A question for all you manual tranmission Taco owners.

Hello All,
I recently got a new job and I need a truck. My first choice is a 4-cyl manual Tacoma.

I've been driving a VW Golf turbo diesel with a manual transmission. (44 mpg average! It gets better fuel economy than a Prius on the highway. Sorry I couldn't resist.)

I test drove a 2009 Tacoma Access cab manual and the shifting feels clunky and stiff compared to my VW. Is this to be expected on a truck? Does this get better with age?

Thanks for your help.

P.S. Everyone should write an email to Toyota asking for a diesel option for the Tacoma. You get better mileage, more power at lower rpms and your engine is broken-in at 100,000 miles. Most of you already are aware of this, I'm sure.

 

I don't have a lot of experience with other trucks, but my earlier '99 Tacoma was definitely "clunky" compared to the sports car I came from. So, I'm assuming the new Tacomas are the same. And I doubt it gets better.

It's not a sport sedan or car for that matter.

GA

 

I drive a 00 Taco 4x4, I mean its no sports car trans with double snycros, but mine shifts well but does have a slight clunk. RedLine MT90 helped alot with shifting.

 

Well ... It's a pickup truck, and in my experience truck shifters have always felt heavier / stiffer / notchier than most passenger car shifters of the same time period.

 

Same here. It's far from the smoothest shifting transmission you'll ever drive but it gets the job done.

 

Thanks, guys. Thats good to hear. I don't want to switch to automatic.

I had a small 84' Mazda b2200 a long time ago and the shifting was clunky too. But that was my first vehicle so I had nothing to compare it to.

 

damn, i thought everyone liked it rough??

 

Mine is different from other manual vehicles I drive (old Isuzu Trooper and especially the wife's Rav4). My personal observation is that on my Tacoma there is a higher clutch engagement point than on other manuals that I drive. By the way, a Toyota Dealer mechanic who test drove my vehicle recently says the higher clutch engagment point is normal on my truck. I only have around 7,000 miles on it. My takeoff has become smoother; I think it is because I have gotten used to the higher engagment point and probably also attributable, to some degree, to break-in.

 

I agree with my 98 4cyl. there is a higher clutch engagement point, but once you find it shifting can become very smooth and almost unoticeable. I drove my brothers 99' Golf GTI and it took me awhile to get used to the lower engagement point. I found that once i was used to both vehicles the shifting was just as smooth for both of them.

 

I have a 09 w/ manual and definitly don't care for the high-point clutch engagement. I have not seen a service manual for 09's but I believe the 06 service manual specifies a take up point of just under 1" from floor boards with carpet removed......

Motoretro

 

You just get used to it after a while. It will never be as awesome as shifting a Civic Si.

 

i have a 95 and idk what to say...lol.... i only have to push the clutch down 2 inches to shift... it seems like the engagement point is too high... but i think my clutch is about worn out anyhow...lol... and my taco has rough written all over it...

 

I have not driven the golf, but did drive a VW Jetta TDI on a few occasions. I would say the 5spd in my 4cyl Tacoma is no where near as smooth as that Jetta. I would probably even use the word clunky like you did to describe it. Although with all the different manual trucks I have driven, this is pretty much expected for the most part. All and all i have been satisfied with this transmission, It just takes a little getting use to.


EDIT: I am definitely feeling you on the diesel option. This would be killer for off roading, and towing. GM and Ford have already got with the game and are introducing them into their half-ton line ups post 2010. Dodge also said they would do the same. Or at least they were pre-recession. I wouldn't doubt if this doesn't happen being the sh*t has hit the fan for them.

 

ive been driving a 4 banger for about 3 months now,,i definatly know what you mean about that clunk..but it seems like its normal and part of a manual truck. and a diesiel option would be awsome!

 

It's no sports car...but I dig the beefier feel.

 

i just bought an 09 4x2 5 spd and it does feel clunkier than the dakota i've driven for the past 11 years. but nothing i can't get used to.

 

I just got a 09 4x4 5 spd and for the first 200 miles or so everything felt real smooth. Now (I'm at around 325 or so) the 1st to 2nd shift seems to feel a bit notchy and clunky like it catches on something and doesn't shift into 2nd as smooth as it did before.

Other than that it seems smooth.

 

Shifting can't compare to my BMW 318ti or Mazda Miata, but it's OK. I have an '08 Regular Cab 4X4 and am happy with the mileage. I've only got 13k mi on mine but am averaging 23 mpg combined. I run AMS Oil 5W20 XL and removed the secondary air filter. I plan to get the AFE drop-in, possibly an exhaust and continue driving conservatively to maximize my mileage.

I offset my truck with a Ninja 250 in the summer which gets 70 mpg (better than a Prius OR TDI - sorry, couldn't help myself ).

 

Nice I just traded my 03 Ninja 250 in for an 08 Ninja 650 last season.

Considering I ride my bike 8 months or so out of the year, I could have bought a truck that got 9mpg and still been better off than most

 

I just got my 09 4x4 Access Cab 2.7L less than a week ago. I also notice the slight notchy-ness from 1st-2nd gear. Sometimes its not there at all. But over all for a truck manual transmission its very smooth. The engagement is always higher on trucks than cars, but the Tacoma is better than most trucks ive driven with Manuals.(try a newer ranger or B-series and you will agree!) I have had 2 V6 4runners with 5 speeds befor my Tacoma and the shifting had a simular notchingness as well. Must be a Toyota Thing? I wonder if any V6 6speed Tacoma owners feel the same?