Those with Manual Transmission...why?

My post was more challenging the crawl ratio and the "control" of the MT vs AT in rough terrain as opposed the crawl control portion but thank you for clarifying the latter.

 

Lmao, I can relate totally, my wife can drive manual, but doesn't care for it, and like you, no makeup and clothes in my taco

 

I chose a manual because, even as I approach my late 50s, I am still a kid inside. I love shifting through the gears, I love having the ability to, in real time, sort my shifting to get the most out of my trip.

I live in the foothills, so I can start in 2nd gear, drive down the street, still in 2nd, make a turn and get into neutral all the way down into town. All that done with one or two shifts. If I were in an automatic, that would have taken about 14 or so gear changes. I love dumb things like that. I like skipping gears when I can see the road ahead and know what it needs. I love that control.

It’s not for everyone. But I really can’t get enough of it. I’m definitely one of those who will drive a manual into his 80s…no question.

 

It’s 2023. “Husbands” can leave make up and clothes also.

 

So people say, "oh wow, a stick" and then tell you some story about their first car/horse/airplane/tricycle having a manual transmission.

 

Because we can! Trucks come with an automatic transmission, blasphemy.

 

Because after a month with a new vehicle, manual shifting becomes nearly unconscious - automatic. I never have to feel the auto-trans bump a bad shift or feel the truck labor up a grade. The ride is smooth and beautiful.

 

I generally bought manual transmission toyotas because they were a 1000 bucks cheaper and had better fuel economy. those days are gone.

 

Well, they are now $2000 cheaper but have awful fuel economy...but they do have great gearing. I would give up a few mpgs for that.

 

I'll hop on page 90 with my boringly simple reasoning: I like shifting gears and enjoy the mechanical simplicity of it. I may have a little ptsd from good ol' 4L60Es too, though that really has nothing to do with Toyota. 4l60s aren't terrible AFTER you rebuild them. Not good, but not terrible lol

 

I watched Back to the Future too many times as a kid. Watching Marty slam gears as a seven year old was the coolest thing ever.

I've owned one automatic since I got my license almost 25 years ago, my 2G Tacoma for three years. When the dude crossed the center line and drilled me head on I knew I wanted a manual as a replacement as I didn't care for how the 2G shifted, let alone the 3G which was already getting maligned in the press and on the forum. I'm super lucky in that while my wife can't drive manual she doesn't care what I buy. I will admit it can be annoying if her SUV is in the shop that she can't take my truck for the day, but we borrow cars and make it work.

Everything automotive is 100% personal preference, ultimately. For me, I prefer rowing my own gears. I miss shifter feel from previous cars, my C5's gearbox is terrible, but I still enjoy it more than I would a two-pedal vehicle.

 

Interesting, my TRD Sport 6MT gets virtually identical mileage to our Automatic brethren are reporting.

 

Mine gets bonkers mileage at 55-60. 25+ all day. Set the cruise at 72 and I’m at 18-19 like clockwork.

 

Same. I mentioned this in another thread recently. Highway MPGs definitely aren't where it's at. But country roads at 55-60 is the sweet spot...which works out for me because that's mostly what I drive.

 

Driving a truck is like pushing a sheet of plywood into the wind.

 

Easier maintinence, simpler design, less moving parts, rare, more fun. To hear people say wow, I didn't even know you could still buy a manual transmission truck.

 

Yup, I hear that same comment time-after-time-after-time.

 

1) Because automatics are boring to drive.

2) Manuel transmissions keep you more engaged with your vehicle, and the road around you.

3) More control over your vehicle, especially during the winter and/or mountain driving.

4) A manual transmission is the best anti-theft device you can have.

5) Automatics just never shift when I wan/ expect them to.

6) Nobody ever asks to borrow your truck.

7) It's what I've driven since I got my first car at 16, and now I'm set in my ways.

 

@Okkine 2.0, the only item on your list which is untrue for me is #6, family and friends ask to borrow my Tacoma because it is a stick.

 

Well damn! I only know one other person who can still drive stick proficiently. He's 80 years old, and has his own truck, so no need to borrow mine.