Question for Tacoma owners - is stick shift worth it?

"themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles" (themanwithsauce)
03/24/2020 at 22:02 • Filed to: None

EDIT - Yes, I would ideally love to test drive these back to back, but that is out of the question right now. Test drives are hard to get, and sales are hard to accomm odate hence the great deals right now. I just want to make the best use of my time for a potential deal.

The dealership near where I work has a stick shift, 2020 TRD sport Tacoma doublecab 4x4 with some hefty price cuts on it. It’s everything I want in a truck, including the dealer installed extras like the steps and some blackout treatment. A cursory phone call today said they’re willing to tack on something extra to sweeten the deal.I’m hoping for sub 34k OTD which means a sticker of 32k which is......optimistic when it has a bunch of options on it but whatever, I’m not the desperate one in this deal.

My question is, assuming I get the good pricing.....do I pull the trigger on a stick shift taco? Is it really good to drive? Or can I widen my color selection and take an automatic and be just as happy?

DISCUSSION (20)

shop-teacher > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:17

Why not just go drive it and see for yourself?

AdamB > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:22

I've heard the auto is much better.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > shop-teacher
03/24/2020 at 22:23

Yeah I’m in a shelter-in-place state so that’s dicey right now. I have to schedule the drive a couple days in advance and I can only do one per request. And I’m lucky the toyota dealer is still open - the ford dealer I got my FoST from is closed 100% besides general service. Body shop and sales are gone until mid-April.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:25

https://oppositelock.kinja.com/hot-take-the-2020-tacoma-isnt-better-with-the-manual-1840017597

Various opinions throughout.

bob and john > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:25

o drive it. I heard from an oppo here that the gear ratios on the manual are fucky and dont play well with the motor. the auto is MUCH better from that point of veiw

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:25

I’ve hated driving every Toyota BoF 4x4 that had an automatic gearbox that I've ever driven...dull, ponderous and a complete lack of engine braking.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > AdamB
03/24/2020 at 22:25

Definitely for towing, auto would be better. I’ve heard though that the auto doesn’t like to kick up when cruising unless you use cruise control. But I don’t own one so I don’t know what the long term ups and downs are.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > bob and john
03/24/2020 at 22:27

My response here is same as to shop-teacher - I’m in a shelter in place state so the deals are desperate, but the test drives are ironically going to be the hardest part lol. Just wanted to scan the landscape a bit before jumping through any hoops.

shop-teacher > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:30

It’s almost 100% likely that the truck will still be there whenever we can get out and about again.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > shop-teacher
03/24/2020 at 22:31

It’s also almost 100% likely I won’t be able to buy it until close to that time (though the dealerships would like it to be sooner) so I might as well start planning now. At least, hopefully getting to drive it before then and then prepping my car for possible trade in.

AestheticsInMotion > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:42

It's not an amazing manual. My good friend had one for a year or so and recently traded it for a wrx. But... It's still A manual in a nice truck so if that appeals to you... I know I'd pick it over the auto

A Boy and His Longtail > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:45

Buying a car has to have some emotional aspect. Best is always subjective. Best at what per say? I’ll second the test drive opinion. It’s your potential car, you need to be happy with it.

nFamousCJ - Keeper of Stringbean, Gengars and a Deezul > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 22:45

My dad has a not that gen but the one prior. The auto shifts at like 2700rpm whenever it can. You have to mash it with all the beans to get it to rev to 4k rpms. The one that bugs me though is that if you take you foot off the pedal the trans catches and starts slowing you down. If you apply 3% pressure to the pedal it doesn't do that.

OPPOsaurus WRX > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 23:15

My friend has one. I think it’s a 2018 4cyl . I got to drive it but it was only up there street and back. I'd take it just because I want a manual. He has never complained about it at all.

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 23:23

Some dealerships are delivering cars for test drives

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles
03/24/2020 at 23:26

That’s what I have to do. But they have to disinfect the car before and after each drive so you have to call ahead and schedule it to some ra th er narrow windows from the sounds of it.

Under_Score > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/24/2020 at 23:41

Based on looking at your posts (and a search of which states are on lockdown), it looks like you live in that place where people would really choose a Jeep Cherokee before a Toyota RAV4. Another guy on here got a great deal on a 4Runner there. It’s hard to find Toyota truck deals in the south.

Go for it. Voodoo Blue, Automatic, TRD Sport or Off Road with the Premium Package. A Limited with the surround camera is a dream for me.

Abarthnut > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/25/2020 at 11:52

Yes I would I have a 19 with 6 manual it’s a nice clutch and tha ratios are well selected 1st kinda low but withe engine torque and a little finesse you can start 2nd. I find I’m skipping 5 and going right to 6 . I drive in long island ny lots of traffic. I keep it low gears in traffic a just keep distance and pace myself so I’m no stopping an going much o I drive behind a big rig that would be doing the ssame.one pedal driving using engine braking. You drive like that manual can be less work than an auto. I got a burla exhaust the v6 sound nice when you wind it up a bit

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/30/2020 at 15:16

That’s a good price. I bought my ‘18 dual cab Off Road 4x4 for $32.5k. I test drove the auto at the time and hated it (was hunting everywhere) - maybe they’ve updated the software since?

I like my manual, but it’s definitely an old school manual. Very low first gear. 6th gear isn’t quite tall enough (spins a little too fast at 80) , and reverse isn’t low enough, weirdly enough. Regardless, I like being in control of what gear I’m in, and part of buying it was to have my kids learn on it (oldest is 13).

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
03/30/2020 at 15:21

“ The V6 engine has plenty of torque to help me slowly manage off-road obstacles, but on the highway, it shows its weak points. Mind you, naturally aspirated engines always suffer at higher altitudes, so I’ll cut the V6 some slack since my time on the highway starts at an elevation of 9,300 feet. But the six-speed automatic transmission isn’t doing the truck any favors, either. It constantly hunts for the right gear, and the only way I can get it to settle down is by shifting into Sport mode for a modicum of control. But therein lie some more issues.

Sport mode is a bit of a misnomer. When I move the gear-shifter to the left to engage this mode, the transmission displays a “4" in the gauge cluster, which looks to mean you’re in fourth gear. But this isn’t actually a gear indicator, it’s a gear limiter. The transmission will shift itself, but only through the first four gears. You can ‘upshift’ to select fifth, but again, the transmission will work on its own, but without sixth gear. It’s a bit confusing, but with fewer gears to choose from, the transmission isn’t as eager to shift, especially on these steep, mountain roads.”

https://www.cnet.com/roadshow/reviews/2020-toyota-tacoma-2wd-preview/