auto vs manual tranny???
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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'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
Tim
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i'm running auto, it ok for me...it's about personal pref
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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!M3Man02 said:
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SC URD v6 + auto + 35s = tranny pan full of metal
even with 4.88s
valve body upgrade time
Justin
even with 4.88s
valve body upgrade time
Justin
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2,440 Posts
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.
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.Gad said:
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
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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.
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