[OperatorX]

Hi all,

I'm waffling on what transmission to get on an OR. For years, I've loved having a MT. I currently have a MT 04 Maxima. I like the control you have in a MT vehicle. Now, I've driven the MT X and not the Auto yet. I'll do that when I actually go to order it (when my lease is up on the Maxima).

Here's my struggle.. I'm going to keep this truck for years. It will be my toy to mod and enjoy. At least for the first 5 years, it will be my primary vehicle. Most of my work commute has it's fair share of stop and go travel. I recall my MT 2000 X as being a pain to clutch in stop and go. Plus, I'm getting old... will I want to shift 5-10 years from now? Are the bennifits of the MT I'm not aware of? Anyone wish they got an Auto instead of an MT? Will my colostomy bag fit with me in the X when I'm older? Why dose male patern baldness have to be hereditary? :chug:

I could use some opinions/thoughts.... Thanks to all who brave...

 

[offroadterra]

I like MT in cars, Way more fun to drive. In a truck I like AT. My OR has the AT and I love it. When rock climbing I enjoy having the luxury of one foot on brake, one on gas. I have enough to worry about while wheeling, I don;t wanna think about what gear I am in, or now how do I ???
Until we come factory with a 3rd leg (insert snicker here), My trucks will be AT. Also with the LIE being a big parking lot during rush hour, AT rocks... :cheers:

 

[kokopop]

I agree with Jim. I have an MT and had no experience going off road. IF I were to do it again I would get an AT. But I got a great deal on the MT OR because the dealer figured he would never sell it. Otherwise I would have been in an S.

 

[drebit]

I think if you have a lot of stop and go driving in your commute the auto is the only way to go.

The only negative with the auto over the stick off road is lack of downhill engine compression slowing you down as much as the stick will.

I would still go with the auto.

 

[DuXterra]

I drive a MT, and I dont have much off road experience, so far it has been alright. It does take some getting used to, my old jeep was a AT and going through deep sand and stuff was a little easier, but I think once I get used to going through the stuff in the MT it will be fine. I can see where going rock climbing would be better with a AT though.

 

[tea mon]

I have an MT and had no experience going off road. IF I were to do it again I would get an AT.

I'm with Koko. I bought an MT because I like to drive them but if I had any experience off-roading, I definitely would have gone with the AT. I believe the Xterra's throttle is desensitized in low range which helps when you are off-road but it's still challenging to not jerk the truck quite a bit which can be disconcerting when you here the drive train clunking.

 

[RogueClimber]

For off road I kinda wish I had the AT. But since I spend more time on the road I,m glad I have the MT. Go with your own preference. I really don't believe one is that much better than the other...

 

[Turtle]

Age old dilema...

It's an age old dilema for which is better offroad. Everyone can say something good and bad about each one for offroad and for on road. What do you picture yourself enjoying the most? In these cases I grab a coin and flip for it. If you are good on the side it landed... great. But, you will know if it landed on the side you don't really want. I usually wish the coin would have fallen to the other side. This choice is almost more about feelings.

It was very difficult this time in the year to find an OR 6spd MT in yellow. So, I got an X model and will be moding it up with the cash saved. If I go more hardcore later I'm hoping there will be a locker out. I do more trail running than searching for the most difficult thing to go through or over. That's how much I felt about a MT after checking the coin trick (there were two AT yellow OR available around the corner).

I've only had mine for 2-3 weeks though so I can't tell you how she acts offroad, but I have had a MT Wrangler and a MT Hardbody and loved them both all around.

Dan

 

[madmax]

I have always had an MT for off roading. This is my first 4x4 with an AT and wouldn't go back to MT again.

From another post...."The only negative with the auto over the stick off road is lack of downhill engine compression slowing you down as much as the stick will. "

If you buy the OR version with an automatic it comes with "HDC" Hill Decent Control...I don't have that as I bought the S but I can only assume...bad word... that it will act as an MT while you are low gear wheeling.

I have noticed that I get much better traction while wheeling with an auto, maybe its just me but it seems as though the tires don't break free as easily as they did with my MT's.

The only thing I miss is that on my 02 Frontier MT i could stick it 1 low and idle over a LOT of stuff without my foot jerking down on the gas when I hit a steep rock. The AT will not do that...it will just stop if it encounters too much resistance on an up hill climb. Still, I wouldn't go back as 90% of my driving is start...stop...start...stop, just cant beat an auto for that.

MY .02 cents

 

[FrankB]

I really like the AT for off-road driving. Just remember to use something other than Drive, especially going uphill. Around here I drive fairly slow off road, so I just use 1st, 2nd, or occasionally 3rd if it is a well graded fire road (just popping off the OD, which lets it run up to 4th works OK at times too). As for engine compression braking on descents, I don't think that 1st on the AT is any different than 1st on an MT. I am sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

If you really want compression braking, with either trans, you'll probably need to swith to 4-LO. On the 2nd Gen X when you put it in 4-LO the Secondary Throttle Mapping kicks in, and it works really well. I've done some long rocky descents where I just kept it in 4-LO and went back and forth between 1st and 2nd on the AT and had great control. You would be surprised at how much throttle you need to move downhill when in 4-LO and 1st.

