manual or automatic

G

GaryL

New Member
Some time over the next 10mos I will trade tundra for tacoma. Gas mileage. I have a 16ft landscape trlr to tow. Which transmission is better to tow with? What about winter driving?
 
It really boils down to personal preference. The six speeds in the 2nd gens are trash though. The auto does better in the MPG department (6 speed vs 5 speed auto).
 
Last edited:
6 speeds are geared for towing.
The reason an auto gets better mileage is because they have a higher final gear.
Auto 5th gear 0.72 compared to a manual's 6th gear 0.85.

Mine, I get about 18/20 on average mpg. This winter blend of gas has dropped my mileage about 1~2 mpg. Still getting above the factory base projection of 16 mpg. My best mpg tank was 21.3 back in July. With the summer blend of gas I was getting 19/21 on average mpg.

Also, I have yet to tow anything so can't give MPG on that. As for Winter had no problem driving in 22 inches of snow. However, I also have a mechanical LSD rearend which I believe are only offered for the Tacoma from '05~'08. They switched to Auto LSD after that.
 
If they are geared for towing why do they have such a tall reverse gear? I have never personally driven one but you can see complaints all day on TW. Also it seems that some of the forward gears are spaced far apart.

In the end it still comes down to personal preference. Do you want to shift or not? In my book it's no for a 4wd truck and yes for a sports car or gas sipper car.
 
Last edited:
whippersnapper02 said:
It really boils down to personal preference. The six speeds in the 2nd gens are trash though. The auto does better in the MPG department (6 speed vs 5 speed auto).
Click to expand...

The 6 speed is far from perfect but not trash. It has it's issues, I have had the throw out bearing replaced under warrantee, no further issues at over 70k. I enjoy rowing through the gears of the 6 speed although I do agree the final gear could be a bit taller.
 
Reverse gear Auto 3.22
Manual 3.61
V6

Yeah that rear gear is jacked up for manual however as Whip stated "personal preference". I have no complaint with reverse. It is what it is. I didn't design it. I don't tow anything but am setup for it. I usually only shift using 1st, 3rd, 5th then 6th. Drive it like a truck. 2nd and 4th occasionally. Rowing thru the gears once in a blue moon. It performs as I want. Offroad, performs as I want.
The other thing I just like driving a stick. Auto's are alright, but I prefer manual. :thumbsup:
 
whippersnapper02 said:
I

In the end it still comes down to personal preference. Do you want to shift or not? In my book it's no for a 4wd truck and yes for a sports car or gas sipper car.
Click to expand...

Why do you say manual is not for 4wd truck? I do not off road yet. Very curious. Everybody chime in. I'd like to hear from those who have used both.
 
Last edited:
Rsamani said:
Why do you 4wd is not for truck? I do not off road yet. Very curious. Everybody chime in. I'd like to learn from those who have used both.
Click to expand...

It's just extra work that isn't needed. The benefit with a manual was the engine braking in low range but modern automatics allow for that. A truck is also meant to haul and tow and an auto makes that easier. Learning about the trashy 6 speed also detered me away from buying a manual with this truck. I had slave cylinder issues with my previous truck and it was no fun. I miss shifting but I'll get a car meant for a manual later in life.
 
Last edited:
I can only speak of my experience with driving country mountain roads, not towing. The 5-speed Automatic in my 2011 has performed well for me. It is a fun drive working gears 3 through 5 and back again as the speed conditions allow and only touching the brake when the road presents something unexpected. This shifter is well designed for this, to drive like a manual.
 
6 speed works fine for me, I pull quads pigs and other large items with no problems. ...:D
I have a 2013 Double Cab TRD Sport
No problems at all....
 
**** . Wish I have known that before I pulled the trigger. Oh well, just have to enjoy what I got. And after 5000 miles in two weeks. I almost thought they were right.

Its not freaking smooth, but it is not a pile of crap either. I think it was geared with the thought of towing. Gearing is definitely short for my taste.

This a brick wall topic
 
Rsamani said:
**** . Wish I have known that before I pulled the trigger. Oh well, just have to enjoy what I got. And after 5000 miles in two weeks. I almost thought they were right.

Its not freaking smooth, but it is not a pile of crap either. I think it was geared with the thought of towing. Gearing is definitely short for my taste.

This a brick wall topic
Click to expand...
Shift fast and short. You'll learn to love it! :thumbsup:
 
I have a 2000 Tacoma, it has a 5 speed, just put a clutch kit in it, because I thought the throw out bearing was bad. I put it all back together and it's still making a growing noise from 1,2,3,5 but doesn't make the noise in 4. Anyone ever have this problem????
 
I have a '13 double cab, supercharged manual. I love it. With about 6000 miles, the trans and clutch are just now getting broken in. It's much smoother shifting now than when I first bought it. However, with the supercharger, I wish I would have gotten an auto. There is much more torque and revs to redline in first gear too quickly. I think an auto with a supercharger is the way to go. Still very fun to row through the gears though.
 
I have a friend who rebuild manual transmission for a living. His claims was there was lack of lubricantion (leak some where), try drain & refill with proper amount of lubricantion( gear oil make sure of the proper weight). I have a Ford Ranger that uses Atf, replaced the entire transmission with 5w30 synthetic. Problems solved for the Ford.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top