Is the 6 speed really that bad?

It loosens up significantly over time. Mine just turned 6.5K and R is the only gear that is still "tight".

@OP

It's really just a matter of how much you prefer driving a stick over how much you prefer pointing an auto, as someone else on these forums has said.

The engine over revvs when you clutch (fully combust the gas in the cylinder?), but you get used to it.

The TRD short shifter is ~$340 iirc, and you can usually pick up a 10 or 15% discount coupon so it's almost as cheap as getting it online. It's quite worth it, imho because it takes a little bit of the "row boating" out of the shifting, and it only takes about an hour to install. Quick little write up, if you're interested:

http://www.tacomaworld.com/forum/2n...ter-review-install-tips-couple-questions.html

The only time I've been annoyed with it has been driving through hard rain at a crawl on the interstate--3,2,1,2,1,3,4,3,1,2,1,2,3,4,1,2,1,2....for an hour...sheesh...

 

Holy shit you manual guys are easy to bait. Hook, line and sinkah!

 

Now at least you have a valid point there.

 

Jethros comment invalid. He has the empty gas tank mod.

 

Bought my prerunner sr5 with 73000 on it, and didn't have any problems at all till I did a wot at redline from 2nd-3rd and messed up 3rd gear syncros. I bought the extended warrenty when I bought the truck, so they covered my screw up. The trans has been wonderful besides that, like everyone has said it doesn't take well to fast shifts and at 80 on the highway it's around 2750 rpm but it's a good tranny over all for any driving.

 

I'm off to start a synthetic oil thread next- because, synthetic is stupid.

 

Beavis must be on a big lebowski kick.

 

Well you may wan to wait I was going to start a thread about why the TRD #$ is way better than the TRD *#, and the SR5 is for poor people. Whose thread do you think will have the most useful information?

 

Y'know, I never realized it... there is a Lebowski .gif for ANY SITUATION!!! You are a genius!

 

I drove an automatic back when I was poor.

 

It's more like a whine rather than a squeak.

 

LOL me too

 

The cool hand brake alone makes it worth it

 

I can't hear you over the whine of my release bearing.

 

...if you can keep your hands to yourself.

 

So instead of being just a Complete douche bag, you are complete super douche bag.