Talk me out of a manual transmission

If you want a manual get a manual, they are just going to get harder to find as everything continues to shift to automatics, CVTs, and hybrids.

I was set on getting a manual truck, took me ahwile to find one but I did and I have no regrets but if I had to drive in big city traffic all the time I would probably want an auto.

As far as 2nd gen Tacomas go I don't think you could go wrong with any of the drivetrain configurations, they are all pretty solid as long as they are maintained and there are fixes for most of the known problems should any arise. If you are unsure on what you would like go test drive different ones and see what you think.

 

Small consideration, but since you asked... You can't have remote start with a manual. Not a deal maker or breaker. I could drive either.

 

https://www.n2designsinc.com/product-page/n2-designs-2016-2019-toyota-tacoma-plug-play-remote-start-kit-regular-key

PTS is definitely nice though, we MT would love that option.

 

Hmm, I didn't know that existed. But who buys a truck that doesn't have door fobs? I do like that it doesn't do the auto shut off when you open the door though. Just put in the key, tap the brake and go. That's cool!

 

I've been driving for 50 years now. I've owned 15 different trucks and SUV's. Eight were manuals, 7 were automatics. I enjoy stirring a stick as I drive at times, but if I were buying a truck to actually do any work, I wouldn't touch a manual made since about the mid-90's.

Since then, the emphasis has been toward improving fuel efficiency. Old school truck engines got their torque at low rpm, around 2000-2500 rpm in many cases. Most trucks today need 3500 rpm and a 3rd gen Tacoma V6 needs 4500 rpm. I'm hoping the 4th gens are better.

The gear ratios are now much higher to improve fuel mileage and to better match the rpm's needed from modern engines. Modern transmissions are now geared much higher in 1st and reverse. All of that combines for poor performance at low speeds when trying to move loads or trailers. It is almost impossible to back a trailer up-hill with a manual anymore.

The torque converter in an automatic solves all of these problems. You can't buy a real truck with a manual anymore. All of the 3/4 and 1 ton pickups dropped them years ago because automatics do everything better. Manual transmissions started being phased out of buses and delivery trucks 40 years ago.

If I wanted to use my Tacoma or a Jeep Wrangler as a sports car instead of a truck or SUV then I might be tempted to go with a manual. But for doing any real work I'll take an automatic every time.

 

@BassAckwards has both 4cyl MT 2nd gen and 6cyl MT 2nd gen and he can tell you all about them. Me personally, love the v6 w/ 6MT.

 

I have a '10 4.0MT,
Rev hang is annoying, causing slower shift speed waiting for the engine to slow down, tuning the engine didn't make it go away...
Reverse gear is too tall unless you like backing up at 20mph
Gear ratios look to be better if I had went with a 3rd gen
I have the aftermarket compustar alarm with remote start, works
I installed tthe TRD short shifter, and I like it better than stock

 

I have something similar, '05 MT and '16 MT. I like them both for different reasons. Definitely some valid points made by @Marshall R but I wouldn't say that I'd prefer auto in a light to medium sized pickup for those precise reasons. I do see how AT benefits heavy duty.

I fairly recently learned to drive my bro-in-law's Freightliner (10 spd disel, redline is 1700 rpm) and a few horse hauls without a clutch brake. I guess I thought I was a decent driver before that but I feel that taught me better understanding of manual transmissions with 28000 lbs and so many gears. He also doesn't want anyone using the clutch to shift so you have to learn to rev match.

I wouldn't want a 3rd gen AT, that's for sure. MT is rough enough with the minivan engine. I think I'm committed to regear (4.88's on the shelf) and I'm monitoring @BLtheP 's transmission plans. For sure R and 1st are ridiculous in the 3rd gen.

I love my '05 5 spd a whole lot, it's the truck I really wanted to get back when I got the '16. But it doesn't really have any balls right now. I'll see how the 4.56 diff w LSD changes it (if at all). I think most of all I'd really want AWD with MT on that truck, that would just be killer. Or an MT AWD 4Runner, though with AWD I do see the appeal of AT.

Sometimes it's nice to just put it in D and go. Most of the time I'd rather own the gears.

 

stick for 20+ years and they didnt offier it with stick so I went auto

its not bad to manual shift it for hills and such and takes a beating
done nothing but one dump and pump of 3 qts in 300k miles

 

https://atlanta.craigslist.org/atl/cto/d/chattanooga-2014-tacoma-trd-off-road-v6/7687958585.html

Here you go. I have this EXACT same truck (build) and it's been perfect.

 

Thanks everyone for your inputs. They're all really helpful. That's a nice looking truck @winkel. Ive come across it in my search and thought it a bit on the pricey side for my budget especially including travel but Im starting to accept the premium people are buying and selling these configurations for.

 

This pretty much will determine what way you go.

I have an auto because it's all i could find...wanted a manual. ultimately glad I got an Auto because i deal with heavy traffic when driving my truck. I have a motorcycle for manual shifting needs

 

Yeah @kairo @TacoTyusday . Truth is most my miles are on rural pavement perfect for a stick. I guess its safe to say I haven't been talked out of it, but Ive definitely got a more open mind. Also Ive learned through this thread about a lot of issues I didn't know about.

 

if I had a choice my Tacoma would have been a manual. but I couldn't find any in my area when I looked that weren't either well over 200k. though the dream would be a Crew cab with a 6ft box and a manual trans. but not optioned that way for my market. though a part of me has thought about finding a manual trans an a 6ft crew cab truck and doing some fancy cutting and making my dream truck a reality

 

After going from a 5 speed 2nd gen to a 6 speed truck, You will love it, I've driven a 2nd gen auto in both 4/6 cyl and i think the manual makes them much more enjoyable.

 

Sorry, Just light humor.

One of the many reasons Toyota's have been such a go to.

 

I own a V6 auto. When looking for my truck I drove a MT and hated it,went back to the dealership and bought an auto. The autos in these trucks are pretty well bullit proof. I mostly drive mountain roads and back roads ,leave it in 4 and it shifts and behaves very well. Open highways I put it in D. I've driven manuals for over 40 years and the Tacoma was a fail for me,love my auto. Good luck with your search,go drive them maybe you'll like the MT maybe you won't.

 

Like @Marshall R I've been driving for 50 years, and have owned many manual transmissions. I was lucky to find a decently priced '07 2.7L 5 speed manual last year. On highway grades, which I encounter weekdays - I usually stay right below 65 mph in 4th then shift to 5th on the crest of the hill. So not a lot of power, but I agree it's a good combination. In warmer weather average around 22+ mpg. I've heard the clutches in these last quite a long time. I saw a post here that someone has the original at I believe 233k mikes. With the marginal fuel economy gain with a manual, the cost of a clutch replacement eliminates that cost savings.

There's that, and it is enjoyable to drive, but I'll admit automatics have become quite efficient these days. I guess you could say complicated too, a repair would likely be more that the cost of a manual transmission's clutch. So IMO whatever you do would be a good choice as log as it's a Tacoma.

 

Nope. I won’t try to talk you out of the MT.
Love my 2017, 5 speed, MT.

 

After 40 years of driving a MT for my daily driver, I went to an AT. I’ll never go back to a MT except in a sports car.