One of the best parts about an AT off road is that you can use your left foot on the brake at the same time that your right is on the gas if you want. Comes in real handy sometimes, as the e-brake (on the rear wheels only) is just not what you might want at times.

On the other hand, I do really like MT's in cars, especially ones that handle like a Maxima. I also have a Maxima (an 02), and I often wish I had gotten the SE with MT instead of the base AT. But I do a lot of city driving commuting, and my knee is not as young as it used to be. Although, when I finally do wear out the Maxima (its got 84,000 on it, hoping for another 70,000 or so) a 350Z with MT would sure be fun.

Just some more to think about. Whichever X you get you'll like it.

 

[D-Day]

I've had 2 previous Toyota 4x4's. Landcruiser FJ 60 MT and Tundra AT. Did like the MT on steep descents. I have the OR model, but haven't had the chance to use the HDC yet. If it works as advertised, it should act like engine braking on the MT's.

 

[usmc xterra]

After ECXC and seeing an MT work through the obstacles, I'd never get one if I was going to go off road with it in any serious manner. The drive ability was poor, the control was about 1/2 the auto's. It was kinda scary to spot and the clutch would heat up and smell on really technical areas, even to the point he had to pass some areas while letting the clutch cool. So. I say AT all the way! No question. I also drive a stick all day everyday, but for a 4X4, AT! MC

 

[kokopop]

After ECXC and seeing an MT work through the obstacles, I'd never get one if I was going to go off road with it in any serious manner. The drive ability was poor, the control was about 1/2 the auto's. It was kinda scary to spot and the clutch would heat up and smell on really technical areas, even to the point he had to pass some areas while letting the clutch cool. So. I say AT all the way! No question. I also drive a stick all day everyday, but for a 4X4, AT! MC

MC was that a next gen? I would have to say that the gearing is really low in the Next Gen with an MT . I pretty much leave it in 4Lo, 1st gear and go. I rarely use the clutch. The only times I am heavy on the clutch is when I start getting a little uncomfortable. But know I am starting to figure it out. I have only smelled my clutch on 2 occansions.

On a side note there was a trail run last year where an 03 only got about 500 yards up the trail before he fried his clutch. The issue was he was in 4-Hi and really rode the clutch. The key is use 4LO.

 

[Glucola]

Plus remember that you got that hill assist feature and the clutch cancel feature as well.

 

[JIMBO]

Hi all,

I'm waffling on what transmission to get on an OR. For years, I've loved having a MT. I currently have a MT 04 Maxima. I like the control you have in a MT vehicle. Now, I've driven the MT X and not the Auto yet. I'll do that when I actually go to order it (when my lease is up on the Maxima).

Here's my struggle.. I'm going to keep this truck for years. It will be my toy to mod and enjoy. At least for the first 5 years, it will be my primary vehicle. Most of my work commute has it's fair share of stop and go travel. I recall my MT 2000 X as being a pain to clutch in stop and go. Plus, I'm getting old... will I want to shift 5-10 years from now? Are the bennifits of the MT I'm not aware of? Anyone wish they got an Auto instead of an MT? Will my colostomy bag fit with me in the X when I'm older? Why dose male patern baldness have to be hereditary? :chug:

I could use some opinions/thoughts.... Thanks to all who brave...

 

[JIMBO]

:clown: --Hey, sorry abouit the last post but my total recording wasn't copied---JIMBO

 

[JIMBO]

:clown:--Ok , now a little more time--

---Auto's are gentle/forgiving/allow 1 foot driving--A real requirement for TOWING

---Beginning/moderate off-roader's they are a godsend

---Sticks are Solid/direct/can be towed easy/can be pushed to start, when alone will allow you to start with dead battery--

---Strictkly personal choice, but if you THINK you're going to TOW--get an AUTO--

--- :cheers: --JIMBO

 

[kokopop]

Plus remember that you got that hill assist feature and the clutch cancel feature as well.

Hill assist is only for X's with an AT.

Not really sure how to use clutch cancel.

I have not problems towing with my MT. Both AT and MT are rated the same. I can easily tow my father's 22 ft. Sailboat.

 

[JIMBO]

Yo Koko-Clutch cancel allows you to RESTART your engine (in 4lo) WITHOUT using the clutch. You can keep your left foot on the brake without interuption, you just have to be in 4lo 1st gear. I've used it once, on red clay just to try it out, kinda neat-- :cheers: --JIMBO

 

[lj1983]

all it does it revert the x back to older manual tranny days...when if you turned the starter with the truck in gear, w/o the clutch the starter motor would actually push you forward alittle.

no need to bein 4lo or anything. it's something alot of people put in their trucks when they started putting a sensor which disabled the starter system when the cluth is let out.