No Off-Road Manual Tacomas available in stock

Does anyone know why that is the case?

Our dealer said there are none in 5 states (we are in Northern VA)

There are relatively plenty of TRD Sport Tacomas, and a number of used TRD Off Road Tacomas (manual only)

 

Because they sold them all?

 

They are switching over to the 2014 run so just wait till September and you should be able to find one

 

Any specific cab arrangement? They offer certain models regionally.

 

This is why I bought the first used one I saw.(2010) Wasn't expecting to buy one just driving around in my 2006 SR5 last year, but got lucky and traded in right then and there.

 

Double Cab.

 

At that time I might be tempted to get a 1500 RAM Diesel instead, albeit, in auto.

 

Thats an awfully big contrast between the two

 

Definitely.. Actually wanted to downsize and use rail racks for when I need the bigger bed (e.g. lumber), but if it comes with a bigger bed, better MPG, and diesels hold value well. Anyway, don't want to start anything here, especially as a newbie. Neither 2014 Tacoma, nor 2014 Rams are yet available.

 

I prefer manual. I don't trust automatics in their decision making, nor reliability. Plus, I prefer things simple.

I really don't appreciate that Tacoma's AT has higher MPG than MT, but not sufficiently for me to consider switching. Of course with AT you can also get the longer bed, but not really long enough. I would still buy ladder racks to extend its utility.

I would, however, consider AT if in return I get 30MPG and durability of a diesel engine.
My trailer is just under 5200 dry, but has been parked since I got it at my weekend spot. I have towed some equipment with my current truck, and it wasn't particularly enjoyable (even though it's an HD truck, it's not that powerful due to age).

My current truck is too unreliable and I don't drive the Mustang often enough to keep it and I decided to get rid of my Mustang and my old truck for a new truck.

I am a relative newbie to trucks, and have known absolutely nothing about differences until about a year ago when I bought a piece of land and required something to haul junk with (and just to make it there) I really didn't want to consider Toyotas, but there are really very few options in manual these days (Nissan Frontier, Toyota Tacoma or Ram 2500+ Diesel).

Tacoma with MPG comparable to my Mustang GT and sufficient towing and plenty of utility with some customization, seemed appealing enough, decorative fly catchers are not though.

 

According to Edmunds, 3.9% of car sales in 2011 were manual transmissions. 2012 looks to be an up year with MTs accounting for 7% of sales.

manual transmissions are considered by some to be going the way of the dinosaur. I'm hanging on to my 1st Taco as long as I can.

 

Dude if you want to deal with the aftreatment system in the ram go on ahead it is not worth buying something we all know will have issues it is a chrysler product after all

 

I was referring to the op wanting a diesel ram and I stated it will have issues

 

Yeah a trailer of that weight needs something bigger if you're going to be towing it often. As for the AT vs MT, the AT has a better reliability record than the MT in the 2nd gen tacoma. Also the gearing tends to not be low enough in the MT, and you're really going to notice that towing that large of a trailer.

 

Yeah a trailer of that weight needs something bigger if you're going to be towing it often. As for the AT vs MT, the AT has a better reliability record than the MT in the 2nd gen tacoma. Also the gearing tends to not be low enough in the MT, and you're really going to notice that towing that large of a trailer.

 

Afreatment system is an after treatment system on diesel engines as required by the EPA since 2008 to keep diesel "clean". They have something similar on the Ford diesel as well. It requires 10-18 gallons of "urea" liquid to function (chemical breaktown), which I believe last something like 10K miles. It's a system that all Diesel enthusiasts love to hate, as it obviously complicates the fuel and exhaust systems with more parts and sensors, and also why pre-2008 Cummins models hold value very well. I don't really know what common issues the system has, but I am sure it had some kinks to work out in earlier models. I did look at a used model to avoid it myself, but sort of gave up on it, as trucks are too rare. Apparently Tacoma's with off-road package with MT are even more difficult to come by.

I don't plan on towing often, nor far, and I agree if I was, Tacoma is probably not a good choice. I do forsee, with such a small bed, towing a trailer though. You can only put so much on a racks, and only "rackable" materials.

 

Can you share further information on both of these comments?

 

Just read through some of the old threads on here. Plenty of people having problems with the MT, never seen a thread about AT problems. Not to mention their a pain in the ass to wheel

 

My dealer said that they make 20 automatics to every 1 manual.

 

I purchased basically what you describe just recently. In the color I wanted, there was exactly 1 within a 500 mile radius.

I was told that they sell plenty of manual base models and other low trim Tacomas, but that most people who opt for the "fancier" packages, don't mind the $800 more for the automatic transmission and thus opt for the "fancier" transmission.

It made sense to me both from a price sensitivity point of view- people buying the cheapest Tacoma are going to be very price sensitive, while those buying the expensive Tacoma will be much less price sensitive- and from a "load it with all the features you got" point of view.

I'm like you though. I trust MT more than AT, and I am more confident in my ability to service MT. I also believe that a large part of the fuel economy discrepancy in EPA ratings comes from pessimism about shifting behavior from the driver. If you shift at 4k RPM all the time, it's easy to get terrible fuel economy! The automatic, of course, takes this out of the equation.




Lastly, I don't quite understand- in this thread we have heard two things:

1) Manual transmission has shorter gearing than Auto transmission, which hurts MPG

2) Manual transmission has too tall of gearing to tow well, get the Auto for towing

Does anyone else understand my confusion?