35 years of manual Tacomas, now there's only AT and I'm ... shocked?

- No not all TRDs have manual. They're 4x4 only, and for the US, it's only for TRD Sport access cab, and double cab short bed for all TRD trim levels. For Canada it's only TRD Off-Road access cab, TRD Sport double cab short bed, and the TRD PRO.

- OP means Original Poster

- If you want a 3rd gen 4 cylinder manual Tacoma, your only option is the 16-17 SR Access Cab 4x4 and it'll come with the 5-speed manual.

- The $29k SR5 is the 4 cylinder. We only compared the V6 4x4s.

 

A Tacoma manual is a lot more enjoyable after test driving both. I bought the manual.

 

Are you also shocked about power windows? What about power seats? Did you know you can play music from your phone on your trucks speakers via bluetooth?

 

...unless you live in Canada. Mind you, we haven't had the 2.7L engine nor a 4x2 drivetrain as an option for a long time, never on the 3rd gen. (Update: Sorry, I was wrong; we had them 2016-2019. Thanks to the various fellow Canucks who corrected me.)

Just had a look at Toyota's Canadian website, and it appears they are quickly running out of 2023s that they plan to ship us, as the number of options (variations) available is a lot fewer than I remember from even last autumn. Access cabs now only come in TRD Off-Road (auto or manual) and DCSB is only available in "Sport" if you opt for a manual in "Sport Premium."
All of the other DCSBs are automatics in Off-Road, "Trail", Nightshade, or TRDPro.
To get any of the more basic trims (Standard, SR5, or Sport non-premium) you have to opt for a DCLB.

 

I’m Pretty sure I’ve seen 2WD 2.7L 3rd gens over here.

 

Are they from the us?

 

Highly doubt it.

 

Aren’t the Canadian ones missing some of the tech package stuff though? Something is missing but I can’t remember what it is.

 

Of feck, I'm in for it now!




.

 

We actually had them in 4x4 and 2wd up till 2020.

 

CVT?!! I really doubt it. The Rivian R1T truck has 4 electric motors, one per wheel, presumably they are direct-drive.

As much as I appreciate the sounds, smells, service challenges, lore, & history of the ICE Toyota pickups -- I think if & when Toyota puts out an all-electric Tacoma, half a zillion people are going run, not walk, to buy one.

Extraordinary torque, acceleration, towing capacity etc. on a relative basis compared to an ICE drivetrain in the same vehicle-size class. In my view, 100% electric has yuuge usability & maintenance benefits across the board -- with the important exceptions of range, extreme cold-weather performance, & re-charging time. (Esp. when heavily loaded w/ cargo and/or trailer.)

My eyes well up with tears when I think of how much dedicated shop equipment will be rendered suddenly obsolete by 100% electric direct-drive drivetrains.

Air intake system.. gone.
Liquid fueling system.. gone..
Ignition system, from wires to coils to plugs.. toodle-ooo...
Timing chains & accessory drive belts/pulleys.. gone..
Engine crankshaft, valves, harmonic balancers.. bye bye..
VVT system w/ sometimes-temperamental solenoids.. never knew ya..
Hydraulic steering pump.. nope..
4WD transfer case.. deleted..
Front & rear driveshafts w/ their U-joints and carrier bearing... nah no thanks..
Automatic or manual transmission.. gone..
Exhaust system & catalytic converters.. see ya..
EGR system.. nope...
Secondary air injection.. bye Felicia..
EVAP system, sayonara...
Motor-driven pumped oiling system -- perhaps still present, but without combustion byproducts to foul up the oil, OCIs will probably be 100K or maybe none at all...

 

There we go, I thought so.

 

You made me go do some more in-depth research.
Yes, the 2.7L 2WD was available in Canada from 2016-2019. I was going by memory from hearing they dropped the 2.7 L and 2WD in Canada.....but it was done on the refresh, not the original 3rd gen.

Instead of stealthily correcting the original post, I'm taking my comeuppance like a MAN(ual).

 

Hate to break It to you but the manual is a total dog and sluggish too. Can barely even reverse up a slight hill with out stalling lol .

 

The above post is not fully to blame, but I notice lots of similar comments...


I don't get the frustration when taco owners - who presumably purchased their taco themselves by willingly handing over good money to buy a slow heavy vehicle and are then immediately disappointed by how slow a 2 ton+ vehicle is to get a move-on.
I think it is fast enough FOR A TRUCK.

I certainly think it would be a waste to pour more fuel into moving that much steel around fast.

I've driven the BMW Ms in the past, and the fastest Teslas. (and do enjoy the speed of my EV - BUT I certainly was not looking for, much less expecting that out of the Taco.

The MT makes it fun to drive a slow vehicle slow - especially offroad... Is this not what tacos are for?

Reverse is tall if you need to tow, etc. - but no one touts its ability to get you up to 90 mph in reverse
- but 2Lo mod... done.

 

Just saying both auto and manual take “mods “ to make it how it should be . Drive a jeep with a 3.6 with similar power and it feels like a rocket ship compared to the 3.5 . It is mostly a tuning and gearing issue though. Toyota really messed up the gearing in these trucks and the throttle response is terrible . No denying it .

 

I do get your point. Still, However true that may be; I still, and quite consciously handed over $$ to buy the taco (and made sure I did not end-up at the Jeep dealer by mistake somehow...)

I'm also not quite sure I'd want a Jeep rocketship - if there is such a thing. (- I like my fast cars to have good road manners)

 

Unfortunately I didn’t get to test drive a manual as it was special order . I just feel the Tacoma feels a lot slower then it really is . My plan is to do a ADM and maybe a tune if funds allow . As well as the two low mod..