Are the 3rd gen 6mt trucks fun to drive compared to other manuals?

Calling all 6mt Tacoma owners! I’m looking to buy a new manual truck, so I wanted to know: Is the manual in the Tacoma fun to drive for daily use compared to other cars/trucks? I’ve heard that the throws are too long, and that the clutch accumulator makes the pedal feel numb. For reference, I’m coming from a 2005 Corolla 5 speed. Any input would be appreciated!

 

IMHO, it is very engaging and as slick as any MT car that we have owned. All non-Toyota FWDs.

The Accumulator Delete Mod is easy and should make you very happy.


I've run canyon roads and enjoy flicking gears while catching up to cars? If that matters.

 

Granted I have a 1st gen but I wouldn't say it's similar how my manual Scion tC was at all. The tC manual was so easy to drive, you could feather the clutch and it would get itself going pretty quick with no throttle input. My truck will barely pull itself along on flat ground lol. But, bigger tires/armor and all that extra weight will do that.

I will say, even when my truck was stock the manual trans felt clunkier than my Scion's did. But I figure that's the difference between a RWD manual truck and a FWD manual sedan. I still think its fun to drive, definitely more than any auto trans. it's just a little different.

 

I wouldn't call it fun but it removes the headache of a terrible automatic transmission from the equation. I spent an hour and installed a URD short shifter which made the throw distance shorter, obviously.

 

I have owned 50% manuals in my life, I drive lots of customers Tacoma's and I don't care for it. It's clunky and has no feedback.

It's a truck so its not a sporty feel that you think of compared to a car.

I've owned manual old 4runners but for some reason you just expect more from a new vehicle even though its a truck.

That said, its great on open roads. City driving? Not for me.

 

The 3rd gen 6MTs are a ton of fun. I am pumped every time I get in this truck after having driven anything else. You can’t go wrong.

 

i bought it for this purpose, a new 2017 received Dec 2016.

but after i got it i found it was hard to get the fun. too numb, underpowered under 2k, weak throttle response, cheesy braking, weak handling, uncomfortable seats, etc etc.

i made a choice to keep it and make it my ultimate fun and normally functional vehicle of all time, so i got to work.. glad i did, because it is indeed all that for me now, but it took literally 4 years of work to get it right for me. you know, dialed in right at 90k miles.

 

It drives like a manual truck. It's not going to shift like a sports car. That said, I enjoy mine

 

Unless it’s a high powered, high revving, high speed cornering vehicle…ALL other manuals are boring to drive lol

 

I've got no beef with it, but my only other manual was a 95' Saturn SL1 (and a couple bikes)

 

I have driven many manual transmissions and feel this generation Taco drives fine compared to other trucks. No, it is not as light and responsive as my Civic, but it is a truck and performs as well as my first gen Taco, but with a softer engagement…light years better than manual truck transmissions of days gone by. I have not removed the accumulator, but have the parts and will do soon because I do agree that the engagement is soft and this mod should improve the feel.

 

Yeah that’s exactly why I enjoy a standard transmission, thanks for the input!

 

I enjoy it as my daily driver. You get to be in control of how it behaves, not some computer. Keep the revs high when you want sporty. I think can be surprisingly zippy for what it is. Keep the revs low to just cruise.
The shifter throw felt crazy when I first got it, but didn't take long to get used to. It's not unreasonable at all.

 

It drives like a truck. Base your expectations accordingly.

Observations after almost four years and 70,000 miles:

1. The transmission takes forever to break in, and is knucklier than a skeleton's hand until it does. Changing the gear oil early with Redline MT-90 helped greatly
2. It's overall decently-geared. It crawls reasonably well in first making it livable in traffic. 6th gear could be way, WAY lower. Once you start cruising over 75 you up there in the RPMs. However this engine likes to rev so it's not obnoxious or loud, just uses more fuel.
3. The accumulator delete was easy, cheap and worth it. Made it feel very, VERY slightly more engaged, but I did it mainly for the fact that the pedal took forever to pop back up on cold mornings.

Honestly I like it. Takes some finesse, especially when downshifting so as to not shock the drivetrain and drive it smoothly. Overall it's an easy, forgiving transmission and you'll probably enjoy it. Like I said, it is a truck.

 

To an extent, that’s true, but have you ever heard the saying: “it’s more fun to drive a slow car fast, than to drive a fast car slow”?

 

Very this

 

Good stuff. There has rarely been a moment when I have thought that I'd want to go the other way, even for a short drive.

 

agree and this truck can do it well. but, after already doing it, i wouldn't push for speed unless i modified some stuff. had some pretty hairy moments finding the limits with the original stuff.

 

I forgot to mention, I got it VF Tuned a year ago, can't remember which one other than Performance Tune on regular unleaded, threw 200 bucks a friend's way and he did it. Made all 6 gears more usable and unlocked more passing power on the freeway. Would recommend highly.

 

Since new 6mt Tacomas use cable shift linkages, do you feel that the throws have gotten “stretched” overtime?

Edit: The Tacoma 6mt does NOT have shift linkages!!!!