What have you done to improve your 6-speed manual?

Just drive it the speed limit and try not to set any speed records and you will love the manual. I love mine. It took me a loooooooooong (~15000mi) time to get really used to it but I wouldnt trade it for an auto now.

 

I would never heal-toe the Taco, the pedals aren't spaced right...I just rev match the downshift on approach for the turn and while slowing down for lights or in traffic...

Heal-toe I can understand but how does rev matching crack you up? It is much more enjoyable in traffic and on back roads if you know how to rev match, no clutch modulation necessary and much smoother if you know what you are doing...

 

Sorry for the dumb question here but what exactly are you rev matching? I mean you know what the revs are at on the engine side by looking at the tach but what are you matching that to?

 

Say you are in 5th gear and need to get to 4th gear to prep for a turn or just let the engine braking from a lower gear slow you down, you press the clutch in, blip the throttle to bring the RPMs up to what they will be in for 4th gear at that speed, shift to fourth and let the clutch out. If you do it correctly the clutch in, blip, downshift all occur simultaneously and the clutch out should be a simple dumping of the clutch, no easing...search on youtube for some videos that show you the process...I don't look at the tach while doing it, after doing it for a while you get a feel for what gear and speed you are at and how much throttle needs to be applied to match the rpms for the downshift...

 

7 yrs old now, no transmission issues. Used M1 full syn for both tranny oil changes.
This is the only 'mod' I did years ago. I didn't like the long travel of the clutch pedal. http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/technical-chat/4838-cheap-free-mods-23.html#post378699

 

Got it, thanks! I have been driving manual transmissions for ever but never really understood what that term meant. I'm familiar with what you mean by blipping the throttle and it is something I've always done on every other car I've owned because the RPMs drop very quick as soon as you step on the clutch. However, I've notice that on this truck, unlike any other manual transmission car I've owned, the RPMS tend to stay high and the blipping of the throttle is not always needed to execute a smooth shift.

I have noticed the transmission is a bit on the notchy side but if I do what others have pointed out on this thread about slow shifts it helps a lot. Rather than forcing a quick shift I tend to do a slow deliberate shift where I move the shifter to the next gate and gradually push, allowing enough time for the synchros to engage and do their job.

 

Most cars I have driven built the past couple years have this "rev hang" phenomena where the revs don't drop as soon as you depress the clutch. On the Civic forum the conclusion was that it has something to do with emissions and not allowing backfiring when the clutch is depressed.

Also, I agree that these transmissions like when you are very deliberate while shifting.

 

There's definitely a learning curve getting used to this tranny, but I'm very happy with it now that I've gotten the hang of it's quirks. I look at it as a 3-stage system: 1-2 are low range for getting the load moving/parking lot maneuvers, 3-5 are the driving gears and 6th is overdrive. Took about three months to get completely comfortable with it, but smooth sailing now with no mods.

 

haha beat me to it, i thought i was in a autocross forum for a second there...

 

Haha, the heel-toe thing was not referring directly to Tacos. I drive other manual cars and I'm interested in learning to heel-toe and rev match better, that's all.

I'm glad I mentioned it, because a bunch of good, constructive comments came thanks to it. There you go naysayers!

Most of my cars I drive gently, so when approaching a turn that requires a downshift, I sometimes simply hold the clutch down until my speed is what I need it to be, the revs are of course down, and then I just ease the clutch. Nothing wrong with that, but I'm going to practice shifting quicker and rev-matching for a while to see how it goes.

 

Absolutely love the 6 speed. And previously owned a '93 pickup with 5 speed. Never had issues with either.

 

As I mentioned before the Tacoma isn't set up for heel-toeing...I've found not many cars really are, especially for someone with size 13's like me...

 

BMW's are about the only one I've driven that are setup well for heel-toe from the factory... their accelerator pedals are wacky.

I haven't driven a newer beemer, hopefully they still have it. T'was a great feature!

 

X2!

 

I fall into the T56 crowd.

 

I don't understand what all the fuss is about. I have not done anything under the hood on my 6 speed. I think if you shift right it is faster than the auto. 75000 miles on mine not one problem and have not replaced anything under the hood since i got it 2 yrs ago and the carfax has nothing. After i went off roading the first time it started that clutch squeaking noise that is common, but that is all. In addition, the gas mileage is not at all different and i am getting better than most autos. The papers say the manual is suppost to get 15 to 18 mpg. Well my winter gas mileage is 16 and summer is 18-19. When In go on trips 19+ and on one trip 22 which to me is the same or if not better than the autos are suppost to get. Just don't do anything under the hood and since I live in CA there are visual inspections on smog that i don not want to worry about. Love my manual and it shifts smooth to me, but have not test drove a frontier to compare it to. Thanks

 

Any write ups on the T-56 swap? considering this and a dog box.

 

I agree with Rocky. I've had 5 Toyota pick-ups. My last one was a 2009 4 cyl. 4X4 SR5 with the 5-spd., and I bought a 2012 TRD 4X4 V-6 with the 6-spd (I wanted the TRD components). I find the 6-spd to be a better transmission, certainly smoother than the I-4 Tacoma with the 5spd.

I tend to leave my Tacomas mostly stock, like Rocky - larger tires (265/75 16s) and skid plates is about all. I'm an outdoor scientist and use it extensively off-road. Never much of a problem.

Steve in Albuquerque

 

When you learn how to shift it you don't need a 5# shift knob 2" short shift 0-80 gear oil or any thing else it's a truck not a Porsche.

 

You guys all miss the point. The point is that you are not required to "learn to shift" Toyota should just make a decent tranny that doesn't need special learning. Period. Products should be intuitive enough and fit in with the standard ways without requiring buyers to adapt their lives. Please see Apple's stock price if you want further explanation.

The trouble with the 6 speed is mostly the idiotic ratios. With 263 ft-lbs, you would think you don't have to shift 4 times to get from light to light, but the ratios are so effed up that you do. The RPM hang is just plain shit.

Anyone who thinks the Tacoma 6 speed is great should drive an Acura 6 speed, a Nissan 6 speed, A Hyundai (i20, not sure if its sold here in the states). If you drove shitty transmissions all your life and you think our 6 speed is great, good for you.

OK, I am really done now. I needed to get it out.