Which do i choose? Automatic or Manual transmission

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doddman10

New member
OK so im new on here and would love to join the community and buy my first 4runner. Ive narrowed my options down to two 4runners.

The first 4runner is a 1998 sr5 green 4runner has and automatic transmission, 4x4, and 164,000 miles... timing belt was done at 108,000. Owner says engine runs perfect but exterior the paint is peeling (but i have money to fix that). The price of this is $4500.


The second is a 1998 sr5 white manual transmission, 4x4 and 190,000 miles. the timing belt was done at 180,000 miles. has a tone of extras like alarm, keyless entry , remote start.. This ones price is $4900.

Which one do you experienced owner think i should. the automatic has fewer mile but im scared for the comon problem of "strawberry milk Shakes." PLease help.... Thank you
 
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Just from what Ive read, the white 5 spd sounds like a better deal to me. Maybe go look at both of them and see how you feel. Tell them both youd like to have a mechanic look at it too.
 
You also need to think about what your going to be doing with the truck. I have been wanting to convert mine to 5 speed but I do a lot of heavy towing (6000lbs+ sometimes) so I prefer the automatic for that
 
Don't worry about the pink milkshake. Just put a new radiator for less than $150 and forget about it for another 10 years.

The manual will get better mileage but will require new clutches periodically.

The auto is pretty darn solid for towing if you keep it out of OD. I've pulled my 19 foot MasterCraft and a 16 foot enclose till 230k of my truck's 275k and never had an issue with it whatsoever.

Fwiw, if you plan to ever hit the trails/rocks, an automatic will be easier to handle and easier on clutches without having to go to dual cases
 
The auto is easier to wheel with and easier on the left leg in traffic.
The manual will not search for the right gear when going up hills.

When rock crawling, the auto will slowly power over obstacles. The manual will require more skill and you will need to heal/toe and use the hand brake. It is also a balance of enough gas (so you don't stall) and too much gas that you fry the clutch. It can suck at times.

I rock crawl with a manual.
 
i have a manual. they all say its harder to wheel with a manual. I guess I can agree, but I wouldnt have it any other way. I like having the ability to control every aspect of the drivetrain. and its just more fun. also, i drive mine to work every day, yes, manual will get annoying sometimes...but if you can find one in good condition, i dont see a reason why you shouldnt get it. to each his own.
 
I say the 5 speed. You can still tow, if you know how to drive it wheeling is no more difficult than with the auto, and like stated before the manual gets better gas mileage.
 
If you get the manual with the remote start I would recommend that you disable that feature immediately. One mistake and your 4runner is going to be plowing into your house, or the gas station, or anything in its way.


And you can say, "but I know its there", but your buddy, or your girlfriend might not know its there.
 
I would go with the auto because it does get old trying to jocky the clutch,brake and gas on a tricky obstacle on the trail. You can purchase a manual transmission controller for the auto and you can get 2nd gear whenever you want it like if you had the front wheels on a slick ledge and you need more wheel speed you just make it shift into 2nd and give more gas until you hide yourself in a cloud of smoke. Well maybe I'm getting a little carried away but you could if you wanted to.
 
The third gens biggest feature to me is the last manual 4runner. If 4th gens were manual i'd get one of those. Plus i've really come to dislike toyota autos
 
thatoneguy said:
The third gens biggest feature to me is the last manual 4runner. If 4th gens were manual i'd get one of those. Plus i've really come to dislike toyota autos
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same... if 4th gen was the 6sp manual i would probably have that but i like the truck feel of the 3rd gen and thats a different argument i guess

with prices about the same the 5speed is a better value, also had timing belt recently done and not flakey paint
 
clund21 said:
Don't worry about the pink milkshake. Just put a new radiator for less than $150 and forget about it for another 10 years.

The manual will get better mileage but will require new clutches periodically.

The auto is pretty darn solid for towing if you keep it out of OD. I've pulled my 19 foot MasterCraft and a 16 foot enclose till 230k of my truck's 275k and never had an issue with it whatsoever.

Fwiw, if you plan to ever hit the trails/rocks, an automatic will be easier to handle and easier on clutches without having to go to dual cases
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A clutch on a normal car should need to be replaced 1 time if ever with a driver that is not incompetent, considering a 225k mile lifespan which i am being fairly generous on that amount of miles. Clutch is like $250 and $30 for beer for your buddies and a saturday of wrenching.

To the OP, Manuals are not worth more than automatics, there is no reason you should pay more for it than the automatic truck, the 5 speed is standard equipment, the auto is the option, keep that in mind. Manuals are harder to sell as well.
 
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I went with an auto because it is my daily driver and I'll eventually turn not into an off road toy a few years down the road. My last car was a manual, while it was fun for the first couple months it got old shifting in traffic everyday.
 
TheOtherGuy said:
If you get the manual with the remote start I would recommend that you disable that feature immediately. One mistake and your 4runner is going to be plowing into your house, or the gas station, or anything in its way.


And you can say, "but I know its there", but your buddy, or your girlfriend might not know its there.
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There is no need to get rid of the clutch enable switch. It can be very useful. Remember that older sticks didn't have any safety on the clutch and we survived just fine. The switch is out of the way and you have to push it to start with the clutch out. It resets after the vehicle is turned off.
 
Gerdo said:
There is no need to get rid of the clutch enable switch. It can be very useful. Remember that older sticks didn't have any safety on the clutch and we survived just fine. The switch is out of the way and you have to push it to start with the clutch out. It resets after the vehicle is turned off.
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why on earth would someone eliminate that switch? that would be some wasted effort. its great for 4lo situations...even though ive never really used it like that, only to test it
 
vtechadam said:
um... you can have remote start on a manual?
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Yes. There are some remote starts available that have a manual trans mode. You have to do a series of things before you get out to engage all of the safety features for it. I never use these though. After I left a car in gear and watched it take off across the parking lot at work, I have never gotten out of a car without making sure it was in neutral and then promptly locked the doors to make sure no one could put it in gear. I've had remote starts on manual trans cars for 6 years and only had one incident. (Was able to shut it off before it wrecked lol) my Subaru has a neutral switch in the trans that I was able to use so it won't start if it is in gear
 
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