Hello all,

I apologize in advance if this topic is beat to death. I tried the search but including words like "auto" brings up pretty much every thread in the forums!

I'm looking to sell my 91 manual 3VZE and by a 3rd Gen 4Runner, apparently 286,000 miles is about all I'm going to get out of it. Starting to do some real quirky things and the engine is showing some serious wear (never been rebuilt). Plus I need more seats!

Here's what I plan on doing with it. Primarily, it's my daily driver (I currently own a manual). I drive about 20 miles a day for work so not too worried about gas mileage and all that (should be better than my Pickup anyway). I do frequent the Sierras both on and off-road and I-80 is steep at times. With a full load of gear and people, would an Auto struggle on that pass? I know it's a 183 HP engine as opposed to the 150 HP engine, but never had an auto 3.0L/3.4L before. Also, I do no rock crawl.

I know this is gonna open a can of worms. I'd like to hear if people have had experience with both and which they prefer. Also, if there's that much of a power loss going from Manual to Auto.

 

Automatics are for girls(and/or one-legged/one-armed cripples). Not to mention all the other reasons you don't want one.

 

I like my manual '99 about 99.5% of the time. That remaining .5% is on ledges/big rocks/really rough trail, where it would be nice to be able to just inch it along very gently.

Sometimes 1000 rpm/1st/low range is still a bit too fast.

But the rest of the time, make the car much more engaging to drive.

 

I forgot to add the main reason why I'm considering an auto: manuals are hard to find!

 

But if you prefer a manual an automatic is just going to end up pissing you off. They may be hard to find, but to me at least, totally worth the wait.
And auto is most certainly NOT for girls!

 

Go with what you want.

I think auto trannys have a place . If I lived in a Big City and most of the driving is stop light to stop light.

Sure then maybe but till it comes time to Buy the Buick or Olds.Lower to the ground and a back seat for my walker or wheel chair

I will stick with being able to choose when I want to change gears. Being able to push in a pedal to disengage the drive train at will and not be at the mercy of some electronic brain although granted it is much smarter then me.

 

I daily drove a manual truck for a little while. It's all personal opinion. I got into situations where I wanted an auto, launching my boat (2wd truck then) to going slow on roads on my hunting lease. Test drive both manual and auto equipped vehicles, not just around the block either do like a mini road trip with each.

 

I prefer manual transmissions. I have a 3rd gen 3.4 with an automatic transmission and it does great. It pulls some heavy loads and it has plenty of power for getting up hills. If you go with a 3.4 automatic, I dont think you will be disappointed at all.

Seeing you live in California, your population is heavy so the stop and go might get to you. I dont know what Roseville is like population wise, but I have lived in large cities and it didnt bother me having a manual tranny when I lived there. Really going to boil down if you like a lot of shifting.

 

Get whatever you can find. Don't hold out for a manual forever, they are Very rare around here. If you find a manual, grab it. If not the auto works fine as well.

 

Thanks guys, some really good feedback here.


Traffic's not bad in Roseville, so not much stop and go stuff. I'm glad to hear that the 3.4 Auto is not like a 3.0 Auto (slug status, my bro has one!).


Manuals do pop up here from time to time, but they are usually at 200k+ miles. I'm trying to get one that will last me a long time. I'd be ok with an Auto if it came to it, but manuals are just plain fun to drive.

 

Mileage really doesn't matter with these trucks. I would take a well maintained good condition car with 250k miles over a ragged out, never maintained car with 50k.

These trucks regularly turn over 300k+ miles if taken care of and keep going strong. I know of a local 4runner with over 350k and still looks and drives great.

 

I flew 1,000 miles to get a manual and drove it back. Every day, I'm glad I did.

 

I had to wait a few weeks for my dealer to get a manual when I bought it new in 1999. He said he never knew what he was getting until the carrier rolled in, so I should check every few days. I was doing just that when the carrier rolled in and we went out to look. My IJM 5-speed (the color I wanted) was mine before the wheels hit the ground.

Exactly 15 years and 160k later, I still love driving it. The only time I wish for a slushbox is at the GW Bridge or the Lincoln Tunnel--long uphill stretches with stop'n'go traffic. I can feel, and smell my clutch evaporating before I get across. If I had a regular commute, I'd get a high MPG auto and save the 4Runner for real life.

 

I currently have two 3rd gen 4Runners one automatic and one manual. They both drive great. I prefer the manual for the fun-to-drive factor, but I'm not doing much stop and go driiving. I find the auto on my 2000 to be a really great transmission, seems super solid, and shifts great.

 

I live in truckee and have never had a problem making it up I-80 with my auto. Loaded down with gear I could do 55 no problem in 3rd (over drive off). There should be no concern for that..

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