Buying a 2020 manual Tacoma was a bad idea - Rob Motive

I didn’t think they even ALLOWED manual tacos in gated communities.

 

Word.

The first time I drove an automatic was in driver's ed after I already had my license (needed the class to get unrestricted license before 18).

Teacher just about shit his pants first time I hopped in the driver's seat and said "something's wrong, I can't find the clutch pedal"

 

Consider the source, I stopped clicking his videos some time ago. Full of misinformation and lame content. Seeing his 2WD with 20's and a spacer lift tells you all you need to know.

 

On the subject or MT or AT Tacos. I’m torn. I have an ‘18 AT and I freaking love this truck quirks and all. I chose an AT truck because the entirety of my life I’ve driven used manuals and living in LA traffic. It can suck. Figured I’d change it up for my first new car. Now where I wish I had a manual oddly enough. Is when I offroad. My Tacoma off-road’s a like a champ. But seeing my buddies offroad their stick shift rigs and how challenging it makes some obstacles. I get a little jealous of how much fun they’re having. My last car was a stick shift, ‘97 Tacoma long, single cab mini truck. This thing feels like luxury compared to that. So I laugh a bit when guys complain about trim or throttle response. First world problems I guess

 

I don’t understand why Toyota doesn’t offer a manual with the 2.7L.

 

I have had manuals in the past. PITA ! Need I say it again PITA !
Yes fun for about 10% of the time but that's where it ends.
My 2016 with software update is flawless, and would never consider a manual.
Only place it shines is talking about it in a bar with a beer and peanuts.

 

I had a 85 toyota truck with manual. A 95.5 Tacoma with manual a 2004 Tacoma with manual and I am tired of shifting. I had my first automatic Tacoma in 2012. Then a 2015 Tacoma and 2016 4Runner automatic. Now I have a 2020 Tacoma automatic. No more manuals for me.

 

I've been driving manuals for 15+ years, a 90s 3 series with a mechanical clutch and a 2000s Mini Cooper S with a hydraulic clutch (also driven a family members 2000s 3 series which was very similar to Mini Cooper). I would agree that, coming from the Mini Cooper S, that a brand new Tacoma MT feels clunky.

I recently turned 1000 miles on my 2020 DCSB and 80% of that clunkiness I felt has gone away. Where it remains is shifting from 1st to 2nd primarily. I'm of the opinion that there are a few factors in play here:
1) Initial break in of the vehicle's transmission and engine. Clutches, transmissions, and engines all have an initial break in as does the driver as they acclimate to a new vehicle. I was driving up to go skiing with a buddy this Friday and he was telling me that he recently had the clutch replaced in his Accord. He mentioned how much "shorter" and "less forgiving" the clutch was compared to his old one but was told as it broke in it would smooth out.
2) Lack of low end torque I primarily feel the clunkiness when shifting from first to second. I think this is due to the lack of torque and gearing of first and second gears which makes that shift transition feel especially clunky.
3) Clutch feel The friction point of the clutch is difficult to feel. On my previous vehicles it more well defined as you engaged the clutch. You get used to it but it's initially awkward
4) Rev matching I feel like in my Mini Cooper S I didn't have to pay as much attention to rev matching. I'm more conscious of it now and it helps a lot (easy commit to muscle memory once you do). Lack of low end torque is likely a factory here too.

 

Very well put and agreed on all of this!

 

Before I bought my Tacoma, I drove a 2005 Corolla XRS. 6 speed manual. Fun little car. The engine was rev happy, like a caged hamster. It was eager just no bottom end. The only way get power was rev, a lot! 8200rpm. Power band was 6400 to 7800. Anyways, I digress... my point is, because I drove that vehicle for 8 years I found that the Tacoma has great bottom end ( compared to the caged hamster ) I also never really noticed the clutch issue, still haven't. The Corolla had the accumulator too. For me the Tacoma was a wonderful upgrade and I still enjoy it and happy with my purchase. As for @St.Germain saying they need mods to be better. To me the mods are to make the vehicle more a reflection of how I see the truck and to improve it's convenience to me. The truck is pretty good stock. I also feel that if I want to mod the vehicle I am invested in it. I am definitely invested in my Tacoma.


Sorry for the long post

 

As the owner of a Miata (‘18 Club) I think they’re more similar than you might think. They both are very smooth shifting and like Dakota Johnson appreciate a little flogging every now and then.

Sure the Miata can go topless in 5 seconds and the Tacoma likes to get dirty and ridden rough.

Other than that they’re exactly the same.

 

They discontinued this in NA in 2017 and haven’t said why yet, but I get the sense they want to distance themselves from that low-tech non progressive build in order to maintain some appeal to their changing demographic who are chasing pipe dreams about amazing MPGs and out of this world horsepower, or hybrids. Maintaining your own vehicle is becoming a thing of the past (even owning one for an extended amount of time) so the value of ultra reliable recipes like a manual “dumb” gearbox and bullet proof 4banger become irrelevant. Some people here managed to get them before they went extinct.

 

An old NA Miata a friend owned had the slickest shifter and clutch I ever drove. The 3rd gen Tacoma is great for a pickup, but you have to put a little more effort into it to drive as smooth as that old Miata, that thing was so easy to drive. Fun little car. If I wasn't 6'2" and, um, bulky, I'd have one.

 

What a funding doink.

 

I used to make BMW dealers shit their pants right before I'd fire up that shiny brand new manual M3 or Z3M for a test drive. I'd say to my GF; "honey look this car is so advanced it has two brake pedals, one for each side, lest's give it a go!" Man, you should've seen their faces

 

Fuck peoples opinions, it's what I want and want to waste my money on.

Cant say I want an auto in the dirt other than rock crawling.


A 4x4 with locker anytime mod...well...can be fun...



Fuck traffic regardless of where you are!

Manual trans tell I cant anymore!!

 

This could be a lot of fun!!

 

If I could drive stick again I would. But I can't no more. Just talked to Rob. He was at the same Discount tire that I was in. He doesn't hate his 20 standard Tacoma. Like I told him you will get use to your taco. He needs to break it in. He only has 500 miles on it. He was putting 17' wheels. And 285 good year wranglers on it. He took off the 20's. In my opinion truck looked better now on the 17's. He was spending money on that taco. So he likes it.

 

Dont talk to him ever again .

 

Clunky? Yeah maybe if the truck isn't running lol. Every M/T I've ever shifted makes a nice solid shift noise while it's off. If it goes "clunk," I botched it up.

Also am I the only one that enjoys driving stick in traffic? I enjoy being able to use one pedal most of the time to control my speed. I keep enough distance so the clutch doesn't go to the floor until I need to speed up a bit.