Manual Taco, what about manual 4Runner?

2024 Toyota Tacoma Is a Manual Labor of Love.

Since 6th Gen is based on Taco platform, does it mean there might be a MT 6th Gen 4Runner?

 

Unfortunately no -- https://www.yahoo.com/tech/2025-toyota-4runner-doesn-t-023000158.html at least for 2025 model

 

Doubt it.

Edit: Why does everything have to have a manual? I own a 6 speed GTO but I don't feel like my Runner needs a manual.

 

Yes.

 

I bet the take rate would be extremely low, probably not worth it for Toyota since they're not built in the same assembly lines.

Also, I recall seeing in one of the technical review videos that the maximum torque capacity of the transmission is pretty much what the engine makes. I wouldn't feel comfortable with such a minuscule safety margin.

 

Would you take a horsepower and torque reduction (vs. the auto) to row your own gears? Because that's what's happening with the Taco.

 

I bet you're right. Toyota obviously has all the take rates data for its manual transmission offerings and if it made business sense to offer a manual, they would have. Tacoma take rates were likely enough to justify it for the 4th gen. Doesn't look to be the case for 2025 4runner though.

 

well they finally caved in and offered a manual in the Supra

 

Manuals used to be better with MPG's and/or performance, but those days are gone. Even the manual in a GTI is gone and it sounds like the manual Wranglers are no more as well. I've owned lots of trucks and SUV's with manuals (FJ40, Xterra, Frontier, Tacoma, 2nd Gen 4Runner, TJ, Ranger, F150) but at 60, I'm fine without it in a truck. Sports cars on the other hand...when a Miata is no longer available with a manual, the world will end.

 

I prefer manual to the point of willing to suffer with it in traffic. Why? It allows precise modulation of torque with partial clutch application that makes winter driving easier. To me, it is also more engaging as I can downshift preemptively in advance of passing or use engine to slow down the car when needed.

I would have paid extra to have my 4Runner with a manual transmission. More so, had there been an alternative to 4Runner with a manual gearbox that would have made me reconsider.

Last but not least, MT is a lot less likely to be stolen, as kids these days don't know how to drive stick (and won't be able to steal one).

 

It was done too late in the life cycle, as hype for Supra died and early adopters are too pissed off to re-buy. Imagine buying first year Supra only for it to end up with the least desirable spec.

 

Once the manual tranny’s mpg advantage flipped vs autos, people didn’t want to scroll apps and drink coffee while doing their own downshifting. And that’s probably safer for the rest of us.

Like the FJ Cruisers, folks seem to demand manuals only after they can’t have them. We know this is true b/c when they’re actually offered, the stats reveal that literally six people actually pay money to own one.

I enjoy driving manual sports cars, but Toyota’s decision to exclude the manual tranny from the 4Runner is just smart business, and I wouldn’t expect the Tacoma to offer one much longer.

 

that's a great point. the few remaining new cars offered with a 3rd pedal are so embarrassingly overloaded with technology that any driving enjoyment is extinguished and it becomes a video game experience. There has not been an enthusiast car built in the last 10 years that I would care to own. All the cars that I lust over are now 10-25 years old old.

 

You can do all that with an auto.

 

As of 2024 the Wrangler not only is available with a manual but that is the default / base configuration. 8 spd auto is a few grand more. Obviously most are sold with the auto; and frankly the manual is a dog and geared all kinds of wrong... but it is available.

 

That’s how you burn your clutch.

 

The smoke means it's working.

 

I had two manual JLR, both with factory gearing, one with 4.1 gearing and one with 4.88. Neither was a dog, but the transmission gearing/spacing definitely left a lot to be desired. First gear is so low, it's almost unusable in on road traffic. Sixth gear was so high it only worked with 4.88 differential gearing. I realize not everyone feels the same way, but having a manual transmission(s) was WAY better than having an auto transmission.

 

Totally on point. And judging by the sales figures since the manual was released, Toyota has probably sold very few manual MKV Supras to date. What a shame, they could have sold much more if available at launch.

 

My manual JLU with whatever the stock Sport gearing is had a first gear that was so tall that I regularly stalled it, and other than that one I haven't stalled a manual in like a decade. The friction zone also seemed to change fairly regularly so you were always relearning the fucking thing. It also wouldn't pull in 5th or 6th, you had to downshift to 4th or even 3rd to accelerate up even like a 0.00000000001% incline unless you were already doing like 85mph and then it would pull in 5th. I love manuals - but I really hated that one. But regardless, the point of my post was that it is not only available, but it is the base transmission unless you up-spec an auto.

 

This will help.

 

Yep, the Sport came with 3.45 differential gearing, so it had 20% less torque than the base Rubicon models. The stock Sport gearing makes the manual all but unusable. With the stock 4.88 gearing available in the Rubicon, it meant I had 40% more torque, which I'm sure is why my experience would be so different than your experience.

 

Clutch isn't an on/off switch. It would burn only if you go nuts with a throttle or do it for a long time. Otherwise it is not more than taking off from a stop.

 

I used to have a 1997 4Runner with a manual transmission. Loved it. I’m in if they ever bring back a manual transmission.

 

Coming from a 2016 and 2020 Tacoma with the 6MT, I sort of enjoy sitting back and relaxing in the 4Runner. I did however miss rowing gears so picked up a WRTX swapped 2.5RS. Now I can choose when I want to drive stick, plus it is much better when you have real power.

 

Me too. I'm perfectly happy with a slushbox in my 4Runner but I couldn't live without a 3rd pedal vehicle in the garage. I've actually had a couple of STI's in the last decade but the older I get the more I appreciate normal aspiration, hydraulic steering, real gauges, and a mostly tech-free driving experience. I plan on keeping this one long-term, the last of the 3 pedal V8 Interceptors...