6 Speed Manual Comparison (2nd vs 3rd Gen)

If you drive aggressive 1s to 2nd isnt super smooth but its ok, I tuned mine and its made quite the difference overall. Still stock 4.30 diff wondering if I should 5.29 or not

 

It's late and I misread. I thought it said manual CONVERSION. I have converted a fox body mustang before so I know it is a matter of parts. Maybe in 10 years someone will wish they stockpiled the little hard to find parts that are no longer available? Wouldn't it be cool to convert a WCP Limited longbed to a MT?

 

Redline MT-90 is a must do upgrade for the MT. This will also aid in smoother shifts. Especially downshifting 2nd to 1st.

 

I had a 2012 MT and now a 2022 MT. The 2022 is by FAR better. It's no comparison. I don't know why people want the 2nd gen instead of the 3rd.

Also I don't understand why people would want to go BACK to the 4.0 engine. The 3rd gen motor is by FAR stronger and gets 20% better fuel efficiency. Why anyone would want to go back is beyond me...

 

My 3rd gen is my first Tacoma so I can't speak to the previous gens, but it seems like the MT guys don't mind the engine change nearly as much as the AT guys do.

 

I had a 2011 TRD Sport DCSB 6-speed, then a 2020 TRD Sport DCSB and now have finally landed on a 2015 TRD PRO DCSB 6-speed. In my opinion, you feel way more connected to the 2nd gen truck. Clutch feel is better and throttle response as good as its going to get short of having an actual cable throttle. The 3rd gens Rev Hang is atrocious and it always felt like a dog from a stop unless you revved the engine up and slipped the clutch a lot. I couldnt get over how the throttle was mapped as well as the rev hang so I ended up going back to a 2nd Gen. On top of that, the 2nd gen felt better towing in the sense of throttle input. I know the 3rd gens engine is meant to rev high but having the engine screaming at 4k rpm constantly on the highway was not appealing to my ears. 2nd gen can haul the same but at a lower RPM. Just my 2 Cents.

 

In which situations your engine was screaming at 4K on highway?

 

Towing my 4500lb Travel Trailer and maintaining the speed limit.

 

was your 2020 a MT too?

I had a 2012 and now a 2022 MT. The 2022 is by far superior in all ways. From my experience at 4k, the truck isn't screaming. It's doing its thing like it was built to.

 

Sounds like you had the 3rd gen in 4th or 5th if it was at that RPM

 

What speed sir?

 

To each their own I guess. My 2020 was a MT. Was the 3rd gen smoother, quieter and more refined overall, of course. But ultimately it was the driving feel (ie. clutch feel and throttle feel) that made me prefer the 2nd Gen. The rev hang was quite bad on my 3rd gen and was non existent on the 2nd gen.


Oh and about 65MPH to 70 MPH towing the trailer.

 

Ok I get that. The 3rd gen does feel artificial sometimes whereas the you felt directly connected in the 2nd gen despite the lack of refinement.

 

I'm in the same boat as Shaker hood. Had all 3 hehe on a manual loved them all. The transmission is the best in the 3rd. I do miss the torque of the 4.0 but like the hp of the 3.5 at the higher end. You just have to drive them differently.

 

once you figure out your can't shift at 2k like the 2nd gen, revving the 3rd to 3500 is really fun!

 

I shift my 3rd gen at 2-2.5K most of the time, not on freeway ramps though.