monkeyshowpictures
Observer
You can roll start manual Tacoma, I have done it many times.
Tacoma AT or MT?
- Thread starter stclair
- Start date
You can roll start manual Tacoma, I have done it many times.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
If it is totally, completely, 100% dead that may be true, but if the battery is just too weak to turn the starter it could easily power all the other stuff.
IOW if the battery needs to have 75% power to start and it's down to 70%, it won't turn the starter over but all the other stuff (including the electronic ignition and the EFI) will work just fine.
Flagster
Expedition Leader
I also had my AT fluid swapped at 60K maintenance and shop reported no difference in new vs old fluid...
tacomadave
Adventurer
I test drove both, didn't like the MT, went for the AT and loved that transmission, much much nicer than the tranny in my Jeep JK. I know two other people here locally with MT Tacomas and love them.
On another note, i recently test drove a 2011 4 cyl, 5 speed Taco 4x4 and actually preferred that transmission.
Best answer, just test drive them, both seem to be equally reliable in the long run.
On another note, i recently test drove a 2011 4 cyl, 5 speed Taco 4x4 and actually preferred that transmission.
Best answer, just test drive them, both seem to be equally reliable in the long run.
JCMatthews
Tour Guide
I stand corrected. However, My '97 Jeep Cherokee would not start by popping the clutch when the battery was dead.
Martinjmpr
Wiffleball Batter
Anymore it seems like AT is the "default choice." IOW, you either want a manual, in which case you get a manual, or you don't care in which case you get an auto.
I have to say I'm surprised at people who say they "love" an AT. To me an AT isn't something to love, it's just sort of something that's "there." You shift it into gear when you start moving and other than that you don't think about it. I guess if you've spent years wearing out your left leg muscles clutching and shifting in heavy traffic, an auto can seem like a godsend but after a few months that wears off and then the "meh" sets in. For low-speed rock-crawling an auto is great but for everything else, I don't care for the "disconnected" feel I get with an auto.
My biggest gripe about modern automatic trannys is that they're so damned complicated and expensive to repair/replace that a blown transmission can basically total a car when everything else is working fine. Think about a 10 - 12 year old SUV with 125k on the odometer: If everything else is working fine, the car is worth maybe $2500 - $3500. With a blown transmission it's basically scrap because it would cost another $2000 or more to get a new or rebuilt tranny in it (I've heard of people being quoted prices as high as $4k for a new tranny, although that's usually a "dealer quote.")
As much as I love my 4runner (and I do) if the otherwise reliable auto transmission were to crap the bed, I'd probably part it out rather than incur a $2500 repair bill. And I've already decided that whatever my next 4x4 is, it will have a manual tranny. My current DD (purchased in January) has a manual and I was surprised at how much fun it was to drive a manual transmission car again after owning the 4runner for 18 months.
I have to say I'm surprised at people who say they "love" an AT. To me an AT isn't something to love, it's just sort of something that's "there." You shift it into gear when you start moving and other than that you don't think about it. I guess if you've spent years wearing out your left leg muscles clutching and shifting in heavy traffic, an auto can seem like a godsend but after a few months that wears off and then the "meh" sets in. For low-speed rock-crawling an auto is great but for everything else, I don't care for the "disconnected" feel I get with an auto.
My biggest gripe about modern automatic trannys is that they're so damned complicated and expensive to repair/replace that a blown transmission can basically total a car when everything else is working fine. Think about a 10 - 12 year old SUV with 125k on the odometer: If everything else is working fine, the car is worth maybe $2500 - $3500. With a blown transmission it's basically scrap because it would cost another $2000 or more to get a new or rebuilt tranny in it (I've heard of people being quoted prices as high as $4k for a new tranny, although that's usually a "dealer quote.")
As much as I love my 4runner (and I do) if the otherwise reliable auto transmission were to crap the bed, I'd probably part it out rather than incur a $2500 repair bill. And I've already decided that whatever my next 4x4 is, it will have a manual tranny. My current DD (purchased in January) has a manual and I was surprised at how much fun it was to drive a manual transmission car again after owning the 4runner for 18 months.
stclair
Adventurer
Well, went ahead and bought a Tacoma. I ended up with a 2007 TRD Off Road DC model. I had really been leaning towards a 6 speed, but drove both and have to say I really liked the AT. Also, I'm not looking to do any serious rock crawling, just travlin'. Tons of 80's, Land Rovers, and other vehicles making long journeys with an AT, so why not. That and the screws in my left knee made me feel better about it. Oh, and the tons of gripes about the 6 speeds on the Toyota forums. Oh..Oh, isn't that cool Expeditions West Tacoma an '04 DC with an AT? I had been looking for an older '01-'04 at first, or maybe an '09 since there had been some cool upgrades. Anyway, a locally owned '07 with 32K miles and a price I just couldn't refuse showed up. I've had it 3 days, and already put almost 1K miles on it! Did some camping and man is it a nice little set up for sure. I'm still calling it my plan B for the big trip, for now. My first love is still the Syncro, but if I can't get it to a point that it seems like a solid vehicle it's going into storage and I'm taking the Taco. Last chance Syncro!!! For now it's will pull double duty as my DD and camping vehicle. Thanks for all of the advice.
