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

When I test drove the manual, the salesman allowed me to back it out of a very tight spot and, upon return, go through multi-point turns to re-park it. For insurance reasons, dealers rarely let you even drive it off the lot. I suspect the guy didn't know how to drive a manual.

A couple weeks ago, getting my alignment, I saw a tech go out to the truck to bring it into the garage. He hopped in, then immediately got out, went back into the garage. Moments later another guy came out to move it.

 

Anyone own a third gen pro with manual. How do you like it?

 

Don’t know if you can make it out, but this is where the truck sat when they had to shuttle us out to it, due to the fact that no one could drive it up front. It was behind the dealership.

 

Simple answer is majority of the people on this thread do own or have owned a MT, 3rd gen MT numbers may be less than previous gens.

For me, it’s all I know. So yea, you could say I dig it. Still learning how to wheel and off road with the MT, but definitely having fun along the way.

 

Would the throws differ from model to model? I owned a 86 Toyota pickup and a 91 Toyota pickup. Both manual.

 

3rd Gen shifter is like butter compared to earlier

 

Throw I’d say is a little shorter than my old 89 4 banger, but still very familiar. I think if you got in one for the first time you’d get over the initial shock of how smooth it is, but like I said that same old feeling will come back to you.

 

I currently have a 16 TRD Sport with auto. Not disappointed, but not thrilled either.

 

Now that you mention it, the first MT taco that I test drove, they shuttled me to the satellite parking lot and had me drive it back to the dealer.



This is where I left it

 

To this day at my stealership, there is "stick guy" that is a magical individual who can move manual cars around.

 

You: May I have a discount if I prove you wrong?

 

I listed this on the 3rd Gen Tips and Tricks, thought it might be more relevant here:

 

hello 3rd gens, it said all gens welcome so thank you

...getting close to 30yrs of owning a stick and nothing but a stick (I have driven AT (company truck, relative's corolla) but never personally owned one)

Why do I like the MT:
1. I get to fiddle with the stick at red lights
2. I get to control the engine speed and transmission (I have always found it difficult to control this in AT especially between 30~50mph its always shifting around on its own drives me batkrapkrazy)
3. I heard from local used dealer that its very difficult (in my locale at least) to find older trucks with v6 4x4 and MT ... so that makes me feel warm inside
4. probably more reasons i cannot think of at this moment so carry on...

ALSO !!! and this is important, I honestly think that us MT drivers should get great insurance discounts as we are MUCH less likely to text and drive because
at some point you WILL NOT HAVE at least one hand on the wheel if you're yapping/texting ... i am not looking forward to the day some dumshit totals my old truck let alone a little fender bender whilst yapping on their cell

5speed 'til I die ... or 6sp on something new!?!


p.s. anybody know where I can find a like new to near excellent Tacoma floor mat to fit mine? they have unfortunately discontinued the blue gray xtraCab floormats
I suppose this is a drawback to driving a stick ... excessive left foot wear!

 

Drove some gravel fire roads. Enjoyed nature’s beauty. Exercised 4x4 Hi and Lo.
I get a thrill driving in low range. Shifting the MT while in low gives the sense you are operating a beast of a vehicle. Tractor like.
Co-pilot Toto also enjoyed the ride.

 

I had a little fun with the folks over at good year last fall when I had them mount my new tires. Granted it's not a standard setup but I figured if you work at a tire shop you're a bit of a gear head and at least one of them should have been able to figure out how to get out of 3 different neutrals......

So few people know how to drive a manual these days that I just look at it as an advanced security feature. I could leave the windows down with the engine running and have zero concerns about someone getting away with my truck.

 

One is 1-5+reverse.
One is 2wd or 4wd.
One is Lo or Hi.
Not sure what the last one is.

 

My wife and I have always had MT also. Until her Lexus that’s all we had. Because of kids she has a RAV4 now SUV but she misses driving a MT.
My parents and hers which is funny made us learn to drive MT first. We are not letting the kids get there license before 18 if they can’t drive MT. If they don’t want to learn then they can wait until they are 18 and go on there own.

 

i am totally with you on learning to drive MT as a skill. it's not really necessary today, but as far as learning control, awareness, and responsibility there's not many better lessons. and they have the dad for it, that's for sure. i have 3 coming up, and in about 8 years there will be much bitching whining and complaining I'm sure.

and maybe a few grinding shifts and stalls no doubt.

 

just make sure they learn to drive it properly, i.e., no riding the clutch pedal
my first car (used) in HS was a '78 Celica MT. a year after I bought it from private owner I already had to replace clutch at about 80k miles (i think it was about that much - 29 years or so ago) as far as I recall it was mostly driven by the lady of the house, so based on this I would suppose women (not all) are prone to ride the clutch

I have no idea how long the Tacoma (any gen) clutch is supposed to last on normal driving conditions, I have mine on the highway for the most part, no crazy offroading other than a foot or so of wet city snow before the plows hit the streets this was a fun winter with several above average snow days

 

I love driving my manual 16 TRD Sport. I’m probably older than all you guys/gals on here, but a manual helps keep you young!