Another WRX → Tacoma Transition. New 6mt TRDOR!

Keeping my wrx hatch though It has 220k miles on it now. Swapped in an STI transmission this Spring and it will be getting a new engine this summer with a power goal of 380whp. Going with an IAG 550 short block, Arashi 20g ball bearing turbo, and a bunch of supporting mods.

Can't be more excited to finally get my new Tacoma. Put a deposit on it in January, it was built 2/9 and then put on a QC hold coming out of the Guanajuato plant 2/14. Sat in Veracruz waiting to be taken off QC hold for 2 months. Finally got put on the Salvia Ace, and after tracking it on vessel finder for 7 days, it landed in Newark last Friday 4/28 and I took ownership of it on 5/2.

Truck specs:

• DCSB TRD Offroad in Ice Cap
• 6 speed manual
• Premium package with heated leather seats and sunroof
• LED Headlights and all the other safety stuff
• No JBL audio
• Only addons from the factory were a tonneau cover and bed lighting

Have almost 200miles on it so far since my commute is 100miles each way... and I am definitely getting used to the clutch feel and gearing. My initial thoughts:

• Clutch is very light compared to my subaru and it is tough to feel the biting point. This has been taking some getting used to. I used to describe to people that my subaru clutch felt like a truck because of how stiff it was but maybe that comparison isn't correct...
• 1st to 2nd gear seems like a long transition. I've been revving 1st out to 3-3.5k before shifting to 2nd. Feels very slow off the line
• Cruising at 80mph in 6th the rpms are at maybe 2750 compared to my subaru which is at 3100
• Gear throws are very long compared to the subaru but that's due to its nature of seating position mostly. You sit much closer to the shifter in the subaru. I thought there must be a short throw shifter kit you can buy for the tacoma but it wouldn't make much sense since you'd be leaning forward to put it into 1st/3rd/5th.
• I'll be honest, I didn't know how to put it in reverse when I picked it up. I was used to subaru's when you have a reverse lockout (sti transmission) or put it into gear normally without much effort (5speed subaru) or pushing the shifter down and over (VW/Audi) so I googled it real quick and felt like an idiot.
• Cabin room is a bit wider than the subaru but the backseat room seems pretty similar to my hatchback.
• Gas mileage so far doesn't seem great. Was hoping for 18mpg but the dashboard says my tank is averaging 15-16

Most of my initial thoughts have to do with the transmission because we have a '22 4runner already and driving feel is pretty similar between the two. The adaptive cruise control is fantastic and the truck is very comfortable so far.

I look forward to being apart of this community! I don't plan on doing many mods to the truck but will do the following:

• Gas Cap holder (already ordered)
• AVS rain guards (already ordered)
• Method wheels (when I need new tires probably)
• Hood struts
• Ditch lights (lots of deer in my area)
• Bed mat! (hear a lot of good things about these)
• TRD Pro / Trail Edition grille (I know I know but I promise I won't do the raptor lights)
• New shift knob (planning on doing a BRZ/GR86 shift knob)
• TRD Pro skid plate
• Seat Jackers (sounds like this is a common complaint on tacomas)
• Roof/Bed Rack. Haven't seen a lot of options that I like but there's a company called Oak Orchard that sells a bed rack system which uses a Yakima system which clamps to the top of the cab and then has two posts in the bed. This will allow running lumber the full length of the truck but is intended for a canoe.
• 

Let me know if there are other mods/tips/tricks I should know about!

 

Three pedals!? Jealous.

 

I was thinking I was going to have one of the last manufactured manual Toyota trucks but now it looks like the 4th gen will have 3 pedals as well! Glad to have it but bummed I miss out of some of the offroad-trim driving options like terrain select.

 

Welcome and nice choice in vehicles I’ve got a very similar line up
Tacoma
4Runner
‘07 sti

 

Sweet truck. I also came from manual Subarus back in the day but none as cool as yours

Check out the accumulator delete for help with that clutch feel:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/mt-accumulator-delete-mod-adm-and-bs-thread.568303/


there’s also a 2Lo mod you’ll want to look at:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2lo-plug-play-harness-discussion.592035/


and here’s the manual trans BS thread:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...and-bs-thread-all-generations-welcome.406844/

have fun

 

It's the perfect garage love the hawkeye's.

You saved me some searching! Thank you very much! I was looking for the general manual thread and those mods. I heard great things about the 2lo mod especially for backing up a trailer

 

Nice! I had the literal last Audi S4 with a clutch. Wife wants automatic, frankly not a bad idea for this phase of life. Maybe some day I can get back to it with a TRD Pro or some sweet little sporty ride.

 

Welcome!