Those with Manual Transmission...why?

I never want to forget how to drive a stick. My 21 4x4 Sport has an automatic, but my 87 Toyota 4X4 is a 5 speed and my daily driver for over 36 years. I didn't trust automatic transmissions of the time and I was being very frugal.(Cheap). It came with plastic seats and plastic carpet. No radio, no rear bumper and it has a carburetor. I shift it like I spent a lot of money on it, which I did at the time. I would like it to last 36 more years. At 80k miles, a bearing went out of the transmission. I took the trans out and took it to a rebuilder. I took the clutch out to replace it since the Truck had 80k on it. Except for being dirty, the old disc looked as good as the new disc. I replaced disc and pp even though it wasn't necessary and had flywheel resurfaced. The Truck now has nearly 300k on it, shifts beautifully and is as dependable as Day 1. My new Truck is very nice, but I can't bring myself to stop driving the old one.

Rick

 

Lots of great responses here, seems it's simply just more fun! I value the sense of control, especially driving in mountains and bad weather. I have teenagers about to get learners permits, and teaching them how to drive a manual is something I think will make them better overall drivers. I'm not opposed to new technology, autonomous features, convenience, electric motors, artificial intelligence, it's inevitable. But there are lessons that will be lost, like being an active participant through life, instead of passive and privileged.

 

They say driving manual is superior because keeps you more engaged. It's also better at holding your speed within a natural range when you have those momentary lapses and are less engaged. For example, keeping it in 4th gear in a 45-mph zone almost eliminates the need to check the speedometer, as you're unlikely to wind up (and get caught) speeding. Call it peace of mind.

 

What I think about when this is mentioned...

Is the heel & toe dance required to operate a manual.

How much resistance is in the clutch to release and give it gas so as not to kill the engine.

I would immediately press the clutch the second I felt the engine was going to die.

It was especially challenging on a hill or slope so as I would move the vehicle forward preventing sliding backwards and hitting the car behind me.

I don't believe I will ever forget how to drive a stick-shift.

I gave up manuals because my British wife cannot get the hang of it and I wanted to make her suffer in driving any future vehicles I bought. lol

Not sure why all the negative talk about Automatic Transmissions...it's just a transmission.

How you get from point A to point B all depends on the driver.

Continuous degrading is beyond me but whatever. SMH

 

My first manual Toyota was 94 4Runner, I've had couple of manual Corolla's, 4Runners, Tacoma's each, never bothered to heel and toe except driving in the sand.

My current 3rd Gen after the clutch TSB is the best clutch so far, talked to the foreman when I turned the truck in, he's got the mechanic to adjust the pedal engagement really short and without and slack.

For everyday driving, you should be able to roll the gears.

 

I learned to drive a manual with the gear shifter on the steering wheel too!

You guys made me flash back to that...lol!

It was always challenging to not only steer the vehicle where you want it to go but also to determine how it moved forward.

Getting use to changing gears whether on the floor or on the steering column was fascinating.

 

I've only had my 2022 6MT for about 2 months, so far I have yet to see any need for heel/toe; my son's 2022 GR86 is a different story entirely.

 

Yup, me too. My g1 was amazing, I got lucky and have an early g2 MT . If the Zombies attack. I'm leaving my PRO collection in the driveway and taking "old clutch"

 

Please good sir, what is this "chicks dig it thing"? this married for 40years guy is just asking, for a friend, ok?

 

'cause automatics are effin' borin'.

 

Driving a 2014 V6 6-spd MT. I know this is a 3rd gen thread.. but if I'm not mistaken, the 3rd gen 6spd MT is the same as the 2nd gen MT? Prepared to get a forum beat-down if I'm wrong on that.

Anyway, yes, 4 out of 10 is about as fast as it's possible to shift in the first 3 gears. Several times I've tried to race-car shift at moderate or high RPMs.. yecccchh, terrible grinding. Never doing it again. It's a clunky truck gear box. Not sure whether it was intentionally designed that way or what exactly it is inside it that causes it to resist quick shifts -- ? the way the synchro rings are shaped or sized? The bevel or helical twist of the various gears? -- whatever it is I've learned to respect it.

 

RA60 was 2nd Gen and RA62 in the 3rd Gen.

 

Got my 2021 for about a year now. The single thing I hate the most about this MT truck is its tall reverse. Putting it in 4w/Low is kind of a work around when going straight but this is not a solution in tight turns with good adherence (differential binding issues),

 

I wish I could when having fun in the snow. Toyota sure did not have heal-toe in mind when they designed the pedal setup.

 

LOL, buy a GR86 and your problems will be solved.

 

I'd rather go back to a Subaru WRX-STi... I really got to like the ground clearance of that Tacoma. Plus the time I miss heal and toe represents less than 1% of the time I spend in that truck.

 

I have a third gen and a first gen, both are manual transmission. My 1st gen has a little over 340k on the original clutch and it is my daily driver. Manual transmissions in trucks have been the only thing I've known since I was old enough to drive (started on an 89 yota pickup) and that is including my full-size truck to pull trailers. I feel like I am in control greater of my speed and RPMs in conditions when that's advantageous, such as slippery roads or hauling a heavy trailer.
That being said, I drove my wife's 4Runner yesterday down south to the "big city" and it was real nice not having to constantly clutch and shift in heavy traffic.
I suppose it really depends on the vehicle too. I had a little gas sipper for a while and it was an automatic and I didn't feel that I was missing out on anything. Had that car been a Subaru WRX or a Corvette or any other sporty car, I would definitely have wanted it in a manual.
However, my desires don't really matter as there are getting fewer and fewer vehicles which are even offered in a manual. If my memory serves me correct Dodge was the last holdout on full-size trucks with manual transmissions, I'm not sure if they still even offer those.r
Proceeding rambling notwithstanding, 95% of the time I really enjoy having a stick for all the tangible, and intangible reasons that have been covered by other posters.

 

Get the 2wd low mod. It helps that problem

 

Why I have a MT:
I have never owned an automagic in 30 years of driving.
I have had a few automagic work trucks - mostly off road use - and the lack of control when the wheels spun pissed me off regularly
When it came time to get a truck I spent 10 months searching for an AC OR V6 MT Taco - had to be 2nd gen b/c they don't make this config in the US -
I enjoy the engagement and sense of control I get from the MT
The gearing in the Taco is mildly annoying but I know an AT would be more annoying to me, been there/done that