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

-9° F this morning and my clutch pedal was S L O W.
Extra hard to push and super slow slow on the returns.
At the first stop sign I thought I was going to stall because I almost didn't get the pedal down in time before coming to a stop.

Fortunately there wasn't much traffic out this morning to get upset with me and my 45 second gear changes

 

It's-16 here! I'm going to go try my clutch right now.

 

We were talking about this in the Accumulator Delete Mod thread.

I just switched my truck to Low Viscosity Dot-4 brake fluid. Its nearly the same viscosity when warm but is much thinner when cold. It should help the molasses clutch feel for the cold weather guys.

$22 Pentosin 1224116 DOT 4 LV Low Viscosity Brake Fluid for Cold Climate Conditions; 1 Liter

https://www.amazon.com/Pentosin-1224116-Brake-Fluid-Liter/dp/B00610SK2S

 

Yeah I'm considering trying that, just haven't had time to get to it yet before the cold set in.

 

Any experience with this product in the hot 100+ degrees? I’ve definitely noticed a slow clutch return on colder mornings, but would hate to have issues in the summer.

 

I just purchased a 2021 Tacoma TRD Offroad (cement grey.) It was used, with 11k miles. Due to the insane used market right now, I paid 3k more for it than a new one.... and yes, i could have waited a week and got a black new one. But one, I didn't want black (love the cement grey), and two, the used one was a manual.

I haven't driven a manual in a while, but I do remember they can be fun, and this one was fun to test drive.... however, after the fact, i realized the manual is missing some things that the Automatic comes with, such as push to start (I think,) Multi-Terrain select, and crawl.... I didn't know any better, and neither did my salesman, who told me it did indeed have crawl. Being a dummy, I just figured it to be true (I'm a bit new to offroading, but manuals dont have crawl I guess for obvious reasons), after all, I have literally NEVER bought a used vehicle in my life (I'm 52.) Next time I buy a used, I'm going to make them give me a feature list, SIGNED and STAMPED!

Anyway, I came here to get some encouragement on my new (well slightly used) Tacoma manual, and this was the first thread I saw.... 600+ pages made me feel a little better

 

No remote start or push to start button. No Multi-Terrain Select or Crawl Control, but you get a sunglasses holder instead!
I'm new to off-roading too, but I haven't felt like I'm missing out by not having MTS or CC yet. Put it in 4-Lo, 2nd gear and just modulate the gas pedal. Shift down to 1st gear if things start getting more intense.

Crawl Control is something you might have used once in a blue moon. Rowing gears is something you'll get to do every time you drive the truck. Well worth the trade-off

 

You'll be happy with it! I too wish my manual had push-to-start, but I'd much rather have the manual without it than the automatic with it.

The manual OR's have A-trac, which is an incredible traction system. No need for crawl IMO

 

Welcome to TW, and back to the interactive vehicle club. Personally, I would much rather have the interaction with my vehicle than all the latest widgets and gizmos.

But the best quote came from my mom when she traded her WRX in for an Outback a few years back. She (72 years old) looked at the salesman and said, “But it’s and automatic… I’m not old enough to drive an automatic”. The salesman didn’t really know how to respond to that statement.

 

My wife's last two cars had both manual transmissions and push to start; I hated/hate driving both of them, I much prefer having a key to use with my Tacoma. One other item; it has been reported in other threads here, the Tacomas with a key are harder to steal than the ones with the button.

 

No personal experience in hot weather however per the standards the hot viscosity (100C or 212F) for both Dot-3 and Dot-4 LV is the same at a minimum of 1.5cst. In looking at the MSDS sheets the hot viscosity should be the same or very very similar and the change is really only in the cold.

FWIW this is the intent of this fluid as it is intended to improve cold weather ABS performance.

 

My previous car was manual with a push button start. I'm indifferent.
I don't find it so insufferable to turn a key that I yearn for a push button, and I don't find a push button so amazingly convenient that I despise turning a key.

 

As for the off-roading question. I’ve not taken the new (to me) ‘20 off road yet, but with my ‘02 I just let the clutch out in 1st gear 4 low and it just goes. Claws it’s way up obstacles like a turtle, slow and steady is the way. Turn on the locker and get that much more traction. Looking forward to seeing what locker and A-Trac will do with the ‘20.

 

So far I have never had a car with a push button start; I kind of expect my Tacoma to be the last with a key, at least the last new car I buy with a key. This said, next year my wife and I are going to be house hunting and I want something with at least three garage bays (I saw a cool house last year which had 8, but I wasn't yet in a position to buy); my short list of cars for the third garage bay is all over the map, but includes (and is not limited to) the following, all of which have manual transmissions:

• New Toyota GR86
• New Toyota GR Corolla
• New Porsche Cayman S
• New BMW M3
• Used Honda S2000
• Used ??? (the list is too long)

 

I still haven't seen much of an argument against push-button start other than the old curmudgeon argument of "simpler" vehicles with manual locks, roll down windows, blah blah. Is there a legitimate/technical reason for not wanting one? I'd love not to have to take the fob out of my pocket and the push-button is also related to the keyless entry which would be extremely nice as well to have. If they had that and wireless CP/AA, then I wouldn't have to take anything out of my pockets when I get in or forget when I get out. Easy hop in and go!

#1 is weird. Just wanting a key for the notoriety even if it is more convenient?
#2 is possible with the pushbutton. I don't have one of course so don't remember off the top of my head, but there is a sequence you can do to put it in accessory mode and have the radio etc without the engine running.

Yeah no MTS or Crawl Control since I think those are both dependent on controlling/modulating the AT and we don't have that obviously. As others have said those the manuals still have A-TRAC which is an off-road assistive thingy so kind of tangentially related, and otherwise you have a gear selector and your left foot!

I have a 3 car garage and keep hoping I'll be able to get an 86 or GR Corolla or something fun to put in the third stall, but then something else comes up that I need to be responsible and spend money on instead. About the time I think I'm going to be ready then kids will be going to college (hopefully) and I'll be in for some or all of that I'm sure. I'll keep dreaming though about one day!

 

The Clutch-Start-Cancel might be tricky without a real key. You could still start the vehicle without the clutch, but getting it to move while starting with the clutch engaged like you might want off-road would take some rewiring. Could probably be done but then I’d bet they’d lose a lot of the manufacturing efficiency of having the same parts in several vehicles, so if we got it, we’d probably lose CSC

 

I'm not bothered by a push button start, but I do prefer having a physical key.

My S2000 has a physical key and a push button start. Pretty interesting.

 

Could have sworn you still had MTS in the manual off-road. Need to double check what else. I think these trucks have that they don't...

Best part is.... The Outback isn't an automatic. It's a CVT. Big operational difference lol

This.

If you don't floor it, A-TRAC is God's gift to off roading.

Skip the beamer. Not worth the downtime in maintenance.

 

This makes a lot of sense.

I have wondered why the Tacoma has you to continuously hold the key over until it starts yet many cars (key or not) do not and have not for many years. That is to say, in a large number of vehicles with a key you only need to engage the starter and you can let the key go, it will keep running the starter until the engine fires even though you are not actively holding the key in the "start" position. Similar to push button start, you push it once and it engages the starter until the engine is running, you don't have to hold it down.

With clutch cancel one of the features is leaving it in gear and "bumping" the starter (not starting) to move just a little bit, that would not be possible with a push button (or at least highly impractical).

I do wish for proximity entry however.

 

Yeah keyless entry would be sweet but it’s not a dealbreaker. I’d rather have the stick. My work vehicle has it and I am reminded of it every time I walk up to the truck and I’m like wtf why is this locked