The New Toyota Tacoma With A Manual Transmission Is GREAT…Except When It Is Not!

We have a special truck to test this week. Yes, it looks like your average Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro, but this one has a manual transmission! Try finding one of those out in the wild these days. Is a manual transmission actually a great choice when it comes to towing? Well, there's only one way to find out.
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#Toyota #Tacoma #TRDPro

[@jo-wb6zs]

thanks for posting. thank god they still make manuals in the taco.

[@imnotusingmyrealname4566]

Next gen won't have them, I can tell you that.

[@jza80king]

@@imnotusingmyrealname4566 yeah i think we are at the end of a manual taco

[@jonathonsmith7694]

like your really gonna buy one 😂😂😂

[@Ben_Pede]

I ordered that exact truck on December 24th, I'm doing my part to Save the Manuals. That will be the 4th manual vehicle in my collection, no automatics. So awesome that you can still get a 3 pedal pickup truck in 2021.

[@travelinman482]

jo Why would Toyota make their employees sit in a Tacoma and make manuals for owners to read? Weird...

[@ralfhiller9043]

RAM needs to bring back the manual 6-speed with the Cummins! Best combination ever! Manuals are so much more fun to drive and no computer shifts when it thinks it is the right time! Total driver control, gotta love it!

[@democratsareterrorists]

We should start a petition to get them to bring them back

[@ralfhiller9043]

@@democratsareterrorists good idea, since there is the G56 that we all know would work! ZF also has a 6 speed for Medium duty trucks that could even handle the HO torque.

[@jmin8400]

Not enough buyers and dealers exacerbate the issue, by not stocking them. I had to order my TRD Pro 6MT.

[@ewcm1878]

@ralf not enough demand so producing them 6 speed manual is a financial pain long term. Hey at least it's not a CVT lol.

[@jmin8400]

@@democratsareterrorists So all of us Democrats are terrorists, when we are some of the many engineers in product development for pickups? Good luck with that logic. Typical slack-jawed knuckledragger. Stupid enough to ask for a transmission that was discontinued because of not being engineered for the higher torque rating newer Ram HD powertrain applications.

[@morpheous04]

Bought one of these yesterday and I love it! Every vehicle I’ve ever owned has been a manual and I won’t switch as long as they offer them.

[@coltongannon4818]

Good man

[@VideoArchiveGuy]

It's more than that for me; when you can't get a new vehicle with stick I will only buy used.

[@nickb2509]

Manual transmission with an old school key! Awesome.

[@ericksanchez7787]

@Railroading Ohio and Beyond no push button start

[@311-y7f]

@Railroading Ohio and Beyond yes most new cars use key fobs with proximity sensor. Car sense the key inside the car and all you you need to do is put foot on break and push a button to turn the car. To turn off just push button again.

[@JorgeDalessandroGoat]

I like old school things, this truck is not for people who don’t like it, simple.

[@triple6758]

Many will be triggered.

[@tbr2109]

The key was one of my main reasons for buying the 6MT over the autobox version. I loathe push button start.

[@19redmiata94]

I have a 2019 TRD off road with a manual and I love it! Last time I took it in for service, the techs got excited because they had never seen one.

[@Clanc54R]

One of the techs went to drive mine away for service. I walked away already, but saw him get out and talk to another tech. The other tech drove it away, and I can only hope that was the reason, and he got teased for a while.

[@19redmiata94]

@@Clanc54R I also had that happen. Brought the truck in, and they had to find someone to drive manual.

[@Clanc54R]

@@19redmiata94 I hope he learned after that. That's gotta be embarrassing. When I was a tech at Chevrolet (very briefly) it was a prerequisite for the job to at least know how.

[@mikefoehr235]

Funny

[@Bondovw]

It was funny when I took my Toyota in for a oil change. They had to find a certain employee to drive it. Only one person could drive a manual. I don't think I could trust a tech that can't drive a stick.

[@patfusick7202]

Love how that gearshift rattles a bit on start-up. Gives it that old truck feeling!

[@jmin8400]

Only FWD cars don't do that (see Civic, Focus ST). All BOF and longitudinal unibody cars gearboxes rattle.

[@jameskoskinen6763]

I love my tacoma and it tows ok when I'm pulling less than three thousand pounds. I'd recommend the manual strictly based upon the fact that the automatic transmissions hunt for gears relentlessly. The lower gearing of the manual adds much needed torque!

[@alienation-k1x]

@Pinky negative just test drove a 2021 trd off-road after hearing the same rumors and I can confirm the 6 spd. auto is still hunting during highway driving.

[@lyin4rmu]

@Pinky i have a 17 trd off road manual and 2 of my friends have autos of the same generation tacoma. i consistently get better mpg because i've developed good driving habits and techniques from years of driving manuals. on paper the auto is more efficient but we don't drive cars on paper.

[@Atlan_tis]

I’m planing to have a transmission Tuning, so it stays in the 6th on the freeway, it switches to 5th and 4th and stays there for a wile till it shifts back to 5th and almost never in 6th Except if you Feather pedal then it will shift to 6th, im running 285s and I have TRD lift kit from Toyota, supercharger is a must on this tacomas and transmission tuning, I believe after tuning it will get way better mpg on auto transmission

[@Pengowirr]

@@Atlan_tis supercharger? The one that gives you like 60hp for 7K dollars? That’s just not a good trade.

