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OP
OP
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- Feb 6, 2025
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- Chevy Trailblazer 5.3
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- #18
Just to be clear, people are commenting as if I am suggesting toyota switch ALL 4runners to manual, and get rid of automatics.
I'm just saying they should offer it as an option, for the people that DO want to drive one all day. Whether they're going off road or going to dunkin donuts or wherever. Just like they do in the nearly identical tacoma.
I saw multiple references to 15% of broncos being sold as manuals. Although I couldn't find the source for that number. But thats a lot, probably because people who want a manual suv have just two options, bronco or wrangler. And even as a ford hater, thats an easy choice.
Anyway, the point of this thread was to find all those 4runner fans that DO want a manual option, and encourage them to submit feedback to toyota like I did.
I actually heard back from toyota yesterday. It was a very generic "thanks for your feedback, it has been filed" type of message. Every little bit of manual interest help.
I'm just saying they should offer it as an option, for the people that DO want to drive one all day. Whether they're going off road or going to dunkin donuts or wherever. Just like they do in the nearly identical tacoma.
I saw multiple references to 15% of broncos being sold as manuals. Although I couldn't find the source for that number. But thats a lot, probably because people who want a manual suv have just two options, bronco or wrangler. And even as a ford hater, thats an easy choice.
Anyway, the point of this thread was to find all those 4runner fans that DO want a manual option, and encourage them to submit feedback to toyota like I did.
I actually heard back from toyota yesterday. It was a very generic "thanks for your feedback, it has been filed" type of message. Every little bit of manual interest help.
OP
OP
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In response to anyone thinking "nobody even buys the manual tacoma", you can't even search inventory for manual tacomas. Transmission type is not an option in inventory searching. Of course if you make it hard enough to buy something, nobody is going to buy it.
having a auto in a off road vehicle lets you finer control of the power delivery on slow technical trails using 2 feet. having manual you would need to heel/toe it more precisely.
on sports cars, manuals are preferred since you need to down/up shift into and out of corners at speed for several reasons, one is to preload the suspension going into a corner so you dont do a 911 tail swap
heel and toe to downshift is a quick flick of the feet vs minute adjustments over the course of inches at times offroading.
its just easier in an auto than manual in this case.
feathering a clutch and brakes and applying power while slipping a clutch is not ideal over the long term.
with an auto you only have to worry about the brakes and power and applying power to overcome the brakes. brake pad are way cheaper to replace than a clutch (at least now a days)
but this is just my view if i ever thought about doing off roading.
on sports cars, manuals are preferred since you need to down/up shift into and out of corners at speed for several reasons, one is to preload the suspension going into a corner so you dont do a 911 tail swap
heel and toe to downshift is a quick flick of the feet vs minute adjustments over the course of inches at times offroading.
its just easier in an auto than manual in this case.
feathering a clutch and brakes and applying power while slipping a clutch is not ideal over the long term.
with an auto you only have to worry about the brakes and power and applying power to overcome the brakes. brake pad are way cheaper to replace than a clutch (at least now a days)
but this is just my view if i ever thought about doing off roading.
They're never going to offer a manual in the new 4runner, or any in the future more than likely, regardless of spec. Nobody wants it in any meaningful proportion. Toyota also doesn't want to waste CAFE %'s on such a small percentage of it's customer base. It's not happening. If you want one, you're gonna have to build it yourself.
Why are they offering it in the tacoma then? Seems odd that they did. Guessing no dealers want to stock them.
IMHO, what Toyota should of done is offer it in Landcruiser 1958 model(need to ditch hybrid too) which vibes with the stripped down model vibe they are going for
- First Name
- John
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It'll never happen because the market is not there. My generation one 4Runner had a manual and I drove it for 20 years. After switching to automatics and realizing how much easier it is to off-road with an auto sold me and I'll never buy another manual. Car companies know this and that's why you really only see them on a few sports cars. Back in 2018 when I was buying a Porsche 911 turbo s the dealer said that they are only available in automatic because they shift quicker than the human can and you get better track times. On a 4Runner doing rock crawling, the automatics are so much better. But hey, the Toyota gr Corolla performance model still has a manual.
And I can't stand that I have to use this automatic. It's always not going when I want and going when I don't want, and I never have this problem on my decrepit old 3rd gen, or 1st gen, or any other manual I've ever owned regardless of make or model.
I even have the OTT tune now. If anything it's even worse. Sport mode is even worse so bad it's practically useless in case anyone thinks that's some kind of response.
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You're one of the very few. Automatics are superior in every way, from better fuel economy to faster shifts. How about that time your foot slips off the clutch and you start rolling backwards, happens more than you think. Back in the day all we wanted were standards because they got better gas mileage and they were fun. Automatics evolved over time and are now Superior in every way possible. They were fine for my 97 horsepower generation 1 4Runner, but I'll never drive another standard. Heck I would be fine if my 4Runner drove itself.
- First Name
- Marc
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- 2024 Tacoma TRD OR 6M
I have a 2024 Tacoma manual. One of the reason I’m trading it is the clutch can’t handle heavy loads with the gears it has. It’s fun to drive without a trailer though. We are also going to 1 vehicle and after 8 years with an auto, wife doesn’t want to return to a manual.
Less money in manual transmissions. I don't know of a single shade tree mechanic that can pull an automatic transmission and rebuild in in their driveway or if they care to try it swap it out auto transmissions. However generations of us older folks have pulled out manual transmissions and replaced clutches, throw out bearings and repaired other issues. And today's auto transmissions are pretty much throw aways. Sealed units. Pull the busted one and replace with a new unit. I recently had some gears go out in a Mustang with just over 20,000 miles on it and out of warranty by age. $5,000 out of pocket for that one.
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