Those with Manual Transmission...why?

Tacomas are slow as fuck and boring and if I didnt have some way on-road to feel some sort of engagement Id want to drive it off a cliff.

Fast, Engaging, Triggers an Emotional Response, Manual. Needs to be at least 1

 

I’ll concur with all the comments about how fun it makes driving but I’ll add that I have three boys that I hope to teach how to drive. Having a manual is the main reason I bought my Tacoma and didn’t look at the competition.

 

4th gen is not gonna be auto only. toyota is gonna have the now "niche" market on lock. theres absolutely no reason to. same reason why the corolla still has a manual trans option.

 

I went with an auto Taco after driving a 6mt one proved to be a bit laborious for daily driving. But I also sold my m3 and got a flappy paddle one: I never thought I could like a clutch-pedal-less platform as much as a manual but I think it's pretty close. The technology is getting wild

 

My second choice was a frontier pro4x, not a bad looking truck and pretty solid. I have always wanted a taco though, could never really afford one.

 

Number 1 reason (and really my only reason) is I hate when you hit a little hill and the auto transmission (every auto car or truck I've driven) wants to down shift when it was not needed. When driving in the manual version of the same rig, I have no issues pulling the same hill without downshifting. IDK, just bugs me way to much.

 

Honestly if the auto didn't suck so bad I would have had no problem opting for that. The 5 speed auto in my 2nd gen was actually really, really good. I will say I'm not a fan of this 3.5 engine regardless of the transmission - its rev happy, surges and has shit for low end torque. But for a mid size pickup, there really is no other choice when it comes to looks, reliability and heritage.

 

When i look at an AT vehicle, to me its just another shitbox on wheels. It may sound harsh, but thats how i honestly feel. I would rather drive a 88 GTI than some turbo AT Porsche, what a joke those cars are...

Its just so much satisfaction when you make those smooth shifts. You feel the vehicle and the road so much better with MT. My buddy says otherwise though haha, he says he can do everything that i can do in my manual. We agreed to disagree.
I did notice as well that MT drivers are usually better drivers and they tend to actually use their signal, an earlier post mentioned that as well, i do agree. When AT fucks up, it fucks up and you are screwed, most of the time. With an MT, 99% of the time you can feel that something is wrong and its time to inspect\fix it. One of the best things that i like about MT is, you can start your truck if your battery dies. Saved my ass one time and i was very grateful. I was brought up with MTs and always loved rowing my own gears, i am always looking forward driving my beast. I learned on a 85? VW Transporter diesel, my dad said i did very good for a 10 year old haha. Spent a lot of time afterwards on my dads lap driving the golf, fun times. I know one day, i will have to drive a shitbox electric mobile and i dont wanna think about it, it will be a sad day.

 

Ov SFOB tune really adds some torque to the low end, i was impressed.

 

Man this game was tits, i loved it.

 

No comment.

 

Phantom clutch syndrome is real.

 

More wheel torque

Seriously.

Plus the joy of making a perfect shift. It's like when your back pops back into place. It's just so extremely satisfying.

Plus, more wheel torque.

My wife drives an MT Crosstrek. The CVT Is the definition of dreary. But the MT XV is a giggle. Especially on dirt roads. I feel like a WRC champion in that thing when it's on dirt roads.

The MT Tacoma goes from feeling gutless and anemic with an AT to feeling peppy and eager when paired with an MT.

Also, more wheel torque.

 

Well said, I also prefer to choose how and when I shift, and I'm old and always had manual trans in my vehicles and prefer them. Driving an automatic makes me nuts, I hate them.
Never had to change out a clutch in any manual vehicle I've owned, so i must be doing something right.

 

Choosing a manual transmission is for most, an emotional decision. To wit: It is more "fun", "engaging", "sporty", "makes me feel connected", blah, blah, blah. Not saying those are bad reasons at all, just that there really isn't much of a logical/engineering reason to choose a manual over a modern automatic or dual clutch transmission. I have some weird kind of eCVT in my RAV 4 Hybrid and despite weighing in at almost 4,000 lbs and being AWD it gets 41 mpg and is actually pretty quick. I don't think those goals could be accomplished with a manual.

The last manual that I had was a Ram 3500 diesel dually w/Laramie trim. I live in the upper North East and when I advertised it for sale, was contacted by a guy in Kentucky who flew out here and bought it. Why? Because he loves manuals and would go anywhere to get one. Manual guys are pretty loyal to their three-pedal vehicles.

 

I used to love the manual transmission back in the day because it is more fun to drive and better on gas. It was also cheaper and I was a poor young Airman. But with technology nowadays, it is no longer the case. I am now fatter, lazier and my insurance premiums are lower. With automatic, I can now concentrate on my phone while driving

 

@LDrider: youre comparing a hybrid to a non hybrid powerplant. of course itll get better mileage. my old 2018 corolla se premium with the 6spd manual trans could churn out similar mpgs than you just posted about your hybrid without skipping a beat. the trunk was vast too which would actually make the rav blush. i do gotta admit that i do miss that daily. dont get it twisted though, i have nothing against the rav. i actually just ordered a 2021 limited awd as a daily to see what changed on the platform since my last rav. i did think about getting a hybrid but i realized that it came with that cvt trans and the choice was already made, plus the gas variant puts almost similar numbers up so ill take the minor mpg hit for the more traditional 8spd trans.

 

I like driving a manual because it always provides an opportunity for me to improve a skill, which I find very satisfying. I've been driving stick for 15 years but I still feel a sense of accomplishment when I hit that perfect rev-matched downshift.

 

We give drivers, who rarely leave the pavement, a break for putting on massive Mud Terrain 33-inch E-rated tires simply because they think it looks cool.

Making an emotional decision over a practical one is still a valid decision. If practicality ruled the day, very few of us would be in a body-on-frame pickup truck. We'd all be driving electric vans.

 

So my wife can't drive it.