Australia finally gets what we've had for 2 years in America

Even when I had my 4 banger SR5 I liked the manual shift mode. Wasn't perfect, but it was fun

 

These trucks don’t have a “manual shift mode”

 

Now if we can just get them to give us what they've had for more than two years....

 

I’m gonna agree with all this, especially the Tacoma as the cheaper option, I was about 40k Cad to get into my sport, Rangers at my local dealer are 48-60k, Gladiator 58k, ZR2 Colorado 58k, and a couple half tons I looked at were a Chev 55k, Ram Rebel 69k. Those trucks are all a bit fancier mind you but 15-30k more as well, that’s huge difference.

Was fuel mileage really any better in the earlier trucks, I went from about 450kms out of a tank in my 2007 to a pretty consistent 640km out of my 18’. I find the engine better to drive than my 4.0, it was by no means blessed with power in my opinion.

 

Yes they do ... Put it in drive, then scoot the shifter over to the left. Now you can up and down shift "manually" by pushing it forward and backward.

Granted, my Sport is a true manual, so there's that amount of fun involved

 

You’re not manually shifting the truck. You’re just telling the transmission the highest gear you’ll allow it to be in. So yes you can allow it to be in first, then when the revs get high you can allow second, but it’s not intended to be a shifter like that, which is why it isn’t perfect as you said

 

That's not how it works.....

 

That is exactly how the shifter works. If you redline it it will shift for you, but otherwise it'll pretty much follow what you tell it to.

As for my Sport being a true manual (clutch pedal and all) it works just fine.

 

No, no it's not. It just sets the upper gear limit.... If it's in S4, your not shifting into forth, it just won't shift past 4th

 

Clearly you have no idea how the auto trans works on these trucks.

 

Clearly you can't read. I put "manual shift mode" in quotes for a reason. If you don't drive like an idiot, hold the revs until 3000 and then "shift" (it's in quotes because you're not shifting, you're setting the limiter) it'll shift damn near right away, similar to a paddle shifter. And then if you "shift" (it's in quotes because you're not actually shifting, you're moving the limiter setting) down, it WILL SHIFT DOWN.

But anyways, enjoy your CVT Ridgeline.

 

Nah, Ridgelines don’t come with CVT. Do they...?

 

Just a little shade throwing there, given that every publication seems to push the Ridgeline as the "best midsize truck" despite everyone who owns a truck scratching their heads at it.