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Mon Feb 03, 2025 9:10 am

I am in the market for a stick-shift truck. Toyota seems to be the last manufacturer selling one, their Tacoma.

Anybody have first-hand experience with these things?

Max

Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:14 pm

Max Welton wrote: I am in the market for a stick-shift truck. Toyota seems to be the last manufacturer selling one, their Tacoma.

Anybody have first-hand experience with these things?

Max

I've had two. Drove them from 1999 to 2017. I had a 97 that I put just over 100k on with no issues short of an ignition switch. I drove a 2008 just under 100k with zero issues. Besides oil changes, I did front brakes on the 97 as well as belts. The cross member (the truck was lowered) on that one kept kicking up rocks and f*cking up my fan belts, so I replaced those twice, I think. Then there was the ignition switch, which is the only thing that wasn't my fault or maintenance. The 2008 gave me no trouble. Never had to do a clutch even though the 97 had 150k on it when I sold it.

Mon Feb 03, 2025 12:14 pm

for 4x4 wheeling, rock crawling, my jeep is a 4 speed auto. that has benefits over a manual in rock crawling. The jeep is only non stickshift I own. It has an electric shifting solenoid tranny, so I imstalled an over ride switch to lock it in first when needed. the crazy shift selector has a combined 1-2 position, so stock it can only select 1st from 2nd when the tranny electric brain tells it to, I now can override it. I also,have two big tranny coolers so as to not burn out the fluid and torque converter and fan when wheeling.
however the Jeep is the only car I own that I cant push start in case of a dead battery. A down side for sure for automatics. I have push started many of my other cars, even my Vanagon by myself, at least that parking lot was flat. The Bug is super easy to push start.

For the toyota, Id be asking on a Toyota forum, state the year model, tranny type and engine type. I am sure the Toyota form folks will have good info that you seek.

My Jeep has the AW4 tranny. Toyota also used that AW4 it is a good automatic, I got near 300,000 miles on it, never been apart.

Mon Feb 03, 2025 1:44 pm

Max Welton wrote: I am in the market for a stick-shift truck. Toyota seems to be the last manufacturer selling one, their Tacoma.

Anybody have first-hand experience with these things?
I have THREE stick shift trucks, all run well and are 5-speeds, and 4-cylinders.
1988 Mazda B2200 Cab Plus (235K miles), 1998 Nissan Frontier (283K miles), and 2004 Nissan Frontier (112K miles). The Nissans are fuel-injected, have 143hp, and are great, getting 25-26mpg with AC on. The Mazda B2200 has like 82hp and is carbureted, its power and mpg cannot match the Frontiers.

2004 and earlier Frontiers fit into a garage; 2005 Frontiers and 2004 Tacomas grew larger.

Mon Feb 03, 2025 3:30 pm

I've owned 3 manual trans, 4 cylinder Tacomas. A 98, an 08, and currently a 2017. The 98 was recalled for the frame @ 120k or so with no mechanical failures, Toyota payed more than we had bought it for 4 years earlier. The 08 I traded to my brother at 175k, did front wheel bearings at around 100k, starter relay at 120k and clutch master at 145k. I've replaced nothing on my 17 yet, has 45k on it currently.

Mon Feb 03, 2025 5:07 pm

Thanks guys. Neither local dealers have a manual that I can drive currently, but Each will call me when the new batch arrives in a couple of weeks.

zerotofifty wrote: For the toyota, Id be asking on a Toyota forum, state the year model, tranny type and engine type. I am sure the Toyota form folks will have good info that you seek.
Good idea.
https://www.tacomaworld.com/forums/4th-gen-tacomas-2024.292/

Not interested in used this time.

Max