Manual tranny

Hello everyone - Posting to seek advice.

I'm in the market to buy a Tacoma, and I have settled on the 2nd gens. The advice I seek concerns the Tacoma's with manual transmissions. I've done some searches on the internet and read the reviews, however, I'm seeking people that presently own or have owned these trucks and what they're honest opinion has been.

Thanks!

 

I bought one new in 2007.....traded in at 95k in 2013 and never an issue with the clutch

They are good trannys, the throw out bearing chirp is a known issue but it’s not a problem for all of them and isn’t a big deal if it goes bad.

 

Love my 2.7 5speed manual. Definitely underpowered, but I drive like a grandpa anyways. Can’t speak for the 4.0 6 speed manual. I’ve seen good things, but I’ve also read some frustrating stories about the throw out bearing on them.

 

My 2011 DCSB has the 6-speed manual trans. No troubles. Replace fluid every 30K.

 

2nd gen with the v6, the automatic was the best all around setup. Third gen I like the manual with the v6, lower gears in the manual make a big difference.

 

Thanks for the testimonials friends. I feel more emboldened to go out and get one now.

 

Love my 2.7L 5 speed. Not the quickest or most powerful truck but it'll get me anywhere I need to go and then some. Haven't had it all that long. Put about 12k miles on it but no issues at all.

 

On my 2nd MT 2nd gen Taco. Love the MT. No probs.
Edit: forgot to add the throw out bearing chirps like a canary, most of the time.

 

I think it boils down to this decision tree:



I have a 4.0 6MT and it's a-freaking-mazing. I love it. A short shift kit is a sweet not-that-expensive upgrade to make it feel even better. Reverse can take a little getting used to, but otherwise phenomenal.

 

i love my 6MT, that was one of the first things i had done was get TRD Shortshifter installed. moving form a 2010 Lancer when i test drove it i felt like big rig truck driver with the throws.

 

As someone new to the Taco world but always drives a MT. I like it a lot.

Now if someone could tell me how to tone down the light switch brakes that send me through the windshield I would appreciate it.

 

Love my 2.7 5spd combo. It took me a long time to get used to a hydraulic clutch. Of the dozen or so vehicles I have owned in the past 31 yrs, all had mechanical clutches, whether its a linkage or cable. Add on the mushy throttle response and I wasn't real happy. Added a sprint booster and it's like night and day. No more finding the friction point and hitting the gas and waiting for it to respond. Now the throttle is on point.

 

I love my ‘15 6MT. I wanted the manual so bad that I had to special order it and wait a few months for it to come in. I’m just about to hit 100k miles with 0 issues.

 

they shift like a dump truck but other than that they seem to work fine

 

Yeah they're kinda clunky, but mine has been trouble free

 

i feel like its a toyota thing cause my buddies r154 is clunky too, but its strong as shit so i guess its a trade off

 

Yep. I'll take clunky over troublesome any day of the week. As long as you remember you're in a pick up truck and not a sports car it's no big deal lol

 

Eggs actly! I have a 2007 reg cab 2.7 5 spd manual, and I love it. But I'm a manual transmission guy - never owned a vehicle with an automatic. If I had a bum knee or a 2-hour stop-n-go commute, I would no doubt feel differently about it

 

You make a good point about the bum knee or stop n go, if I had an hour of rush hour traffic everyday I'd still get the manual tacoma, but then I'd also need to get an automatic trans commuter beater

 

If I had an hour of commute I'd probably find another job. But yes, one's truck does not have to be one's commute car...