Manual transmission question

5th to 3rd would be fine, not that I'd do it. This is where new tech screws you, no way you are getting my 2023 to go into 1st at any speed over 5mph without forcing it.

Wonder if toyota will do a software update to not rev match going into 1st gear. No one downshifts into 1st gear anyway.

 

Collision avoidance, lane departure, etc. are functionalities aimed at safety issues. You can turn them off, or adjust the sensitivity. Those do not do the driving for you. I can ignore them.

If one must have rev matching, hill control, anti stall gizmos, etc., - then just get an automatic...

Those are intrusive and driving 'skill eliminators'. It is a similar feeling I get when the paddle guys state with a straight face that the car they drive is a manual... pfft!

These functions seem to me to be a push towards an automatic gearbox anyway. It is always cheaper and easier to have one singe transmission type for production efficiency.

One could argue that Clutch start cancel (CSC) is along these lines. And I could be convinced to agree without too much effort... I still use my handbrake in CSC situations and I have not used it for hill start purposes - yet. I do use it a ton but, it is used to start the taco while standing on the ground using only MY KEY when needed! And I love it for this reason. It works beautifully as a nanny bypass button - perhaps unintentionally, but I'll take it!

I think the Manual will survive until the end of the ICE age ; but a small truck will definitely NOT be the last hold-out offering... Then Electric vehicles will do away with all of it. (And I would only surrender my manual - which I've always driven - to a proper electric off roader...)

Maybe a crawler gear on an off roading EV would be nifty... but I fear it will shift via a menu option on a screen. Even a dedicated button would be better. I believe the option of a small shifter lever in a n EV has very low odds of being seen. But we can hope.

Things like the utterly useless button e-brake and some of the new hard safety nannies (like not being able to open a door at all - even to close a partially latched door - if the vehicle is not fully stopped and in Park) are silly for anyone using their vehicle for anything beyond that resembling a kitchen appliance.

I'd argue that the taco Manual died at the end of the 3rd Gen. On the 4th gen it only comes on lower trims, not available in the hybrid, it is paired with an electric e-brake, and it is found only along a de-tuned engine offering. This is no longer attractive.
Hold on to your manual 3rd gens - if I were in the market for a manual taco in the future, I'd look at the 2020 - 2023 tacos...

 

What do you mean no one downshifts into first? I can’t imagine anyone never using 1st gear. My taco, unlike previous manuals, downshifts into first smooth as butter.

I also see nothing wrong with downshifting from 5th to 3rd. I do it every time when engine braking down a hill on frequent route I take.

 

I never said no one uses first gear, I said no one downshifts into 1st gear. Why would you? Your telling me you downshift into 1st at say 5 or 10mph? Why? You either are coming to a stop, which when you do, you go into 1st to start off again. Or, say you didn't need to stop, but are slowed down to 5mph, I'm staying in 2nd. Certainly not going into 1st.

At one time most manual transmissions had a NON synchro 1st gear. No way to go into 1st without a complete stop.

 

I use the CSC all winter so I can defrost the frozen truck without having to climb in it. The rest of the crap they can get rid of. I want to drive my truck like a truck.

Do you slam shift from 5th to 3rd or do you coast for a bit using the brakes for a sec then drop into 3rd? That guy in the video slammed it. If I was doing 60 in 5th and slammed into 3rd my truck would probably wheel hop and send me through the windshield.

 

I can see one real benefit to the clutch start cancel, let's say a fuel pump or other main sensor fails and the truck cranks but won't start, it would be much easier to use the starter to move to a close, better location than having to push the truck alone. This also benefits us mechanics to get the truck in the shop with the same condition. I would never use it to go more than a few feet in either direction but that could really come in handy in that situation. I wish all cars had some feature like this just for that kind of situation.

 

I think we are using different definitions of "downshift". By my definition, I have to downshift to get from any other gear into 1st. Yes I often downshift into first going around 90 degree corners where 2nd gear to too high to get decent acceleration. I live in an urban environment, so this is a frequent thing. 2nd gear on the taco is a bit high. I don't look at the speedo.

 

Thank you for all the information! A random question too is if any of you had the TSB done for the whistle noise from the rear of these trucks and if it fixed the issue? It’s not too annoying to me but I have a 1 year bumper to bumper warranty and if it’s something I should look into I definitely want to get it done under warranty.

 

I don’t know anything about the video, but no I don’t shift into 3rd at 60. 40 in the case of the downhill. I’m pretty sure I’ve dropped it from 5th to 3rd at 50 to make a pass though. It takes off like rocket. I don’t understand why people think the taco is so slow.

 

https://youtu.be/VazPL4jTNCQ?si=hIonunervrBqKMai Around 12:20 in is the shift in question

 

Just in case:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/live-clutch-mod-lcm.820941/

 

I was driving a long stretch of 2 lane highway today and dropped from 6th and 5th straight to 3rd several times at 60-70 mph to pass. Syncros didn't flinch. I will sometimes double clutch that shift if I feel like it though.

 

3rd is where it’s at if you need to make an aggressive pass on a 2 lane. 4th is ok if you have a lot of room.