[@Atlan_tis]

@@Pengowirr I’m doing ovtuning

[@vecdran]

I absolutely love my 2020 Tacoma TRD Pro with a manual trans...once I deleted the clutch accumulator. And replaced the awful shift knob. The look on the salesguy's face when I explicitly told him I wanted a manual was priceless. Going down steep grades off-road in 4lo in 1st will always confirm that I made the right choice.

[@chrisE815]

I think there is a 2lo mod for that gen. Have you considered it?

[@Rider.WhiteHorse]

It's incredible for what it is. 4:30 rear end, very impressive mid size truck doing something it's not designed to excel at.

[@rightlanehog3151]

Andre, The engagement of driving a manual will never be equaled. Get them while you still can.

[@neilmurphy845]

And when you're going downhill you put it in the gear you need it to be in unlike an automatic that's so annoying

[@beardedgunny372]

He's such a rookie at driving a manual 😂

[@neilmurphy845]

@@beardedgunny372 ya there's nothing hard about driving a manual it's how you drive it that matters

[@t-bone9239]

@@neilmurphy845 you can control your gears with most automatics

[@neilmurphy845]

@@t-bone9239 I didn't know that but some especially VAGS upshift if it gets near redline with is a bit silly.

[@MrMann703]

I'm from genX and grew up thinking a person doesn't know how to drive unless they can find their own gears, I still believe that. The all around control a manuel gives is better than automatic in every driving condition, icy roads use gears to slow down instead of breaks, rocking the truck when stuck in mud is superior, hills up or down gear control. For me this truck would be just right, lighter towing but more for what it can do without a trailer. Great video, thank you for putting it out

[@MsShooter68]

We have a 2013 manual 6 speed Tacoma. Off road it crawls over almost anything. Fun to drive in and off road. We pull our 2500lb tent trailer around as if nothing is back there at all.

[@Do-UR-Research2749]

Well I listened to his suggestion to buy a ZR2 diesel and in the 2 years I owned it. It spent more time in the dealer than two previous vehicle I've owned in the past 30 years combined. So I decided to ignor his suggestion and traded in my 2019 ZR2 and bought a 2021 Tacoma TRD PRO with a manual. Loving it so far. 😆

[@born2xplore211]

Love my 19 TRd OR manual, searched far and wide for this truck and finally found it. Well worth the wait

[@StoneysWorkshop]

good on toyota man, that is so much fun, I miss manuals

[@brianm1916]

Lots of people miss them. Hardly any actually buy them.

[@shrayesraman5192]

@@brianm1916 this is the truth man. I would buy manual for a truck but I’m worried it will hurt resale value. I have a Scion FR-S with manual for the weekend tho

[@ramonconcepcion4642]

@@shrayesraman5192 it doesn't hurt resale value at all. I have a 2018 TRD OR and resale is only 4k under the original price. One dealership offered me 2k below original price. 31k miles

[@chiefbeef2059]

@@shrayesraman5192 it will raise the re sell value if anything, the more rare the more value

[@shrayesraman5192]

@@chiefbeef2059 I get the feeling that less people will know how to even drive manual. Also personally if I buy a truck then my friends family will prolly use it at some point and most of em dont know how to drive manual no matter how much I try to teach em...

[@someguysomewheresouthern6290]

Love that configuration!! I’ve got a 1981 Toyota 3/4 ton pickup... long bed, 2wd, 4-speed manual, 22r carb’d with a Weber 32/36. I’ve hauled and towed more stuff way too heavy with that rig... basically a beater with a heater, but still going fine with 300k+ miles on it.

[@megahurts2]

Great video! If it's helpful to add, as someone with a manual Tacoma who measures MPGs at the pump (based on the trip and how far I have gone) I seem to get 20-24 MPGs. The higher highway speeds hurt me WAY more then in town driving. Stop and go is 22 MPGs(even with 2,000 lbs in the bed), slow trail riding is 24 MPGs and highway (80 MPH around here) is about 19 MPGs. Mine is a bone stock 2019 one if thats helpful for anyone. All in all, the lower gearing hurts your highway MPGs but as I'm going 33s we'll see if that balances out any (at least I dont have to re-gear).

[@ryancalhoun4671]

I've never heard of anyone getting better MPG's in stop and go traffic, (especially towing 2,000 lbs) than at freeway speeds. That's really odd.

[@tiffanysblueworld]

I'm just drooling watching this truck..... Someday I'll get my hands on one.

[@lexwaldez]

I'm with you if I can get rid of the fake, fooking hood scoop. Hate that plastic poser bullshiite.

[@chopstx4u207]

@@lexwaldez buy one, trade the hood+cash, tons of people would make the deal.

[@arnoldherrera9154]

Me 3

[@jonathonsmith7694]

no you won’t

[@hostilityy]

they keep increasing prices. I have a 2019 TRD off road manual with premium and tech package. in 2020 they increased it by $2K for the EXACT same vehicle that nothing changed except power seats. Taco manual is currently only offered in TRD PRO and Sport models, no more in off road. they keep shrinking availability.

