Real World MPG with Manual Trannys

Honestly I just felt the gear ratios were too close for a truck and sixth is definitely too short. Just my opinion. And that's from someone who regularly swaps T56's into old muscle cars. I've had several manual trans mustangs and a handful of BMW's and other sporty cars with manuals. And I have owned 18 Toyota 4x4's. All but 4 were manuals. Auto in a first gen tacoma sucks. Had one for about a year. I think if it were the same 5 speed they used behind the 2.7 in my old 05 or even the same ratio spacing between gears I would have one now. But they don't and it just didn't feel right to me.

 

I agree. It feels like 5th and 6th are the same gear.

 

Great call on the 6MT. I was getting ~18-19 here in the cities and around the upper midwest when my truck was stock. Closer to 15 now on the big 33s.

Can't speak for the automatics, but there's been no issue for me with bigger tires. You control the shifts, so it's a small adjustment when you change tries and then you're good to go.

You should swing by the MN thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacomas-in-minnesota.16179/page-168

 

No, the opposite is true.

Back in the day trucks got their torque at very low rpm. Often under 2000 rpm. That meant that with a manual it was easy to get a vehicle moving, especially one with a load, quite easily with minimum engine speed. A 2nd gen Tacoma gets its torque at about 3500 rpm. The 3rd gens at closer to 4500 rpm. This makes it extremely difficult to get a modern MT truck moving without high engine revs and lots of clutch slipping. This is especially problematic when maneuvering in tight spots or backing a trailer. Bigger tires effectively change the axle ratio and mean you need even more rpm's to make torque with either a maunal or automatic

The engine and manual transmissions in not only Tacoma's, but most other modern trucks, are really designed for cars. The torque converter of an automatic greatly mitigates this disadvantage. There is no practical reason to choose a MT on a modern truck. If your truck is a toy and you want to have fun driving get a manual. If you want a tool to do work buy the automatic, they do everything better. There is no law that says you have to put an automatic in "D" and just drive. If you want to it is just as easy to manually put an automatic in the best gear for conditions just like with a manual.

And automatics have proven to be just as rugged and reliable. They stopped putting manuals in school buses and other similar size trucks over 40 years ago. You haven't been able to buy a 3/4 or 1 ton truck with a manual for over 20 years. And those trucks are rated to tow as much as 30,000 lbs. Most newer big rigs today are using automatics and are pulling 80,000 lbs.

 

So much wrong info there. Your 2nd gen peak torque numbers are wrong. Also I’m running E load 33s and when maneuvering around parking lots, I only use my clutch, plenty of torque at idle.

 

The 3rd Gen MT has 4.30 axle ratio compared to 3.91 on the AT.

 

Averaging about 15.5, mixed local and highway

 

Just throwing in some figures to help out; 19 TRD OR manual, stock size Wildpeaks and a 70mi round trip commute+350mi rountrip every other week… so lots of highway miles. Depends on where you live but keeping up w the flow of traffic here requires 70-75mph

 

Is this fuelly

 

I'm sitting at an average of 17.3mpg over 16k miles with most of that on 255/85/16s, with a supercharger and towing for about 25% of those miles.

 

Automatics in buses and small trucks is more to do with making it easier for anyone to drive them with less training... as for Class 8/9 trucks... they are manual transmissions with an automated shift system. Again more to do with less training...

 

+ good throttle control on your part

 

I got 19.8mpg on a round trip from of over 300 miles. Average speed 70mph. Mix of highway and rural highway.

Only modification is the TRD lift.

 

I dunno man I drive commercially and every automatic I’ve had has been complete crap. Most drivers prefer stick, from my experience.

 

100% agree here, family has a fleet of semis, not one is an automatic. I have to assume that automatics are coming in due to new drivers who simply cannot learn to drive a manual. Glad I grew up on a farm, I can drive anything

 

Manual is the way to go. I'd recommend an accumulator delete; it makes it a joy to drive. I'm averaging 18.29 mpg in reasonably mixed driving.

 

Agreed, I hate the thought of being a passenger in the left front seat of my own car.

 

This has got to be the most interesting way to look at Auto vs Manual thing I have ever read.

 

Did your clutch “catch” closer to the floor after the delete?