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Car Forum / Toyota / Toyota Trucks / October 2006Auto tranny for new Tacoma?
I've had Toyota 4 x 4's since the early 80's, great trucks, not wanting to change. I've never considered anything other than a manual tranny as I live in Denver, climb Colorado's high peaks, take the truck up tough off roads. The early engines didn;t have the power that the new engines have. Being that the new Tacos have 235hp, and that I also drive in the absurd traffic of Denver, I'm considering the five speed auto tranny. Anything I should know re: negatives for the auto tranny? I heard that it's a solid auto tranny but am a little 'concerned' as this would be my first auto for a Toyota pickup. The manual as many know is the six speed. Thoughts re: the auto? > I've had Toyota 4 x 4's since the early 80's, great trucks, not wanting to > change. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Thoughts re: the auto? I *hate* automatic transmissions. That said, I've heard good things about the 5 speed auto. If nothing else you won't have to slip the clutch in deep rock anymore. -- Mike Harris Austin TX On Fri, 29 Sep 2006 19:31:26 GMT, "Mike Harris" <harrisremovethiswest@sbcglobal.net> found these unused words floating about: >> I've had Toyota 4 x 4's since the early 80's, great trucks, not wanting to >> change. [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >That said, I've heard good things about the 5 speed auto. If nothing else >you won't have to slip the clutch in deep rock anymore. To get my DC and TRD, I -=HAD=- to buy the AT. Didn't want it (desert & mountain crawling) ... but ... it's been a joy. Just seems to walk up the washes while some with manuals are bouncing 'tween gears for purchase and then quick run out. > I've had Toyota 4 x 4's since the early 80's, great trucks, not wanting to > change. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Thoughts re: the auto? When I bought my Tundra, I thought about getting a slush-o-matic, but it turned out just to be some gas from eatin at Taco Bell. I grew up driving a stick in San Francisco's Marina District. For those who haven't been there, some of the streets don't have sidewalks, they have stairs. I still get 180 - 225 THOUSAND MILES on a clutch. The big question here is why a "Taco"?? Why not the Tundra?? It seems to me that *most* of the posts on here are either problems with "Tacos", Runners, and 22R engines. I have only seen a scant few posts on Tundra and those were questions about accessories or tires/rims. Maybe I am missing something here. Very good question! The reason I'll get a Taco is that the Tundra is too long for my two car garage, that was built 1956. Plus I like the size of the Taco, easy to maneuver on the off roads, a breeze to park in the city. The family is all gone and I don't need room for five any longer > When I bought my Tundra, I thought about getting a slush-o-matic, but it > turned out just to be some gas from eatin at Taco Bell. [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > those were questions about accessories or tires/rims. Maybe I am missing > something here. They do make a regular cab Tundra.... with the V-6 and 6 spd gearbox.....I have one :-) > Very good question! > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] >> and those were questions about accessories or tires/rims. Maybe I am >> missing something here. > I've had Toyota 4 x 4's since the early 80's, great trucks, not wanting to > change. [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > Thoughts re: the auto? The other responses all addressed peoples' preferences. You seem to be asking about dependability. The following is anecdotal, but anyway: - My mechanic, who's been around since the dawn of time, has just one answer when anyone asks when Toyota auto trannies start having problems: "Unless you're an idiot and don't do the normal maintenance.....what problems? Stop worrying about it." He says he simply doesn't see problems with them. - My son's about to buy an immaculately clean 1996 Camry wagon from a relative (Florida car, no salt, cared for better than most children). The auto transmission behaves like it's brand new. - Ex-wife's Corolla wagon went 293,000 miles. Auto tranny was fine. The only thing I'd wonder about is going off-road. Everyone's got a different version of that. I don't go over boulders like in the commercials. My off-road involves some fairly bumpy old logging roads, and some fiendishly slippery boat launches. I have no problems with the auto. Thank you! My questions are regarding dependability, especially when it comes to off-road use. Trannys heat up when in hard off-road use (or towing) and heat is the killer of trannys as many know. If the Taco five speed auto is built Toyota TOUGH, then I don't think I'll have a problem. The 235h.p. six cylinder engine is plenty strong and I think an auto coupled to it would perform well. We used to exclusively purchase the manual tranny as the engines didn't have the H.P. in the older Toyota engines. I haven't run across many who have an auto in a Taco, mostly in a Tundra so that's why I asked the questions. > The other responses all addressed peoples' preferences. You seem to be > asking about dependability. The following is anecdotal, but anyway: [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > commercials. My off-road involves some fairly bumpy old logging roads, and > some fiendishly slippery boat launches. I have no problems with the auto. >> The other responses all addressed peoples' preferences. You seem to be >> asking about dependability. The following is anecdotal, but anyway: [quoted text clipped - 16 lines] >> and some fiendishly slippery boat launches. I have no problems with the >> auto. > Thank you! > [quoted text clipped - 15 lines] > I haven't run across many who have an auto in a Taco, mostly in a Tundra > so that's why I asked the questions. My previous vehicle, a 92 Taurus, was already showing a little slippage when I began towing a 1400 lb boat/trailer, and it wasn't difficult to notice. The Tacoma, though, displays absolutely NO behavioral differences when towing the same boat, even in places with insanely steep hills and lots of speed changes for sharply winding roads. What's also interesting is that towing only seems to shave about 1 mpg off the fuel usage, based on averages from about 30 trips. The truck's a 2002 with 6 cylinder. My mechanic recommended that if I ever towed much more, I should add a tranny cooler. I probably should do it now, but $$$$$ is very tight at the moment. My biggest regret with my '06 Taco V6 was getting the manual tranny. When I test drove it I figured that the sloppy feeling shifts and inconsistantly grabby clutch were something that I would get used to. I know now that shouldn't have dismissed all of the negative reports on the V6 Taco's drivabililty with the manual tranny, but for more than 25 years I haven't owned an auto. Almost a year later I'm still kicking myself everytime I drive it. > Thank you! > [quoted text clipped - 35 lines] > > commercials. My off-road involves some fairly bumpy old logging roads, and > > some fiendishly slippery boat launches. I have no problems with the auto. |
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