[@suzukidrz3425]

Welcome to the club Andre, I've been towing with my 2020 TRD Pro manual army green for a year now and loving it.

[@CZ-kz7ug]

The low gearing plus a 6 speed is the best combo for a truck. I've always seen fuel mileage less than what an automatic is rated for. And a manual gets better than what it's rated for.

[@ramonconcepcion4642]

I average 21mpg driving 70mph on highway. TRD OR manual. Is not bad

[@BetaRacer24]

@@ramonconcepcion4642 to bad its screams at 2500 RPM

[@ramonconcepcion4642]

@@BetaRacer24 true

[@ryanminor2334]

The thing I love about the 3rd gen Tacomas is they have that 90s Toyota truck feel to them, but at the same time they’re modern

[@astonebrook91]

I have a 2019 TRD Sport 4X4 6 speed manual access cab long bed... It's great I love rowing through the gears and the manual makes me look forward to driving it everyday...

[@jamesb9780]

I bought a Tacoma mostly for the manual back in 2013; I subsequently bought a small trailer for camping and it has been great in the mountainous area I live in. It can be a PITA when reversing a trailer up hill as the R gear is super tall anyways made worse with extra weight of a trailer to move. 2LO mod is an option or 4LO on loose pavement/gravel.

[@jebsdaddy141]

I custom ordered a 2001 Dodge Dakota, 4.7 v8, 4wd, 5 spd. manual, 3.92 LS, crew cab and that was a good truck until 2018 when it was totaled. Just started to break it in at 437,000 miles.

[@Twize]

Glad I picked up mine in a MT. Great review on the taco tow👍

[@fly2crawl]

Just found and bought the exact same truck three days ago. I love having the manual but I'll be switching the shift knob (minor gripe). The square sides of the knob are more designed for an automatic and not as comfortable as a rounded knob for manual shifting. I also wish they had kept the proximity key and push to start (like all Jeeps whether or not they are manual). I've had wranglers for the last 20 years and traded my '19 JL Jeep for this truck and don't miss the Jeep. I'm a first time taco owner and loving it!

[@atomicorang]

You sir in my opinion rank at the top for your work telling us about pickup trucks.. especially the Tacoma( any year).

[@lucashockensmith2896]

I have a 2016 TRD Off Road Manual. I ran a small landscaping business with it for a year and half towing a similar size load/trailer combo. Worked out great as long as you were moving. Getting going was the hard part. If starting out on a decent incline, you really have to slip the clutch to keep it from stalling (like the video mentioned, not enough torque). Or what I would do is switch to 4wd low, and crawl up to a level area, then switch back to 2wd high. The same goes for reverse. Reverse seems to be geared higher, and you really have to slip the clutch if backing into any slight upgrade (i.e. backing into a driveway). With all that being said, I will never get rid of my manual Tacoma.

[@confidentlocal8600]

Interesting! At least the clutch is a replaceable wear item.🙄 I've felt the Reverse was too tall on every manual I've driven. Maybe it's a physical packaging issue?

[@luismendez7145]

I want to start to do my own landscaping business ...i would like to buy a taco with manual transmission ....you do think towing around around 2500 lbs the taco still struggles?

[@bundo-san]

I agree about the lack of power. I find myself having to downshift to 5th or 4th gear on the highway when going up long stretches of hills. However, I love how low 1st gear is for off-road. I wish third-gen Tacomas would use the old 4-litre engine instead!

[@lucashockensmith2896]

I find the same thing when towing on the highway. It's kicked me out of cruise in 6th I'm going up any type of incline. 5th gear no issues as long as you keep speed.

[@JAMESWUERTELE]

I had a ‘19 TRD OR DC man trans. The 3.5 wore me out, I traded for a 2021 4Runner. Much better build quality, seats, etc. the 4.0 is fantastic. It too bad it didn’t have the 4.0 in the Tacoma.

[@trailrunnah8886]

@@JAMESWUERTELE I have a 4Runner, I think the 4.0 is a turd. Even with stock sized tires, it's so gutless. I can't image how bad the Taco is then, lol. Also, I hate how the 4.0 sounds like it's a about to shoot a rocker arm through the hood. Worst part of the 4R by far, I don't care how reliable it's supposed to be.

[@i_dodge_trees]

Use more throttle, it'll kick it out of the atkinson cycle and pull decent hills in 6th.

[@hardenxx1335]

I got my 21 manual ov tuned and let me tell you it was worth every penny.

[@itchyisvegeta]

I've been wanting a camper lately, and if I still want one in a year or two, I plan on getting one of these to tow it with. After watching a lot of these vids, I know that will limit me to a 3000lb or less camper. But I know I'm going to enjoy driving a Tacoma much more than a Tundra, since whatever tow vehicle I buy will become my primary vehicle. That and I am not a big truck person.

[@dannylewandowski2822]

Bought a 22’ access cab with the manual. Picked it up the same day it arrived on the lot (2 hours after lol). Sold my 20’ ranger for this gem.

