Hello everyone! I'm about to be a owner of a 2008 Off Road Xterra. I'm hoping you all could give me some thoughts on manual vs auto. I enjoy driving a manual in general but I'm curious if anyone has any feedback with Xterras specificly (like is a stick a must have or the Auto is kick ass etc.) I live in the San Francisco Bay area so traffic and parking on hills is a reality. Any opinions out there? Let me know.

i have a 2000 se auto and i love it..... but i also like the way a stick shift too, just at the time that i bought mine i couldnt find one....... oh and welcome to the club

I have never driven a stick Second Gen (2005 -2008), but if you plan on doing any offroading, then you'll probably be happier with the Auto.

I have both, and I prefer the stick, but it does get annoying when rock crawling, unless you particularly enjoy the aroma of burnt clutch.

i have done both as well, and i much prefer manual, but then again, my manual rig weighs NOTHING and we dont have rocks here, just pine trees and mud

Thanx everyone for the fast reply. Trying to make up my mind this week as the Off Road Models are going fast. Keep the comments coming!

I have never driven a stick Second Gen (2005 -2008), but if you plan on doing any offroading, then you'll probably be happier with the Auto.

I have both, and I prefer the stick, but it does get annoying when rock crawling, unless you particularly enjoy the aroma of burnt clutch.
X2. I have always had a stick untill now. Wheeling an auto is so much better. I will never go back.

I was always under the impression that stick was better for everything but negotiating rushour in the city. But I have an auto and did some good "roading" last week without a hitch. I do believe mudding is bad if you have an auto because the mud can insulate your transmission and make it overheat.

Any mudders out there to confirm that?

never had a prob with the tranny oating with mud and getting hot, now the radiator on the other hand....

The nice thing w/the first gen Auto trans is that it has a trans cooler too. I don't know about 2005+ trucks though.

Thanx again guys. Just want as much info as I can get so I'm confident I make the most informed buy. The fun factor of a stick is a huge consideration but the reality is that the truck won't hit the trails more than 2 days a week and I'll be commuting 5 days a week. Anthony brought up a good point regarding the ratios and skill needed to traverse ruff terrain in a stick and the ease of use of the auto. Wondering if the Off Road models hill descent and climb futures make a stick less nessacesary on the trail. If so, is a manual tranny just personal preference? Seems like nobody is disliking the auto except for the guys that won't drive anything else but a manual in any automobile. I know it sounds chessy, but the Auto also comes in the color and package I'm into. Wanna make sure I won't regret getting a stick on this 4X4.

I'll add ONE more thing... I LOVE having the manual trans on hill descents... 4lo and 1st gear, and the truck just crawls down hills without needing to use the brakes.

Here are the times that the manual trans becomes a chore when Wheeling:

1. Starting moving again after stopping on a hill (going up OR down -- actually starting from a stop on a downhill is harder since the truck wants to start rolling).
2. Rock crawling (constantly slipping the clutch to avoid stalling, jerking, or slamming into things).
3. Smoking a cigar (unless i grow a third hand... I can't steer, shift, and smoke at the same time)
4. Towing a stuck truck out.