The unintended consequence of electric vehicles: More demand for manual transmissions

There's no mention of the taco, but it was an interesting read.

https://abcnews.go.com/Business/uni...demand-manual-transmissions/story?id=92617428

 

I fall into that. I explicitly went on a hunt to find my truck with a manual with the thought that if I keep this for 8 years, it could be my last chance to buy a new manual car. If I had gone into buying this thinking that manuals would be available forever, I would have been much more likely to settle for whatever the local dealer had on the lot.

 

Same here. They even got the unintended consequence of upselling me. I went in wanting an SR, but none were available so it forced me to hunt down an OR. Hindsight I’m really happy with all of the upgrades the trim level came with that I actually use, so I wouldn’t have done it differently, but I definitely would’ve settled if I had the choice in the moment.

 

I didn't read the entire story, but I skimmed over it and agree. People want to go back to analog cars. Well, I do. That was the biggest reason that I bought my Tacoma. It's very analog/mechanical. It isn't overly computerized. Which means less shit that can break, and when (or if) it does, it will cost less to repair or replace.

I like the manual parking brake and even though mine is an automatic, I actually shift into gear. It's not a button I push for "Drive" or a knob I turn to find the gear. My truck isn't a smart phone, so I don't want to push a bunch of buttons to make it drive. Now, I'm not against technology in cars, but I do think we've over done it. Which is why cars cost so much now. More computers & computer chips are in our vehicles and they cost a lot of money.

Just look at the Toyota Hilux, the cousin to the Tacoma. They sell it in Mexico RIGHT NOW and it starts a lot less than the Tacoma. Wanna know why? Less options and features. Most people on this site talk about "I didn't want to have this-or-that, but I had to get the package so I could get the one thing I did want."

 

Im in this group too. I jumped on a '23 6MT not knowing if they were going to be offered in the new model.

 

Uhhhh what? You're using gear limiter which is meant for towing, if that's what you're referring to. That's not shifting into gear lol.

 

I was referring to the fact that I have an actual lever to shift it into gear, it isn't a dial knob that I turn or a button that I press.

 

Gotcha. All good

 

Very interesting article and I am glad to see manufacturers pushing to still produce them. I am half tempted to buy a brand-new Tacoma 6MT just to stick it in the garage for 25 years so I can sell it for six figures plus on Bring a Trailer!

 

I just bought a 6MT Sport two weeks ago (after waiting 8 months); since the dawn of the COVID era I've only been driving two to three thousand miles per year. I figure in 25 years my Tacoma will most likely have fewer than 50,000 miles.

 

What's funny is lots of people WANT a manual but very few people actually BUY a manual.

It was true for Subaru's turbo charger, everyone WANTED it but very few cars actually sold with the turbo.

So lots of people making noise about less and less manuals but very few people go out and actually buy it. I wonder what percent of Tacomas sold are manuals?

 

found it, 3.9% of Tacomas as if August 2022. Huh, one could argue there's not point in offering manuals....

 

Almost like there’s no demand.

 

This is the reason that manufacturers have stopped offering manual transmissions and other features. There wasn't a demand for them. It's also how SUV's & Crossovers became predominant on the road. Less and less people bought sedans and eventually they were (almost) killed off. I believe Ford officially killed off all sedans two years ago? They killed the Taurus, one of the most popular selling cars in history. because people changed their minds about what kind of car they wanted, or didn't want.

The demand for them isn't enough to justify the cost. Sure, you get the enthusiast who swears "They will ONLY drive a manual", but they're the minority. And that minority is getting smaller and smaller as years pass. Consumer tastes & wants evolve and change. Soon, a manual transmission will go the way of the Steam Engine powered car's of the early 1900's in the "Brass" era.

 

I went ahead and bought a '22 manual brand new partially because I was worried Toyota would stop offering the manual option for the Tacoma.

I also want to vote with my wallet: I still want new manuals being made. I stick to my words this time.

 

I just want you know what is *better* about a manual in going into 2023?

There’s not a single thing a manual transmission does better at this point.

 

Epic fail; no automatic, not even the fastest shifting DSGs and other transmissions of their ilk, can give the driver as much control as a good old fashioned manual transmission.

 

Control of what exactly?

DSGs have been getting better track times for almost 20 years now.

 

Same reason toyota killed off the reg cab and most access cabs, people wanted quad cabs

 

What do track capabilities have to do with every day driving in the real world?