[@Snappydadshoes]

I have a 2021 TRD Sport (voodoo blue) with the manual. Love it. The manual option was one of the main reasons I went with the Tacoma. But honestly, no one should consider any midsized truck specifically for towing.

[@confidentlocal8600]

Did they require you to get the Tech package to get Voodoo Blue?

[@Snappydadshoes]

@@confidentlocal8600 I didn't build it. The one I took delivery had it. But I wanted it anyway.

[@NM-ix6hc]

I have a 2018 trd off road in a manual. I use it for off roading and hunting/camping most of the time. But ive also towed a 2 horse trailer with it no issues. Sure its slow. But it works. And its a manual

[@jarrodmcdaniel]

Be honest Andre, you were gunning for that Odyssey at 4:47 and got gapped lol. I even thought I saw the kids waving bye-bye...

[@Yogangster1995]

Yooo I had such a shitty day at work today, but your comment had me dying! Day made 🤣

[@jarrodmcdaniel]

@@Yogangster1995 hahaha no problem! My wife used to have a Honda Odyssey with the 3.5 V6. She stopped letting me drive on road trips as I always loved hurting egos in that thing when leaving a red light.

[@lylemacdonald6672]

Towing on flat land is a lot different from towing up grades. I suspect going to a 4:88 dif gearing will greatly improve the truck's abilities overall including fuel economy. Changing dif gears has certainly improves auto transmission Tacoma and Tundra trucks. Switching my First Gen Tundra from 3.91 to 4.88 made it a totally different machine. I am confident 5:26 would have also worked out well.

[@joshuawebb3337]

I tow with a manual. Lower gearing definitely makes it easier. I had multiple tire size options went with the smaller tires, really helped with that low end torque. Downside is I think smaller tires aren't as good in braking. Smaller contact patch. And highway cruising I cruise at 2500 rpm vs 2000 rpm. I'd imagine it hurts gas mileage. So smaller and wider tires might balance the contact patch. Or bigger tires with a 4:10 rear end maybe? Only thing that sucks with a manual for me is the rare instance of backing a trailer up a hill. Riding the clutch like crazy. I bring my shift points up about 500 rpm higher when pulling vs not pulling and taking off is easy w/ the 14" tires. With the 16s I had to ride the clutch a bit. W/ 14s I can basically pop it out with a trailer in tow and it will start off the line fine.

[@mc9304]

Curious, 2500 rpm at what speed in 6th?

[@Peccs91]

As someone who has driven considerable miles in a Auto and Manual 3rd gen Tacoma, the Manual is the only way to go on the 3rd gen. The auto is always hunting for gears and is almost always seems to be in the wrong gear. Love the the Manual 3rd gen.

[@barnesbros.motorcyclesoff-6016]

Thanks for this one boys! We just replaced our 6.4 hemi 2500 with a 2021 Tacoma TRD Off Road 6 speed manual for our shop truck! We tow around 2,500 lbs usually so it’s working pretty good. However it was worthless before the TRD exhaust and intake. We’re also going to 4.88 gears which we think will significantly improve the whole experience.

[@teamstevensonGenEric]

Thanks Andre for another great review and completely agree with you. I own a similar set up manual 2019 Taco TRD Off-Road - and tow a Honda Pioneer. First off the stock rear leaf springs are not sufficient in real world use. Anyone that uses a truck fills the bed with gear and then tows will have sag on a stock truck and bottom out over some bumps and will need to completely change up the suspension to accommodate that. As Andree said If you are considering towing with your truck there are better options out there. I think of the Tacoma as the "Jack of all Trades - Master of None" vehicle.

[@robertyoung8289]

Important to remember. The TRD PRO has a dismal GVW like most off road focused vehicles. I just installed a add a leaf to mine adding about 700 lbs to my GVW do to a pending Snugtop and decked system.

[@josejcastaneda5826]

I have a Tundra 2005 with a 6 cylinder and 6 speed manual. It has been the best vehicle I have ever owned since 1986 that I started driving.

[@lanceripplinger8352]

That is really cool to see the Taco with a manual. I'd buy that any day just for the reliability over the Gladiator. FCA can't even build manual transmissions correctly. They had recalls on their manual gearboxes last year.

[@06colkurtz]

Nice Andre. My 2019 Taco works great. The challenge is it’s two trucks in one vehicle. It’s an ultra high mileage cruiser and a performance off road vehicle. When in “normal” mode it’s picking shift points and engine settings to maximize mileage. At the cost of driving experience. Thus it’s shifting gears frequently to optimize MPG. When you hammer it, it changes character and sacrifices MPG for performance. The problem for new owners is they can’t tell the difference and want to “over control” the truck instead of letting it do its thing. The transmission can be driven in “manual” mode. Shift it manually and it’s very much like a standard transmission. Or drop some $$ on Orange Virus tune and transform the truck

[@ronlheureux7623]

I have purchased 3 new trucks over the years, two Toyotas and one Chevy, none were 4X4s. Still, I do enjoy Andrea's reviews for their honesty and depth.

