2023 Tacoma Manual Transmission...likes and dislikes?

I’m not going to say it didn’t help, but it didn’t solve my complaints. Initially a tune feels like a very drastic change from stock. Very sporty, etc. but after a while and getting used to it, I find I still bring it into the scenarios where I demand a lot of it and get nothing in return, and tunes have not truly fixed that. Personally I don’t think they can fix that, I think Toyota specifically programmed that in and is a parameter tunes can’t mess with.

I think most people are sold on the tunes because of the change in throttle response in most situations. I think some pay more attention than others and I think those who pay attention more, care more. Honestly, I’m good without a tune, although I do like to raise the redline from stock, because I feel stock is too low when I’m really winding it out.

 

WOT is WOT. A pedal commander or tune can’t change that.

 

I don’t understand how having more torque available at lower rpm after a tune can be dismissed as just enhanced pedal characteristics but to each his or her own

 

I never felt like I actually had any more torque down low.

 

Interesting. It was immediately noticeable on mine. I can get up highway inclines in 6th at 2000 rpm going 60 mph without losing speed now instead of having to downshift to 5th or even 4th. Before the tune (besides having to use the 2LO mod for reversing while towing) that was my biggest issue with the manual. I’d be screaming up a modest I-70 incline in Kansas in 4th at 4-5000 rpm to pass a semi

 

Not sure what to tell ya.

Maybe there is something wrong with your truck or maybe you are one of those drivers that races from light to light. I dunno.

I can easily keep up with traffic. Unladen my RPMs barely go past 2.5K. Towing my 6x12x7 enclosed trailer my RPMs barely go above 3K unless im climbing steep hills. I ve had quite a few passengers over the years and I told them how guys on TW complain that these trucks are "underpowered'. My buddies just laugh.

Im on 33s, 2" lift, roof rack, RTT and currently carry ~550# of constant weight. I am running SFOB tune on 94 octane, which did make the truck a lot more fun to drive, but i had zero complaints in power department when my truck was stock. My only performance complaint was the throttle pedal feel, tune did improve it quite a bit.

Its truly shocking to me that some folks say theses trucks are underpowered. I just cant wrap my stupid brain around that.

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By the way, when it comes to MT, i have the opposite experience. With 2WD LOW mod and ADM, its a prefect set up for me. With the accumulator my only complaint was that i couldn't rev match properly, otherwise everything was fine. My tranny only clunks when i fuck up with the clutch, otherwise its smooth as butter.

You can look at the video i posted above and see i effortlessly i can shift gears. I think its a very nice transmission for a pick up. 7 years later i still get excited every single time i jump behind the wheel. Absolutely love this truck, hope it will last me another 25 years minimum.

 

Maybe you got a special truck.

Like I said, it's subjective. I love my truck but am very transparent about what I believe are it's faults.

 

Not sure about special, but it definitely doesn't have any TW complaints. I posted a lot of pics on here climbing hills with my trailer doing like 2500-2700 RPMs, not flooring it at all. FWIW i have always used at least 91+ octane after the dealers fill, maybe that plays a role? The manual does say "select octane rating 87 OR higher"

I drove 2 stock 2019 AT off-roads in city and highway and found them to be completely adequate for normal everyday driving.

MT 3Gs come with 4.30 rear ends, and from what i read on here its same as an AT with 5.29 gears. AT guys seem to be happy with their 5.29 swaps

I did have an underpowered truck once, was my first vehicle. 1990 Mazda b2200 with a whopping 85 HP haha

 

I am lucky I got one. I waited 2 months for my MT AC sport. I even got the LED light package and heated seats with the back up sensors and such. It's a real unicorn and I have not seen many out there with that package. Folks have asked me why I did not get the 4 door and I always tell them... It does have 4 doors. 2 of them just happen to be kinda short! I love the AC and think the newer ones with out the access doors is a real step back.

 

I agree. It's not what I would call a long throw. But then again I once owned a 71 Ford 150 with an inline six and three on a tree! Truck came with 4 wheel non powered drum brakes! I laugh when folks say the Taco MT has kinda a long throw!

 

I completely agree. I love the throw. One of my favorites of all the manuals I’ve owned. When I drive my son‘s Subaru WRX with a short shift kit and I can barely tell what gear I’m in and scared to go 5–>4… that’s aggravating lol. Now the ballsack shift knob is a different story but it’s too funny for me to change it out

 

Exactly.

I assuming folks that say that never driven an old school pick up like you described above. Buddy in high school had 1990 Ferd F150 I6 4.9, now those were long throws. We used to do brake stands in 2nd, oh fun times... My 2007 mazda b4000 also had long throws. Miss that truck dearly, wish i could've kept it.

Tacoma MT tranny is an absolute joy to row.

 

It's definitely not a long throw, the shifter cane is only like a foot long lol. I can see why some might like shorter throws, but I really find the throws nice on this one. It is not loose feeling at all, IMO.

Long throws are when you have a 70s 4 speed with a 3 foot long shifter cane to reach the driver, on an already very unrefined transmission where the internals are loose. THAT is a sloppy shifter.

You could put our transmission in a mustang and if the lever was short to fit the seating position, it would feel like a sporty shifting gearbox, because it's pretty tight down at the shifter housing.

 

Ohh you're lucky. I searched for about 6 months before giving up and going with a 4 door TRD OR that I could snag.

 

I am fully aware that it is not the longest throw shifter out there, but it's the longest throw shifter that I've driven. And when I test drove it for the first time I was laughing on my way out of the parking lot because the throws felt so comically long compared to my Mini Cooper that I was accustomed to.

 

Lot shorter throw than the SM420 in my old CJ5.

 

Agree completely. Just had a local mechanic do the delete (very reasonable, and no bruised knuckles).

I drove manuals for 46 years, but in the last few years started to miss self-shifting. The Tacoma is one of the very few manual pickups for sale now, so I had high expectations for my 2023 TRD Sport. However, the clutch feel was a little vague and inconsistent. Smooth shifts were sometimes hit-or-miss. I wondered if I was just not as adept as I used to be. Then the delete.

Wow, what a difference. After learning the clutch feel, I really enjoy the improvement. Take-up is closer to the floor, it has a crisper engagement and a much more communicative feel.

If you want to sharpen up your shifting, this is a good remedy and IMO, well worth doing, along with a B&M shifter. It's not a sports car, but definitely more engaging and fun to drive.

 

On my fifth Tacoma, Gen 3, and my first automatic. ATs make more sense, are easier in traffic, even better in most off-road situations and get better mileage. Maybe so, but I miss that shifter.

 

There is your problem

 

The only reason to get MT is simply if one really enjoys rowing gears and playing with the clutch.

No other benefit really.

I am one of those strange guys and prefer MT any driving siltation.