Manual Transmissions Were Just 1.4% of 2023 US Sales

2023, trd off road, barcelona red. Msrp was 40147, very bare truck. I didn't care as I can shift it. So I'm one of the low 2000s? Nice

 

I would have thought 5%, but 1.4% makes sense. The manual truck market is small, but those who want a manual truck would really want it.

I wish there's more configurations with a manual available as I'm really not a fan of automatic Tacomas. But the market already spoke for itself.

 

100% agree that Toyota limits production of them. I was shocked that the 24 comes with one. Well. Assuming you can actually find one

 

If you've gone through the process of finding a manual allocation, then you'll know that true market forces and demand are not represented by that 1.4%.

That's definitely a possible explanation. There are too many of us who needed to head to dealers hours or days from our homes in order to secure our stick trucks.

 

Gotta say I'm loving mine! I wonder what the percentage of manual Tacomas were sold in Canada? It seems to me people try to talk bad about manuals, I figure they're jealous! My truck shifts at the right time, does sport mode when I want, does eco mode when I want, and the mileage is pretty good overall, an automatic just can't compete. I don't know why people are willing to subject themselves to BORING!

 

They'll all be electric soon so who cares

Prove me wrong

 

I get my excitement outside the truck these days

 

Because it’s a much more engaging and fun drive. Also some of the issues associated with auto trans goes away with a manual

 

Electric is not going to pan out like you think so soon. Hybrid will be the one to watch first

 

They're also just making all that up outside of the fuel economy. Tacomas are still $1000 cheaper in stick form, and you can get them with no additional options beyond the trim choice. My 2023 is a stripper TRD OR.

Unless they're kvetching over the stick not being available in SR5 models, in which case yeah I agree that's BS.

 

When I was first shopping I thought they just weren't in stock when I was trying to configure one. My ignorant self was trying to build a TRD Pro with a 6' bed and 6MT.

 

I've gone through it early-mid 2022 and you're not wrong. Just wasn't many manual Tacomas coming into my area compared to other areas.

 

I will concede that driving a manual can be fun, but there are far more issues associated with manuals that go away with an auto. And every automatic I've ever driven would allow the driver to manually select the best gear for the conditions just like a manual.

They haven't made trucks with wooden wheels in a long time either. The manuals can go the same way as wooden wheels as far as I'm concerned.

The problem with manuals in modern trucks is that all of the engines are designed to work with an automatic. I've owned 8 manuals and 7 automatics over the last 50 years, so I've driven both. But I wouldn't touch a manual in a truck made in the last 30-40 years. Old school engines got torque at much lower rpm which made it a lot easier to get a heavily loaded truck or truck pulling a trailer moving or to maneuver them in tight spots. Once on the road it isn't nearly that much of a handicap. It is darn near impossible to back a trailer, especially uphill with a manual in a modern truck. Not nearly enough torque unless you're pushing 4000-5000 rpm's and burning the clutch. The torque converter in an automatic overcomes this problem even with modern engines.

If you want to drive a sports car with a bed then a manual might be for you. If you want a truck to do work with an automatic does everything better.

 

I am on the other side of the fence . This is my 3 rd Tacoma 2 others were manual.My other pick up truck was a Nissan Frontier also manual. My current Tacoma is an automatic and although it’s fine I still miss the manual. When I bought it I went with my wife and she talked me into the automatic . But hey that’s why options are good . We all have opinions .

 

And to think I “settled” for a manual in my ‘22…I just got lucky, as it’s what the dealer was allotted the day I put down the deposit.

 

i'd be curious to see the breakdown of people trying to use toyota's configurators, and what options they select.

i definitely spent many hours on it trying to find the magical combination that would allow MT with 4dr and 6' bed...

 

Yes you did get lucky. I really think if they made more manuals , they would sell all of them . The low numbers are being controlled by them

 

I brought this up somewhere else but the initial take rate on MT Broncos in 2021 were 25%.

 

I highly prefer the manual and sought it out in my pro. It’s def a unicorn. I really enjoy driving it. I have driven stick my whole life 25 years. Autos are annoying to drive imo. Not just the Tacoma. There are advantages and disadvantages though.