[@spencersteele7]

I recently sold my 2019 TRD off-road and miss it a bit! Although...I don't miss towing my Mastercraft wakesurf boat with it. Up at elevation all it does is red line. The tacoma is great for off-roading and overlanding but I recommend a V8 if you decide to tow 5-6k pounds like what I was doing!

[@TheNickMartinez]

dad always said, take any trucks tow capacity and cut it in half and thats the weight you should be towing! v8 for the big boys 😎

[@adamharlow3558]

Im really happy that using a manual

[@bettymaverick1098]

Irony, people love sticks. But no one buys ones. That is why companies stop making them. Nice little video, good info.

[@ibdustin15]

Please make the new 4Runner a manual!

[@242tdryan]

Ive been endlessly let down by toyota over the years for not having 4runner or tundra manual options. why not??

[@jmin8400]

It's a year and half away, no manual is coming. Better pray 2024 Tacoma still has one.

[@zachc1297]

I didnt think you can get the manual in the lower trims...Has to be a TRD (sport and up). Wish you could get a base 4WD with manual. That would be a great truck and one to hand down to the kids

[@disophisis]

Bought a 2017 2 door Rubicon with a 6 speed and it's just fun as hell to drive.

[@MrWolfpaw66]

Good video. I’m really surprised by the MPG. I pulled a 1995 civic on a car Dolly behind my 2002 tacoma from central ca to norther wa and I got great MPG 16-18. I drive slow 55-65 but was blown away that it got nearly what it did not towing.

[@barrybambmessagedeletedbyy7467]

I have a manual 2016 Hilux. Love the gearbox.

[@llamallama4927]

I think the manufacture states not tow in 6th gear. I may be wrong but for some reason that stands out in my memory. In my experience with pulling a ~4,000lbs travel trailer for +3k miles in a manual Tacoma OR is that it will be able to pull, it is just very very slow. You get really good at rev matching, not worrying about your travel time or mpg, and planning ahead to find gas stations. The mpg is comparable to a full size with highs in the 15 IF your drafting, but one should expect ~10mpg constant. Your out-the-door price is similar to a full size as well. Was my experience terrible? Not at all. You just need to be very conscious about your acceleration and deceleration distance. If someone is expecting to pull a trailer regularly do not expect Tacoma to meet your needs unless it’s

[@willdonovan1]

This is why I Supercharged my MT Tacoma

[@dreywatson5844]

I would love to see a midsize Ike competition with the Manuel taco vs all the other mid size trucks.

[@slocavky]

Glad to see this video. I plan on towing a 4,500 pound camper here in about a year with my 2020 trd sport manual transmission and wanted to see how well the truck can do. Well done.

[@emkayusa]

I tow a 4500lb camper with mine, it doesn’t tow like what he towed, the big difference is in aerodynamics. A camper moves far more air than a side by side, I never see 6th, and only see close to 12mpg with a tailwind. That said, it tows it fine, get a weight distributing hitch.

[@graumail]

In my 89 i used my clutch start cancel button every time i started the truck. Just because it was one of the only “features” the truck had other than 4WD lol

[@yorkchris10]

My dad towed a large boat with a 5l six and 3-on-the-tree. It still amazes me.

[@andyham6094]

I mean just look at this beautiful machine. Imo no other mid size truck looks nearly as good as the tacoma trd pro. It’s just the perfect design imo. I absolutely love how these look. All the other trims still look great but the trd pro in my eyes just looks so damn perfect in any color

[@RJArrayCPA]

Can you get a manual in the lower trim levels? In the brand new ones it seems like you can only get a manual in the Trd pro or similar.

[@calebmoran5580]

Awesome video! Great to see a review with a manual transmission truck!

[@Tylnorton]

This is the beautiful thing about the Tacoma. It has a manual transmission. It is not built or made for towing but has the capability to tow roughly 6000lbs max if you want to and gets just under 12mpg towing at 5k. Glad Toyota still has the market for manuals though!

[@ALMX5DP]

I tow about 3500lbs with my 2.7 Tacoma 5-speed and love it for the most part. Hill starts are the only thing I dislike, wish it had a crawler type 1st gear.

[@estebanamador7601]

I'm from Costa Rica, and diesel Hilux has the same problem, because high axle ratio + turbo lag.

[@chloesamclutch]

My 07 six speed first gear is basically a crawl gear. Problem is, it isn't. You can start in second but it lugs a bit. First is way too short, they should have made second lower and made first a true granny low.

[@estebanamador7601]

@@chloesamclutch maybe is because some change in axle ratios between both years (and low end torque between both engines). In my country, is easier to start with Toyota 3L engine or a 5L (2.8 and 3.0 naturally aspirated diesel ) than with a 1KD or 1GD, and it's not because engines, it's because axle ratios, actually there are some places where you can do the starting only in 4 low. Greetings.

[@smithmark2773]

I have a 3.5 v6 manual 6 speed i tow a 10 foot trailer and my dirt bike in the bed. Best not to be in a hurry lol got 196000 km on it 2016 taco. So far so good. This is not a work truck.

[@callofdutyguy9]

Do you have your stock clutch and wheels still?

[@smithmark2773]

@@callofdutyguy9 yes i do. Still have the original break pads !! Gotta change them next week.

