auto vs manual tranny???

[Gad]

what do most people have in their truck?? i know most tacomas have manuals, but i am seein more and more autos. how do they do? do they seem even more underpowered, or, do they seem to have more power???

[synovus]

Originally Posted by Gad

what do most people have in their truck?? i know most tacomas have manuals, but i am seein more and more autos. how do they do? do they seem even more underpowered, or, do they seem to have more power???

My auto does fine. 'Course, I've got the V6.

[M3Man02]

I am a absolute manual tranny lover, BUT when I test drove the tacoma in a Manual I HATED it. I mean you had to shift three times to go 20mph. I have driven LOTS of manuals and found the Tacoma to be the worst. Now this is just my opinion, but I think the gearing in them is really bad. So I opted for the Auto. Now as for power, it does fine for me.

[Gad]

thanks for the input..

[tbplus10]

I've got a manual because I've always been under the impression you dont want an automatic behind any engine smaller than a V8 (power loss and performance), after watching friends with the auto and driving one I think I would have been happy if I'd have gotten the auto. It's mostly personal preference (manual or auto), but the auto with the 3.4 doesnt seem to be a bad combo.

Tim

[Ted]

These days I wish my truck had the auto.

[Gad]

that's how i was. i know manuals get better gas mileage, but with an auto, it would really be a plus, because you don't loose speed or power between shifts like you do with a manual. how do they hold up with bigger tires??

[themariachi]

i'm running auto, it ok for me...it's about personal pref

[absolut taco]

Originally Posted by M3Man02

I am a absolute manual tranny lover, BUT when I test drove the tacoma in a Manual I HATED it. I mean you had to shift three times to go 20mph. I have driven LOTS of manuals and found the Tacoma to be the worst. Now this is just my opinion, but I think the gearing in them is really bad. So I opted for the Auto. Now as for power, it does fine for me.

I second that comment about the gearing being dumb. Not only do you have to shift 3 times before 20 mph, but when you're going 80 in 5th on the freeway the damn thing revs over 3,000! But I still went for a manual because I feel like its funner and sportier to drive. And I think they are way less likely to break down. Autos are complex machines. And......it was a $1000 bucks more and I'm cheap!

[ElBandito]

Originally Posted by M3Man02

I am a absolute manual tranny lover, BUT when I test drove the tacoma in a Manual I HATED it. I mean you had to shift three times to go 20mph. I have driven LOTS of manuals and found the Tacoma to be the worst. Now this is just my opinion, but I think the gearing in them is really bad. So I opted for the Auto. Now as for power, it does fine for me.

huh? at what rpm do you shift at? at 20mph im still in 2nd barely past 2k rpm.

[My68ur8trd]

SC URD v6 + auto + 35s = tranny pan full of metal


even with 4.88s

valve body upgrade time

Justin

[tercel89]

i am a big lover of manuals but when my knee gave out to arthritis , i had to goto auto which is realy nice and better than i ever thought.Besides wheelin over big rocks sucks to me when you have to mess with a clutch.

[jbstrd]

Originally Posted by absolut taco

I second that comment about the gearing being dumb. Not only do you have to shift 3 times before 20 mph, but when you're going 80 in 5th on the freeway the damn thing revs over 3,000! But I still went for a manual because I feel like its funner and sportier to drive. And I think they are way less likely to break down. Autos are complex machines. And......it was a $1000 bucks more and I'm cheap!

Hello people, these are 4wd trucks. The gearing is awesome!!!! It is this same gearing that lets me go down a 40-50% grade w/o using the brake in low range. The manuals are awesome, especially the gearing. IMO of course.

[ARB1977]

I had a honda civic that had a 5 speed and it was ok but after getting my tacoma with the auto im loving every minute of it. Yea theres more crap that can go wrong with the auto like over heating which is the biggest one but you can control the heating with a cooler and synthetic atf. About a few months ago i added a remote tranny filter setup made by permacool along with a moble one filter and a filter mag. I have it setup between my stock cooler and my trd cooler. After installing a temp gauge during the winter it will get no hotter than 110 degrees on the freeway and during the summer it get about 125 degrees. The hottest it ever got was 200 degrees going up hill with the over drive off and stop and go driving. All you asked was what kind of tranny you have and i give you a freaking essay. If you keep the atf cool you will be fine as far as longevity if you dont eventually you will be screwed.

