MT owners, would you still buy a Tacoma if the MT weren't available?

I'd still buy a Tacoma if they were just automatic. Still a great truck. But that said, I searched long and hard on the net for a manual. My salesman told me "This is a rare truck. I don't think I've even seen another 6-speed double cab sport this year." I drove an auto over to their other lot to find my truck, and I like mine a lot better. The auto feels "numb" to me, if that makes sense. But it all depends on what you need. If I commuted in stop-and-go traffic I'd buy an auto. Since I don't I opted for the fun.

 

I love an automatic transmission..shifting is fun for a while but if you get caught up in highway traffic like I do everyday a manual is a pain. I don't think thats why I am fat though and I know I am not lazy

 

I wouldnt have bought my Tacoma if it were a Auto only! i hate driving a auto for my daily driver, it would still be a nice truck just not my nice truck!!!

 

Yeah, I don't know what it's like now, but when I was looking in 2007, I actually didn't have a hard time finding manual transmission Tacomas. I found my truck spur of the moment on the lot in fact, with everything exactly the way I wanted it.

 

Like above. I like the manual in a car, my nsx, and a automatic in the truck, easier for crawling.

 

No

Its manual transmission or another vehicle/brand that offers one. I was given a rental V6 auto Tacoma when my '09 was in the shop. IMO it was dull as could be. IMO automatics take so much away from driving that it reduces the whole thing to just being transportation.

 

Purchased 2011 Tacoma 4X4 with Off Road Package. Very dissapointed in vehicle, not true 4X4 as advertised! To many gadgets and automated devices in automatic version. With limited slip this and ATRAC that, nothing more than a 2WD with limited slip. Sounds good but does not come close to my 1989 Toyota Extra Cab. 5 Speed Manual, gets me everywhere off road I could want to go, without fear of any of 50 electronic sensors failing. Wife wanted to trade in the '89 and I declined. Glad that I did as they are hard to come by these days. '89 is either in 2WD, pull a lever (on the fly) and roll into 4WD High. Throttle is always there when you need it, flat, mud, uphill, downhill, whatever. 4WD Low will about climb straight up a wall. 2011 Tacoma is a beautiful truck but not designed for a hard core 4 wheeler. Way to many electronics and limitations for me. It makes a great, drive around town vehicle but I have my doubts on the off roading with it. Just my two cents on the 2011 Tacoma, advertised as a 4X4.

 

Thanks for refreshing this old chestnut, Rtorella!

I'll play devil's advocate and gently suggest that your disappointment in your 2011 Tacoma sounds more like a whine against electronics and computerization and modernity than any kind of genuine problem.

Complaining that the electronic and software enhancements in the new Tacomas turns it into "nothing more than a 2WD with limited slip" suggests to me you don't understand what you have, or how you use it. (I'll certainly admit that Toyota has been less than clear on the different traction features, how they're accessed, and how they are different from each other).

How, exactly, has your 11 truck failed you? What is it that your 89 truck will do - in practice, not in your head - that your 11 truck won't?

I had an 89 as well (4WD standard cab). And then a 97 (4WD extended cab). Both great trucks - put over 300,000 miles on each of them.

But notwithstanding all the new whizbang electronics, my 2010 seems likewise a great truck!

 

Sounds like you should have got a sport. I have absolutely no traction control junk on mine only downside is no locker, but it can be fixed if I cared.

I was a big manual tranny guy before I got this truck, but honestly, the shift points are pretty damn close to where I would normally shift, so it doesn't bother me, plus the trucks got balls so it isn't that bad taking off in a taller gear, should you need a shorter one.

 

My dad had an 89 and it was a great truck. To compare the 4WD system in that to the one in my 09 is crazy. I remember the 89 could do lots of things .. but I also remember it sucked on any ice or in snow over ice. Two wheels spinning won't get you much there. I don't remember it having a locker of any sort, just turn the hubs and go.

You could flip the switch to 4H in your truck and be done with it. Assuming similar approach and tire the new truck should be able to go anywhere the old one went. The difference is if you RTFM, ask some questions, and be willing to learn a little it might just take you farther if you use ATrac or the locker.

 

I read this again and again. I think you accidentally bought a 2WD Pre-Runner TRD Off-Road, instead of a 4x4.

Bummer, dude. If it's still got less than a hundred miles on it, maybe you can still make some kind of swap arrangment with the dealer for a 4x4.

 

^^^no way..really?

 

Read what he wrote. You tell me?

 

yeah sounds like to me the "offroad" stickers led him to think it was a 4x4.

i specifically wanted a manual trans, would have probably considered others instead of being deadset on a taco

 

I wanted a MT in the tacoma. They are very rare in my area and the ones that are available are out of my price range. I guess Ill stick to my auto for now

I loved my 5 speed in the Gen2 4Runner though.

 

Every Vehicle I have owned has been a manual tranny, I also drive big rigs, I can say this is my first automatic and im enjoying it so much..... I dont miss shifting a manual, it had purpose in some of my past vehicles but for this truck, I will put a valve body upgrade on it and maybe a art carr shifter when the time comes but still its an auto...

 

Oh shit i thought this thread was about Montana Owners! Derp!

 

I saw a lot people saying how rare mt's are and I agree could not find one locally drove from Charlotte NC to Kingsport TN a distance of 227 miles the next closest one was in Atlanta GA.

 

Ironic that this thread was resurrected. I forgot I ever posted this.

I just traded in my 2007 MT for a 2015 auto a month ago.

 

Back in 2009 I was debating between a MT jeep wrangler Rubicon or a Tacoma 4x4 DCSB OR. I went with the Jeep for its 4:1 T-case plus a few other reasons and I was also wheeling a lot at the time. If the tacoma had a lower ratio T-case I might of reconsidered.
Now I have both vehicles but got an auto in the tacoma.

Jeeps had tuners to fix the the funky drive by wire delays. Not sure about Tacomas.