Is a manual Tacoma really “sought after”, rare or more valuable?

Truly dead is no bueno. You gotta be able to get the min voltage to trigger the ECU or electronic ignition. On a short and gentle grade, there might not be enough distance to turn it over. I remember pushing a bike back up to my garage after a failed attempt at that. A cul de sac and a short bit of road about the diameter of the cul de sac never felt so long.

 

Yeah, I use the term "dead" loosely I guess. We used to have a couple people push or use another vehicle to push start an old stick shift vehicle lol.

 

Same thing happened to me with mine. Sales guy was so embarrassed he knocked off 5k of MSRP.

6MT was a no brainer for me, the only thing that peeves me is that toyota won't make the 6ft bed with a manual. Would have been my choice without a doubt.

 

Sorry! I didn't know that until I failed. I figured the alt would have enough current to let it pop.

 

Right. But in more common cases where someone left their lights in too long and the starter is still clicking when the key turns, you can still start it.


That's probably the most common case where I've had to bump start vehicles for people with manuals that ran them dead. I think I've only had one personally where it was dead dead.


Still a nice option regardless.



Also 100% not a reason of why I bought the truck or a case I'd make when selling it lol

 

Right. Haha. I paid under 32k for a current year 2017 Trd off road double cab, out the door. I'm OK with the reduction in price. Haha

 

Hahaha!

There is usually a bit of charge left. I think I deep cycled that battery too many times.

 

I think with the Tacoma it’s a wash. AT costs more new and theoretically some of that cost is returned in book value. But demand for manuals is high from serious buyers, especially TRD OffRoad, and supply is low, so it’s kind of a wash. A few years ago I bought my wife a late model used VW Golf. Base model TSI, not a GTI, with 5 speed manual. Really fun car with the 1.8 turbo, and regularly gets mid-40’s mpg on the highway. The car had sat on the lot for months, price reduced several times, and as soon as I showed interest the price dropped another 10%. The other car on the lot I looked at was an MT Impreza, also base model. The sales guy told me that while enthusiast cars like the GTI or WRX can find buyers as MT’s, in fact there’s demand, a base model “economy” car like a Golf, Fit, Impreza is a tough sell as an MT. Fortunately my wife is happy driving a manual (as are my kids) so I get to enjoy her Golf, while my Taco is an AT and like that too.

 

Low volume is a consequence of low demand. Toyota would build way more manual trucks if they were sure they could sell them.

There is for sure no further development of manual transmissions. It will be a miracle if the upcoming clean-sheet Tacoma is offered with a manual.

 

I’m a Ford guy but bought a Tacoma because it was the only game in town with a manual. I was lazy and traded in an older F-150 with a manual suffering rust issues and it was sold by the dealer in less than a week. Manuals have a loyal following and we’re willing to spend more and make sacrifices when we find them.

 

Exactly. Originally I wanted DCSB OR, but not offered with 6 speed in Canada. I was shocked when i found out they only have Sport with MT and DC in canada. They assumed canadians did not want to row their gears off road? haha! There is AC Off road with 6MT but its super rare, I have only seen one in 2 years. I really wanted 4 doors, after having tiny rear seats in the ranger, useless.

 

I found it a huge relief when I figured out I could only have a manual in one trim, one bed length. There was no agonizing over whether I really needed crawl control or the other nonsense I will never use. I knew I wasn't ever going to be able to have a new, manual truck again so I just wrote the cheque and haven't looked back. My truck is theft-proof and almost nobody can borrow it because they can't drive it.

 

My taco came stock with a crank handle.

Must be a canadian thing.

 

MT in canada is offered in DCSB Sport or ACLB Off road, so 2 trims. Wish they offered SR with a 2.7 and 5 spd here, I would have considered it as well for sure.

I also love the fact that nobody can borrow my truck.

 

I've got a friend who's been a used car manger at the same dealership for 20 years. We had this very discuss when I was trading my 5 speed manual Taco in 5 years ago.

He said, these days a manual hurts the value to some degree....even in a Tacoma, because it greatly reduces the buying pool. Hey said most people will walk right by one if they see it's a manual. At the same time, the very thing that turns most people off, will ultimately be what sells it. But it's not worth more money.

Just because something is rare doesn't mean it's valuable. There's probably a reason it's become rare. Few people want it.

 

We didn't get that option here.

 

That is very true.

When i see an AT vehicle, I walk right past it. If i see a 1990 Golf with 5 spd, I get excited. There are very few guys like me, maybe 5%. Dealerships will always have an easier time selling an AT, thats exactly what most of the folks want.

 

My dealer had to get my truck from another dealership about 50 miles away. 6MT was a dealbreaker for me. We’re a dying breed and I simply will not buy an automatic unless I absolutely have to.

 

It came with "intense winter" package.

Works great in those cold, cold temperatures.



But honestly where i live, Its super mild. People freak out if its like -10 celcius. I do love to wear shorts all year long though, I am one of those guys haha!

 

I was blown away that Toyota paired the MT with the sunroof and heated seats, TBH. I agonized over the AT in my 2013. When I got the chance to buy a new one, I figured I could justify the MT if I got the 4 door (weird logic) and was all ready to present my reasons when my wife was like "I don't care what you buy as long as it's safe and can take the kids (she can't drive stick)" so cool. I then had the pit of my stomach moment where I knew the 3G came with a moonroof option and I wondered if I'd be stuck choosing. I wasn't, so jackpot?

Once attrition happens to these trucks, I think the MT will be desirable as a sub-set, but not desirable as an overall. People who seek out these trucks 10-15 years from now will have very specific reasons for wanting them, when they're not just decent used cars. Maybe I'll be wrong.