Manual Transmission Sales

Motor1.com recently produced an article, in terms of manual transmission sales in 2024 for a number of models, I think in the USA only?



Shows that the all new Tacoma, sold mostly from February to December 2024, had a take rate of 2%. Up a little bit from 2023 at 1.4%, but down much worse than the 3.5 gen overall at 5%, despite all the bragging of Sheldon Brown and him claiming a take rate of 10-15%.

https://tfltruck.com/2019/05/toyota...-transmissions-it-sells-including-the-tacoma/

https://www.theautopian.com/2024-to... I extol the virtues,rate is only 11 percent.

What do yall think about it?

Is it manufactured by Toyota to deliberately limit manual sales over fleet emissions? Or Major regional distributors like SET or Gulf States Toyota, preventing us customers from being able to readily acquire one? If I want a manual Tacoma, they tend to be outside of those distribution chains in AZ, CO, PNW, or California.

As of 2025, the Tacoma is the sole remaining pickup truck in North America with a manual transmission, but it’s only available in midlevel TRD trims and the “base” SR DCSB 4x4.
Still also zero sense why the new 4Runner TRDs are not available with the manual, for economies of scale?


If this doesn’t get better, wondering if Toyota will discontinue the manual altogether for 2026 or midlife 2028 like they did in late 2017 for the 2018+ old 2TR-FE 2.7Ls.

 

It took me 6 months to find a manual off-road to buy. I had to get it from a dealer 200 miles away. From what I could tell from my search, manuals aren't sitting on lots unless they are SRs.

I bought two new manual 3rd Gens with no problem finding them at the time (a 2016 SR and a 2017 Off Road), but I tried to find a 2023 and had no luck. So demand is probably above 2%, but I'm not sure how much above.

I would totally buy a manual 4Runner...so there's one guaranteed sale if they ever do it.

 

I see, that’s crazy. Guess considering it’s only been 11 months since launch, Toyota only builds them in cycles down in Guanajuato and not even Baja.

I would be nice if Toyota would put a stick in the 4Runner, because as you can see, they’re basically the same vehicle again like the Yota pickup days. 2nd gen was loosely based on the 4th gen 4Runner, as was the 3rd gen 4Runner on the 1st gen Taco. Manual boxes were identical and so were the manual 4WD levers. Hope Toyota also does an X-Runner as well, but hell would freeze over before both happen I guess.

 

The manual in the 4th gen Taco is terrible and I would never buy one. Oh wait.

But seriously, it's not good. It wins by default which let's be honest was good enough for me.

Around here the TRD manuals are few and far between and they don't last long. I was able to snag mine while in transit.

 

I'd like to see how they got their numbers. The GR Corolla was only offered with a manual in 2024, with the automatics becoming available in 25. Is the 3% not-manual from 2025 automatics being sold in 24?

For the Tacoma, the problem of availability surely skews the numbers. I wanted an SR with a manual (and I would have preferred an Xtracab in SR or SR5 trim with a manual), but that's not offered. I doubt I'm the only old guy who wants a base 2-seater with a stick.

The only manual SR I found was outside Chicago (about a 7 hour drive from where I live in MO). I would have bought it except they didn't understand how MO sales tax works and refused to do it the way I needed (they thought they had to collect the tax, but you pay it at the DMV when you register).

I was going to drive 2 hours to buy an automatic SR5 Xtracab, but found my 6MT OR 50 minutes away. I had filtered out the higher trims because the majority of them available had $6-8k packages of options I didn't want (let alone want to pay for). I found my truck by happenstance while surfing Toyota's inventory search on New Years Day.

Anyway, while Toyota certainly has historic sales data to drive their decision making; the only way to know the true take rate is for manuals to be readily available. That of course puts the burden on Toyota (and their dealers) to produce them and run the risk of them not selling.

Today's economy and car prices might make a basic truck with a manual a more attractive proposition if they're priced accordingly (figure $1k off the base SR?). Not everyone can afford $50k Tacomas - which is a price most of them approach once the options get ticked. The counter to that argument would be how well the base SRs actually sell. Maybe nobody wants them, or maybe they're priced too high for what you get; and people spend a little extra for the SR5's and whatnot.

