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

Drove bunches of old granny low 4 speeds in Fords n Chevrolets, sloppy by todays standards but still shifted fine.

Then I had a '74 Camaro with a Muncie and thought it was tight as hell, that thing was complete slop compared to this Taco tranny.

 

Yes! Manual Transmission ftw!

 

ive been driving my MT for 2 weeks and thoroughly enjoy it. after having a automatic for 10 years its nice to go back to manual.

 

I got a MT as well, I did not go out of buy one but was able to save money over the auto.

 

Makes the hit of going with tech/premium a bit easier!!

 

I did it to reduce the overall price.

 

I would've paid more than auto for manual, you two are only half blood fan club members.

 

(to the would've paid more for the MT part... never ever would have bought an AT or would even own one)

 

I am not doing it to save. It does that on its own, just a benefit.

 

Back in the late 1980's, my friends always told me to never consider an automatic Toyota pickup because they were already massively underpowered... But I guess that was the 20R and 22RE days.

I love my manual transmission, but I think my next will be an auto, just because I am getting old haha. This is assuming I will have to buy another one before I pass, I hope so, I like being alive

 

My average operating altitude here is 9,000' (condo at 6985' house at 9318', two passes of nearly 11,000' in between). That means I'm losing about 75bhp just to elevation. Not really interested in giving up another 25bhp to an automatic. My other vehicles are manuals as well, KTM 990 and a VW Westy camper with a Subaru engine. After 50+ years of driving manuals on the highway, I appreciate the efficiency and control offered.

 

as i get older my need for driving engagement increases. just hoping i can find an MT when i need one. hopefully another 40 years driving if I'm lucky.

 

Don't get me wrong I am a fan of MT, have only owned 2 AT vehicles.

MT is a pita in the city.

 

When I first saw my 98 4x4 with a manual that did it for me. I feel more connected to the driving experience. I prefer manuals in all conditions. Growing up with motorcycles might of helped that. Plus - it's a good theft deterrent. Manual trans are coming somewhat a thing of the past.

 

I agree with all you manual tranny guys and gals. Driving a stick is a blast and you really feel in control of the vehicles. The 2016 Tacoma TRD sport I drive has a six speed manual. It's a smoother ride than the equivalent automatic that I had as a loaner for one day. It was boring and constantly shifting up and down. It is in sixth too soon even when you see a wall of stopped traffic ahead and know you will be braking soon and here you are in sixth. The manual I have is a slow shifter with long clutch travel but allows a smooth transition between gears. Due to its weight and my shifting habits of shifting at less than 3500 rpm plus the weight of the vehicle which absorbs the up of down push or pull when shifted it is a very smooth undetectable transition between manual gears. In fact both 5 th and 6 th are very close overdrive gears that barely are noticeable shifts. I've owned sported up little Japanese rice rockets with manuals in the past and usually shifted at high rpm. Between the high rpm shifting and light weight of the vehicles my passengers were always being pressed back into the seats or lurching forward on down shifts. Not on the Tacoma. I've only had to wind it up to 4600 rpm once to pass quickly. It scared my wife. My Tacoma with 268 hp isn't super fast but it's powerful. I climb these Connecticut hills easily in 3 Rd and can feel plenty of power left. I've driven manuals only for 29 years, have a class 1 CDL with every endorsement and ride my original 1988 Harley superglide to this day. I'm 67. Love manual shifts. If the truck manufacturers produced more manuals they'd really increase sales. It was hard for me to locate mine here in Connecticut. I hope to trade mine for a 2020 model exactly the same in every way if Toyota still offers the manual. I personally don't like diesels so I'll take this 3.5 liter v6 again. Do hope they can improve the power and get better mpg by then. Dannyblues

 

Do you guys get a clunk sometimes going in first from a stop with clutch fully depressed?

I'm getting that sometimes.

I like manual overall though. The auto was really laggy.

 

Also shifted very smooth without the clutch. Important to me as I rarely use it when I get going, just coast to a stop out of gear if stopping or roll it into appropriate gear w/o clutch to get going again if I am not coming to a complete stop.

 

Half bloods lol I love it! Hahahaha

 

I find my Tacoma manual will grind a bit if I'm not at a full stop or damn near full. First isn't synchronized so down shifting into it requires slowing to near zero. I sometimes downshift into second and will even keep it there as I come to a stop sign for what my state police friend calls a "rolling stop". At even five mph I can pull away in second without holding up the traffic behind me as I'd have to come to a complete stop and shift into first before starting. This I only do at stop signs that offer a complete view up and down all sides of the intersection on lightly traveled back roads here in litchfield hills area of western Connecticut. It's illegal technically but I do it so fast it's barely perceptible I didn't stop, pause before starting. By the way those of us who watch the stop lights from the side look for the opposite side traffic lane light to go red before our lane stoplight turns from red to green. The state police call that sweet maneuver " anticipating the green". It's like the Christmas tree lights at the drag strip for those of us who like speed. But now at 67 I'm like the other older gentleman who is more conservative. On this thread I noticed some who purchased the manual just to save money and other Rd like me who would have paid more just not to have an automatic. The bonus is I got my manual and saved money on the purchase. Others too posted they bought the manual for better mpg savings. However the manufacturers facts are that the automatics actually get better mpg than the manuals which I find hard to believe. For sure we manual fans enjoy longer brake pad life because we control the vehicle and can anticipate hills, slow curves or stopped traffic ahead and just leave the truck in a lower gear or downshift plus using second gear here for me as I begin downhill along a long steep curve at 15 mph just outside my driveway in a 30 mph zone allows me to stay off the brakes and use engine compression to slowly increase my speed only up to the posted 30 mph. Of course the drivers behind me don't appreciate me. This is an interesting thread and I've enjoyed all the pro and con posts. Thank you all. Dannyblues

 

First thing my salesman asked when we were walking to the truck yesterday was, "Now you do know how to drive a manual right?"

Just chuckled and said yes. I guess I should have asked if he knew anything about a 3 on the tree or twin stick shifting!!

He said it's amazing how many want a manual but cannot drive one.