Anybody regret buying a manual transmission?

Only when I don't feel like putting my coffee down

 

I learned to drive a stick on my first truck and still have it. I love it. Its a little bit harder to wheel at first but once you get used to it, its great. If i had to choose between an auto or manual offroad I would choose manual. And then if you get dual cases with a manual its just wonderful.

I dont spend much time on traffic so cant really comment on that.

 

Oh i didnt say that i do, just that i can. I know what you mean with the rolling stops, happens to me too. I just hate an auto telling me what gear i have to be in. If i want to accelerate a bit to pass someone i do not need to down shift. I learned to drive on a manual, been doing it about 17 years now. Old habits are hard to break. And damn, i feel really old seeing how long ive been driving.

 

I had a manual before this truck

I like both

 

When I got my 2010 I was on cloud nine with my manual trans that I always dreamed about. I never got fully attached to that truck. Recently I sold it and bought a 1990 Toyota Pickup because I got a company car and was only driving it on weekends. I find myself driving this one much more and I believe most of it is due to the fact that I got tired of shifting.

 

Simply put, it sucks. 1st, 2nd, 3rd, STOP!, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, STOP!, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, STOP! You get the idea



^^^ I understand your annoyance. I hit about 20 stop signs going to school 5 days a week... and I only live 4.5 miles from school!!!! I find myself barely shifting into 4th then having to stop. sometimes 3rd. I usually find myself rolling through the stop sign in second. (only when there aren't any other cars or if its my right of way) Cali stops!

 

I regret getting a Auto

 

traded my manual in for an auto less than a year after buying in new...

same reasons you dislike yours!

 

To answer your question about the short shifter.

" URD short throw shifter boasts:

44% shorter throws
Improved Gear engagement
Installs in about 20 minutes
You wanted this major improvement since the first time you drove the Tacoma. The URD short shifter works on all 2005 and later Tacoma, manual 6-speed transmissions.

A few years ago URD purchased a 2005 Tacoma X-Runner for product development. We love The truck, but we disliked the OEM shifter. We took the shifter assembly out of the truck and immediately saw a problem. There was a clearance issue in the assembly that caused parts inside to bind before the gears were completely engaged. Furthermore, the throw on the six speed Tacoma shifter is long, and it can be tough to shift into some gears. URD decided to provide a solution to address both issues.

We tested other brands of short shifters in our test trucks. Although these other brands have a nice crisp short shift, there is a lot of noise and vibration that is transmitted through the shift lever into the cab.

This is because the other designs replace the entire shift lever. The stock shifter is really two parts bonded together with a rubber-like material. This deadens sound as well as vibration. It was clear that we wanted to retain this very important feature.

Another problem with other designs is an unnecessary complex installation requiring grinding and disassembly of the shifter pivot ball (while fighting a stiff spring in the process). URD's Tacoma short shifter is very simple to install.

This simple approach has an extension that slips over the end of the stock shifter and a spacer plate that easily installs between the transmission and shifter assembly. The whole installation process can be completed in about 20 minutes.

Shifts are short throws; about 44% less. Gear engagement is improved. There is no known downside here. This is the serious improvement that you have wanted since the first time you drove your six speed Tacoma.


Here's a link to URD for one.

http://www.urdusa.com/product_info.php?products_id=1230100023

 

what he said!!

 

I have a 2012 MGM DC TRD Off Road with an auto. I wish I would have gotten the 6-speed. I'd trade you if I wasn't fleasing it.

 

No regrets at all.

 

The '11 taco is a six speed, as well as the 08 Wrangler Sahara, the '13 Subaru WRX Imprezza is only a five speed. All manual. We like them and our clutches last 200k or so.

Then again, my 35 miles ride to work only has 4 stop lights and three stop signs.

Then again, I lived through years of St. Louis, Cincinnati and Dallas traffic with 4 and 5 speeds in everything from toy pickups, landcruisers, Karmen Ghia and a early S10 blazer.

I don't see too many heavy trucks with automatics...

Howard

 

No regrets for me. I wish the DCLB had the manual trans. option.

 

Manual is the best. Had an automatic once and hated how boring it was to drive. The semi-truck I used to drive was a 10 speed manual, had a double clutch, and towed 68,000 pounds, so going to a five speed tacoma is really easy.

 

No regrets on my manual - for one it means most people can't even ask to borrow my truck for their little errands to home depot.

I have had the truck for about 22K miles and shifting is a "no think" activity now. When I first got it, I came from a 2004 automatic tacoma and it took a little while to feel comfortable with the way the truck shifted but once I got used to the sweet spots, it rides like a dream and I easily get over the EPA rated MPG.

Even if it is more of a pain in traffic, I would hate myself for converting to Auto for that reason alone. There is something about that mechanical feeling of shifting while driving.

 

+1
I'd recommend getting the URD short throw. I frickin love mine, it installed easily, and it turns rowing a canoe into shifting a subaru

 

x2

 

Funny you should mention a Subaru. I have a WRX that I installed a short throw shifter in and it shifts like a champ. One side effect however was a considerable increase in driveline noise. Did you notice anything like that with the URD?

 

I wouldn't say that I regret it really. I'd rather shift, but the auto is definitely a superior transmission IMO.