Auto VS Manual shift, limited slip also a question

wdwrkr51 · #1 (**permalink**) 02-13-2005, 07:30 PM

I am definitely going to purchase a regular cab V-6 Tundra before the end of February. Question is: 5-spd auto or 6-spd manual? My last truck was a stick, has lasted ten years, 125,000 miles, and is still in use in the extended family. Durability and occasional towing up to 5,000 pounds is the question. I am also seriously considering asking for dealer installation of a TRD limited-slip differential. Any thoughts on this subject? Thanks for your collective wisdom!

5 Speed · #2 (**permalink**) 02-14-2005, 12:43 AM

I wish all cars were manual, it would prevent more people from talking on the phone, putting on eye liner, and other distracting things. Shouldn't they be involved in driving. All fun aside, I would love to have my 5-speed be a 6 speed. I believe it will be cheeper to drive in the long run plus the gain in MPG and the advantage of using the gear you believe is the correct one for the conditions, not what the automatic thinks. If you are used to driving a clutch, you should get 200,000 plus on the clutch and your transmission should last the lifetime of the truck if you take care of it. I always worry about an automatic because it is $3K always waiting to happen.

RSLAND · #3 (**permalink**) 02-14-2005, 11:22 AM

I have a 5 spd in my 02 Access Cab. It keeps me more actively participating in the driving experience. I would love to have a 6 speed, especially when towing my travel trailer. There are times when another gear would help to match the driving conditions, particularly in hilly, winding terrain.

I also drive an Acura TSX with a six speed and recently sold my 01 Mazda Miata 6 spd. When I first started driving them, the only tough part was forgetting that I still had another gear. I would look down and realize I had been driving in 5th.

The thing that might stop me from getting the 6 spd Tundra is the lack of cruise control for the manual. My 02 has the manual and cruise, the 05 Tundra does not, but the 05 Tacoma does. I can't figure out why Toyota would do this. It's nice to have this feature on interstate trips.

Rob

ThomasE · #4 (**permalink**) 02-14-2005, 01:03 PM

Get the manual trans. I was really torn when I bought my Tundra, it was either the V8 auto or 3.4 V6 manual, but I really wanted a V8 manual which isn't made. I almost bought a F150 which you could get a V8 manual. If I had to buy a Tundra now, I'd get the new 4.0 V6 with 6-speed. Also I'd get some kind of limited slip as well, there was no factory option for that back in '01.

wdwrkr51 · #5 (**permalink**) 02-22-2005, 10:04 PM

After considering that the missus does occasionally drive my truck, as do my sons, I thought that the automatic would be easier for them to handle and would probably also save my driveline some abuse. The tow rating was the same, so I bought my first truck with automatic transmission - this after twenty-five years of manual transmissions. This is also the first truck I have ever owned that wasn't a Ford. Go figure!

Thanks for the input.