Good topic nonetheless.

-edit-

The Terra TRD OR with 6MT that my dealer got in a week ago, is now sold.

 

I didnt find it very appealing in the 3rd gen either. It felt like an after thought.

1st gen tacomas were great but I was younger at the time so its possible my naivete clouded my judgement.

It seems like a common thought amongst manual tacoma owners, "it was my only option"

Of course, thats not to say it doesnt have a fan base either, im sure theres people who love them vs people who didnt have another option.

 

I think the manual may do well in the 4th gens. The engine, transmission, and axle ratios have to be mated together for best performance. For years the engines and axles truck manufacturers have been using have been designed to work with automatics not manuals. The engines get their torque too high in the rpm range. At least with trucks, they work OK in cars.

That's why they haven't put manuals in trucks bigger than Tacoma's for decades. If you want a truck to do truck work and tow a manual is a handicap and has been for a while. Most of the guys buying manual Tacoma's are wanting a sports car, not a truck.

The new engine Toyota is using in the 4th gen Tacoma gets its torque at a much lower speed. That's going to make it a lot more appealing to those wanting a manual.

 

Trucks that do work often come with Eaton 10, 11, 13 or 18 speed manuals.

 

I think the last full size Manual truck was the 2019 Dodge Ram.

 

After purchasing my 6MT 4th gen - Toyota sent a tailored survey that probed into the importance of the manual in my buying decision. Interesting.

There may be a hint of artificial constraint on the 6MT to improve CAFE - but I can't imagine too much.

I don't think the 6MT will be axed any time soon - Toyota makes certain products available to appease enthusiasts, bolster heritage and make headlines. Case in point - my other vehicle - a 200 series Land Cruiser - which never sold more than a few thousand units/yr in its 13-year run.

Enjoy it while we can - it's a great all arounder - especially in the base TRDs.

 

This should make the resale of a manual real easy...

 

I bought my SR Manual out of state, after it had sat on that dealer's lot for about 3 months. The salesman told me it was on the lot for so long simply because "nobody here knows how to drive it."

 

Haha! When I test-drove one I had to wait 30 minutes while they tried to find someone that knew how to drive a stick so they could pull it out of the back lot for me.

 

Thats sad tbh

 

Who are these 47% of GR86 owners out there with autos?

 

When I bought my 22 the Lot tech pick me up from the airport. He was a young kid, probably 20 years old and told me that none of the lot tech knew how to drive a stick and they practiced on my truck. “Why would anyone want to drive a stick?”

This was also just outside Chicago so maybe the traffic was a deterrent.

 

I'm a autoglass tech, I do windshields for a semi truck dealership i asked one of the sales guys if he could move the truck for me he tells me I can't i don't know how to drive the truck. How are you sales person for big rigs but don't know how to drive them. No problem buddy I'll do it myself.

 

I think the GR Corolla auto probably went on sale over the last 6 weeks, so that’s probably why it’s at 97%. I’ve said many times, sales are tallied by strictly calendar year and not by Model Year. So 2025MY sales are included.

For 2025, probably gonna increase significantly. I find getting an auto in specialty cars like that lazy. Unless you’re disabled or elderly. Young guys buying auto performance cars, when the performance benefits are not readily apparent, are poseurs to me.

 

Driving schools are the issue in my opinion and not doing their part by teaching students both transmissions in the field. I can’t blame Gen Z and younger Y for not knowing.

When I learned to drive in the 2000s, all we were taught about sticks, was classroom instruction and used 3/4 speed automatic old 90s Corollas and Chevys as student driver vehicles. I ironically had to learn while test driving a 2nd gen base model ACLB V6.

I’m a manual driving instructor myself, but I don’t even have enough students in the first place.

Pathetic. I hate people like that.

 

There's just not much interest in it anymore. Select few us that still enjoy it though. I learned in a 1988 toyota mr2 one of the mechanics at the shop I worked at while in hs had it he taught me in the movie theater parking lot. The good ol times lol