Don't hate me: "Best" model & year manual transmission Tacoma for...

I've been driving a manual for almost 40 years... I'm not worried about stopping/starting on a hill... Learn how it works and don't ever
worry again.

 

I feel like your post really marginalizes the concern I was talking about.

Parking a Miata uphill to avoid paying the meter a few streets up is not really relevant.

The types of inclines and trails I had in mind when I mentioned this scenario are scary enough that they should worry anyone who has experienced it.

I guess I'm just saying that there is a luxury in having just a throttle and brake to operate.

If your 40 years of experience has included the frightening scenarios that I mentioned then they are invaluable and should be shared to help others.

 

Why not a 4runner. they are more reliable and more interior space.

As for Tacoma, 17 is ideal for 3rd gen.

 

No Manual Transmission in the current 4 Runners.

 

Does Pritchett Canyon in Moab count?

 

You took a Miata up there? Wow!

Kidding of course, but yeah kind of. While there are few trails that are more pristine examples of challenging terrain, there are regions of the country that have more challenging conditions to the specific example I discussed especially when you factor weather that you don't get in PC.


For the sake of ensuring we are talking about the same thing.....you plan to take the Tacoma, fully loaded with overlanding gear up that trail?

 

another vote for the 2017 MT. but to make these trucks right, any year, you'll need to do the ADM and, in my opinion, OV tune although many are happy simply updating their ECU calibration to 04B14 (2017s did not have this from the factory) via techstream. you can do it yourself or twist the dealer's arm to do it but they are not reliable, it's easy to do yourself.

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

 

No I do not plan that. I was simply responding that I am well experienced wheeling MT trucks (in this case a 1986 Land Cruiser FJ60) on serious trails.
The Tacoma will not be seeing anything approaching that level of trail. I do like the control of the manual and I do appreciate the ease & comfort that an automatic provides. I guess I feel like a MT is more reliable than an auto in that there is less to go wrong.

And: I plan on a minimalist approach to my expoverland rig... I will not be buying/building every conceivable piece of gear. Light is good.

For reference sake....