Stick vs Auto

[ToyTech99]

Almost every vehicle I've ever owned has been a manual transmission. But I still far prefer an automatic in my 4Runner. As much as I love driving a sporty car with a manual trans, I'd rather relax and just press the "go" pedal in the 4Runner....no clutch needed.

That said, I would have never puchased my new G37 coupe if it didn't have a 6 speed manual transmission. No automatic for me in that kind of car! But a 4Runner? Yeah, give me an automatic every time.

 

[JeremyH]

Being able to keep a foot on the brake while gassing is very useful at times

For a stick, that is easily taken care of with a hand throttle....

 

[JohnsD90]

Almost every vehicle I've ever owned has been a manual transmission. But I still far prefer an automatic in my 4Runner. As much as I love driving a sporty car with a manual trans, I'd rather relax and just press the "go" pedal in the 4Runner....no clutch needed.

That said, I would have never puchased my new G37 coupe if it didn't have a 6 speed manual transmission. No automatic for me in that kind of car! But a 4Runner? Yeah, give me an automatic every time.

a stick in everything, when driving an automatic you lose the feel of driving and sometimes just find yourself not paying attention as much. plus i always try to shift when driving my moms discovery and its an auto, it quite annoying that i cant shift and it leaves me dissapointed. i dont mind stick in traffic, especially in the runner the clutch is so nice. (the only car i dont enjoy stick is a first generation Saturn Vue 4cl, i HATE IT, I F-ing hate it.)

 

[theizzardking]

my personal thoughts are as follows,
if it's 4x4,slow and off the ground-auto
if it's low to the ground and fast- stick,
'nuff said. lol

:roadkill:

 

[JohnsD90]

I found what looks like to be a nice 4x4 with a 5 speed. Is there any advantage of one over the other. It has been a few years since I drove a stick so that would be interesting.

So is there any real advantage of a stick vs an automatic?

This isnt going to be one sided, you will be swayed both ways. If you would like a Stick buy a stick, if you would like an Auto buy an Auto.

From my experiences the 4runner is very easy to drive stick and very fun. (that was incase you were worried about driving stick)

I should have wrote this response first, Oh well Hindsights 20/20

 

[p nut]

For a stick, that is easily taken care of with a hand throttle....

Well, then you lose a hand on the steering wheel. But perhaps it's something you get used to. Both are fine offroad, as there are plenty of people with auto and manuals. But I prefer autos personally. I would like to get a project rig, which will be a 96-00 Tacoma reg cab, 2.7l, manual hubs, stick and 4x4, so I'll probably get used to driving both offroad. Once I get enough seat time, I'll better understand what my preferences will be.

 

[ToyTech99]

a stick in everything, when driving an automatic you lose the feel of driving and sometimes just find yourself not paying attention as much. plus i always try to shift when driving my moms discovery and its an auto, it quite annoying that i cant shift and it leaves me dissapointed. i dont mind stick in traffic, especially in the runner the clutch is so nice. (the only car i dont enjoy stick is a first generation Saturn Vue 4cl, i HATE IT, I F-ing hate it.)

For me, driving an SUV isn't really fun because it's big, heavy, doesn't handle very well, stops poorly, etc...compared to a sporty car. So I'd rather just sit back and let it shift itself. Now in a sport car, it's all about rowing through the gears, pushing the handling to the limit on a twisty mountain road, accelerating and braking, etc..... but not in a 4Runner! I just don't find any fun in driving an SUV with sporting intentions. So no stick for me!

 

[GreenMachine88]

Stick shift all the way! :guitar2:

 

[Terrapin]

Almost every vehicle I've ever owned has been a manual transmission. But I still far prefer an automatic in my 4Runner. As much as I love driving a sporty car with a manual trans, I'd rather relax and just press the "go" pedal in the 4Runner....no clutch needed.

That said, I would have never puchased my new G37 coupe if it didn't have a 6 speed manual transmission. No automatic for me in that kind of car! But a 4Runner? Yeah, give me an automatic every time.

100% agreed. The AT 4Runner on the weekends is a nice change for me after commuting 600 mi during the week in my 6MT Acura.

 

[AKAndy]

My 5 spd got totaled on Friday, so I'm looking for a new 3rd gen with a 5 spd, but I'm finding that they are in short supply around Denver. I'm test driving an auto tomorrow to see how I like it. I know I like driving a manual better, but my main concern is what is the difference in reliability between auto/5spd? Is the 3rd gen auto tranny pretty reliable? I used to have a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had major auto tranny shifting problems, which are very common in that vehicle. How does the 4Runner auto behave when it starts getting into the 130-150k mile range? What about gas mileage on the auto? I was able to really baby the RPMs on my 5spd and squeeze 21 mpg out of it.

Andy

 

[Pikeman]

I have 285's with stock gears and still manage around 18 mixed and on long road trips get 20+ with cruise set at 70. My truck has 196k on it and just had the tranny serviced because I noticed a little slip or hesitation. New fluid and filter and now it is fine with no issues. New there was only a 1 mpg difference in the rating on the window stickers.

 

[Martinjmpr]

My 5 spd got totaled on Friday, so I'm looking for a new 3rd gen with a 5 spd, but I'm finding that they are in short supply around Denver. I'm test driving an auto tomorrow to see how I like it. I know I like driving a manual better, but my main concern is what is the difference in reliability between auto/5spd? Is the 3rd gen auto tranny pretty reliable? I used to have a 99 Jeep Grand Cherokee that had major auto tranny shifting problems, which are very common in that vehicle. How does the 4Runner auto behave when it starts getting into the 130-150k mile range? What about gas mileage on the auto? I was able to really baby the RPMs on my 5spd and squeeze 21 mpg out of it.

Andy

I've heard (here and elsewhere) that there were some auto tranny problems in the 01-02 models but I don't know the specifics.

As for MPG: Before I got my 4runner I had an '04 Tacoma with a 5 speed. Same 3.4 motor and 4x4.

Highway mileage seems to be about the same, 20-22 if you keep your foot out of it (Note, though, that I haven't done a lot of highway driving with the 4runner, though I will be taking a long trip in January.)

City MPG is a different story. Not sure why but my city MPG flat out sux. I could get 16-18 in the Taco (and this is an extended-cab model with a high-rise fiberglass topper and a carpet kit in the back, so I'm sure it weighed in at the same as or more than the 4runner) but if I stick to city driving only, my 4runner gives me between about 12 and 15.

I'll put it this way: The Taco would typically go 300+ miles before the low fuel light came on. On the 4runner, in the city, it comes on between 225 and 250. The fuel tanks are the same size so even accounting for the fact that the fuel light on the 4runner comes on with 3+ gallons left, that's a big difference.

One of these days I'll strap a 1 gallon tank to the roof rack and drive the 4runner until it completely runs out, just to make sure I actually do have 18.5 gallons available. I think the most I've ever put in the tank was 16.9 so far.