Well i am about to upgrade my 02 4cyl 5 spd x-cab to an 06 6cyl x-cab. I should never have taken a test drive. I cant decide on the 6 speed manual or the auto. The auto is 1k more, but from my research tends to see more mpgs, so preice is not a factor. I use my truck as a shuttle rig for kayaking and to get me out camping and into the great outdoors. So which trannie?? Oh and dont drive the 6cyl if you have a 4. It was too much fun.:smiley_drive:
Upgrading to an 06
- Thread starter salsataco
- Start date
devinsixtyseven
Explorer
yeah, i'd upgrade the suspension, as well as move the battery aft if you can arrange it. the arb units are a ton-o-bricks, and it only gets worse with a winch.
personally i'd opt for the 6-speed manual...ive found on my auto tranny its easier to hold a gear and change speed than use cruise control and let the tranny hunt for a gear, and again offroad im able to pick a gear better than the auto tranny is able to set for a particular obstacle. i'd get a manual at this point if one existed for my truck...
dunno if that helped any...
-sean
personally i'd opt for the 6-speed manual...ive found on my auto tranny its easier to hold a gear and change speed than use cruise control and let the tranny hunt for a gear, and again offroad im able to pick a gear better than the auto tranny is able to set for a particular obstacle. i'd get a manual at this point if one existed for my truck...
dunno if that helped any...
-sean
Pskhaat
2005 Expedition Trophy Champion
Yeah, manual all the way. People have thoughts about this all the time, but in my limited experience being able to fine adjust the RPMs to where you need them is a desirable trait.
So much so that I personally would opt for a manul tranny in my FZJ80 over a diesel with an auto tranny!!!
So much so that I personally would opt for a manul tranny in my FZJ80 over a diesel with an auto tranny!!!
My only auto I have ever had was my old XJ. Couldnt find a manual. On my current taco I have a rhino brush guard. Not very tough but it has saved me a few times. Even though it killed my approach angle. I figure I might as well shell out the extra dough for and ARB while I am at it. I dont really want to do suspension until I kill the stock stuff though. Another reason I like the ARB is the brush guard that comes up high enough for me to tie down the bows of my boats. ANy other suggestions. Does the ARB really weigh much more than a stock bumper with a brush guard???
The bad part is when you smoke the clutch on a hard obstacle in front of friends. I went through this decision when I purchased my 2006 auto. I had never owned an automatic. Yeah, you loose some control and some of the fun factor that comes with gear selection of a manual. However, the auto is so smooth and I enjoy the environment so much more then being focused on my driving. You need to drive the manual and then hop into the auto. It will all eventually come down to your personal preference.
I do occasionally miss shifting, but not that often !
If you go ARB Bullbar you need to replace your coilovers as the bumper goes around 125 lbs.
I do occasionally miss shifting, but not that often !
If you go ARB Bullbar you need to replace your coilovers as the bumper goes around 125 lbs.
Brian894x4
Explorer
It's hard to compare a 5 speed auto to any of the previous 4 speed autos, because the biggest disadvantage of the previous autos were lack of gearing options and too high of gearing. I think the new 5 speed auto addresses those concerns quite nicely.
Autos have a real advantage off road, except for engine braking downhill, but a lot depends on how much control you have over the gear selection if you want to go to manual shifting.
I don't have any idea how the new Taco trannys behave, but I know for example, my wife's Forester tranny could care less what gear I put it in or what gear I want it to be in. It has a complete mind of it's own and usually doesn't shift when I want it too, especially not downshifting to pass, which is frustrating as heck. That's just the way the Subaru designed that particular tranny. It was all about fuel economy and nothing about performance.
So, I'd do some research and test driving on the new Tacos to see how much manual control you can have and if they downshift when you want them too, will hold a gear to redline, and will stay in gear on an obsticle when you want it too.
For my purposes I'd rather have an auto to free my hands to work the GPS, computer, radios, etc.
Autos have a real advantage off road, except for engine braking downhill, but a lot depends on how much control you have over the gear selection if you want to go to manual shifting.
I don't have any idea how the new Taco trannys behave, but I know for example, my wife's Forester tranny could care less what gear I put it in or what gear I want it to be in. It has a complete mind of it's own and usually doesn't shift when I want it too, especially not downshifting to pass, which is frustrating as heck. That's just the way the Subaru designed that particular tranny. It was all about fuel economy and nothing about performance.
So, I'd do some research and test driving on the new Tacos to see how much manual control you can have and if they downshift when you want them too, will hold a gear to redline, and will stay in gear on an obsticle when you want it too.
For my purposes I'd rather have an auto to free my hands to work the GPS, computer, radios, etc.
