Are manual transmissions really that unpopular?

I looked for almost 2 years before I found my '07. I have had salepersons tell me that MTs are not available " because nobody wants one ". To which I replied " so you think I am nobody? ". Priceless to see the look on their face when they realize they lost any hope of a sale.

BTW, I do not now, nor have I ever owned an automatic.

 

My favorite when I was looking was the line "we don't have any manuals, but the newer autos have a manual shifting mode that works just like a stick shift!"

Sorry pal...if it doesn't have 3 pedals its not a manual and I'm out.

 

Hahaha, my mom's minivan has manual shifting mode, just like a ferrari, eh?

 

Love my 5 speed MT. When I operate a MT Tacoma, I feel like I am in the cockpit of a driving machine.

 

I can tell you I love my manual and shifting. Just want a short shifter now and trying to determine URD vs Hurst. Someone once said, you operate an automatic, but drive a manual. I agree.

 

I like the long throw myself. Had to get rid of that stock knob, though.

 

Americans be like

 

I've always preferred a manual, but as stated several times already in the thread, it can become a bit tedious in stop-and-go rush hour traffic.
You never realize how annoying it is when people very slowly creep forward, until you get stuck behind one of them in traffic. I have to sit and wait until there is a huge gap because I don't want to toast my clutch, but then the people behind me get upset because I'm not keeping up.

Sometimes you just can't win.

 

regarding those upset people behind you - just roll backward a few feet, really gets their attention

 

Sometimes I wish I had manual but most the time not.

I have motorcycles inline and vtwin to get my fix.

 

My current bike is the first ive owned with a quickshifter both ways, and its a total riot.

Honestly I have the stick in the taco because otherwise Id just be bored to hell driving it. I love it, but it is the opposite of exciting on the road lol

 

I love the anti millennial 6 speed in my S2000 as well as shifting on the bikes. I’ll always need something to ride or drive that I can shift on.

 

Grits N’ Gravy you have a great post. I agree that manufactures have a lot to do with the decline of MTs and their sales data is flawed. Every time I go to the Dealer for something, they want to buy my truck BECAUSE IT’S MANUAL! In parking lots, etc. people see it’s a manual and offer to buy it. Well, IT’S A MANUAL, I ❤️ IT, & IT’S NOT FOR SALE! that’s my answer.

 

works well in rear engine. Fiero was too. Not needed at all.
Actually if you're young nothing needs it. My first truck was a '70 Ford w/o it and it 1 hand steered. ArmStrong Steering.

 

in slow traffic, I can usually just keep it in first gear since it’s so low. When I need to pull out, I just get on it. So far, worked every time!

 

I think Toyota should offer a Granny gear manual transmission the Tacoma . something like the gear ratios of an old GM SM 420 or SM 465 series

The SM420 1rst gear was 7.05 and reverse was 6.78 , the SM465 had a 6.58 1rst and 6.0 reverse gear

 

modern manuals suck because all of them have clutch delay valves to save the clutch from idiots that can't drive. ruins the experience. that and the wussies that can't handle a heavy clutch so they add springs to assist which adds even more vagueness to clutch feel. on top of that most modern manuals are made on the cheap with weak shift forks. i love manuals but if it feels like i'm stepping on mashed potatoes and shifting through pudding with throws like i'm rowing a boat....yeah no thanks.

 

Hawaii has one Statewide Toyota dealer/distributor. When I bought each of my last two Tacomas, there were no MT's in the State. I would have gone MT if available.

 

I never tire of driving my 6spd manual truck, it's so satisfying. It helps that the engine makes good low end torque and has a dual mass flywheel behind it. Then again I've always had a manual and grew up riding motorcycles before that.

Wife's car is an '08, it has an old fashioned 4spd/OD automatic that was developed in the early 90s. Aside from having less gears, It's no different from what we get in trucks today. It even "learns" your driving habits and has sport mode (like ECT).

 

Not sure if it's because of the heat lately in SoCal but my clutch has been feeling extra slow lately, maybe it's nothing. But it really felt like the clutch was a little more slippery than usual when starting from a dead stop for a couple days. And today I had 1st gear block twice and spun the 1st gear synchro once.