Transmission... Automatic? or Manual? Thinking of buying.
 

Considering buying an 86 GT. Have not yet test driven, but was pretty impressed with the layout when I looked at them at last years auto show.

The car begs to be an manual transmission, and they are more fun to drive, but not sure I want to go that route. It'll be a 2nd car for me in addition to my 2011 Tundra and will see daily use even though I telework much more now... Tough decision for me because I love manuals, but still like the convenience of an automatic for daily driving.

How good is the automatic? does it precisely shift when in manual mode? Is is "as fun" to drive? Every automatic I've driven don't seem to do a very good job with this.

Another concern, is that there isn't a lot of inventory right now, and the GT's that have automatics don't seem to come with the TRD handling package which I would be interested in having. Did automatics ever come packaged this way??

Go to a dealer and test one?

Welcome to ......The Forum, there, Adinfinitum - :clap:

Which transmission? Well, that depends. The AT has been demonstrated to be dependable and fun to drive. The MT is a MT.

I suggest that if you like to shift gears, a lot, get a MT, if not, get an AT.

;)

Depends. Would you hire a hooker and only go to 2nd base?

FYI, Planning on scheduling a test drive for next day or so. weather dependent. Still no Automatics with TRD package around here though...

If it is your 2nd car and you know how to drive stick then get it with a stick.. I had an automatic FRS first to satisfy my at the time wife so she could drive it since she didn't want to learn. I got a manual FRS later on and it only made me wish I got one with a stick from the start :bonk:

Now the automatic ain't bad at all, one of the better torque converters on the market. Smooth engagement at slow speeds, adequate shifting speed when going fast, the computer will never auto up-shift when you're in manual mode and the sport mode while in automatic mode is pretty smart, it will auto downshift under heavy braking for example...and i liked the paddles. But to me there is no beating the feel of the very mechanical stick, the extra involvement with the car, your butt dyno should feel a little more torque with the manual trans, being able to clutch kick or dumping it and getting the tires to chirp on 2nd, and manual master race ofc.

OP, your name is apt for this discussion.

I prefer MT, but that's just my preference. Though I've noticed it's way harder to find a good used MT than AT lately

Test drive both, buy the one you like better.

I've heard very good things about the AT. Supposedly it's from a Lexus 250 IS, and is quite a lot of fun.

I daily a MT *shrug*.

To be crass about it, when asked I usually tell people that "if you've got nerve damage or something in your leg, then the AT is fine". The truth is just buy whichever you are more comfortable with and drive it like you stole it. I don't think you can go wrong either way.

You can not build an AT with the TRD package on the Toyota site. Only the MT.

https://www.toyota.com/configurator/...ckages/option3

These days yes. Yes I would.

Can't do clutch kicks in an auto. Gotta flick it like a booger.

Have you popped the hood yet to compare?

The manuals are real pretty...


But then am partial to redheads.