Starting from stop in 2nd gear MT

I guess I'll answer your question with a question, how much do you like your clutch? Yes it is a low gear but it also is good to about 30 MPH and 2nd is too high for starting from a stand still with out feathering the clutch. If you want to skip gears wait until you get some speed up. The ratio is great for towing.

 

can anyone mention how the throws are in the new manual?
any truck manual I ever drove was a ram and the throws were insane. I felt like I was gonna punch the dash or reach into the back seat any time I shifted. And the bite point on the clutch was insanely high.

 

I like it a lot. I find I don't really want to go over 20 mph in first, but maybe that's because I'm trying to baby it during the break-in period.

As an update, I've only tried this a handful of times. My driveway is on a slight incline, so if I've backed the truck up the driveway, I'm able to pull out in second without slipping the clutch.

 

I had an old Chevy where 1st gear I'd actually touch the dash, and then 2nd you were back up against the seat. The '16 MT isn't like that at all, but it certainly is much longer than a car (compared to my last two cars, a Jetta and an Outback).

It's shifts like a truck, but not like an 18-wheeler, and probably has much shorter throws than your Dodge. The clutch grabs pretty high, you're not on your tippy-toes all the time.

 

Hmm that being the case I'll probably go auto then. The dealer near me hasn't gotten anything besides an OR manual and they wouldn't let me drive it because it was already sold.

I only drove my uncles ram and it really threw me off. Every manual car I've owned always had pretty short throws...and then again I changed all of them to have short throw shifters as well lol

 

No pickup tranny will shift as short as a modern car. It's similar to a 65 Mustang, and shorter than my 99 Ram, but double that of my 02 WRX

 

Won't the dealer let you at least sit in the Off Road to see how long the throws are?

 

I sat in it for a second, didn't think to feel the shifter. But given @skier post saying how its not like a WRX, probably just going with the auto. Not fond of long throws. Considering I owned a WRX and even that seemed long to me which is why I changed it to a short throw shifter.

I'll see if they get one in to go try, but I am leaning more towards the auto. I'm still not sure when I'll even buy. I was originally thinking end of 16 to get the dealer clearout deals...but I am worried I won't be able to find one with all the features I want and since production is done I wont be able to order. Plus I want to wait and see if any problems come up with it. So either a 2017 or 2016

 

No - reverse is in between 1st and 2nd in the middle there and you have to be stopped to get into R

To the OP question. Yes I start out in 2nd all the time specially if I'm slightly moving. Also on 4wd=LO I start out in 3rd even on and uphill incline. 1st and 2nd in 4wd-LO is WAY low, probably only need 1st or 2nd for rock crawling which I haven't tried yet. I started out in 1st the first time in 4wd-LO - talk about bucking bronco... wooohoo hold on there. My dog loved it, my wife was scared!! Gonna go 4wd again today, it's a lot of fun.

 

Coming from a Jeep Wrangler I thought the throws felt shorter and they were effortless. I've only driven manual trucks and jeeps so I can't compare the throw on cars.

 

Next to 1st, left and up

 

Don't get an auto.

The shifter in 2016 is really effortless and does not have very long throw. I think my 1999 Altima had much longer throw.

 

Agree.

Coming from a Ranger, various work trucks, and a few big diesels, I can honestly say that the taco shifter feels like a car shifter to me. It's not a sports car, and it's not meant to be, but it is very "civilized" and easy.

The clutch bit VERY high at first, almost at the top of the pedal's range, and took some getting used to. I stalled it the first time, and my stepdad stalled it the first time. My mother was DETERMINED not to stall it the first time, to show us guys how it's done... So she tried to rip the tranny off it's mounts by flooring it and sidestepping the clutch instead (she didn't actually sidestep it, but DAMN). I winced. I wince just thinking about it.

After 800 or so miles, the clutch feels like it bites a little lower and has a much larger "bite range" compared to a few weeks ago. It gets better as it breaks in

 

I'm coming from driving audi and Subaru manuals with short throw shifters.

I'll need to test drive manual first

 

I dont understand all the discussion on throw distance. Are you all buying a manual for the distance of the throw or are you buying the manual because its a manual? Why does throw distance cause some to buy an auto?

edited

 

I drive a 2013 MT, and I never start in 2nd unless I am rolling a stop or on a severe decline. I don't like lugging it too hard, but I will admit 1st is incredibly short and rather annoying to be honest. I roll most stop signs...

 

I have two Subaru Legacys with STI 6-speed boxes and short shifters. I am fine in the Tacoma.

 

I love my 6 speed manual. If I am on a downward pitch, I always start in 2nd, or even if I'm barely rolling, otherwise I use 1st. I shift depending on my mood and/or speed limit. I may go 1-3-4-5-6; 2-4-5-6; 2-4-6: or sometimes 1-3-5-6. I also run each gear 1 or 2 through 6th. The bottom line is you can pretty much shift the way you want. IMHO, the 6 speed manual is the only way to go in a Tacoma. But manual or auto, it's a great truck. Also, 1st is great for crawling in heavy bumper to bumper traffic.

 

1 to 3? It must barely move in third at that speed....I skip 5 often and also start in 2 on the roll.