Manual vs Automatic POLL

[Rock Slide]

Re: lol - no offense taken...

These points are probably based, at least in part, on my experience, but that's what feeds opinions, right?

That's cool; They are your reasons and I can respect you for that.

I drove vehicles w/ manual trannies for the first 6-7 years after I learned how to drive. When I was 16yrs old, I swore I'd never ever own an auto...thought they were for sissies. Well now look at me, I'm a little older and I'm on my 3rd automatic 4Runner with no signs of looking back.

Granted, to this day, I would still prefer a manual trans over an auto in a car, but in an SUV, nah...I'm just lazy enough to enjoy an auto powered 4Runner these days. Then again, I do a good amount of city driving w/ bumper to bumper traffic too :bigok:

Oh and just to give a plug for autos, my buddy's automatic '98 4Runner just rolled 230K miles on the OD and is still running just as strong as the day he bought it 9yrs ago.

 

[004Gunner]

I prefer auto in any 4x4 SUV. I'm under the impression an auto is better for off roading in that the t/c provides more torque initially when accelerating from a stand still. I do wish I had a 5 speed automatic though. . .

 

[Blitzkrieg]

A mind changer...

Trust me - you spend 3 or more hours coming home from a ski trip in a blizzard here doing the 5 mph crawl and you'll want to drop your manual tranny off a cliff...

Even in the city commuting to/from work during a bad blizzard you can get stuck in a 5 mph crawl and if the smell of your clutch burning up doesn't drive you nuts, your numb left leg will.

Love manuals, but for commuter/mountain duty the auto is the hands down winner.

 

[nighthawk]

Manual all the way for me. The only reason I don't have a 4Runner yet is because they aren't offered in manual anymore and it's almost impossible to find a 1999 or 2000 one up here. As for being stuck in traffic, it does get tiring sometimes, but the thing I hate the most about an automatic is the fact that it starts crawling along once you release the brake. I always put it in neutral whenever I stop when I drive my dad's auto. Also, it vibrates a lot when it's in D and not moving which is why I put it in N. Find that with all the autos I've driven so in stop and go traffic, I find it really annoying moving from D to N and back to D but I find the car very uncomfortable when I leave it in D. Maybe the newer ones or a V6 Auto drives a lot smoother than on a 4 cylinder. I also find the manual easier to park on a hill too, don't have to move the gear selector, just control it with the clutch, haha. Also, I find I have more control on a manual. On an auto, if I'm on a hill I step on the gas lightly to move a little and it doesn't go, so I step more and suddenly it goes too far. I can inch a manual quite precisely if I have to.

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Manual all the way for me. The only reason I don't have a 4Runner yet is because they aren't offered in manual anymore and it's almost impossible to find a 1999 or 2000 one up here. As for being stuck in traffic, it does get tiring sometimes, but the thing I hate the most about an automatic is the fact that it starts crawling along once you release the brake. I always put it in neutral whenever I stop when I drive my dad's auto. Also, it vibrates a lot when it's in D and not moving which is why I put it in N. Find that with all the autos I've driven so in stop and go traffic, I find it really annoying moving from D to N and back to D but I find the car very uncomfortable when I leave it in D. Maybe the newer ones or a V6 Auto drives a lot smoother than on a 4 cylinder. I also find the manual easier to park on a hill too, don't have to move the gear selector, just control it with the clutch, haha. Also, I find I have more control on a manual. On an auto, if I'm on a hill I step on the gas lightly to move a little and it doesn't go, so I step more and suddenly it goes too far. I can inch a manual quite precisely if I have to.

My car does not vibrate when I'm stopped and it is in D.

 

[p nut]

I really like autos in trucks. After a long day of skiing, hunting, etc., the last thing I want to do is shift.

The only thing I wish we had is a 5-sp auto. My Tacoma (and past 4Runners) had a hard time finding the correct gear going up hill sometimes.

 

[p nut]

Re: lol - no offense taken...

-Reliability/cost of repair: you're right, auto trannies have come a long way, and they're more reliable in a RWD setup, BUT, I have never had 160k on an auto without slipping or a rebuild and I have had 3 manual vehs, (the T4R, a BMW 323i euro, and an Audi 200), go more than that on the original clutch, not to even mention rebuilds.

There are plenty of auto 4Runners that have well over 200k (some 500k+) on the original transmissions with no problems. I think it's all how you take care of it.

If I were to get a new Tacoma/FJC, I'd skip the manuals, as they seem to be experiencing more problems than autos. Seems like they've gotten weaker than before. 3rd Gen's manuals are stout, though.