[@felix5847-q5o]

I notice in real life driving manual Tacoma's are usually always more fuel efficient than their automatic counterpart, the transmission is also much more powerful than auto trans, and its not a sealed transmission so weekend mechanics can change their tranny oil at home. Also, when driving in hills the manual trans makes more use of the low HP of the Tacoma.

[@anthonycutler2105]

Honestly the manual isn't that bad and the towing is decent. Fuel mileage is better than what is mentioned. I average 18 - 20 everyday from work to home, 15 miles both way with an even split of city and hwy, only "mod" is a k&n drop in. I average 14ish while towing my boat, 21' full fiberglass 250hp hanging on the back not sure of the weight so you can make your own judgment. What I will say about towing is it seems to be a bit more work that it should be by both the truck and driver. Overall I don't regret the purchase over 4 years ago (16 model) but when the new tundra come out I will have my eye in that direction for towing purposes.

[@NachoBorracho22]

Haven’t seen the vid yet but manual is not great in some comfortability situations but it’s so much better in everything else 😍 Don’t know if I’m old fashioned but ever since I was a kid i just loved the feel 🤟🏼

[@aaronstestlab]

I bought a 2019 TRD Off Road Tacoma. It's been a great truck, but struggles even towing my 3500# travel trailer. Maintaining 65 on anything but dead-flat highway means the engine is screaming. It also gets about 10 miles a gallon. In my experience with it, unless you're towing very infrequently or towing a super-light trailer, go for a different truck.

[@wildbill23c]

Your Tacoma probably has 3.90 axle ratios in it, the new TRD PRO has the 4.30 axle ratio, makes a pretty big difference in towing applications...you suffer a bit in the fuel economy but make up for it in being able to maintain speed on hills and at higher speeds.

[@Jay-me7gw]

Trying to tow with a Tacoma, especially the current 3.5L Tacoma, is just asking for a bad time. The engine makes its power too high in the rpm's for it to be a good tow rig. To your point, when I test drove a 2018 Tacoma, the transmission had to downshift to 5th just to hold 70mph because of a mild headwind. Now put a parachute behind it like a travel trailer and its working ridiculously hard.

[@Jay-me7gw]

The problem is the low end torque on the 3.5L is poor. And it has low HP. If you are towing a travel trailer with all that air drag you need a LOT of HP to keep it moving through the air and, because the motor is so weak down low, you have to rev the crap out of it to hit the HP. Never mind that fact that when you go up in elevation the 278hp is now much lower. I have towed my travel trailer with my 2011 Lexus GX460(4.6L V8 with 301hp/329 tq) and that just barely can hold speed on some climbs.

[@justinmartin8887]

You need the old 5vz with a manual. I have one at it’s a beast at towing anything, including 8000 lb manure spreaders up 12 percent grades. Ask me how I know

[@barnesbros.motorcyclesoff-6016]

We are going to 4.88’s in our 2021 - the gearing is way to tall stock

[@machfive916]

Great review. Just bought a 2020 Silverado LT 4x4 and it was the 1st automatic transmission I've ever owned in my driving life (since 1986). I miss rowing the gears, but I needed a truck for my eventual travel trailer purchase. I would love to see this manual Tacoma tackle the Ike Gauntlet.

[@DH-mf2lv]

If you have either the 5.3L or 6.2L engine, BEWARE! It has cylinder deactivation (DFM). Do some history research on GM’s AFM & DFM engines. 😂

[@upshifter5316]

Agreed! Take it on the Ike and talk about the control a manual gives you on the downhill.

[@danielmeador1991]

@@DH-mf2lv actually there great my dad has had no problem with them at all

[@DH-mf2lv]

I am thinking of the older engines. Probably no problem til it reaches 100K.

[@danielmeador1991]

@@DH-mf2lv my dad had a 07 Yukon put 200k no engine problems

[@jacobm1001]

Great review. Considering trading in my 2016 trd 4x4 off road automatic for a 2021 manual 4x4 trd tacoma.

[@aaron5222]

Don't I had a 2020 that had major clutch peddle issues. The trans is made by GM as well

[@jacobm1001]

@@aaron5222 thank you for sharing. It's so sad how low quality control is. All manufacturers seem much the same . Coworkers bought a new 2020 trail boss . 2 weeks old left him stranded. Fuel pump and ecm / pump failure. Maybe I'll find a nice k20 4x4 chevy. Happy trails

[@jonathonsmith7694]

You won’t

[@ramonconcepcion4642]

@@jacobm1001 that's so quick for a Trailboss to fail. Was it an LT? 5.3?

[@jacobm1001]

@@ramonconcepcion4642 it is an LT 5.3. he bought it new. Drives only on the city. Adult owned and driven. Just a dud. So for no more problems. I'm greatful to be able to buy new vehicles ( 20 years in my business, 14 hours a day / 6 days a week ) but am frustrated by the lack of quality in the $40,000 4x4 truck market . Still great to be shopping in it and affording it. Seriously considering going back to older ( restored ) simple vehicles. Happy trails.

[@MATHEWS_AUGUSTINE]

Greetings from Kerala, India. I live in hill station and I never experienced automatic cars.

