Browsing the Toyota Lot on Sunday.

The wife and I just went to the local Tacoma dealer looking at 24 Tacoma's, they had 16 new 24 tacoma's on the front lot, and a handful of 2nd and 3rd gens. Plenty of TRD offroad models ranging between 45K and 57K and a bunch of TRD sports in the 47K to 50K. Not one new 24 had a manual trans, all automatics. They had 8 new Tundra's between 65K and 70K.

 

That's because a manual buyer is literally a dying breed. I bet when all is said and done the mix will be 5% manual and 95% auto. I am not surprised. You order what will sell.

 

Toyota determines the mix so yep.

 

Probably be higher if they offered the option in every trim, but they don’t.

Originally hot to buy a ‘24 access cab, assuming it comes with a manual. Thought the manual was going to return to the ACs. Come to find out they discontinued the AC, and no manual, then thought well maybe I could live without those doors and manual because of the new linked rear suspension, discovered the XC doesn’t get that either. Threw what I was hoping to buy into a tailspin.

 

Highly unlikely. Manuals are becoming dinosaurs and people just don’t want them any longer. They especially don’t want them in a 4 banger economy car or truck. The last manuals are barely surviving in the sports car world as well. A few diehards left but not many. It just doesn’t make sense to design and fit a manual in every trim. Way too costly and again just no demand.

 

True, but would like to see the numbers if they did. Can’t sell a whole lot of manuals if the choices are extremely limited. Toyota makes it really hard to get a manual in the trim cab figuration I wanted, AC OR. Have to buy a Sport and convert it into an OR of sorts, basically add an locker and change out the suspension, something I shouldn’t have to do. Don’t even think the XC comes in Sport trim anymore either. Does the Prerunner? Not even sure the point of bringing that back since no 4WD is available.

Have driven manuals most of my life, autos always feel like they are always in the wrong gear or constant hunting to me, especially when loaded down.

 

Wow at those prices. They can charge what ever they want and apparently people will still pay it. Being close to retiring I saw this coming just before the pandemic and I bought 2 new cars. My Tacoma and a CX5 Mazda. Both are paid for now and I'm now retired and wont have to worry about that anymore. I have a 13 Sienna with 83K in the garage as well.

In 1968 I went with my dad when he bought a brand new Ford Fairlane two door hardtop that was sky blue and white for $2600. My first new car was a 87 Mazda B2200 SE5 regular cab short bed. with automatic $7200
I have never paid more than $25K and thought that was insane for a disposable product that rusts, falls apart and depreciates faster then you can pay them off. Car prices are approaching home prices not that many years ago. I'm glad to be where I am at. Everything is paid for pretty much.

 

The availability makes sense knowing the niche a manual transmission is now. It could also be a variation of what I caught in the months it took to find the Tacoma I wanted. That's component availability, production runs and holds.

We have and enjoy a late model or modern 6 speed manual with my wife's car and to me that's a better application because I see my '24 Tacoma really benefits from the 8 speed automatic gear spacing. Most of several 4x4s in my life have been manual transmissions and I confess the automatic is also really good for trail crew (MTB, ski area) work I do.

More understanding of what Toyota mostly produces should have been evident from typical dealer inventory. Over and over we saw a lot of short beds and vehicles I'm sure are not used for traditional light truck stuff or being oriented for work tasks. Much inventory that's family and commuter duty.

 

Yeah prices are silly, originally was looking at a Plain Jane Tacoma SR XC with 4WD, but they want nearly $40K for it, that is a $30K truck at best, plus it lost some amenities from the previous gen. Maybe if it had manual they could drop the price a couple grand, but it doesn’t. Not sure why a simple base doesn’t come with a stick standard.

Can get an F150 XL 4WD for the same price, with nearly twice the power, same mpgs, 12” touch screen, 36 gallon tank, better payload and towing.

https://www.ontarioford.net/new/1FTEX1LP5RKD63265.htm?fmccmp=t1-si;

 

The f150 is cheaper because it’s a POS

 

Ok bud…

 

So a Sport sells for more than a OR?

 

Simple, just buy the Ford. If everything is better on the Ford in your eyes, and cheaper, then why come on here and gripe about it??

 

What dealership you go too? I’m in a similar area

 

Pretty sure I will, just simply comparing what you can get for your dollars. Is it really griping though?

 

Did you post about the Tacoma on the F150 forum?

 

What did you pay for your Tacoma in 2017?

 

Getting ready to, pretty sure I’ll get similar responses against Toyota from the Ford fan boys over there too.

People get awfully emotional about their “brand”. Meh, they are all crap. Only buying for needs and practicality.

 

Not being emotional to point out what's the use of all your drama? No one asked to be rescued.

 

What drama? Comparison shopping and pointing out flaws is drama now?