A man will tell you the stick is the way to go. Must be a testosterone thing cuz I prefer automatic. I like to gab on the phone (the haters are gonna have a field day with that one) and drink coffee and channel surf...... I do have a friend however who has a manual 4runner and she can drive one handed as she has mastered using her knee to steer when she shifts.... I'd wreck. So I stick with automatic....