The Swiss
Expedition Leader
I have the six speed. As I mentioned in a different thread, today I probably would go with the auto, even though most of the time I do enjoy my manual. I still think 6th is geared too low, 5th and 6th too close together; I would have loved to see 1 through 5 as regular gears and 6th as a fuel saver gear. But that's probably just me
mountainpete
Spamicus Eliminatus
For my use, I would go with the manual. The reason for me would be travelling fire roads. I travel a lot of different fire roads when I go in the backcountry and being able to control the RPMs of the engine really aids, in my opinion, to more controlled travel.
For example, I find that in areas where there are lots of up and downs (such as in BC) that the truck tends to "run away" on the downhills too much and I have to brake more. Then because there is so much washboard, the ABS kicks in and the brakes provide very little value (on Sunday I just about went off a cliff because of that!). If I was able to hold a third gear on a manual, I would not only be able to better control the downhill speed but also have immediate torque for the uphills.
But other comments are also right... Automatics are easier off-road. Just push the skinny pedal and go. Less worry about rolling back and it's easier to fiddle with all of the tech gadgets too.
Bottom line is think about what type of driving you do the most and then drive both.
Pete
For example, I find that in areas where there are lots of up and downs (such as in BC) that the truck tends to "run away" on the downhills too much and I have to brake more. Then because there is so much washboard, the ABS kicks in and the brakes provide very little value (on Sunday I just about went off a cliff because of that!). If I was able to hold a third gear on a manual, I would not only be able to better control the downhill speed but also have immediate torque for the uphills.
But other comments are also right... Automatics are easier off-road. Just push the skinny pedal and go. Less worry about rolling back and it's easier to fiddle with all of the tech gadgets too.
Bottom line is think about what type of driving you do the most and then drive both.
Pete
Pulled the Trigger
Thanks folks for the kind advice. I eventually ended up with the auto. It seems that I go manual / auto every other vehicle. I think I will be very happy as this will be the truck I will take my kids camping in. (None yet, but in 5 years or so) My girlfrien let out an excited giggle when the sold tag was hung on it. She loves the 4 dr extended cab. Tomorrow I am off for a 3 day camping/ work training trip. Hoorah :1888fbbd:
Thanks folks for the kind advice. I eventually ended up with the auto. It seems that I go manual / auto every other vehicle. I think I will be very happy as this will be the truck I will take my kids camping in. (None yet, but in 5 years or so) My girlfrien let out an excited giggle when the sold tag was hung on it. She loves the 4 dr extended cab. Tomorrow I am off for a 3 day camping/ work training trip. Hoorah :1888fbbd:
mountainpete
Spamicus Eliminatus
Congrats salsa! Make sure to post a pic of your new truck when you have a chance :smiley_drive:
asteffes
Explorer
Ok, hope you saved your pennies... Here's what you need to do now:
Get the Donahoe coilovers and rear dampers. Don't mess around with anything else.
Get the Husky Liner rubber mats, front and back, too.
The factory bed mat is great at preventing things from sliding around in the back. If you are considering a shell, get an ARE. Skip the SnugTop.
Get SilBlade FlexBlade wiper blades from Pangaea or EE. Totally awesome.
Hella 80/100 watt H4 bulbs are fantastic in the stock headlamps. rallylights.com has them for cheap.
The Home Depot Husky-brand jumpstart pack fits perfectly in the behind-the-rear-seats storage area in the double cab. Might also work with the extra-cab storage. Worth checking out.
Get the Donahoe coilovers and rear dampers. Don't mess around with anything else.
Get the Husky Liner rubber mats, front and back, too.
The factory bed mat is great at preventing things from sliding around in the back. If you are considering a shell, get an ARE. Skip the SnugTop.
Get SilBlade FlexBlade wiper blades from Pangaea or EE. Totally awesome.
Hella 80/100 watt H4 bulbs are fantastic in the stock headlamps. rallylights.com has them for cheap.
The Home Depot Husky-brand jumpstart pack fits perfectly in the behind-the-rear-seats storage area in the double cab. Might also work with the extra-cab storage. Worth checking out.
Took a pic of the new ride while we were out kayaking on halloween. BRRRRR.
The suicide door make for a nice changing room. So far I have put in a Kenwood Double DIN to connect to the 80gb IPOD.(Some carnage on the install, thought I would mention it,but i dont want to talk about it.:smilies27 ) Also put in a closed cell foam liner in the bed. I'm heading towards a cap in the next month or so.
The suicide door make for a nice changing room. So far I have put in a Kenwood Double DIN to connect to the 80gb IPOD.(Some carnage on the install, thought I would mention it,but i dont want to talk about it.:smilies27 ) Also put in a closed cell foam liner in the bed. I'm heading towards a cap in the next month or so.