Manual Transmissions Were Just 1.4% of 2023 US Sales

In all fairness, the MT is desired but I get emails and regular mail wanting me to trade in my AT all the time as well. They mostly just want to get a sale so they can get a larger cut of interest money as well as getting a used truck they can mark a larger profit on than a new truck.

 

Having driven cars since 1975 I had a few manual transmission cars including my first one which was a 67 Chevelle with 3 on the tree. I also drove a variety of large cargo and stake bed trucks with manuals so I was used to driving them. Also remember a Gremlin with 3 on the floor and a 70 Maverick Grabber with a 3. My 93 Splash was also manual. They could be fun to shift when you get on them a little bit but automatic was still the way to go. Owning several classic cars I still liked the feel of shifting the gears myself so I opted for automatics that were programed to shift manually with shift kits. (no clutch). I would install TCI transmissions in them.

The Maverick I had just bought in Georgia and was driving it back to Ohio when third gear went out in the transmission. I had to drive it from Cincinnati to Akron in second gear on the interstate 40MPH. I was pulled over repeatedly for going so slow. I had my flashers on and drove on the berm when possible. I would tell the troopers I can make it to the next exit and they would let me go. I kept driving like that until I got home. I remember to it rained the whole trip and in northern Kentucky it turned into freezing rain and then snow. The clutch was fine. I was told a synchronizer went bad when I had it repaired.

 

Last summer I wanted an access cab, V6 with a manual and the all the dealers within a two hour ride told me we'll probably never see it. They were right and even having one on order, it never happened. Every time I found a new one it was already promised to another customer. Since I didn't want to go with the new model, I ended up buying a 23 Access cab TRD OR. I really dislike driving anything with an auto, but pretty much had no choice if I wanted this truck. You would think if you are willing tp pay close to MSRP (1K below) that you should be able to get exactly what you want.

 

It's a shame you couldn't find the Sport Manual Access Cab you wanted, but with 23 being the last year of that combo that stacked the odds against you.

 

The automatic is squirmy and requires more power.

 

Dealers in my area told me the same thing, some even got rude about it telling me I'd never find one. So I kept trying until I found a dealer who said they would do their best to get me one, and I put down a 1k deposit over the phone. Access cab manuals are rare as feck. Well they found me one, and for the 5 months it was on their website waiting to be built they got calls from all over wanting it.



.

 

Might as well stay home and just drive with VR goggles if your that disconnected to the experience. Or just go EV and skip the whole tranny business altogether. Then again, soon you won’t be even allowed to touch the wheel either and then that will be gone too so why worry about “the driving experience” when we’re all going to just be passengers.

 

I have a 2023 manual and love it. But the guy is right, I can't keep up with an auto driving and feel slow. But here's the thing, I'm not racing anyone and love the manual experience.

 

The 1-2 shift is what kills me. I get horns honked at me sometimes because it's such a slow shift and people follow too closely.

 

I don’t drive for someone else’s happiness so I’m not going to shift or ride the skinny pedal for them either. I’m certainly not going to pretend I’m driving a fast car or actually mess with one of the more enjoyable aspects of it. It’s one of the things that helps reduce stress for me when others seem to be getting wound up instead.
Edit- 1-2 is bothersome but that was the case in my first car almost 50 years ago. I somehow found a way to enjoy it back then as well.

 

Yes, agree with 1 to 2. Also, the problem for me I think is I just don't keep the rpms up enough taking off in first. Still not used to it making zero power in low rpms.

 

It was fun when I was younger you guys maybe younger, now being 48 I’m only interested in getting from point A to B safely. Nothing else. Auto for me gotta keep a good eye out for stupid drivers speeding, texting, impaired and just not paying attention.

 

I wrecked a couple of cars learning to operate a manual transmission...yeah, that was fun. lol

Nowadays, the priority is different.

As a matter of fact, lots of priorities change as you get older...I'm working on 58 this June.

PLUS, I got an OTT Tune which has definitely made driving my AT Sport funner...lol.

 

I always watch my rear view when taking off from a stop and would say more than half the time the driver behind me gets way too close when I shift from first to second, even at subsequent red lights they do the same quite often. I don't mind the severe RPM drop now that I am used to it but it would be nice if they geared it a little closer together particularly when starting up a hill, really have to wind 1st out then.

 

64 myself. They used to call it driving defensively when I was 16 but it’s not as if its affected by shifting. If anything, I’m more engaged with surroundings than with an automatic. It does seem that many dispense with optional habits such as looking and signaling.

 

I'm teaching my daughter how to drive a manual and I tell her all the time, "You're not driving for others around you, you drive for you." She (and I do too at times) complains about how close cars behind me get during that 1-2 shift. Not our problem.

 

I started driving stick shift in 1963, and still do today.
I kept my 1991 Truck SR5 after I bought the new 2023 (A/T).
The '91 will be my very last stick shift truck, and I am loath to part with it.

I can tell you in December of 2023, Access Cab "anything" was VERY hard to find.
I called three states and a dozen dealers before I found mine 175 miles away in Fresno.

I was told to show up the following morning with a cashier's check, or it was going to another buyer.
They refused to take earnest money over the phone.
I got everything I wanted except the M/T, so this will have to do.
The 2024 is a deal-breaker for me, and I want nothing to do with owning one.

 

I've got a '23 MT. Love it. I am puzzled by the people in comments above who complain about the 1 - 2 shift and people behind on your bumper waiting for you to really get going. I don't think that's ever happened to me. I don't sprint on the green light go; but I'm certainly not slow. I run it up to maybe 10 or 12 mph and make a nice, quick and smooth shift to 2nd. Weird how so many of us experience this transmission so differently. My truck lives between 2 and 3k on the tac and always has plenty of guts.

 

Guess I should make it clear, I don’t care about inconveniencing people behind me. I care about one of them rear ending me at some point

 

There will be a Sport Premium MT for sale in Nelson BC in about a month…wife is waiting for a new 4Runner…