 

[nighthawk]

My car does not vibrate when I'm stopped and it is in D.

I guess the 4Runner trannys are smoother. I've only had 4 cylinder autos in the family so I've never tried a V6 auto. My own car is a V6 manual car though, so that's why. My parents have owned Hondas in the past and the transmission was so annoying cause it vibrates in D (it's like the car wants to keep going forward but the brake won't let it so it just vibrates until I put it in N). The other thing I hated about the older automatics is that the tranny can never decide what gear to use. It'll go up to 4th gear and then figure out it's not enough power and then go down to 3rd and then think it's too much power and then go back up to 4th. I really hated that. Mind you, I don't know how any of the newer ones are, maybe the new ones or even the 4Runners are much better. But now that I've gotten out of automatics and have been driving manual for the last 10 years now, I wouldn't be willing to go back to automatic. Hence the reason I'm finding it so hard to get a 4Runner. I really want to get the new one but this transmission thing is really holding me back and I'm worried about getting a used one.

 

[nighthawk]

Re: Re: lol - no offense taken...

There are plenty of auto 4Runners that have well over 200k (some 500k+) on the original transmissions with no problems. I think it's all how you take care of it.

If I were to get a new Tacoma/FJC, I'd skip the manuals, as they seem to be experiencing more problems than autos. Seems like they've gotten weaker than before. 3rd Gen's manuals are stout, though.

Actually, the problem with my current car (it's a V6 Mazda6) is that they designed the engine and the clutch seemed like an after thought. The clutch just isn't strong enough. Most people's clutches are dying after 50K to 80K miles. That's probably why the discontinued the V6 manual tranny in the new Mazda6. I've heard of people at 200K on their 3rd gen 4Runners on their original clutches.

 

[Rock Slide]

...but the thing I hate the most about an automatic is the fact that it starts crawling along once you release the brake. I always put it in neutral whenever I stop when I drive my dad's auto.

Wow, I never knew someone could dislike that feature about autos to the point of shifting it out of D every time the vehicle comes to a stop? Personally, I love it. For example, take a drive thru lane of any sort: Just release the brake a little, and the truck moves forward on its own. No need to push the gas pedal or release a clutch just to move up in line...instead, the vehicle does it for you.

What can I say, my auto has spoiled me :bigok:

Hence the reason I'm finding it so hard to get a 4Runner. I really want to get the new one but this transmission thing is really holding me back and I'm worried about getting a used one.

Don't be worried about getting a used one. Find one that's been taken care of and you'll be fine. If nothing else, at least go test drive a few automatic 4Runners to get a feel for them. Kind of weak to bash them when it sounds like you've never driven one.

Like I said before, I use to hate autos too. Had you told me when I first started driving that I'd be driving an auto years later, I would have laughed in your face...but look at me now, I love my current auto'd 4Runner

 

[nighthawk]

Wow, I never knew someone could dislike that feature about autos to the point of shifting it out of D every time the vehicle comes to a stop? Personally, I love it. For example, take a drive thru lane of any sort: Just release the brake a little, and the truck moves forward on its own. No need to push the gas pedal or release a clutch just to move up in line...instead, the vehicle does it for you.

What can I say, my auto has spoiled me :bigok:



Don't be worried about getting a used one. Find one that's been taken care of and you'll be fine. If nothing else, at least go test drive a few automatic 4Runners to get a feel for them. Kind of weak to bash them when it sounds like you've never driven one.

Like I said before, I use to hate autos too. Had you told me when I first started driving that I'd be driving an auto years later, I would have laughed in your face...but look at me now, I love my current auto'd 4Runner

Actually, the only 4Runner I've ever driven was a 1992 Automatic. I really hate how they put the auto shift lever on the passenger's side. Those old ones were so narrow that the passenger can easily knock the lever into neutral with their knee.

I'm not bashing automatic 4Runners. I just personally have a dislike of automatics because I'm so used to manual and the 1st two automatic cars I've owned were crap and I really just hate not having the control. One of the things as I stated was that the cars just couldn't seem to figure out what gear to be in and it keeps cycling between 3rd and 4th. The only automatic car right at this moment I would ever consider is actually the new 4Runner just due to the fact that I love the car but just having troubles getting over the automatic. I'm one of those guys who just has to shift his own gears...haha. There are times when driving that I wish I had an automatic, but those are rare times. I would definitely get the new 4Runner if I can afford two vehicles, so I can have a manual Civic, or even a Corolla to drive around to cure my cravings for driving manual in and take the 4Runner for trips and stuff. Unfortunately, I can't afford 2 vehicles.

