Those with Manual Transmission...why?

Because it allows me to participate in circle jerks like this one.

 

From a fellow TW member who manufacturers them. https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...se-with-aftermarket-shift-knobs-at-mt.630774/

 

Purely out of ill-fated curiosity, I wonder how much it'd take (or IF) to get Toyota to build you a DCLB MT. Or do they even allow custom orders any longer?

 

I've been driving MT since I learned how to drive. I love having that extra level of control, and my left foot gets bored in an auto. I also consider a MT to be a form of security since so many people don't know how to drive manual.

 

I learned to drive a stick mainly because we had to know. They were called standard transmissions because every car that wasn't a Buick or Lincoln came with one and you had to option an automatic.

But I think congestion got worse when the number of autos overtook stick shifts. When you drive a manual you can pick a gear and idle along. If you leave a little gap you don't have to constantly gas-brake-gas-brake. Watch how semis still drive. But when most people got autos it seems like all the cutting in and out got significantly more annoying. If you leave a gap now someone's gonna jump in.

The reason I still drive one is mainly I like driving. An automatic is just another disconnection from driving, you become slightly more of a passenger. I feel less engaged and my attention wanders more. With a stick shift you have to anticipate.

 

yeah, old school sensibilities are a definite challenge with driving nowadays. this idling along effect you mention slows me down double on my commute.

 

Of course i gave this some thought. I don’t ever rattle off about anything without thinking about it first, nor do I regurgitate what anyone says without having 1st hand knowledge myself, as I do with the AT, which leads me to the conclusion that the complaints about the AT shifting are overblown. What 1st hand knowledge do you have to make your argument, other than what you read somewhere?... & again, “some” is not “most”, and definitely not “all”, which basically proves that these complaints are overblown... Many of you act like what you read here is science, when it’s simply whiny people bitching about Toyota not doing exactly what they wanted Toyota to do with their truck, which makes them unhappy, like a bunch of entitled little kids... My truck performs flawlessly. I’d be happy to let you drive it to prove that the notion of all AT’s shifting erratically is false.

 

I think this is the most honest post ever on TW. And I agree with it 100%.

 

Straight up, no matter the reputation, my mind lives in the 1970's regarding ATs. I just think of them as a weak link. My logical half absolutely knows this not to be truth. I will say also, after watching a number of videos on the pluses of off roading with ATs, I am leaning that way MAYBE

But I so much love selecting my own gears and changing MT oil, I will stick with me bloody six speed MT!

 

I just want to drive one for as long as I can until the inevitable happens and they’re a thing of the past.

Also my late father taught me to drive a stick in a 1991 Toyota pickup, and that’s part of the reason I own one today.

 

Wow. You've taken a few of us ribbing you about your choice of transmission way too seriously. No-one with a manual cares how the AT drives. It's enough that AT owners quit bitching about it.
Save some of that righteousness for the 2nd genner battles to come.

 

Again, why did Toyota change their A/T
calibrations several times for driveability "issues"?
Nobody outside of Toyota Corp knows how many complaints it took for that to happen.

I believe you when you say your truck runs flawlessly. That doesn't mean everyone has had the same experience though. There seemed to be more complaints with earlier models, which of course had different calibrations. Something to keep in mind before making blanket statements about all A/T Tacomas, like "which basically proves that these complaints are overblown".

 

There's a real good chance he just enjoys arguing or is outright trolling anyway, so meh.

 

I completely agree about the AT owners bitching part. It's ridiculous, but 90% of MT owners here use this "shifting issue" to justify their own decision, and that's just ignorant. & I do welcome the joking. My initial post was "supposed" to be funny, ha. But when someone starts pushing nonsense as reason, I'm going to call their bullshit. & I also welcome it in return, if justifiable. All good, dude.

Ok, you said it yourself, "That doesn't mean everyone has had the same experience..." and "earlier models"... And as for "blanket statements", why does 3 year old news keep getting lumped in with 19-21's? It's the same shit over and over; "2021 MT because of AT shifting issues". Most 1st few year new production models have "issues", and they eventually get sorted out. The only blanket statements are from MT owners who keep saying that AT's have shifting issues. That was for "SOME", three fucking years ago. Lol!

 

Worthless historical footnote of the day: The 1970's Chrysler automatic was legendary for durability -- if you are old enough you may remember all of the lumbering Winnebago motor homes of the day, all Chrysler powered and the highway patrol cars back then too.

Personal preference: Plowing snow is way more convenient with an automatic. (or mowing with a hydro-stat tractor)

 

Then of course there is the GM 2-3-4 speed AT bolted to the 1985 Chevy 4.3L Trailblazer. Pretty sure it just shifted randomly to let you know it was still attached.

 

Honestly, I can't believe how much more "peppy" and lively the MT feels. The 3.5 has plenty of power when paired to an MT.

But also, when you get sick of friends wanting to borrow your truck to move shit around, get an MT, and the requests disappear.

 

If my Tacoma were my only vehicle, it would be a manual. They are a joy to drive, plain and simple. I like manuals, not because of a superiority thing, just because it's fun. Daily driving a manual takes a bit of the fun out of it for all the reasons others have stated.

That being said, when I need to throw gears, I get in my Mustang.

 

Yes, that is what I really meant. I didn't think it came on a manual.

 

I doubt anyone would seriously argue that a manual is better for utility. Hydrostatic transmissions in tractors are A-OK in my book. The UPS guy, a cop or firefighter, whatever trying to deal with a stick would be pretty dumb. I think they're still sometimes used in big trucks because of the control they want to hold gears or jump around like they want. It would take an awful lot of artificial intelligence to come close to what's inside an experienced OTR or heavy haul driver's brain. But there's plenty of trucks from buses and plow trucks up to 100 ton mine trucks with 1,000 HP engines that are Allison automatics. Nah, really, the only reason in 2020 to intentionally drive a stick is just to be stubborn. I prefer it off road only because of habit. An auto would be a lot easier in technical stuff, I know that.