Last of their kind? Manual Transmissions and Gasoline Engines

When I first had the inkling that I'd like to buy a pick-up/SUV in 2020 (my first new vehicle in 10 years) I quickly discovered that my options to buy a manual transmission were incredibly limited. I almost panic bought the first Tacoma I saw, feeling like it might be the last chance I get to buy such a creature. And I really do wonder how much longer MT's will be available - when will the Tacoma go the way of the Nissan Frontier, and so many others - will 3G be the last? Certainly 4G will be.

And then we see the news re all-electric fleet commitments, and I've started to wonder the same - what will be the last generation/year for internal combustion powered Tacomas?

Just wondering if anyone else is motivated to make sure they have one of the last of the best, and how long we think gasoline powered, manual transmission trucks will be around.

 

Seems gas and diesel being forced out. I’m not interested in anything electric.

 

I did the same when i found my Tacoma. The salesman said the manual tacomas were usually sold before they got off the delivery truck. I've been very happy with the transmission so far.

 

I couldn't care less. I have an old ass car that's a stick and is bad for the environment. My truck I want to be more fuel efficient and easier to drive in relation to the car

 

The availability of the manual transmission is one reason I bought my new Tacoma when I did. (My 2000 Ford Ranger still has a few years of life.) I agree with the OP that the manual trans is on the way out. I figured I better grab one while I can.

However, driving the 6-speed (as opposed to my Ranger's 5-speed) takes some getting used to. I find that I'm shifting a lot more because the range of the speeds is so small.

 

Buc-ee's is building 120+ pump gas stations all over the Southeast........I don't think we'll see the demise of IC engines in our lifetime.

 

After doing the ADM mod just last week I like the feel of the clutch better

 

I came to the Tacoma for the manual transmission after driving my Nissan XTerra 305,000 miles and the Frontier discontinued manual transmissions. I love my manual and will not drive anything else. When manuals are possibly completely unavailable I will buy used.

 

This isn’t really a third-Gen question.

There’s going to be a need for ICEs, especially in places that are in cold climates and far from electricity, for quite some time. But most people live in suburbia and will be fine with the electric offerings as they come online. Millions of people that own trucks here in our overpopulated but beautiful state would do just fine with e-offerings. The market, environmental, and governmental forces will steer accordingly. Manuals are an endangered species for sure.

But hey, Friday....heyyyyyyyy!

 

I believe the new Ford Bronco is offered with a manual. If they do a pickup version of it at some point that may be an option.

 

Weirdly only with the 2.3l EB engine. AT only for the 2.7l EB. Also, none of the upper option packages can be had with the MT.

I'm sure a lot of that will change as the production cranks up and with coming MYs.

 

There was a blurb in an article about Toyota's global plans that they were working on new, more efficient MTs. No model connection was made there. That is about all that we know at the moment other than the 4th Gen will have a hybrid option.

A 5th Gen EV Taco could be a thing that I could sink my teeth into. If things go as planned, the 4th Gen is something that I would just skip over.

 

Yeah. I love the 2.7Eb that’s in my work truck. It’s a pretty incredible powerplant. I can’t imagine how fun it would be with an MT.

 

I like turbos and the twins in the Fords spool nicely. It would have been a consideration for me if they offered an MT when I was looking.


I enjoyed our turbo MT cars, but they were very limited being FWD.

 

From an article at CNBC: “Just 41 out of the 327 new car models sold in the United States in 2020, or 13%, are offered with a manual transmission, according to data from Edmunds. That is a tremendous drop from less than a decade ago. In 2011, 37% percent came with manuals.”

I imagine that 13% number will be a single digit in a few years. I probably won’t bother teaching my kids how to drive a stick unless someone gifts us an Ariel Atom or something. So...anyone have an Atom they need to get off their books?

 

The corollary there is that a lot of those can only be had on the stripper base models. Outside of sports cars, very few are like the Taco where the MT can be had with the upper spec trims. Although, it was really odd that Toyota killed the SR MT.

 

I'm more concerned that the manual isn't available in a real 6' bed (except Canada, eh?).

 

It was if you want an AC, but I don't think Toyota ever offered a DCLB MT? Strange limitation. It seems like it would just be batch planning and Legos, but . . .

 

As you get used to the Tacoma you can skip gears to cut down on the amount of shifting. Once my truck is warmed up l skip 4th or 5th and occasionally both.

 

I'm more concerned that the manual isn't available in a real 6' bed (except Canada and x-tra cab, eh?).
DCLBMT would be my preference.