I would go with a standard transmission if I was buying a 4 cyl.

 

Okay...over the years I have had 6 Toyota pickups for company pickups. They have ranged from Tacomas, T-100s & lastly a Tundra. They were all used for construction and were all high milers. Our company policy was that you replaced your truck at 300,000km (whether you wanted to or not). No complaints with any of the trucks. They all performed near flawlessly over the years and aside from routine maintenance and the abuse that they were subjected to there was no major work required other than brakes, exhausts, oil changes, etc - never any motor work. I remember when I traded the last Tacoma on the Tundra...287,000km...the salesman took the truck for a test ride & was gone a real long time. Upon his return I asked what took him so long and he explained that he had been driving over progressively worse dirt roads trying to find a rattle in the truck. Basically they cleaned it up and put it on the lot the next day. I should explain that the company I spent 20 years with owned a bunch of car dealerships but it was always Toyota for construction use.

Now the flip side...

I now work for a company where I have to have my own vehicle - no travel involved. I went out & bought the cheapest new truck I could find - 05 Ranger, std shift, 2wd, 3.0V6. Boy do I wish I had sprung for another Toyota. While there is nothing wrong with the truck it just plain sucks - hard on gas, uncomfortable, has a hard time towing 1 quad at h/way speeds, just uninspiring. But then again it is a very dependable machine with a rock solid motor & drivetrain.

Anyway man if you can find yourself a Tacoma, T-100 or Tundra in your price range - buy it cuz you won't be disappointed.