While we're on the subject, a lot of you have AT's, and I'm sure have AT's in some of your other vehicles. How do you feel about pinning an auto in 2-3rd gear while acending/descending mountains? I had an AT Accord, worked a winter at a ski slope (always holding the at), and lost a gear (forget which one). Do you think holding AT's on mountains wrecks them? (Taco=MT, Rav4=AT) BTW, I love the final solution to this thread; go 4cyl 5spd and call it done!
Mrknowitall
Adventurer
Frobuster- that depends a somewhat on the transmission- the Honda automatic is a little unique and somewhat fragile to begin with- definitely less life in it, than the rest of the car. I've pulled plenty of grades with my A340E in 2nd, foot flat on the floor, 55mph. Don't think it cared a bit. if anything, it has to be easier than shifting back and forth all the time.
As to the original question, I prefer the driving characteristics of a MT- full control. The MT is more tolerant of changes in final drive, like swapping on 33's. the OD is a little smaller, so it can pull on the highway, when the AT wants to come out of TCC. The manuals are much harder to find, and won't be any cheaper (sometimes more) The better price you might get on an AT vehicle can go to regearing and such. Commuting is mute, thats what my accord is for.
As to the original question, I prefer the driving characteristics of a MT- full control. The MT is more tolerant of changes in final drive, like swapping on 33's. the OD is a little smaller, so it can pull on the highway, when the AT wants to come out of TCC. The manuals are much harder to find, and won't be any cheaper (sometimes more) The better price you might get on an AT vehicle can go to regearing and such. Commuting is mute, thats what my accord is for.
upcountry
Explorer
Just remember if you upgrade tire size to the equivalent of a 33", which most people seem to do, you will have the following problem:
1)Your beloved auto tranny will have REALLY hard time getting up into 5th gear (by increasing tire size you just re-geared the vehicle);
2)You will face overheating
3)You will have a slow get-up-and-go (rememebr, you just re-geared it).
You will now need to:
1)Buy an expensive new front and rear diff pinion set (good opportunity to get an ARB air locker set for front and rear!)
If you had bought a 6 speed manual it would hardly be noticeable.
1)Your beloved auto tranny will have REALLY hard time getting up into 5th gear (by increasing tire size you just re-geared the vehicle);
2)You will face overheating
3)You will have a slow get-up-and-go (rememebr, you just re-geared it).
You will now need to:
1)Buy an expensive new front and rear diff pinion set (good opportunity to get an ARB air locker set for front and rear!)
If you had bought a 6 speed manual it would hardly be noticeable.
upcountry
Explorer
Actually, I have pop-started my 2007 V6 Double cab on "2" occaisions. I have also pop-strarted several other EFI vehicles. A few weeks ago I was at the carwash (yes, I live in a big city and we use car-washes - I agree it is silly to pay to wash your car - but in Seattle we have endangered fish and running soapy water into the stormdrain is not the best idea since it flows into the streams). A guy using the vacuum next to me was pumping his obviously prozed stereo with amazingly worded rap (or whatever they call it these days). Well, his great powerfull stereo sucked all the juice out of his battery and he couldnt start his pimped out lexus becuase the battery was dead. He asked if I have jumper cables, I said no, but I asked if he had a manual or auto. He said manual, so I suggested we pop-start it. He had no idea what I was talking about and did not beleive it could be done but was interested to see since he had a hot date or drug deal to go to - within a few minutes we had recruited some other big guys and we pushed it down the drive-aisle and popped it on the first try.
I have never had a problem pop-starting an EFI manual transmission vehicle in second gear.
Also, keep in mind that there are many EFI small engines out there that you can start and run without a battery, plus, most fuel systems retain operation pressure on shutdown so starting is easy. If you have ever done any fuel line work on an EFI vehicle you always need to bleed the system first before you start taking it apart.
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stclair
Adventurer
I guess time will tell. To be honest, I himmed and hawwed(SP?) a bunch about this choice. I ALMOST bought an '08 6speed that I test drove, but A) something about the truck just didn't seem quite right, and B) the salesman was a real pushy PITA. This was the ONLY 6 speed I had come across in my search. Locally anyway. Then there was the multiple bad (really bad) reviews on the Toyota/Tacoma forums. Lots of mad folks over there, and that means something to me. Not one complaint about the A/T though. Blah yes, but solid. As for big wheels and such, not my thing. I don't plan on doing any real "crawling", just traveling. I do want to get off the beaten path whenever I can, but the 4WD is just going to be another tool to make my trips more fun. The thing that finally made me OK with it was again...check out all of the very serious rigs driven by very serious guys out there with an A/T. So anyway, we'll see. Either way, I just hope it's a fun truck!
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