Manual transmission Fan Club and BS thread (All Generations Welcome)

Sounds like you got it all thought out. Sounds real nice. Good luck. My wife is 60 and I'm 67 so an additional lift for us at 5'6 and 5'4 is out of the question. I had a step bar installed for easier access for us both. With a 3 inch lift kit we'd need an extension ladder or gang plank.

Best of luck with the mod.
Dannyblues

 

Get a couple of those hoists that the gardeners use to lift the mowers and winch yourselves in.

 

I do the same thing almost every day.

 

Sorry but to me that's hysterical
Wear heavy gloves until you build new muscle memory. Best of luck. Dannyblues

 

I have owned 28 cars in my lifetime. ONLY ONE was an automatic. It was my wife's car when we got married. EVERY other one was a manual. After I taught her how to drive a stick, she wouldn't have an automatic, and neither would I. Anyone who says an automatic is BETTER than a manual is crazy!!

Ever try to start an automatic when you have a dead battery ??? NO PROBLEM with a manual, just push the car and pop the clutch. With an auto, NO WAY.

You can't handle freeway traffic with a manual ?? PUSSY !!! Wife can't drive a stick shift ??? Get a new wife.

A 4x4 with an auto trans is pretty much worthless in my mind, and is only made for people who want to have a 4x4 truck to impress people. BFD !!!

I know you auto guys won't like this post, and I really don't care. Those of us who grew up driving stick shift cars/trucks know what I'm talking about. Man up and try a manual. Once you learn how, you'll NEVER go back to a slushbox !!

- JAMES

 

Bravo ! I tried to teach my wife to drive a manual only once. I'll see if I can't post the photo for you.
Photo of manual driving lesson for my wife results in photo included
Dannyblues

 

You had best believe the six month wait. I ordered mine and waited six months just about to the day.

 

I ordered a lot of cars/trucks just to get the manual trans. DEFINITELY worth the wait.

- JAMES

 

I totally agree it was.

 

No doubt it's worth it, but 6 months is a bit ridiculous. I've talked to a few people who settled for an auto just because they didn't want to wait or didn't have time to wait for a M/T to be ordered. A lot of people seem scared to buy out of state too.

This is the first time I've bought out of state (first Tacoma too). Every other vehicle I've bought, I just went to the dealer and bought it from inventory. Including M/T's. I know they're readily available almost anywhere else in the world, but the future looks dark for the M/T in Murica.

 

I would have waited a year if that's what it took to get the manual, but I was in the position to do that.

 

Took me 7 weeks and a 400 mile trip...but they were great and met me at the airport, drove it home the same day.

 

My truck was on the lot, part of the first batch of 3rd gens they got in..

 

Good to know. What month did you order it ? Did you get the color and everything you wanted but no more? I hope to order a 2020 if things stay the same. I don't want to hope my dealer can locate one mid year as they did this time. I did get exactly what I wanted and only waited three weeks. In July 2016
Dannyblues

 

I ordered mine October 25, 2015 it was delivered in April 4, 2016. I had them get the windows tinted and ordered in the all weather floor mats. I picked it up on April 9, 2016. The truck has surpassed my expectations of ride, comfort and dependably thus far.

My truck had the differential howl and I had the rear third member replaced at around 8k miles. This fixed the issue for me.

My only other issue with the truck is a self created one. I carry a lot of gear when camping in order to make sure I am prepared for just about anything. A good part of the gear is carried to assure my wife's comfort while we are out and about. Happy wife, happy life. This load and the stock rear suspension is ok but I felt it needed attention. I have sense added a leaf to my rear suspension and I am planning on some custom order 5165 Bilstine shocks to handle the dampening duties in the rear.

 

The Mercedes had individual bucket seats so no benefits from a bench seat. You could slide across without much trouble. The biggest feature of was the "bread knife in a jar of peanut butter" feeling because of all the linkage from the shift lever down to the transmission.

 

Yes, we had to push it 50mph to get it started but you can push start and automatic. Nowhere near as easy as starting a manual.

 

I happened to be at the dealer picking up something for the wifes 4Runner. Asked my sales guy if they had any manual Tacoma's. After a few he came back and said, yes at the storage lot.
We took a drive, had to find buried way in the back. From what the told me. They have had it for over 60 days with no interest. Were getting ready to dealer trade it. I told him I'll call him back that day. Went home, got setup with my bank. Printed the blank check for the truck. Drove back and bought it. Plus they cut me one hell of a deal. Then I traded in my Pathfinder.

 

Congrats on the new buggy MT for the win...tripped over and purchased mine in a similar manner.

That was real nice also that your Meemaw crocheted that wheel cover for you...even nicer that you actually put it on!

 

Wasnt meemaw. was the wife. She came up with the idea.