That's cause the FJ stick shift is full time 4WD and the auto is part time 4WD. I have driven the 3rd gen 4runner in manual before and I really enjoy it. If the autostick on the new 4Runner works like I think it does, then that may be a compromise, but I still prefer manual over auto any day.

The way I think the autostick works is that when you have it in sport mode, you can choose what gear the vehicle will be in and it will only upshift automatically if you get to the red line and it will not downshift even if you ask for it if the downshift will put it past the red line. This differs from the conventional auto in that if you put it in D, it goes through all the forward gears, but if I say put it in 3, then it'll go through all the gears up to 3rd gear and will not go past 3rd unless it will damage the engine by not doing so. Is that how it works?

This 4Runner is the first automatic vehicle I've even owned. I use the Sportshift religiously for decelerating before braking. It's also great in the snow, for both upshifting and downshifting. I've been using the heck out of it these past 2 days (thank you East Coast Blizzard!)

I use it a lot when climbing long hilly roads too, way better than waiting for the "D" mode to decide when to shift for you. I like to run a gear low in most cases and really wind it out.

I normal accelerating conditions, I leave it in "Drive."

It takes some getting used to, but if you use it enough, it begins to feel second nature. I still find myself swinging my left foot at thin air from time to time, and I miss the 6 speed manual I had in my Tacoma, but I'm digging the Sportshift too. No complaints.

~ Ryan

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2010 Trail Edition: Black w/KDSS & Navi, Wrangler DuraTracs

Would you not rather have the vehicle shift to the gear you are in over the 4th gear every time?

This is an interesting question and I would like to see if anyone knows. On my Acura it would be "just" like driving a stick shift. Whatever gear I put the thing in is the gear I would drive. It wouldn't downshift or upshift unless I hit red. I assumed the same for the 4runner, but if it works as you say it would be one "justification" for why it goes to the 4th gear every time. Not a good justification since it is still stupid, but at least an attempt at one ;)

Yes, that would be a nice feature for future transmissions. No question. But I just try not to let little things like that bug me... no need to go grey prematurely.

~ Ryan

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2010 Trail Edition: Black w/KDSS & Navi, Wrangler DuraTracs

I would imagine that there are many people who hate the RAV4, unless it has a V6 and even then, I'm not so sure...

Mine is the V6 and I hate it because the transmission is so jumpy. Any slight pressure on the gas pedal and the tranny will jump down a gear or two even if I just want to have some slight acceleration. Coming from driving a manual all my life, it was just very very annoying which is why I hate driving it so much. If the Autostick on the 4Runner works as I described earlier, then that would be the next best thing to a true manual.