 

[Rock Slide]

Hey I understand...some people just prefer manuals over autos and vise versa. Some, a little of both.

I agree though, manuals are the way to go in a car. Ever car I've owned was a 5spd.

However, in any SUV, I just love an auto :bigok:

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Definitely don't have a bias based on your experience with other non-Toyota automatic transmission (or otherwise) vehicles. :

I've had four 4Runners in my life and all have been excellent vehicles regardless of drivetrain.

The first new 4Runner I owned was a 1992 with the 22R and a 5 speed. It was short lived as I got broadsided by a lady running a red light doing 45 mph when it only had 13K on the odo.

It got decent mileage but anybody thats owned one will tell you a 4Runner with the 22R is not overflowing with excess power.

I picked up the 2002 Sport Edition I have now about a year ago because the truck was just way too damn nice to pass up. With the 3.4/Auto it's a good power combo and will hold Colorado's 6% grades at speed with almost no tranny hunting.

My car has a six speed manual (as a proper sports car should) but give me an auto for the truck I depend on day in and day out to get me around!

If you're in a vehicle that vibrates when in drive and stopped it's got issues other than the fact it's in drive. :

 

[benormous]

I agree with the last 2 posts. It depends on the vehicle. I voted auto, b/c I prefer that in a 4runner. Its not fast, or sporty, so why pretend (not that 'sportiness' is the only advantage of a manual, but thats what i usually associate them with). In most cars, I prefer a manual any day. They are a lot of fun.

To be honest, the most enjoyable manual I have driven was a turbo diesel 80 series land cruiser vx. Down shifting and hearing that turbo spool along with the diesel knock was so cool.

 

[Tydog260]

I love my automatic transmission!

 

[nighthawk]

Definitely don't have a bias based on your experience with other non-Toyota automatic transmission (or otherwise) vehicles. :

I've had four 4Runners in my life and all have been excellent vehicles regardless of drivetrain.

The first new 4Runner I owned was a 1992 with the 22R and a 5 speed. It was short lived as I got broadsided by a lady running a red light doing 45 mph when it only had 13K on the odo.

It got decent mileage but anybody thats owned one will tell you a 4Runner with the 22R is not overflowing with excess power.

I picked up the 2002 Sport Edition I have now about a year ago because the truck was just way too damn nice to pass up. With the 3.4/Auto it's a good power combo and will hold Colorado's 6% grades at speed with almost no tranny hunting.

My car has a six speed manual (as a proper sports car should) but give me an auto for the truck I depend on day in and day out to get me around!

If you're in a vehicle that vibrates when in drive and stopped it's got issues other than the fact it's in drive. :

Nope, every automatic I've driven will vibrate a bit more when stopped in drive. For me automatics scare me cause I don't feel in control. Not specifially negative towards 4Runner autos. It's just a general feeling for autos in general for me. Wife has seen me drive auto before and she told me if she gets a new 4Runner, I won't get to touch it just cause it's too scary watching me drive auto...haha. She fears I'll forget it's auto and do something stupid and damage the tranny. She says the roads would be safer if I stuck with a manual...haha.

 

[blackikon]

Is there any fuel mileage difference between auto V6 and Manual V6 in the 3rd gen???

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Is there any fuel mileage difference between auto V6 and Manual V6 in the 3rd gen???

I'm pretty sure the manuals get about 1-2 more MPG.

 

[blackikon]

Just curious. I have a '00 V6 w/ 4x - i get 18 consistently. I am looking at getting a '00 4x w/ a 5 spd. It has under 100k on it but has been in a wreck of some sort (Carfax coming) and has not been taken good care of - lots of wear on the underside, owned by a smoker, etc. It starts right up and drives straight. It needs tires, fluids changed, and a few other things. They're asking $7K for it. Thoughts??

 

[Clemsonfan15]

Just curious. I have a '00 V6 w/ 4x - i get 18 consistently. I am looking at getting a '00 4x w/ a 5 spd. It has under 100k on it but has been in a wreck of some sort (Carfax coming) and has not been taken good care of - lots of wear on the underside, owned by a smoker, etc. It starts right up and drives straight. It needs tires, fluids changed, and a few other things. They're asking $7K for it. Thoughts??

I would NOT get that. Too many problems to start with and more will probably arrise.

Is the new one a 4 cylinder or V6?