The modern 5 and 6 speed autos are quickly diminishing
the advantage that a manual offered in the past. Many
of the new autos can deliver better fuel economy than
the manual and have excellent ability for up/down hills.
In my '88 the 5sp is the only way to go, but in an '05,
'06, or some future hybrid, fuel cell, electric model,
the auto may be the way to go.

Regards,
Indy

Autos bite the big one <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/barf.gif" alt="" />. They are for lazy people. Then again, the majority of people have enough driving down the road as it is, I can't imagine what would happen if they had to shift <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/ignore.gif" alt="" />. I personally won't EVER buy one. Even if that means rebuilding older vehicles and trannies.

David

Huh. The fella I recently wheeled with in the nicely built CJ scrambler, 350, springover Dana 60s, 37s, etc. etc. etc. with an auto might have a different opinion on that...

Autos, if built correctly and matched to the motor, with a motor that has lots of excess torque, can be virtual crawlers. They are just different than manuals.

That said, I like a stick, but its personal preference.

yeah, some people find it hard to eat and talk on the cell phone and shift while going down the road... <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/rolleyes.gif" alt="" />
oh, and put on make-up.

I can assure you, whilst crawling up that rock I would never attempt he was neither putting on makeup nor talking on the cell phone.

Dear Toyota,

How about just importing these into the US?


Let's see... 6 cyl. 4.2 litre Turbo Diesel, solid axles both ends, standard limited slip, optional diff locks...

Distracted drivers will always be distracted drivers
no matter what kind of equipment is on their vehicle.
But that's a topic for another thread sometime.

I too prefer a manual, that's why I bought an older truck.
I like the manual transfer, hubs, transmission...I'm
kind of a control freak that way.

Regarding the truck posted by PAToyota, I think it would
be awesome to see these imported. Unfortunatly we've
got to get rid of the EPA, NHTSA, and every other
government agency with their fingers in the automobile
pie to even get them into the country. Until then
we'll just have to keep on builing our own.

Regards,
Indy

Not exactly sure that we would have to get rid of the EPA, NHTSA, etc. I think it is more of an issue of convincing Toyota that there is a market if they would import them. Of course, without all the agencies, red tape, and hoops to jump through, Toyota could import smaller numbers and still be profitable. If they go to all the trouble it takes to import them, they want to make sure that they are going to sell them in record numbers. Unfortunately, to sell them in record numbers you are going to have to turn them into what the Land Crusier has become here... I doubt the work truck version would sell well enough to make it worth their while.

Which is why I'll stick to building mine!