What are the odds for the OR AC in MANUAL for 2017???

I know it's offered in Canada .

Do you think Toyota will ever offer this option to MERICA ?

I know I'm a rare breed but this would be the perfect truck. I have no need for the double cab and want the 6 foot bed in a MANUAL. I saw someone bought one from Canada and brought it over but was having some issues getting it resisted with the DMV. Being in Michigan it's very tempting...



Nick

 

You could probably just buy an SR5 Manual AC and add a locker for the same price

 

Each chassis/powertrain combo costs something like $1 million for a manufacturer to certify, although Toyota gets to amortize that cost over a decade or so since they overhaul the Taco so rarely.

If you estimate that Toyota makes a gross profit of $5k or so per truck (total guess), they'd need to sell about 400-500 of this config per year to get the certification costs less than 5% of the gross profit (a reasonable estimate for their feasibility threshold). Of course every additional chassis/powertrain config adds manufacturing/supply chain complexity, distribution complexity, dealer issues, etc, and it's hard to quantify those costs.

Because manufacturers want to amortize the certification costs over the most possible model years, it's rare to see a late addition to manual transmission availability. But when you do, it's almost always in the second model year (Chevy SS, Golf R, Jag F-type, new Civic; off the top of my head), although I can think of a few exceptions (Mazda3 added 6MT+2.5L in the 3rd model year I believe). If 'yota is going to offer it any time for the 3rd gen, it's probably for the 2017 model year or never. So cross your fingers!

 

SR5 does not offer a manual.

Only SR 2.7 AC/Off Road DBLC/Sport AC

 

My fingers are crossed for the addition then! When do you think they will update the website for the 2017, October?

 

Website will be the last thing updated; there were dozens of '16 models on my local dealer's lot for months before the website even showed the 2016 Taco (I guess they wanted to sell all the '15s first). I imagine the 2017 order guide document will find its way on here sometime mid-summer.

Unfortunately, my bet is that it isn't going to happen. They already sell every Taco they make in a matter of days; there is no incentive to add more configs unless they are high-profit trims like the TRD Pro.

 

Wow that's pretty lame. I didn't know that.

 

Ya it sucks. It's either one extreme or the other when it comes to the manual transmission.

Part of me likes the idea of the 2.7 but I will have to test drive it. I have a 98 Ranger 2.5 4cly 2wd regular cab and it does OK.

 

Broken record here, wish they would have the ACLB V6 MT in the SR trim....really don't want to shell out the extra coin for stuff I don't want or need.

The 4 banger "might" work...haven't driven it yet though.

 

Source? That sounds like balooney. EPA, emissions, mileage all that stuff is self reported by manufactures, it's not like they have to send the cars to some guberment lab that charges high fees.

While there is certainly cost to additional configurations (manufacturing, logistics, etc) that certification thing is a pure bullshit somebody came up with that others relentlessly parrot. Especially in this case, given engine/transmission combo is already offered.

Nothing personal, no offense, I just hate the fact manual transmission options are so slim and makes me mad whenever the topic comes up /rant

(personally I wanted to buy DCSB MT O/R so I am fine, although due to the vibe issues, I'll probably pass, unless they fix it soon).

 

Kinda in the same boat. My Ranger only has 120hp. The Tacoma has 159 but more weight with the AC and 4WD so it's a toss up until I test drive it.

 

I think it would be fine unloaded. It is loading it up is what has me concerned. Which is darn near every weekend for me.

Though for $25K, might be able to live with its' slowness...not like I am in hurry any more.

Was at the dealer last week, but someone had the only 4 cylinder out on a test drive.

 

I just have a dirt bike that I would haul from time to time, some camping gear for weekend trips and fire wood 2x a year.

Ya the price point is what has me too. There is a dealer that has one that I hope to test drive before it's sold.

 

About the same here.

My 1st gen V6 Taco does it fine...sure the 4-Cylinder would be ok too.

 

Just to be clear, what I'm about to say essentially reinforces what you're saying, but clarify/expands on the issue with regards to crash testing for safety certification...

I work in crash safety, specifically trucks at Ford, and I can't really get into too much of the specifics ... but the prototypes that are built typically cost ~10x what a production vehicle costs a consumer, so if it's a $30k truck it would probably cost $300k as a prototype. We crash a LOT of trucks to develop and certify the safety systems (probably more than you would guess ...) ... $1 million would probably not even cover a single day's worth of crashes ... That's just in the prototype costs...

However, I am not sure what Toyota is certifying, but they do already sell a manual transmission 4x4 AC in the US. Whatever they've certified for that drivetrain/cab configuration, with regards to crash safety, would cover another MT AC 4x4 even if it was a OR, SR5, whatever ... the main thing is the drivetrain, bed, cab, etc., the trim that is tested is typically the highest volume configuration (meaning if they sell mostly SR5 in that bed/cab/drivetrain configuration, that is what they would certify). This means that while it does cost a ridiculous amount of money to develop proper crash safety systems and certify them, there is some overlap between trim levels, so that would not be the reason Toyota decided to not sell a MT OR AC in the States ...

Also, what vibe issues? I have 2200 miles and no vibrations? Should I be paying attention for something specific?

 

OP, I'm in the same boat... I was settling for the DCSB TRD OR 6MT 4x4, but I think I'm pulling the plug and getting the AC 2.7L SR 4x4 5MT. The engine in that truck is great. I currently have the 2.7L in my 2WD PreRunner, and love it, I just want 4x4 and a long bed. A short bed is so pointless, and owning a home, it's necessary to have it. The updated the 2.7L engine to dual vvti, if im not mistaken, and changed the transmission 1st, 2nd, and 5th gear from the old R155F, to the new R156F.

 

I'd too would be delighted to see this option offered along side the AC TRD OR 6MT.

If they don't then those who have the AC TRD OR with a 6MT will effectively have the rarest of the configuarations. It'll probably be a big bargaining chip in resale.

My $0.02.

 

Vibe issues?

 

That's what I thought, what vibe issues?