[@AustenARW]

Cool video, it's great to see a review on a new vehicle, especially a truck, with a manual. It's hard not to think of a Toyota Tacoma (or any previous generation Toyota pickup sans the Tundra of course) without a manual. I think Toyota knows that they would loose some of their fan base for the Tacoma if they dropped that option. What's sad is that a lot of car enthusiasts today don't "get" the manual anymore and seem to more often than not, feel the need to criticize vehicles for being equipped (and the owner) for wanting or owning one. So much so that is disturbing to me as from my experience, most will not even agree to disagree on the subject. Yes, modern autos can shift quicker and overall achieve better numbers in most cases on paper, there's no denying that. BUT, for some folks, it's not ALL about the numbers. It's about control and most of all, having a more intimate experience with your vehicle and that is OK. It also makes you a more concentrated driver.

[@russellmorash3816]

The first generation tundra had a manual I had one it was a real stripper but I loved ot

[@gfinnstrom]

the nice thing about manuals is people cannot steal them as far as mpg well many people do not know how to use them

[@GATORADDAM]

I'm a Tacoma guy 100 percent. But I think you called it right on the money. It can tow. I tow my 17 ft Gator Tracker boat with it, maybe 1,500 pounds boat and trailer. But it's not for serious everyday heavy towing. It is the most dependable, fun, capable off roader though.

[@johnossendorf9979]

Manual transmissions are not a problem offroad for experienced Manual transmission drivers. Becoming an experienced Manual transmissions driver does not require anything other than a little dedication, effort and excepting that it won't happen overnight.

[@alexzee4564]

Gotta love a proper truck with a MANual transmission

[@jonathonsmith7694]

Your a clown lol

[@jmin8400]

@@jonathonsmith7694 Even as the owner of a 75% manual personal fleet of 17 vehicles, I agree.

[@squirreldog1596]

Lol, imagine defining your manhood with the transmission in a gas v6 truck. Lmfao

[@jmin8400]

@@squirreldog1596 👍 Plenty of women worldwide are experts at driving manual, so it's really just North Americans, Saudis, and Japanese women that are the exception in avoiding them. But leave it to American men to turn it into a masculinity contest.

[@squirreldog1596]

@@jmin8400 I believe it, I think it’s hilarious when I see people brag about this, as if some level of strength or bravery exists if you drive a manual. As if it’s hard or something lol

[@jarod144]

I got a manual lunar rock taco!

[@buckshot4428]

Properly driven the manual will outlast any automatic ever built.

[@johnb4183]

When you say automatic you mean transmission that shifts itself? Thx

[@johnb4183]

You are correct , drive it like a automatic it will last the life of the truck !

[@ewcm1878]

@buck shot you don't know Allison transmission. 🤣

[@johnossendorf9979]

@@ewcm1878 Can you start an Allison equipped truck by pushing or rolling it down a hill, in a forward gear and in reverse ?

[@ExpeditionaryRanger]

11.8 Mpg including a few redline drag starts...!

[@toobalicious]

If I were in the market for a small truck, this Taco 🌮 would be at the top of my list!

[@claytongoodall6370]

Thank you! I’ve been looking for just this vid for ages. Contemplating a slight re-gear to 4.88’s for towing.

[@TFLtruck]

Glad you found it!

[@DH-mf2lv]

Love key start!

[@mikefoehr235]

Harder to steal! Why does it not have push button start? Is it because of it being a stick shift?

[@tumbleweedking5668]

I have a sr5 with key start. The only down side is my other two vehicles are fobs so I always get in the truck and forget and have to dig the key out of my pocket.

[@BAYAREAMX]

@@mikefoehr235 yeah because of the manual trans. It’s just Toyota cheating out though. There are lots of manual cars with push button start.

[@mikefoehr235]

@@BAYAREAMX My Tundra is an automatic...i wanted a key start but only push button now. I had to buy FARADAY pouches as a theft deterrent because push button start is so easy to steal.

[@TNAWWE]

i usually hate black wheels but that TRD Pro looks damn good, especially with the Lunar Rock color

[@purpskurp8737]

traded my 19 trd pro in its gutless especially with big tires. Went tundra pro zero regrets.

[@warakiya]

Had the same problem, ‘17 manual lifted with tires. High elevation update for the throttle controller fixed the issue. More power down low at a slight hit to overall MPG.

[@stevenrogers2457]

Thanks for the honest review Andre

[@gnomesteel]

I had a 2005 v6 6-speed manual Tacoma for over 15 years. Amazing truck. Recently traded it in for a 2020 F-150. Miss it at times, but I love the F-150.

[@jmin8400]

How sad, but great for me and my salary in DB. Should have kept the '05. I never got the ACLB TRD V6 OR I wanted in Speedway Blue I wanted as a teen, but happy with my new TRD Pro at least.

[@squirreldog1596]

Need help here, been thinking about doing the same!

[@gnomesteel]

@@squirreldog1596 What do you need help with?

[@squirreldog1596]

@@gnomesteel should I get into a full size? Love the new trail boss Silverado...

