2020 DCSB TRD OR M/T vs A/T

[MikeD]

I’m currently shopping for a compact truck and the Tacoma is on my shortlist after Toyota finally decided to add CarPlay for the 2020MY. I recently test drove a 2020 DCSB TRD OR with a MT.

I’ve always driven a manual which is a big plus for the Tacoma. Right now I have a ten year old Mini Cooper S. As expected, there’s a world of difference between it and the Tacoma. The first thing I noticed was how the friction point in the clutch was near impossible to feel compared to the Cooper. I got the hang of it quickly but it was quite a surprise at first. The next thing I noticed was the amount of effort required to get the truck moving from a stop up to 30mph, though I didn't have any trouble getting up to speed when I merged on to a freeway. There’s a 2000 pound weight difference so this isn’t unreasonable I realize!

I’m cross-shopping the 2019 Ford Ranger Lariat Super Crew. I’ve driven both the non-FX4 and the FX4. Overall I’d say that the Ranger’s 2.3L turbo was noticeably more responsive at low speeds with more torque. The FX4 suspension felt a bit sloppy compared to the TRD Offroad. Overall the Tacoma felt more “trucky” and planted while the Ranger felt more car like with more tech.

I was hoping to get some info from owners on a few questions:

1) Does the automatic transmission’s low speed responsiveness vary much from the manual?
2) With the MT you lose Multi Terrain Select and CRAWL control, how much am I missing by giving those up?
3) Is there anything else I should know from MT owners?
4) Anyone else recently cross shop the Ranger and have thought?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Nick BBP]

The one thing I’ll say ranger has Toyota beat is interior, I had a full bolt on focus st prior and it was essentially the same interior I loved but I think the ranger exterior isn’t that appealing. I do wish I got a manual because I just love driving a manual but I guess with the trails I’ve driven having an automatic was nice in difficult parts. I normally go to like 3kish rpm’s maybe more off lights and hold it there for a bit and it’ll change gears but my truck is also incredibly heavy now so I don’t recall what it was like stock. I test drove a manual and honestly can’t remember much besides downshifting feeling weird for a bit. I think manual may have some kind of atrac not sure but you would lose crawl control which I only use when I get stuck and rear locker isn’t enough, on some occasions but not most it kind of acts like a fake front locker and will give me traction to a front wheel that I needed really bad. For day to day driving I wish and miss the manual, mild trails I’d love to be driving a manual, but more difficult trails the auto was nice to have.