Why no manual trans T4Rs?

[Joseph]

I have a Toy Taco 5 spd V6 and am looking to get T4R-question I have is why doesn't Toyota make a 5 or 6 speed manual trans 4Runner? I have driven manual for years and I want a SUV but not many have manuals? Whats up with that?

Joe

 

[Northof49]

I have a Toy Taco 5 spd V6 and am looking to get T4R-question I have is why doesn't Toyota make a 5 or 6 speed manual trans 4Runner? I have driven manual for years and I want a SUV but not many have manuals? Whats up with that?

Joe

Manuals are available in 2000 (or was it 2001?) and older 4Runner's...but not any 4rth gens.

 

[pat161]

I would say it is a matter of demand and cost. They really don't offer a manual on any V8 models and would probably have to develop a new transmission if they wanted to offer it. I would guess the manual in the V6 would not be well suited to the extra torque of a V8 over the whole life of the vehicle. Thus w/o a huge demand for manual SUV's and V8 Tundras they will never have the reason to develop one.

 

[vandert]

Demand

However there is a tranny strong enough now and it's a six speed, hmmmmm, 6 speed thats coming on the 05 and newer Taco's with the 4.0. Maybe you could have one special ordered from Japan with it added, it shouldn't be a problem, :

I guess it couldn't hurt to try?

T

 

[peter78]

I have a Toy Taco 5 spd V6 and am looking to get T4R-question I have is why doesn't Toyota make a 5 or 6 speed manual trans 4Runner? I have driven manual for years and I want a SUV but not many have manuals? Whats up with that?

Joe

I have two guesses. First one is they stopped the manual when they got the VSC and traction control. Possibly the VSC (vehicle skid control) conflicted with the manual, or the cost of working in the manual did not justify the cost.

Second guess, is most obvious. Less and less people are learning to drive the stick.

I think it is a combination of both.

 

[vandert]

VSC works on the Taco

"I have two guesses. First one is they stopped the manual when they got the VSC and traction control. Possibly the VSC (vehicle skid control) conflicted with the manual, or the cost of working in the manual did not justify the cost."

It is an option on all 05 Taco's but that could have been the original reason.

Just FYI.

T

 

[Koz]

Also, many people used to get a manual because you would get better mileage and they would be more reliable. Automatics are getting the same mileage and are pretty reliable, now (at least Toyota's automatic).

P.S. I'd like to see a supercharged V8 6 speed.

Koz

 

[Thai]

Not enough demand. More and more off-roaders now prefer automatics to manual. Most Jeep Rubicons i off-road with have automatics.

 

[boston_kevin]

VSC and manual tranny

I would think every time you pushed in the clutch the VSC would get confused. You would have to have a switch on the clutch to turn off the VSC everytime you shifted.

As far as I know in the SUV land, nobody is making manual tranny's anymore. Ford stopped, GM stopped, Jeep stopped (except for the wrangler), Nissan stopped (Pathfinder). It seems to be more of a niche market these days, and honestly less and less people know how to drive a stick.

 

[EDGE]

The V6 Altimas with the 5speed do not come through with VSC or traction control, but the auto ones do.

Sales of Manuals have decreased over the years, so the auto makers just stop making them, even the Ultimate Driving Machine is becoming more and more readily available with the SMG, they still have 6speeds but here in Jersey the dealer had 20 SMG M3 and 4 where 6 speeds that did not sell until all the SMG where gone.

The new Xterra and Frontier have a 6speed available:

 

[GatorGreg]

Re: VSC and manual tranny

I would think every time you pushed in the clutch the VSC would get confused. You would have to have a switch on the clutch to turn off the VSC everytime you shifted.

As far as I know in the SUV land, nobody is making manual tranny's anymore. Ford stopped, GM stopped, Jeep stopped (except for the wrangler), Nissan stopped (Pathfinder). It seems to be more of a niche market these days, and honestly less and less people know how to drive a stick.

I could be wrong but I don't think having a manual tranny causes any special issues with VSC, I know that both the RAV4 and CR-V now come standard with VSC/VSA, and you can get each of them with 4WD along with a 5 speed manuual.

 

[Northof49]

Re: Re: VSC and manual tranny

I could be wrong but I don't think having a manual tranny causes any special issues with VSC, I know that both the RAV4 and CR-V now come standard with VSC/VSA, and you can get each of them with 4WD along with a 5 speed manuual.

I don't think you're wrong....in addition to those examples, there are plenty of vehicles out there employing manual trannies with VSC type systems.

I think it's totally a question of demand, the sales of manual trans Runner's dropped off in the late 90's to the point where it wasn't worth it to offer a choice anymore. If Toyota saw the need to offer a manual, there is no question that they could build one to suit the 4Runner's application.

Basically, they offered one, and no one bought it, so why offer it? It's a shame tho, cause I would still buy a standard Runner.

 

[Border411]

Actually...the new Toyota with the V6 (i saw the photos in car and driver OR was it road and track?) and that is going to be available with a 5spd manual. What gives? Same engine, but different trans options?

 

[RonMAIDEN]

Automatics are just more genral public friendly and they weren't selling enough manuals to justifying the cost anymore. Are there any manual SUVs anymore and were 4Runners the last?

 

[Koz]

The XRunner has a 6 speed. Come to think of it I haven't seen one on the road or at a dealer yet.

Koz

 

[Bluto]

The Tacoma has a 6 speed with the 4.0. Looks like the VSC + TRAC is available with the manual.


If you want a MT, have to go with the Taco.


The market is the biggest reason. Most buyers want the auto.

I wonder if the 4Runner's torsen center diff has anything to do with it.