[@gnomesteel]

@@squirreldog1596 I'm very happy going from the mid-size Tacoma to the full-size F-150. The best part is the rear seat on the Super Crew. Fold up the seats and there's a TON of room. Granted I was coming from a Tacoma Access Cab so it's not a fair comparison. The 2.7 also gets better mileage than my Taco did. So, for me, all around better.

[@apexslider1]

LOVE my manual Taco. Slow as hell even not towing, but don’t care. 3 pedals for life.

[@maximilianrockefeller8854]

They never should have ditched the TRD supercharger. It's probably the one reason I didn't end up going with a new Taco over what I ended up buying.

[@nbaldo003]

There will be plenty of aftermarket. Magnuson has a full powertrain warranty as long as you run their tunes. I was actually shocked. right on their website.

[@nickfountain8420]

@@nbaldo003 Edelbrock's the same way on their superchargers

[@jmin8400]

@@nbaldo003 Thanks, I own 3 Raptors (2019/'14/'10) as a Ford engineer and recently bought a 2020 TRD Pro 6MT that I keep at one of my vacation residences in TX. Going to look into that Magnusson SC, then have that done when time permits.

[@nbaldo003]

@@jmin8400 yea np! theres kits popping up left and right now. OVS has a single turbo and twin turbo kit in development now along w a procharger kit soon. URD has full exhaust system and there’s a plethora of intakes to choose from. There’s regear kits as well. Even a throttle body adaptor kit so you can run a bigger tb. Dont listen to these negative nancies they dont know any better.

[@jmin8400]

@@nbaldo003 Thank you. Very, very reassuring. Our current USDM Ranger, didn't work for me as an Ecoboost I4 10AT and I always have wanted a manual V6/V8 midsizer for years, but yeah my '20 Tacoma feels powerless compared to what I usually drive (sport/muscle cars or Raptors). 6SPD auto Tacoma is even way worse. This will be really worthwhile I can see already.

[@emkayusa]

I’ve towed my 19’ camper all over the east coast with mine, could use more low end torque, fine otherwise. I get 10.5 or so MPG.

[@mikefitzgerald4278]

Thank you! I love and live toyota reliability but think I will buy the jeep with the manual. You guys are my go to!! Thanks again ☺️ Mike Fitzgerald Calgary Canada 🇨🇦

[@Ulfstigandr]

The worst thing bout manuals is the dwell time. An auto is so much faster simply because it shifts faster. But theres really somethin to the reliability and control of rowin your own gears. Not to mention the fun factor

[@creigmacc]

My Tundra is a fuel loving beast, it would get 13ish towing that trailer.

[@jameskoskinen6763]

Isn't that funny. I have a 19 tacoma and it gets around the same economy as my 09 5.7 tundra when towing...but the tundra has way more power at its disposal any given time

[@mikefoehr235]

I had a 13 Tacoma AND towing an RV with lots if frontal area makes for hard work on a V6...My new Tundra does way better and same fuel consumption for the most part.

[@wildman1137]

Buy a real truck, not a Toyota. That would be a great start.

[@kingpin3919]

@@wildman1137 lol what's a REAL truck kiddo?

[@blmb047]

My guess is the bigger engine is less stressed, therefore using less fuel even though it has more displacement.

[@SuperSnakePlissken]

Get one while you can. I've been driving manual Tacos since 1996. There is nothing better than a manual shifting experience.

[@Dakotamagnum2006]

Let’s see an Ike gauntlet with that manual Tacoma!!

[@joshburts1044]

2010 tacoma, 4.0, 6 speed stick. Love it, but just like the 3.5, it does need more torque, but that's what tuners are for right.

[@jalton9416]

My wife taught me how to drive a manual in her 2000 Neon. She bought the car brand new and we still own it. I could repair anything on the car, but couldn't get it to move without stalling. After she bought an SUV, she taught me how to drive the Neon. I enjoyed it so much after she taught me that I bought a 2004 silverado 4x4 with a manual. I love the control while off road.

[@jeff-w]

Thats a nice truck. I wish the manual was still available in full sized pickups. I miss my 2000 f150 5 speed so much.

[@xivyrider07x]

Noone can dissuade me from the love I have for my 2020 cement TRD OR DCSB with manual trans. She got new shoes today. 😍

[@paulhunter9613]

@jehuti She got new shoes eh? Did you get the diabetic wedge sole with Velcro tie?

[@chloesamclutch]

I would only trade my 07 base 4x4 six speed with the 4.0 for a CCLB manual, preferably an OR but any trim would suit me. Would like the modern adaptive cruise control and such, mine has AC and that's basically it.

[@RecBuddha]

I have the exact same truck - 2020 Cement OR 6MT! What tires you get? Planning to upgrade mine in the spring with the T4R SEMA wheels.

[@xivyrider07x]

@@RecBuddha late reply but, went with Falken Wildpeak AT3/Ws

[@GrandPines323]

I like the bedside graphics. I'm getting the TRD 4x4 Sport graphics like that and the hood graphics to match.

[@miller1]

8:41 The way you were maxing the engine rpm on take offs with a 5000# load in a "brand new truck" I'm surprised you got almost 12 mpg on the trip. Would be interesting to see what your mpg would be if you drove it like you owned it after break-in...