[agroal]

Originally Posted by Gad

what do most people have in their truck?? i know most tacomas have manuals, but i am seein more and more autos. how do they do? do they seem even more underpowered, or, do they seem to have more power???

The 5 sp. is fine. Just keep in mind it's no sports car tranny. It's notchy, difficult when cold, and absolutely won't shift into 1st. at anything over a crawl speed. In other words, it shifts like a truck. I still prefer it over the auto. I have the 2.7L and it has plenty of power for a big 4 cyl.engine. 150 HP, regardless of the transmission. Put synthetics in the tranny & transfer case and the manual is better. I drove a 4 cyl. w/auto before I bought my truck new in 2K and it felt like I was towing a piano. If memory serves me correctly, the auto was actually a little better w/MPG's.

[agroal]

What engine?

[RedOh3]

Yeah I don't know what you guys are talking about with the gearing. I've got 32 inch tires on my truck.. which isn't that much of an over-stock difference, and I cannot believe how long the gears are! I'm almost always in 3rd or 2nd with city driving at a steady 35 mph

[Pathtaco]

I've been driving manual trannies for about ~20 years in all my trucks and cars I only bought them with manual trannies.
My 99 Tacoma was not an exception, I love the power and also being able to control it when you want it. However, I am getting old, heavy traffic and an accident I had on my left knee is not helping me to keep getting manuals transmisions in my trucks or cars I think is about time for me to get an automatic on my next truck.
IMHO I think the automatic trannies are as good as the manuals..

FS.

[Bryanccfshr]

I grew up driving manuals. I have had a manual tacoma. Having said that I happily have an auto tacoma. I think the Auto offers me more utility and offroad it is the bomb. Like everyone says, personal preference, but eventually more people wish for an automatic than vice versa. Most driving situations we face day to day would not allow us to drive "sporty" Especially in a lifted truck.

[rjdeluca]

I really do not like autos cause there just plain slow. I run 4.88's and with the S/C. I dont shift till 3500rpms at least. Its really loud sometimes but it runs very smooth and on the freeway I cruise at about 3250rpms. The 3.4L seems to run a lot cooler at that rpm range. I set my shift lite at 4800 rpms and let it rip all day every day.

Only complaint is shifting from 1st to second takes a lot out of the clutch, and you can really feel the clutch burning sometimes when running 4.10's w/ 33's.

One last thing is the tranny in my tacoma now seems more picky then my 91 2wd pickup. Standing burnouts were easy with 4.56 and 31's in that old pickup but I am afraid to even try one in my newer tacoma...fear of breaking something because it just feels weaker.

[kapu419]

[quote=M3Man02]I am a absolute manual tranny lover, BUT when I test drove the tacoma in a Manual I HATED it. I mean you had to shift three times to go 20mph. [quote]

Say what? I can hit 30 in first, 55 in second, and 75 in 3rd. You driving
like grandma?

[Sturmvogel]

Yeah, I'm also not sure how you'd manage to shift three times to get to 20. I stay in third to go 30 around town, and only shift to third once I'm at 30.

I personally prefer manuals. I get bored with automatics, and they never shift when I want them too.

[absolut taco]

Originally Posted by kapu419

Say what? I can hit 30 in first, 55 in second, and 75 in 3rd. You driving like grandma?

I could drive 30 mph in 1st too, but common sense keeps me from doing it.
For the sake of my engine, and my ears, I prefer shifting right at 3000 rpm during daily driving. It's still plenty fast.

[absolut taco]

Originally Posted by jbstrd

Hello people, these are 4wd trucks. The gearing is awesome!!!! It is this same gearing that lets me go down a 40-50% grade w/o using the brake in low range. The manuals are awesome, especially the gearing. IMO of course.

Yeah, when I use my truck for wheeling I'm sure I'll appreciate that more. As it is, with no lift & TRD suspension I drive it more like a sports car. YEEEE HAWWW. Nothing like kicking the rear loose in a tight 2nd gear turn!

