View Poll Results: Manual (5-speed) or Automatic: Which one do you have?
Manual (5-speed)
275
53.71%
Automatic
237
46.29%
Voters: 512. You may not vote on this poll
5-speed or Automatic: which one do you have?
Jun 20, 2004 | 02:50 PM
#105
Contributing Member
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,843
Likes: 0
From: NM
Originally Posted by Bob_98SR5
Guys and the few, but ultra hip 4runner women (notice I didn't say "gals" 
):
......Bob
):......Bob
I have an Auto (the only thing that comes in the Limited), it has better control on the trail, IF you don't have a crawler.
Last edited by SteveO; Jun 20, 2004 at 02:51 PM.
Jun 20, 2004 | 09:19 PM
#107
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 0
From: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA
5 speed. (the poll is now 131 Drivers, 131 Pretenders...) I will never own an offroad machine with an automatic, I've seen too many really interesting wrecks that were because it had an auto. How? Imagine the slickest clay mud steep hill you ever saw (or snow on a trail that everyone has packed down already till it's shiny smooth- slick stuff!) Now you have to go DOWN it. At the bottom there is no room to coast out if you pick up speed, maybe a cliff, maybe big rocks, whatever. So, with an auto, you put it in a low gear manually and try to ease down. It picks up speed anyway. Youput your foot on the brake and try like hell not to lock em up, but the auto will let the wheels stop turning cheerfully, so away you go, tobogganing to the bottom. Been there, I don't like it. With a manual you can select a gear to match the speed you want to go, and actually can use your brakes! Unless you brake so hard you kill the engine the wheels will keep turning and you have infinitely less chance of sliding away out of control. Same argument for climbing steep ones too, the auto requires so much more throttle that it breaks traction much more easily, and failing to reach to top due to wheelspin and sliding back can be a bad thing too, on tough trails. (I'm not talking about the places you can go with 2" lift and 32s...)
But I actually prefer to shift my street vehicles too - it's just more fun!
But I actually prefer to shift my street vehicles too - it's just more fun!
Jun 20, 2004 | 09:49 PM
#108
Contributing Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,876
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill, CA
Originally Posted by Flamedx4
5 speed. (the poll is now 131 Drivers, 131 Pretenders...) I will never own an offroad machine with an automatic, I've seen too many really interesting wrecks that were because it had an auto. How? Imagine the slickest clay mud steep hill you ever saw (or snow on a trail that everyone has packed down already till it's shiny smooth- slick stuff!) Now you have to go DOWN it. At the bottom there is no room to coast out if you pick up speed, maybe a cliff, maybe big rocks, whatever. So, with an auto, you put it in a low gear manually and try to ease down. It picks up speed anyway. Youput your foot on the brake and try like hell not to lock em up, but the auto will let the wheels stop turning cheerfully, so away you go, tobogganing to the bottom. Been there, I don't like it. With a manual you can select a gear to match the speed you want to go, and actually can use your brakes! Unless you brake so hard you kill the engine the wheels will keep turning and you have infinitely less chance of sliding away out of control. Same argument for climbing steep ones too, the auto requires so much more throttle that it breaks traction much more easily, and failing to reach to top due to wheelspin and sliding back can be a bad thing too, on tough trails. (I'm not talking about the places you can go with 2" lift and 32s...)
But I actually prefer to shift my street vehicles too - it's just more fun!
But I actually prefer to shift my street vehicles too - it's just more fun!
To each his own I guess.
Jun 21, 2004 | 08:21 AM
#110
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 0
From: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA
[[Guess you haven't experienced ABS, EBD and DAC yet. Technology and autos have moved on a couple of years from your scenario.]]
Sure have, and that stuff is amazing until it malfunctions or you modify your vehicle and it can't cope...
Sure have, and that stuff is amazing until it malfunctions or you modify your vehicle and it can't cope...
Jun 21, 2004 | 10:43 AM
#111
Contributing Member
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 1,876
Likes: 0
From: Morgan Hill, CA
Originally Posted by Flamedx4
[[Guess you haven't experienced ABS, EBD and DAC yet. Technology and autos have moved on a couple of years from your scenario.]]
Sure have, and that stuff is amazing until it malfunctions or you modify your vehicle and it can't cope...
Sure have, and that stuff is amazing until it malfunctions or you modify your vehicle and it can't cope...
Jun 21, 2004 | 10:49 AM
#112
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 483
Likes: 0
From: Austin, TX
I'm surprised it's so dead-even...I thought there were a lot more autos out there. I'm guessing a larger portion of people on this forum have the manual, as opposed to the general population.
I prefer the 5spd simply because it's more fun, and more reliable. But I also like the fact that I'm in control.
I prefer the 5spd simply because it's more fun, and more reliable. But I also like the fact that I'm in control.
Jun 21, 2004 | 11:54 AM
#114
Banned
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 0
Likes: 1
Originally Posted by Flamedx4
5 speed. (the poll is now 131 Drivers, 131 Pretenders...) I will never own an offroad machine with an automatic, I've seen too many really interesting wrecks that were because it had an auto. How? Imagine the slickest clay mud steep hill you ever saw (or snow on a trail that everyone has packed down already till it's shiny smooth- slick stuff!) Now you have to go DOWN it. At the bottom there is no room to coast out if you pick up speed, maybe a cliff, maybe big rocks, whatever. So, with an auto, you put it in a low gear manually and try to ease down. It picks up speed anyway. Youput your foot on the brake and try like hell not to lock em up, but the auto will let the wheels stop turning cheerfully, so away you go, tobogganing to the bottom. Been there, I don't like it. With a manual you can select a gear to match the speed you want to go, and actually can use your brakes! Unless you brake so hard you kill the engine the wheels will keep turning and you have infinitely less chance of sliding away out of control. Same argument for climbing steep ones too, the auto requires so much more throttle that it breaks traction much more easily, and failing to reach to top due to wheelspin and sliding back can be a bad thing too, on tough trails. (I'm not talking about the places you can go with 2" lift and 32s...)
But I actually prefer to shift my street vehicles too - it's just more fun!
But I actually prefer to shift my street vehicles too - it's just more fun!
Jun 21, 2004 | 03:30 PM
#116
Registered User
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 3,291
Likes: 0
From: 100 miles offshore as much as possible, & Springfield Oregon USA
[That's when I get the front over the edge, stop, shift into reverse 2hi and use the throttle to control decent better than your 4lo-1st gear can... lol]
LOL I remember years ago taking a guy for his first trip on the dunes. At one point we were all at the bottom of a very large bowl and we could see his front bumper up at the top, just sitting. Finally he came over the edge and straight on down, no worries. His wife told us he just sat there saying "If they can do it I can do it." over and over...
LOL I remember years ago taking a guy for his first trip on the dunes. At one point we were all at the bottom of a very large bowl and we could see his front bumper up at the top, just sitting. Finally he came over the edge and straight on down, no worries. His wife told us he just sat there saying "If they can do it I can do it." over and over...
