want to say it's probably around 1400 RPM's or higher.. or at least it is in most newer vehicles)
2) Less brake wear on the Manual Tranny, especially if you compression brake
3) You can do your own Manual Transmission fluid changes without having to spend 150 or so bucks to have a shop hook it up to a machine like you have to do when you flush an Auto-Tranny every few years.
4) Cost of Manual Transmission clutch change is astronomically cheaper than the cost of a rebuild on an automatic transmission as is the cost of replacement of a manual transmission vs an auto.

[Full_Tilt_Fud]

My auto has 165 k on it and has never been touched......pretty cheap to manitain if you ask me.

Yes it will be expensive IF i ever have to rebuild it but I don't see that coming anytime in the near future.

as for the other claims......your fuel mileage will depend on your driving habits......not whether you have a stick or an auto.......my stock front brakes went 130k and I have seen a couple tacos come through the shop where i work with similar wear and my rears are still in service......so I don't think that is a factor either.


In the end it is all about your prefernce.....we can debate what is better all day but you are the one who has to drive it.

[exacto]

Originally Posted by Full_Tilt_Fud

In the end it is all about your prefernce.....we can debate what is better all day but you are the one who has to drive it.

alright, thank you guys.

[ARB1977]

So far my auto has been awesome. With fluid changes every year (pan change) i hope to get many, many miles out of it.