Manual transmission Fan Club and BS thread (All Generations Welcome)

And as someone (somewhere else on this thread) observed, this 'vanishing manual' thing is an American thing. I have relatives in South Africa, and when I tell them it's hard to find stick shifts (on any vehicle) in the states, they look at me like I'm crazy. Last time I was there I drove around in my brother-in-law's Renault Clio, a little hatchback with a turbo charged 1.4 litre and 6-speed manual. Too much fun!

But I'm off-topic...

 

True. But it's not the just the consumers that are the problem. The industry itself is screwing it all up. There is actually more demand for manuals in the USA than the industry top people are deciding to market. So, what happens is that you get consumers that are "on the fence", and the only available choice is automatic, so they buy that. Me personally, if you don't have a manual available, I'm not buying your dang car.

 

I got this truck just because it's one of the few that you can still get a stick with.

 

And yet... when it comes to 4x2 trucks, Tacoma is available auto trans only, while the Frontier and the GM twins both offer sticks. I know a lot of you guys don't think a 4x2 is a serious truck, but so far I haven't been willing to sacrifice a few MPG to go 4x4.

So, why don't automakers offer more sticks in the US? Is it perception of better gas mileage with A/T now? (I'm not convinced.) Is it just that it's cheaper for them to offer fewer options? Harder for dealers to sell used sticks? It really is a bit of a puzzle...

 

They're just shaping the market. People lean towards automatics, so the marketing in the US is all done to shape it. Convert the few that are on the fence over to automatics until that's all the remains. That's my theory.

 

Does anyone else just skip third and fifth gear? I'm new to m/t trucks and it seems weird but feels right to not use these gears.

 

Sometimes

 

I skip 5 upshifting ando either 5 or 4 downshifting.

 

Agreed. I think the automakers have done the same thing with crew cab short beds. 20 years ago a truck with a 5 foot bed would have been laughed at, now its 60% of the market. They tell us what we want instead of the other way around.

 

You can. I used to skip 5th all the time on my 2013 V6 and my 2011 Miata. However, and don't quote me, apparently on some cars it can supposedly cause more wear on the syncros. Apparently it has to do with the the fact that the syncros are expecting the near gear up and were "synchronized" for that. Skipping a gear on upshifts throws that off. Supposedly it's not a problem when downshifting. Again, don't quote me but I've read that here and there.

 

Precisely! It takes time, but they mold the market. I drive a lot of cars in my line of work. Often supercars. Every time I jump into a PDK Porsche I'm like, "ugh." The only exception is the Ferrari 458. I truly love that car whether it has a stick or not. The other day I got to drive a 458 Speciale and a 458 Spider the same day, for a photoshoot, and I didn't mind the paddle shifters one bit. Those I don't complain. But give me the choice between a 997 GT3 with a stick and a 991 GT3 and I'll take the 997 every day -- Even though the 991 is a much more sorted car.

 

I forgot to ask... where did you get the shift knob from? Is that the limited edition FJ knob that is super rare or something else?

 

An old F250 Diesel I have driven that belongs to my inlaws has a heck of a timer getting into first, I blame them for always starting out in second. My wifes old ranger had some problems getting into second and I think it's because the wife would always go from 1 to 3.

 

^^^ Ah see, maybe there's some truth to what I said after all. I mean, it makes sense. I personally don't fully understand how syncros work, but I do know what they do, so it makes sense.

 

Disclaimer, "I am not a mechanic".

 

I have a 2015 TRD Pro Supercharged Inferno 6spd and I love the manual!

I have had many, many toyotas. Only 2 were auto a 94 4runner and 2012 Tacoma and i hated both!

I will drive this 2015 until theres nothing left!

The 2nd gen 6 spd has its quirks but its really an excellent setup for towing. Reverse gearing is my only real complaint with the 6spd as its way too tall.

 

Agreed. And I am just one that prefers the manual.

Probably ny slightly controlling nature.

 

I also enjoy it partly because of my slightly controlling nature. The other part of me loves the reliability of them. I always laugh when I see threads about my transmission has weird shift points, or it shifts a lot in cruise control. Then I laugh even harder when I hear about all the coolers and whatnot they put on them to try to get them to last as long as the rest of truck. Then they chime in on manual discussions saying the modern auto is "stronger" than a manual.

Another small bonus, manual transmissions are an anti theft device.

 

I like manuals because driving one drives the girls crazy....

 

Every woman likes a man who can drive a stick.. lol