Old guy with a stick.

Every man needs to own a 3-pedal ICE vehicle at least once in their life. They will not be manufacturing stick shift electric cars.

 

Im 33, although my 2.7 is slow, man it is fun. It shifts like butter now.and it continues to get better and better. #noregrets Get the Manual.

 

Over 60 with 40+ years of military service and all the injuries to prove it. Would not have gotten the Tacoma in automatic.

 

Did you see the Mustang Lithium, electric 6 Speed Manual?

 

I did, it’s a prototype. The manual in a BEV actually lowers performance BUT it does increase the fun factor.

From Motor1.com

“The biggest cry from enthusiasts over the advent of electric vehicles is the lack of soul and involvement behind the wheel. This prototype might be slower because of its manual, but it could be infinitely more engaging to drive. With Ford planning to move heavily into the electric realm in the coming years, a machine such as this could serve as a bridge to woo enthusiasts into a new Mustang generation. With 900 horsepower and cogs to swap, it certainly has our attention.”

 

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/3rd-gen-traction-control-modes-explained.530695/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...-2wd-low-range-for-the-3rd-gen-tacoma.614743/

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2lo-plug-play-harness-discussion.592035/page-15#post-20836143

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/lock-stock-and-2wheel-low-3rd-gen-diy-mod.536677/

 

It's funny that people need to give their manual transmission history as an excuse to now have an automatic.
You're a sissy, own it.

 

74 6 spd and I tow a trailer and a camper too. (not at the same time though)

 

Same age as you, by coincidence bought a MT today. Was going to get a 4Runner to satisfy my off-road needs, until I discovered the Tacoma was offered in manual, and after a test drive was hooked. For me, it is much more fun with a stick, only had one true AT and hated it. Too bad no one ever made a slick shifting motorcycle style sequential transmission for a car, had a DCT for a few years and it took forever to downshift multiple gears.

 

All three of my previous trucks were manual transmission. This one I’ve had for less than a month and is the only automatic I’ve ever had. I was on the fence about getting another manual transmission but they were hard to find or nonexistent in the Tacoma combination that I wanted. But the bottom line is none of my kids, believe it or not, can drive a stick and I thought that perhaps one day I would pass this truck on to One of them. So going with the automatic was something I excepted.

The one thing I could positively tell you with 100% certainty is ... I do not miss the manual transmission when I am stuck in traffic

 

I found myself in your shoes in July 2019 when I bought my first Tacoma
A 2019 trd sport 4x4 dcsb MT . Best truck decision I ever made .
I retired at 62 in 2016 , in 2019 I decided my old v8 Chevy was becoming a money pit
And not worth the cost of maintaining it . I started shopping for an automatic midsize truck ,
I tested the Colorado , frontier , ridgeline and the Tacoma all autos , was disappointed with all of them
I found with the exception of the frontier , their transmissions were tuned for optimal mpg
Frequently hunting without predictability or repeatability . The rush to the tall overdrive
Gears left the engine bogging down at inopportune situations . The ridgeline was not bad ,
Got good Milage . If only it was a truck . The taco sales man explained the ect and the "paddle shifting"
As he called them . Im going to land the plane . My Chevy was the only auto I ever owned in
almost 50 yrs of driving . After test driving my mt taco I bought it on the spot .
The 4.3 rear gearing is a perfect compromise between performance and mpg .
The clutch and synchro gears are much better then any of the dozen manual vehicles
I've ever driven . I daily drive in mountainous area roads , love the handling of the MTs sport ,
With its on road articulation . I'm occasionally in traffic ,it's not bad .
If I reach the point where my left leg can't do it , I'll sell it .
Until then I enjoy each and every outing with my mt taco .

 

I'm 50, a Physical Therapist Asst, had surgery on my right knee a couple months ago.

If it had been my left knee I would probably have been in better shape than I am now because pushing the clutch makes you strengthen the quad more than I feel like doing.

Find a 2.7/5MT. Autos are lame.

 

Is the truck gonna be a toy or a tool. If it's a toy the manuals can be fun to drive. If its a tool used for towing/hauling the automatic wins hands down in newer trucks. Old school trucks with manuals had much lower axle ratios, much lower gears in 1st and reverse and engines that developed enough torque to get you moving just at idle speed when you let out on the clutch. Trying to maneuver a trailer, especially backing one with todays manuals is a PITA. The torque converters in an automatic eliminate the issue.

 

Get the manual. Enjoy your drive time.

 

I’m 64. When I read the 3rd Gen had a MT as an option I traded in the Highlander a year early. The Highlander ( AT ) was a good car but I never loved it the way I loved my 79 HiLux 4spd - owned 13 years, drove from St Louis MO to Mexico City Mexico and back, Eventually rusted out, or my 92 4Runner 5spd with its anemic 3.0 V6. The stick made up for the lack of power. Owned for 17 years, finally traded in as Cash for Clunkers, hence the Highlander. I missed the MT from Day One in the Highlander, felt disconnected from the driving experience. It took a little while to find the gears in my Taco, seems like the gate is very narrow for the 6spd, eventually you will figure it out. Now I’m starting the float the gears while accelerating just because its a challenge. ALSO you will dominate on the mountain driving. If an AT tailgates you, downshift to 3000 rpms and run away from them. Fun.

 

Hmmmmm......seem to be leaning towards the manual.

But that accumulator thing-of-a-bob doesn’t sound like something I would be too happy with.

 

It's not a big deal. People cry about everything on here. It means that the clutch pedal feels sluggish when it's below 30 degrees for ~ 4 pedal pushes.

 

It's an easy fix. Tons of people have pulled it out. I did mine under 500 miles and don't regret it one bit. Buy the right parts the first time and it's a non-qualifier. Here's my take on removal: MT Accumulator Delete Mod (ADM) and BS Thread

 

I have driven a load of manuals right up to a Mack triplex when people complain about the accumulator I have no clue what they are talking about just feels like a clutch to me some are easy some are hard I don't get it.

 

From my little garage thread shortly after I bought current truck:

I have no regrets returning to the manual trans with my 2019. 5 months and my knee hasn't bothered me at all.
The accumulator thing isn't a big deal to me either. Sub-zero temps the clutch is real sluggish 'til it warms some, but no more so than I recall my 2007 SR5 being in sub-zero Winter spells. It's what I expected and no more. My 2¢ FWIW.