Manual transmissions future

Lets see the ratios.

 

Kyle, may all your future motorcycles be only available in the US with an automatic transmission.

If GM was really interested in filling a niche market for more sales, they'd get rid of that way too low air dam on the current Z71 package. Instead they have kept it there even on an their off-road to appease to the EPA regulators.

Kudos to Toyota for spending the time and money to offer a couple of manual options on the 2016 Tacoma. Each engine and transmission combo has to go through an EPA certification process, which is not cheap. I don't know the take rate on manual transmission on Tacomas in the US, but I'll bet dollars to donuts it is less than 5%.

I'm glad that I got mine as they were clearing out the 2015 models just 6 weeks ago.

 

The days where manuals ruled the roost off road is long over and it'll never come back.

They don't offer most of the traction controls, terrain modes with manuals and if designed properly, they leave manuals in the dust.

I've had more manuals then autos but even I can see that the manual transmissions day in the sun has waned and will never return.

I have very little good to say about Toyota's 6 speed manual transmission, it was a poor design with clutch and throwout bearing problems that Toyota refused to rectify.

 

I know that demand is at least high enough that when I ordered mine, other Toyota dealerships were calling my dealership trying to trade for it.

I don't see them flat out getting rid of it before a body style change, but they may limit the trim levels it appears in. Honda has always been good about manual options, and when I got my accord I was really excited to get an exl. But that year they had gotten rid of it in that trim so I had to get cloth instead

 

As much as I like a manual, Once the autos started getting better mileage, and I got older, I have found ATs very nice, though I totally wouldn't be hurt if everything was manual again. I think Toyota will still make them as the demand is enough that people are 'ordering' them which is probably more than they plan for.

Whoever said you get better mileage on the MT is just not correct. You can't beat a computer at this game. You might be able to contrive a situation where the MT wins, but tank-to-tank avg on normal roads going the same general speeds, the newer ATs win simply because the computer is doing the optimization. Is it as peppy, responsive, or fun? not a chance.

 

Logic and reason as you and I know them do not apply to companies on this scale.

If you require proof of this, read up on Volkswagon emission issues as of late.

 

Rowing through the gears is a blast in a 400-500hp garage queen sports car.
As a DD pickup truck. No thanks.

 

Simple answer, 2 speed rear diff. Now you have your gears for the city, and when you're on the highway you flip the switch to get rid of the gear reduction and you have a great high range.

 

Does anybody think Toyota will release a basic Tacoma with Access cab, V6 and Manual Transmission?

 

You missed my point completely. Both Z71 and Trail Boss packages on GM's Colorado are not supposed to be a boulevard queens. GM isn't interested in serving a niche market that makes forays onto BLM and Forrest Service roads. Toyota on the other hand seems to offer a better sorted off-road package than GM.

To each his or her own. The availability of a well sorted manual transmission option, (even if it is dated), is what led me to pull the trigger on a new Tacoma.

 

I'm honestly surprised old school manual transmissions are still offered at all. Almost nobody wants them anymore (at least in the US), and if you really want one, many cars still have it in the form of sport shifting.

 

There's just no feel like working the clutch and shifting through the gears, simply moving a gear selector to limit the trans isn't enough.

 

If their "new" 6 speed is anything like the 6 speed 2nd gens had, you can keep that POS...

 

I'm not saying it feels exactly the same. The functionality is close enough, though, that it surprises me the old style manuals are still offered for the very few who want them.

 

Maybe if you are on the highway the functionality is similar. For off road 4-wheel travel no sport mode can compare to direct gear driven control of RPMs and speed. If you think so you have not driven a manual trans for a lot of years.

I guess we will see. It was encouraging that the tranny is one of the few "new " things on this truck. Time will tell if it is better or not.

 

Mitsubishi [Dodge Colt/Plymouth Champ] had a ''power'' or ''economy'' lever you could pull that changed the gear ratio. That was in the early 80s I believe.

 

I wish I had gotten a manual, but my wife can't drive one and couldn't drive my past trucks because of this.
All my trucks have been manuals except for one that it was not an option.

 

I knew I wasn't wasting time on you.....THAT, is a good idea.......my old dump truck had a 2 speed for just that kind of thing...

 

That would be great if they were not ginormous .


That 6 speed would essentially be 12 splitting gears.

 

Only huge because of application (6 ton dumps & up) I'm sure it could be sized down...