2022 TRD Off road - Manual or Automatic???

I am planning on buying a 2022 Tacoma TRD Off-road; I was planning on buying a manual transmission, but will need to wait. There is an automatic available locally that I can buy right now.

The auto has "crawl mode" and "hill start assist" that the manual doesn't have. Am i missing anything else?

Looking for peoples thoughts on this. Thank you!

 

The lower gears in the manual make a big difference, and you get A-trac instead of crawl control

 

Test drive the automatic you might like it

 

3rd Gen will be the last manual Tacoma. If that means anything to you. 4th Gen for 2024MY. I waited to get mine and will keep it until it rots into the ground.

 

HSA in the AT still rolls backward when the torque converter cannot hold it on a hill. The ABS until will grind away not doing much.


ATs and MTs have the same system. On the MT it is only a single setting for ATRAC, which is the same as MTS in the ATs, except there are several settings (five, I think?).


As others said, take them for a long test drive.

 

It’s a fact


And I hate manuals , but facts are facts. In 4Low 1st gear it’s totally noticeable. So unless you plan on a regear the manual wins the lower gear game .

 

I'm not familiar with "A-Trac".... Can you tell me more, in the meantime I'll Google it.

 

Would love to, but there are no manuals to test drive anywhere near me.

 

Before buying mine I test drove an automatic and a manual and found the manual more enjoyable. I was willing to wait to get exactly what I wanted especially for the price.

 

Non-ORs have a typical vacuum brake / ABS. We get TRAC.

The ORs / Pros get the electrical brake booster with an enhances ABS. They get ATRAC, which is just a single setting MTS.

 

A-trac gives traction to the wheels that need it, unlike 4x4 that just spins the tire that has the least traction

 

IMHO, the used 2nd Gen MTs that I test drove were pretty darn close to my 3rd Gen. You could give one of those a whirl. The 3rd Gen clutch throw is a bit longer with an engage point that is typically close to the end of the pedal travel.

Stock, the 2nd Gen has more low end torque and less top end HP. Tuned, they are pretty much equivalent.

 

hold out and get the MT

 

I have the 21 version of the manual you are looking at. I enjoy it every time I turn the key. It really does drive nice. The only 2 complaints i have is the reverse gear ratio. Wish it was a little lower. I made it even worse by installing 285s. Currently saving for gears to help this out. One more thing occasionally if you are at a light with it in neutral and push the clutch in, the syncro will catch on the peak of the gear. This will not allow you to get into 1st gear. You will have to let up the clutch and try again. This is not a daily occurrence. Just catches you of guard

 

I would recommend the 2Lo Mod:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-2wd-low-range-for-the-3rd-gen-tacoma.614743/

It may save the cost of gears.


An MT fluid swap will help with getting blocked out of 1st. Redline MT-90 is highly recommended, esp as there was some knocks against the OEM stuff in a UOA. There is also Motocraft stuff that many are very happy with.

 

If they salt the roads where you live you'll be in an auto 4th gen before you know it.

 

Drive both. The correct answer is the one that you like.

 

Ouch, I felt that one...

 

NO LIKE FOR YOU

 

I'm kind of wishing I waited for the MT. Would be way easier to swap out for a straight front axle. Meh? I'm old so the automatic is fine for my daily driver.