2018 Tacoma TRD Sport Manual - First Impressions driving

Exactly, I love the size, not too big and not too small.

 

Welcome... scrolled past your novel and straight to the picture of your truck... nice ride

 

I legit laughed out loud at this haha

I real the whole thing. MT is the way to go. Another believer!

 

Hi everyone! Thanks for welcoming me into the forum and reading my post. They are just first impressions and my complaints in no way takes away from the fact I love my Tacoma. I will get used to the hood scoop (cosmetic part, visibility issue is my main concern). I appreciate offers to swap, but I'm not ready for that yet. Thanks though. And thanks St. Germain and others for the OV tune suggestion, I will look into it. I'm a college professor, so I'm not about to go drag racing with the neighborhood kids. But I just notice a difference with my '14 O/R. I also agree Shakerhood - I was surprised to see both the Sport and OR priced the same. It looks like there are multiple versions of the Sport too. Not sure about others but mine did not come with blind spot sensor along with the other TSS lineup. And the skid plate is half the size of the OR. Getting a M/T in the US - at least here in Massachusetts - is not impossible but it takes work. Rare to walk into a dealer lot and find a DCSB M/T sitting there. But my dealer was awesome because somehow overnight they got it for me. See all of you around. Cheers.

 

These new motors produce all their torque at high RPM, whereas the 4.0 had high torque at low RPM. When you're in you '18, run up a highway onramp in 3rd or 4th and gun it... at 3000rpm it'll push you into the seat... at 3500 it'll push you again... and at 4000 you'll be glued in.

I, for one, love the higher-end torque curve because I can pull a trailer or heavy load in a higher gear at a higher speed and lower RPM than my '11. But you're right, sometimes taking off from a stoplight makes me feel like Pa Kettle.

 

I just felt that sensation the other day merging onto an on ramp and having to merge into a convoy of semis. Mind you, I didn’t stomp on the pedal, as I had a bit of a stretch to get ahead of them to merge on. I was blown away at the performance up top. It can be real quick.

I have an auto, though. I have not experienced any hunting of gears or lack of power down low. I’m enjoying this power train a hell of a lot more compared to my previous three 4.0’s And the first 4.0 was in a PreRunner, access cab. That truck was quick also. But to get the driving experience I’m getting with the ‘18, I’d have to stomp on the gas some to get it to downshift to get that performance boost. The 3.5 is a sweet motor for city driving. I don’t use the ECT for city driving as I found out I’m having to let off the gas too frequent. It’s up on rear bumpers rather quickly. It’s perfect in default mode, most particularly out of a corner.

Having been an ‘08 and ‘12 OR owner and now to a SR5, inquiring minds want to know what you have to say about the 4x4 system on the Sport

 

Jeeze, someone is knit picky !

All personal preference for these points.

I am loving my 2017 TRD Off Road MT. Extra weight does great in the snow !

 

Glad you are liking it though !

 

OP, welcome and nice write-up. The Sport DCSB MT is the way to go .

 

Congrats on your truck purchase. We have a 18 DCSB Manual TRD Off Road that we love.

 

Congrats on your purchase. I drove a manual TRD pro this week. I have an Auto on order. I'm keeping with the auto for my situation.

I found the manual difficult to get into second gear. Shifting to 3rd gear felt like my arm was going to go with it, it's such a long reach (I'm 6'0 with long arms as well). It had been a while since I had driven a manual and I liked the clutch on the Tacoma a lot. I do like the low speed control it provides. The salesman let me pull it down from the rock they had it on to show off the Pro suspension and it felt really easy to control, even after not driving a manual for 10 years.

I do see why some of you prefer the manual, but its just not for me as my daily driver. Enjoy your truck.

 

Nice truck OP!

The MT seems to have tall gearing which combined with a bit of revving this truck comes alive and seems to run quick if you want it to. Preference but I do like the scoop, it makes the truck more interesting and the stiffer sport suspension for the better cornering.

 

Nice truck and in five years you’ll be even happier that you bought a MT

 

I’ll trade for that hood skewpppp

 

Welcome. 17 6MT here.

 

I consider mine as a poor man's sports car. I love rowing them gears!

 

Welcome!

 

I fail to see the logic here. In five years there will be even fewer people who can drive a manual. I tend to think that the resale might not be too good on the manual.

 

You just have to wait for the right buyer and it will be in demand because not many are available. A guy drove 8 hours from out of State to buy my 2015 after I traded it in for the 17.

 

no manual fan cares at all, believe me.