Talk me out of a manual transmission

Soon there will be no manual options so I am enjoying it while I can. My 2016 was a M/T and the new 23 is as well. I am actually surprised Toyota is still offering for the 4th gen.

 

Someday we’ll all be like Maggie Simpson faking it from a car seat.

 

my 2015 is a ACLB 4.0 V6, king 2.5's, supercharger, TRD short shifter, TRD shift ball, TRD exhaust, TRD wheels and BFG's with stoptech BBK and rear discs. my truck is far more fun to drive on the street than most "sports cars" made these days. it's my daily but i don't commute or sit in traffic with it. ripping around in 4WD high is a lot of fun in the rain or trac off RWD in the dirt. wouldn't trade it for any other model tacoma of any year or trim including the new '24 models. not interested! they will never make another truck like this ever again.

 

I thought about getting a manual when I bought my '23. But I would have had to wait a lot longer to get it.

My jetta is a 5 speed. Its fun, but it sucks in traffic. Better for back roads. This is the first manual car I have really put any miles on and its fun and I am glad I learned how, but I wouldnt want it for my taco.

Now if I had a v6 with super charger, that would be different.

 

Regular cab, 4cyl, manual. Wouldn't have it any other way. Always owned manual cars and trucks.

 

There’s a guy around where I live that drives a Gen 1 regular cab 4WD. AFAIK the reg cab only came with one of the two I4’s. I can only hope it’s a manual. The truck looks totally stock and badass.

 

Save the manual. Save Being In Control.

 

I like my 08 with a manual... you are way more involved in the experience and I believe its about as solid as you can get for maintenance and longevity wise. It is also a little clunky sometimes in traffic, and i totally get the times you might just want a smooth cruise. I also am pretty impressed with tacoma's automatic's, hear very little about any problems, and millions on the road. to each his own, enjoy

 

I was born in '91. Have been driving manual cars regularly for eleven years. Been going through the gears on dirtbikes and fourwheelers, old tractors and all sorts of equipment since childhood. Many of us Maine-folk know how to work a clutch.

 

Nowadays auto transmissions are more reliable and need less maintenance compared to the manuals.

 

Less maintenance?
1.9qt into my '07, put the plug back in and send it.

 

Less maintenance than the manual that requires a clutch around 150k and fluid drain/refill @ 30k-50k?

 

And 150k on the clutch is really on the low side.

 

very few automatics are reliable.

An AT service can be $300+.
Manual is ~3 quarts of gear oil.

clutches are cheap, not hard to install, and can last longer than that, depending on how it's driven and type of use exposed to

 

I have seen Toyotas and Lexuses with over 400k miles on original auto transmissions. I know clutches are cheap but not everyone is able to drop the transmission themselves. Don’t get me wrong I love manuals and I have manual BMW that I swapped and Honda s2k (changing the clutch there was PIA over 2k just for parts) and I did more work on their transmissions and related parts more than all my auto cars that I have owned.

 

exactly. Old 5-speeds. Not most auto transmissions.

 

Yep. Automatics are better suited for those that don't do their own work or just simply prefer putting in "D", mash the pedal and go. Nothing wrong with that. People want to do less work to maneuver a car these days and I am sure eventually cars will drive themselves.


I am just more used to manual transmissions and will get them as long I still can but that is getting harder and harder to do.

 

I do believe that was mostly on the '05 year that had the aluminum piece that the throw-out bearing rode on unless I am wrong.

 

After 40 years of owning only Manuals, l still have zero desire for an AT.