[TripleD]

Originally Posted by M3Man02

I am a absolute manual tranny lover, BUT when I test drove the tacoma in a Manual I HATED it. I mean you had to shift three times to go 20mph. I have driven LOTS of manuals and found the Tacoma to be the worst. Now this is just my opinion, but I think the gearing in them is really bad. So I opted for the Auto. Now as for power, it does fine for me.

I'll second that. I'm a manual lover too but I didn't like how the manual tacoma felt. It seemed to have a really long shifter throw and wasn't very sporty. So I went for the auto. It's still pretty quick with the V6 but it bores me. I like winding the gears out and engine breaking. I miss driving a stick ALOT. I'm hoping to swap a sporty 6 speed in one day.. maybe from the 05 tacoma.

[rojodiablo]

My old rangers had the best manual trannies I have used in a truck. I have the 5 sp. taco. I like the control, but it shifts like a PIG. Synthetic fluid helped a tiny bit. I would not shy away from an auto trans w/ cooler. I want to take a grinder to the internals on this trans....

[Shakerhood]

I have been driving for over 20 years now and have never owned a single vehicle that was an Automatic, I hate them and think they are boring. They belong in luxury cars like a Lincoln or Caddy, not in a truck!

1 3 5
|-|-|
2 4 R

[Rods05Taco]

The auto was the best choice for me with stop and go traffic, etc. I've had all manuals in my hot rods in the past but it just doesn't make sense for me to have a manual in a truck thats a daily driver. Also, the 5 spd auto's get better gas mileage than the 6 speed manual under most conditions. I vote for the auto

[REDMARLIN WITH SOUL]

Have a Pre-Runner so cannot advise on stick vs. auto for 4wd. However, for my vehicle auto was a well thought out first choice. With ECT button you get longer shift points and engage OD button and you stay in third. At times I like to shift myself and do just that. Low winds out fairly quickly but it is slam bang into second. Have been driving over 40 years and have owned more than a dozen vehicles. This is first truck and possibly the best all around vehicle I have ever owned, certainly the best automatic. Have owned three muscle cars with 4 speed but they were heavy duty trannies with Hurst linkage, but like anything they too could still be busted.

02 Pre-Runner 3.4, TRD S/C, boost guage, 7th injector kit, headers, cat-back, air filter, step bars, bull bar with KC fog lamps, Monomax shocks, Summit anti roll traction helper springs, ARE hard tonneau cover, home made bed liner.

[Bryanccfshr]

Originally Posted by REDMARLIN WITH SOUL

Have a Pre-Runner so cannot advise on stick vs. auto for 4wd. However, for my vehicle auto was a well thought out first choice. With ECT button you get longer shift points and engage OD button and you stay in third. At times I like to shift myself and do just that. Low winds out fairly quickly but it is slam bang into second. Have been driving over 40 years and have owned more than a dozen vehicles. This is first truck and possibly the best all around vehicle I have ever owned, certainly the best automatic. Have owned three muscle cars with 4 speed but they were heavy duty trannies with Hurst linkage, but like anything they too could still be busted.

02 Pre-Runner 3.4, TRD S/C, boost guage, 7th injector kit, headers, cat-back, air filter, step bars, bull bar with KC fog lamps, Monomax shocks, Summit anti roll traction helper springs, ARE hard tonneau cover, home made bed liner.

You can most definately rev an auto as much as a standard. I like our linkage but wish we had a manual gate like my other vehicles do. Clutch? I don't need no stinking clutch!
We have a z-4 that sees redline everytime I get to drive it( I am actually on a mission to see if I can destroy the motor or transmission it seems the torque converter stays locked up when you down shift giving instant compression braking). Even our mitsubishi outlander has a manual mode for the auto. WIth the truck I am a more relaxed driver but sometimes I like to wind it out. In 4-lo it is a complete blast.
Yep, I have a clutchless household now.

Did I miss the clutch when I first abandoned it. Yep. But now even looking for a trail rig I am hesitant to consider a manual transmission. You can say I know what's sporty , and a 4wd truck isn't.