How to get a manual transmission

I'm about to be in the market for a new Taco and I really want a manual transmission. I know there's no "special ordering" them and you have to get one from the dealer's allocated units. Is there a point in the process when the allocated "in production" units can be changed to add a manual instead of the auto? Hoping for a TRD Sport or SR5 since I don't need all the off-road goodies. I've got time to wait. Thanks.

 

Can't change what been ordered/allocated to dealer.

 

If you want a new one you should lock one in sooner than later, or comb the inventory nationwide and be ready to fly if the timeline gets tight. I would bet that the 4th gen tacoma won't have a manual option.

 

The 3rd Gen SR5 (and Limited) have always been 6AT only. The SR had a 5MT option for the 2.7l for 2016 and 2017 only.


Here's a way to see all of the 6MTs in the delivery process though:

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/tacoma-inventory-spreadsheet.714583/​

There are 161 in the system right now.

 

I got mine two years ago so things may be different now, but all I had to do was go to my dealer and tell them what options I wanted; TRD OR with manual transmission in MGM or Cement. They found a couple within their dealer trading radius. About 500 mi I think. I picked the MGM and they said "okay," and traded some other vehicle to the other dealer for my truck.

I'm guessing it might take a little longer to locate one these days, but I would assume/hope that dealers can still find the truck you want and make a trade for it.

 

As of three days ago there's a 23 Pro manual at Folsom Toyota in CA selling at MSRP. Solar Octane.

 

Talk to your dealer they can look at the incoming inventory and see who a manual truck is scheduled to deliver to. Then they can call them and make a deal to trade one of the trucks they are scheduled to get for they manual they are getting. Or that is what I did. it took a while for me because i wanted the special color pro for that year. If you do not want a special color then it should not take long....

 

Go talk to your preferred dealership. I told them what I wanted, agreed on a price, placed a deposit and signed an intent to purchase. Once one came on the lot, I gave them the nod and they gave me my truck. This was June 2020 and I told them I wanted either Cement Grey or Voodoo Blue. They tried to source one to no avail and said I can wait till the 2021's land for the same agreement. I decided to take the Barcelona Red that landed as my 2016 was written off so I did not have another vehicle to wait it out with.

 

Where are you located?

I see quite a few in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Kansas) as well as many in Georgia, North Carolina. These are actual photo trucks not stock photos so you have a higher probability of them being available.

 

Ugh. When is this madness going to stop? I wouldn't buy a vehicle that isn't under MSRP...

 

Someone posted on FB this week claiming that Toyota corporate called his dealer and informed them to refund his deposit as no more manuals are being produced. I'm guessing that dealer sold his allocation to someone else for above dealer markup and that was their excuse.

Anyhow, use the inventory spreadsheet, work with a few dealers with multiple refundable deposits that understand the allocation process. Took me 3 months to find my 6MT which was a customer's that backed out and the dealership had my contact info - good luck. The manual is well worth the wait and search though!

 

I was in your shoes earlier this year, but for a TRD Off-Road instead.

First off, the trim level has already been decided for you. You can't get a manual with the SR5, but you can in the TRD Sport. Fortunately, assuming you are in the US, you aren't limited to just the double cab short bed configuration. You can get a manual access cab as well which has the longer 6 ft bed.

Now, you talk to your preferred dealer and see what do they have or if they have anything to trade with another dealer. If they have one for you already, great. If not, you can reserve an allocation/get your name on the waitlist for one and you can do that with multiple dealers at once.

Toyota does not do custom orders. They just build what they want and send it to wherever they want to. There is a preferencing system, meaning your dealer can put in what features are preferred for the vehicles Toyota allocates to them. But, there's still no guarantee you'll get the exact spec you want.

For that reason, in my experience, a good amount of dealers wouldn't want to go too specific in what you want. Heck, the dealer I got my truck from would call me no matter what color of truck/packages that truck has Toyota allocates to them.

Seeing you want a manual, it'll be a longer wait/harder to find than an automatic. Even more challenging if you want a MT access cab.

It took me 6 months to get my truck. But it's worth it to me. I'm loving my truck so far.

 

Let me know when you pass at a Porsche GT3 at msrp, I’ll help you out I’ll buy you a six pack of beer for your troubles

 

Do they still offer the base model for fleet usage?

 

There still is a 4x2, 4 banger AT with Utility Package

 

I know it’s the wrong gen but I love mine and will keep it as long as it lasts. I was able to add cameras, seat heaters, fogs, intermittent wipers, and heated mirrors along with OBA and a few other niceties so you don’t have to buy the whole package if you can do a few diy upgrades. Manual 4x4 seems to be the real unicorn but it’s been awhile since I needed that particular capacity. These days the additional mileage is a daily bonus.

 

Yes, they do. It's called the Utility Package. 4 banger, AT, both 2X4 and 4X4 available. It's offered to individuals as well as fleets.

I own a 2017 SR Utility Package, MT. Awesome vehicle. Unfortunately, it is no longer offered with a MT.

 

That was about TRD Pros specifically, not necessarily OffRoad or Sport.

 

Depending on the system the dealer has, they should be able to check inventory from other dealers and have it brought/trucked to you.

We got my wife’s 4Runner from Fred Haas Toyota World (one of the largest dealers in the nation) and they didn’t have what we wanted, so they found one in Corpus Christi like 300mi away and had someone drive it up. I’m not sure if they traded them a vehicle or what. But the dealers should be able to find the nearest one with your specs in their system and at least point you in the right direction.

 

Yeah thats the one. Still don't believe it as theres well over 500+ TRD Pro manual allocation requests put in. Toyota corporate would send out a nationwide e-mail to all of its dealers to notify them.