Manual Transmission with regard to resale value - seeking opinions.

If you're already worried about resale, you're buying the wrong vehicle. I say that because Tacomas are keepers for most folks who actually enjoy owning a truck.

And if you keep it 10+ years, book value wise the MT vs AT won't matter a hoot. And neither will the 'trim package'. These will never be Mecum auction queens because too many are on the road.

Where it *may* matter (on a long term keeper) is as others have suggested. A niche market of private buyers. You'll be kicked to the curb on a trade in unless the salesman has a neighbor he knows wants one. And even then he'll still try to bruise your shins.

 

Cars are terrible financial investments. If you want to make money on resale, buying a car is a clown thing to do. Even in today's market.

Buy what you want, enjoy it. Drive it because it's yours. Worry about resale if and when you get to that bridge.

 

If its the last of something it will sell good in the future. There will always be someone who wants an MT over an AT on these trucks.

 

Future resale value is only determined by what someone is willing to pay for it, whether AT or MT. Manuals do appeal to fewer people, but by the time you sell this the manuals will be gone from the Tacomas so even in limited numbers, those wanting a stick in a truck will pay more for something they can no longer get. In the age of internet sales, you can market your truck nationwide and have no problem reaching interested buyers. Best advice I can offer, buy what YOU want and enjoy the hell out of it while you have it. Don't settle and buy something that you think will appeal to future owners at the cost of it not being exactly what you want.

 

Niche demand has always been artificially high due to limited supply. Future value will predictably follow existing trends on the used market. Lack of future supply will have a spike demand until the lack of interest curve smooths it out again. So 3-5 years out you may have a niche buyer willing to pay premium but that population will by force become acclimated to automatics and the intersection point on vehicle age/mileage will erode that after. Tell the dealership the opposite in your negotiations, that the value is immediately diminishing so they should come down in price!

 

You know other things can go wrong with a manual besides the clutch right? The only trans I've ever had an issue with was a manual and I broke the input shaft.

 

Yes but those are less common issues. Main thing I have seen on used MT cars and trucks is third gear grind. From previous owners misshifting into third constantly.

Funny story….. I tried to rebuild my own Integra transmission by swapping out the 3rd gear set from another transmission. Somehow I did something wrong when I reassembled it that I lost reverse gear. Drove with no reverse for 2 months because too lazy to do it all over again. I found a JDM civic type r transmission and just swapped it out.

That was the last time I attempted to rebuild a transmission lol
Only clutch jobs and engine swaps for me.

 

well, it's @ $2500 cheaper than a auto. As long as it is within $2500 you'll be good.
I have a 2021 DCSB TRD OR. I insisted on a manual and glad I did. The 3.5L is pretty lame. I have a wrangler 4dr with a 6.4L hemi and I'm glad it's an auto. Have a 1987 toyota xtra cab 4wd I wish was a manual.

 

Spot on! I love my 2.7L 5spd and think about getting one of the last manuals if they go away next year. Residual value won't matter 15-20 years down the road. If you are not buying for the long haul then you may want to wait for the 4th gen. Best of luck OP.

 

It’s so funny how this is viewed. Personally, I won’t even buy a car if all that is offered is AT. I’d start looking at comparable cars/trucks that are…

I’m 42 and owned one auto in my life. Had it 3 months, sold it and bought another stick.

As mentioned, it lowers the pool of buyers, but will increase the value of those that want them (like myself) and dealer trade-ins it will not help at all. Only on private sales.

Long live the stick shift!!!!

 

My friend had to drive around his fox body for a few months without reverse too. We found out that day not to dump the clutch in reverse. Days of us all be young, dumb and having fast cars. Lost a few t5, tr3650, t56, aods and 4l60s.

 

Man oh man... some super solid advise here... sooo let me add one layer to this cake...

In 1940, 90% of cars were manuals, the introduction of the automatic was an instant success. But car dealers charged more because they failed more frequently (warranty) and they were simply more expensive to build. Fast forward to 2021 95% of cars in the US are now auto... and believe me or not.. a manual transmission costs much more today then an automatic, to build. They have to special order at lower volume manuals, then special tool the factory, and special train assembly for a product that is 5% of model make...


So. Toyota cuts corners on manuals, strips JBL speakers to make up the lose, strip the fob.

Crawl control is simply impossible in a manual as would be remote start so I get that.

But it's truly a psychological thing. It actually costs more to produce a manual now. The manual in a 2022 tacoma is basically the same as my 07. But the auto has only improved since 07.

As for resale. Every year that goes by for the next decade or two our manuals will lose value. But think of this, they can't be stolen because only you can drive it. But in 30 years when all road tacomas are EV if you have a 2021 lunar rock tacoma with a manual it will be a collector item.

The cool thing about Toyota is they still make a manual, which is more then most car dealers can say. And the fact that they sell them cheaper then autos is understandable. It's not worth reprising manual below autos and explaining that to 95% of the customer base who witnessed the flip flop. I imagine Toyota probably makes significant less on manual still. Even with the off set

 

Reverse burnouts in RWD’s were the best!!!
Due to all the weight transfer going to the front, big smokey burnouts made for Hollywood! lol.

 

It was choose between a manual or long box. I had to have the long box with a young family. If it were just the wife & I we would have got the manual with the 5 foot box.

 

I knew dealer would cut me off if I tried to sell it to them later but need for manual tacoma was greater than that so I got it. Also my 4 yo kid will drive this truck to school (hopefully)

 

I've had many manuals, but don't want another. I've had two Tacos with autos now and simply like the convenience.

Not to throw a wet blanket here, but does anyone really think there will be any manual anything in five years? I bet not.

 

I think that's the point. The point that makes it more desirable to many.

 

Who cares what anyone drives? Get what suits you. It’s not a “my fingers are longer than yours” argument. For me, driving what I want far outweighs any resell down the road. Just take care of your truck in the long run.

 

This.... Isn't correct at all. Lmao.

The manual is 100% different now than on your 07 (ok, 4th gear *might* be the same) and the factory doesn't get retooled for special orders..... Asin builds a bucket load of manuals and Toyota bolts them on in their factories.

You can still get premium packages on manual transmission trucks. Which includes the JBL audio leather seats etc. And they come with a key fob so not sure where you got that information from? And remote start is incredibly easy in these trucks. Toyota doesn't offer it but there are kits available that are inexpensive and easy to put in. Just don't leave your truck in first gear when you park it like you would otherwise.

As far as cost goes I seriously doubt Toyota would mark the manuals $2,500 less if it meant they weren't making money.

As for rebuild costs, ask any transmission shop. They'll tell you an auto, a manual,... Both have 70 billion parts, neither is necessarily easier than the other as far as taking them apart and putting them back together. On the bright side though, manuals tend not to overheat lol

 

The MT is clearly disappearing. Every year, fewer and fewer are on the road. When people get into my truck, they’re often shocked that it’s manual.

I consider it my “millennial specific anti-theft device”.