Starting from stop in 2nd gear MT

Does anyone with the new 6 speed manual start from a stop in second gear? I find that first is so low it's like the granny gear in my old (70s) Chevy 1/2 ton 4 speed, and second seems well suited to start off in if I'm on a flat road or a slight decline.

On topic answers only, please.

Just kidding, let the flaming begin!

 

This should end well

 

I've never driven a MT Tacoma, so I really don't have much weight here. But, I used to start in second on slight declines in my Jeeps all the time. No harm caused.

I definitely wouldn't do it uphill (obviously), and can't say whether or not I'd do it on flat ground having never driven one. But if it's geared low enough that the clutch doesn't slip excessively, I probably wouldn't hesitate. I probably wouldn't start from second every time. But, if you're trying to get across an intersection quickly without having to shift in the middle, or something along those lines, I'd go for it.

 

Good to know the manual 1st gear is low considering how gutless 1st seems on the auto. Subbed.

 

I started in 1st like normal in my 06 DC, this new "more powerful" 3.5L is probably no different. Start in 1st in my 94 Toyota too. I recently test drove a 95 Ram Cummins 5 speed manual, that thing about red lines in 1st gear at 8 or 10 mph. Now that's a granny gear and it has to be started in 2nd to drive normally or it bucks like a bronco.

I drive my 94 from 1-3-5-6. Maybe try that, who knows.

 

My '02 seems to start best in first gear. I have only started in 2nd when I am accidently in 2nd and don't realize it. Noticeable acceleration lag however. Man I really wanna drive the '16 manual.

 

I hope, I pray, this is the case. If you are just making this up I will be disappointed. If this is true when my 2016 Manual shows up I will be one happy camper! All newer vehicles are geared way too high in 1st for anything off-road oriented. My current 2.7 L is almost unusable in 4hi, 1st gear for starting on inclines off road. I find myself putting it into 4lo just for the gearing.

Please let you observation be true......

 

1st is geared very low in MT. If I'm even SLIGHTLY moving, I use 2nd gear to get going.
I find myself quick shifting from first to second like I've done in past diesel vehicles. Land rovers, vw's, etc. the key is to rev it more than you normally would in other gears. Makes the transition smoother.
it will be great for off-road for sure. I'll know in a week!

 

Could someone with a 2016 manual take a picture of the gear pattern on the shifter, please? I ordered a 2016 TRD OR Saturday but no manuals were available to test drive. Standards are all I drive just wondering where reverse is in the pattern and where 6th or OD is? Thanks if you can

 

It goes like this

R 1 3 5
_ 2 4 6

 

I'm right there with you, the gearing in 4low really really helps when you're offroad and just trying to creep along. I'd rather be in 2nd or 3rd in low than lugging it along in 1st.

 

Thanks Specter208, I searched but could never find a pattern or pic

 

I like the sound of this. ..I want my 2016 manual to get here!

 

Are any Toyota 6 speed different from that? I've only ever seen them that way.

 

So guessing reverse is off of 1st. Ya'll are saying 1st is nice and slow hope reverse is too

 

No clue. Just came from a 1st gen 5spd

 

I have the 5MT, and the shifter can be seen here:
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/manual-transmission-anyone.395859/page-5#post-10964477

With the 5MT, Reverse is where you would expect 6th to be. It's also un-synchronized, and has that awesome wind-up-toy noise.


I've spent the last 12 years driving manual Ford Rangers, so the tacoma shifter is still really new and odd for me.

The rangers' shifter was a 3 foot steel pipe coming out of the floor between the seats. Neutral pointed at the headliner between the occupants heads. 1st was next to the driver's knee, and reverse was an excuse to grope your passenger's thigh. There was just under a foot between 1st-2nd, 3rd-4th, and 5th-R. I kinda miss it. Reverse was also synchronized, no winduptoy noise, and you could throw it into reverse while still slowly rolling forward.


The 5MT in the 2016 Tacoma feels like it was mounted off-kilter, but I'm getting used to it. Neutral seems to point at the passenger headrest, and 1st seems to be damn near vertical.

The gearing in the Rangers seemed taller than the gearing in the new Taco. 1st is a lot easier to get started with, but you need to hit 2nd sooner.

3rd is the "Merging Gear" in both trucks, pulls hard all the way up to 70 for getting on the interstate. The Taco pulls harder, though The Taco's 5th is also taller, but it has a bit more torque to maintain speed at low RPM. Makes up for the worse aerodynamics of the larger truck.

 

If 1st/2nd is similar between 2nd/3rd gen manuals, on level surfaces it's quite easy to start out in 2nd, and in my '10 I used to do it quite often. 1st was low enough I could leave a little room in a traffic jam, leave it in gear and let it creep along.

 

Test drove a 16 DCSB 4x4 V6 Sport and had the same experience. After 2 starts from stop I started going from 2nd gear. Sales guy didn't seem to excited about it, but it didn't feel underpowered and actually started moving. Found myself going 2, 3, 4, 6. I get 6 gears is better for gas mileage, but in a MT truck just felt like too much. Ended up going AT.

 

I have 2300 miles on my 16 4x4 DCSB Sport. First is low enough for occasional second gear starts. Drove a couple of roads/passes in 4Lo and was always in 2nd or above. Not a granny gear, but certainly lower than anticipated. Similar to my 83 Land Cruiser manual first.