Manual Transmissions Were Just 1.4% of 2023 US Sales

So not true.

When I was buying mine, not one dealer I went to would haggle price on a manual (one did offer a paltry $1K off sticker, but the rest wouldn't budge at all and/or insisted they "have a great deal for me" on one of the many automatics they had). This also was in 2018 well before the covid shenanigans began.
When I finally showed up at yet another dealer with a pre-arranged deal from one of the car buying services (Cars.com, Costco, etc.), I could tell the sales manager there was rather annoyed (he pushed hard for me to abandon the manual he had on his lot and to buy an auto). Sorry, but a deal is a deal.
It would be complete nonsense for dealers to try these tactics if there was little demand for what I was wanting to buy.

 

I believe you're right. I think there's much more than a 1.4% demand for the manuals. The last time I looked into it the percentage was close to 5%. I think the reason for the low percentage of manuals isn't demand, it's to do with fuel efficiency and Toyota trying to meet that ever higher EPA hurdle.

 

Yep, believe there is more demand out there, Toyota makes it a pain in the ass to get one.

Like why the US never got an ACLB OR MT, while Canada did, which has low Tacoma sales to begin with…it makes no sense, especially since the ACLB OR MT is supposedly to be the preferred by the off-roading enthusiasts. Toyota USA had to push that bullshit crawl control in the autos is my guess. Should have got rid of that nonsense and instead tripled locked the damn thing then called it a day.

 

I was searching out of curiosity, and I was surprised how many 2024 manuals I see being built and offered within 500 miles of me. I view it as a good sign.

 

Can only get in the DCSB though, which I have absolutely zero interest in. Might of forgave them for killing the AC if they offered the Xtra Cab with a manual and the linked rear suspension.

If they offered a MT in the DCLB, might have been talked into that, but they didn’t, though that thing is so long and wide now might as well buy a full-size at that point, and actually be able to haul and tow something substantial.

 

I've got no use for crawl control either. It gets no better traction than the manual with A-TRAC. It's exactly the same system except in the autos it controls the gas and the brakes, kinda like off-road cruise control. In my opinion it's a glorified nanny system. In the manual with A-TRAC we have to do that ourselves, and if we're good at it we get the same, or better results. Thinking about it, that's a big reason we all love the manuals, we get to do it ourselves.

 

A 5th gen 4Runner broverlander was telling me how I much missed out on not having crawl control. That was when I was a novice on off-roading.

Needless to say, I wheeled my truck just fine without crawl control, and crawl control is a gimmick in my opinion as well.

 

And now the 4th gen has some more useless features, whether it’s the removable speaker or the seat shocks on the TRD PRO. I wish that money went elsewhere like a front locker.

 

I wish that’s the case in my state. There isn’t any manuals sent to Northern California, and only 2 has been sent to Southern California according to the inventory shown on Toyota’s website.

 

Not to mention drive modes. Reading one new owner thought it has too much tech now. Why the cost took a jump.

Yep too many gimmicks while money could have been spent on practical options.

Went dirt bike riding with a group the other day, at the end we were all standing around chatting about trucks and whatnot, we all have different brands and no one was happy with what they have. Thought that was funny. Everyone has a different ideas what the perfect truck is, and it doesn’t exist… lol!

Most of us decided we want a moto van, like a Sprinter or Transit but towing is dismal for camp trailers, and kind of crappy as a daily. Always something!

 

True from my experience. My local had a 2023 manual sit on the lot for months, and only sold after they discounted it. You will take a hit when you trade it in since 98% of the Tacomas bought were automatics. All the manual guys pipe in on these threads, but the majority of us drive automatics. Manuals are a dying breed, and yes I have driven and owned them. I just sold a sports car with a manual in it.

 

Sorry, your prognostication is an epic fail in many ways. Clearly you're biased.

 

For me, this has become academic.
My 2023 will outlast me, so it is my last one, barring some vehicle accident.

I'm not thrilled with the huge size increase over my 1991, which is why I kept my 1991.
The 2023 feels and drives "big" where the 1991 drives "nimble" plus it is SR5.

It seems I could not get the V6, Access Cab, and 6-foot bed in the SR trim level.
I didn't want the extra plastic trim stuff, so in the end, the M/T was never to be for me.

 

Will never use crawl control, but a manual transmission is a daily occurrence. Can’t stand how Toyota specs their trims. No one else besides Jeep offers a manual so I stuck with the Tacoma. (and still wasn’t able to get a manual in the trim I wanted)

Don’t even think A-TRAC is needed either, they should do what Ford does and offer a locker on any trim. Instead you have to buy a package with a bunch bullshit that I don’t want, need or will use.

What wanted was an SR ACLB V6 MT with a locker, rubber flooring and vinyl seats. A no nonsense truck built for being used and abused. Instead we get a bunch of fluff.

 

Be still, my heart…

Also I get a kick out of people glowing about Crawl Control, et al. “So…you’re not a very good off road driver then and prefer to hand the controls to a software engineer; is that what you’re saying?”

 

If money was no object would have shipped it off to Diesel Toys and have them drop an oil burner in it. But that is just an insane amount of money to spend just trying to save on fuel, bottom end torque would be nice though.

lol! Right!? What is the point of off-roading if the truck is going to drive itself. Like hill hold and descent too. Just screams that the owner is shitty driver.

drove my 1st Gen for 20+ years that has none of that nonsense and somehow I survived to live to tell the tale! lol!

 

Yeah, I do not care for crawl control.
I'd rather have Taco box vs any crawl control.
In all the video's I've seen with anything technical, people are having to ditch crawl control anyway for a bump or something requiring their intentional input.

To make my manual feel better, I'll for sure be doing an accumulator delete and when it comes out, a UniClutch.

Overall it's not bad as is, and all I got is a URD short shifter.

 

I won't be taking a hit on resale, there isn't anything else worth buying. The decision was made for me.

 

There isn’t a perfect truck that exists IMO. Although to me, the 2nd and 3rd gen Tacoma is almost perfect.

I would love to see more manual pickup truck options in North America. Everytime I hop in a midsize truck, I wish that has a manual option.

Somebody shouted “crawl control!” after I went over an incline. I was just using my gas pedal to keep momentum…

Same here. Much rather have a dual transfer case instead of crawl control. That would be much more useful/capable.

 

The perfect truck is a stick shift Tacoma with a big straight six