Was yours a NISMO or Pro-4x? It obviously wasn’t purchased in the current over-heated market, which then further over-heated by anything off-road oriented. I would not be happy paying $14.8k USD for this, but I don't think it is totally insane given the market. 

I feel like there is enough poor or mis-information in your post that have to respond.

My 2010 Xterra Off-Road (proto-pro4x) with the 6spd is 14.5 mostly town every fill up. Freeway only it’s 16.5 pretty much whatever I do. I saw 17.5 once. At least it’s consistent.

I like the thinking in your last sentence (and overall agree with your assessment).

It’s not said, but I inferred it from reading the article. Also, what kind of company in 2020 would allow this at speed?

You’ve seen donuts, and it’s not as easy as one might think to a vehicle spin around it’s front axle from a dead stop. Especially a 3 ton AWD SUV. This seems to use the brakes and I’m guessing eDiff and maybe torque split to make someone look like a donut god.

If this is a crossover (as stated by the author in the first paragraph) I’m a 14 year old Olympic gymnast.

But the Toyota drives boring. The Mazda does not. Also, you are wrong.

More like a kidney punch, amiright?

Yeah, exactly, copper still has the lowest resistance.

Thank you for being a voice of common sense. 

Pre-Purchase Inspection (or something like that).

You deserve all the stars!

Exactly. Which is why all the cheap and excellent auto Seikos out there are huge missed opportunity on this list.

Negative, Mazda 323/familia

I daily a skx007j. It’s a classic, has an ISO rating, true provenance, takes a stupid beating, is reasonably accurate, and can be dressed up or down, all for about $200.

Oh yeah, bring that back. Seeexxy.

Why is this post full of photos of tube-frame Trans Am cars if you are arguing for the use of factory chassises? ...chassiss?...damnit *googles it* Oh the plural of chassis is chassis.

If you’re doing car camping/overlanding, the manual has some advantages. Simplicity and the ability to push start the vehicle. In the case of this Trooper, the auto is actually a weak link in these. The manual is much more reliable.

So this post is a few days old, but the answer to your question is no. It’s actually a much better trans than the auto. The auto was a weak spot on these vehicles.