Does any other auto tranny Yaris owner regret not getting the MT?

[NZ-FE Vios]

Originally Posted by daf62757

I would say that my comment is based upon almost 40 years of experience as a driver and my experience as a motor pool officer in the Army. AT's rarely need any maintenance until well over the 100K miles. Most manuals need to have a clutch replacement somewhere near the 50 to 60K mile mark. You might be correct that the driver's ability to use the clutch has a significant impact on the length of longevity, but on average, the AT will last longer and cost less in maintenance. Also, the AT raises the value of the vehicle when it comes to resell.

In the end, its all relative to what you think and believe. You obviously have a different opinion as do I. In our own worlds, we can both be correct!

Very interesting. As Americans AT definitely does help resale value (automatic is an optional extra, creating greater initial cost and value). I know some 50somethings that have never driven MT, I'm glad you have.

As a Motor Pool Officer, what did you do specifically and what do U.S. Army motor pool consist of? What do they buy in MT? Do you think that the MTs would be especially dogged due to having many drivers (and ones that don't regularly drive MT) or are most vehicles assigned to one driver for most of its use? Do you think a Motor Pool Officer in a European Countries' Army would say the opposite (conjecture, but due to Europeans buying mainly MT)?

As for maintenance, yea I'd rather pull a dipstick and check ATF in comparison to the unbolting check bolt and fingering gearbox, anyday.

What do you think about higher end cars (mercedes-benz, etc) that have the MT as an optional extra?

I appreciate your position and insights as I've never had correspondence with someone who worked with pools of motors. Cheers

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by NZ-FE Vios

Very interesting. As Americans AT definitely does help resale value (automatic is an optional extra, creating greater initial cost and value). I know some 50somethings that have never driven MT, I'm glad you have.

As a Motor Pool Officer, what did you do specifically and what do U.S. Army motor pool consist of? What do they buy in MT? Do you think that the MTs would be especially dogged due to having many drivers (and ones that don't regularly drive MT) or are most vehicles assigned to one driver for most of its use? Do you think a Motor Pool Officer in a European Countries' Army would say the opposite (conjecture, but due to Europeans buying mainly MT)?

You supervise the motor pool mechanics and get your ass chewed out for everything that goes wrong! My MP Company had tactical vehicles (M151-A2s) that were MT. We also had Ford Topaz and Chevy Blazer/pickups for patrol cars. Later on, before I got out, we got some Ford Crown Vics. The MTs had to constantly be rebuilt. I don't know if its fair to compare the M151-A2's tranny to a commercial tranny. They were constantly being rebuilt by kids who were hardly 18. The commercial vehicles usually had no problems but back when GM went over to the first 4 speed auto tranny, the 4th gear would burn out. The other 3 would still work. The tactical vehicles usually had the same 3 people driving. The Commercial vehicles never had the same driver.

Can't say what another country's military experience with transmissions would be. People are usually the same no matter where you go. Kids usually are drivers in the military do the experienced MT operators would not come into play.

As for maintenance, yea I'd rather pull a dipstick and check ATF in comparison to the unbolting check bolt and fingering gearbox, anyday.

What do you think about higher end cars (mercedes-benz, etc) that have the MT as an optional extra?

Never have drive one so can't say. My only experience is with American cars....oh yea, and POS VW Rabbit back in the early 80s.

I appreciate your position and insights as I've never had correspondence with someone who worked with pools of motors. Cheers

As a Motor Pool Officer, what did you do specifically and what do U.S. Army motor pool consist of? What do they buy in MT? Do you think that the MTs would be especially dogged due to having many drivers (and ones that don't regularly drive MT) or are most vehicles assigned to one driver for most of its use? Do you think a Motor Pool Officer in a European Countries' Army would say the opposite (conjecture, but due to Europeans buying mainly MT)?

As for maintenance, yea I'd rather pull a dipstick and check ATF in comparison to the unbolting check bolt and fingering gearbox, anyday.

What do you think about higher end cars (mercedes-benz, etc) that have the MT as an optional extra?

I appreciate your position and insights as I've never had correspondence with someone who worked with pools of motors. Cheers

[Deathegg]

I will say that if I move back to SoCal, with the many freeways and bad traffic, I will regret it, and will have to get something with an auto. However here in Pittsburgh, MT is the way to go. I just hate the artificial feel of the gas pedal and the slight increase in RPM's I get as I shift. Annoying. Other than that, I'm getting 39 mpg, so I'm happy. :)

[Yaristeve]

Originally Posted by Deathegg

I will say that if I move back to SoCal, with the many freeways and bad traffic, I will regret it, and will have to get something with an auto. However here in Pittsburgh, MT is the way to go. I just hate the artificial feel of the gas pedal and the slight increase in RPM's I get as I shift. Annoying. Other than that, I'm getting 39 mpg, so I'm happy. :)

Before you pre-determine that you wouldn't like an MT in SoCal, you should try it for a while. Once you learn to feather the gas and time your shifting/accelerating, you may find that using an MT in SoCal traffic is actually less tiring than an AT. I do; I can't stand driving an AT in LA traffic.

I think the ONLY place I would not want an MT is the hilly streets of San Francisco; my guess is that clutches don't last long there unless you have a car with "hill-holder" type automatic brakes like Subaru used to have. Even then, who knows? One may get used to commuting with an MT there as well...

[Deathegg]

Originally Posted by Yaristeve

Before you pre-determine that you wouldn't like an MT in SoCal, you should try it for a while. Once you learn to feather the gas and time your shifting/accelerating, you may find that using an MT in SoCal traffic is actually less tiring than an AT. I do; I can't stand driving an AT in LA traffic.

I think the ONLY place I would not want an MT is the hilly streets of San Francisco; my guess is that clutches don't last long there unless you have a car with "hill-holder" type automatic brakes like Subaru used to have. Even then, who knows? One may get used to commuting with an MT there as well...

I'm not pre-determining,,, I speak from having lived in SoCal from '05 to '09. I had my Festiva at the time, with a 4-speed, and thankfully I didn't go near LA very often. When I did, I had a long drive coming home to Riverside. However IF I move back, I'll have to live with the m/t and see how I like it. I don't generally like auto's, they never shift when I think they should, and driving is less fun. As I said the main thing about my Yaris is that weird-feeling gas pedal, but I see there's a fix for that.

As for hills: no problem for me, as I live in Pittsburgh, which is nothing but hills, and am used to it. The clutch in the Festiva was never changed and had 226k on it when I sold it, still working great. Having to traverse hills doesn't automatically mean the clutch won't last long; it's all how you use it. :)

[krolos]

I love my Auto , the Yaris Auto transmission really performs very
well ,responsive and smooth.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by krolos

I love my Auto , the Yaris Auto transmission really performs very
well ,responsive and smooth.

Amen!

[fj40dave]

Originally Posted by krolos

I love my Auto , the Yaris Auto transmission really performs very
well ,responsive and smooth.

Me too