Manual Transmissions Were Just 1.4% of 2023 US Sales

Haven't seen this brought up yet, but manual Tacoma sales represented just 3,287 units in 2023.

With 234,768 total Tacomas sold in the US in 2023, that means stick-shift models made up almost exactly 1.4% of sales last year. A number that's well below the 5% market share that's often quoted here.

Sources:
https://www.motor1.com/news/704830/2023-toyota-gr-corolla-sales/
https://pressroom.toyota.com/toyota-motor-north-america-reports-2023-u-s-sales-results/

Makes me curious to know what that 3,287 trucks breaks down to in terms of trim and color.


I'm also curious to compare that number to stick shift 2024 sales.

 

For the last few years MT only available on upper trims like TRD Sport/Off Road & Pro

 

I really wanted a 2023 access V6 4x4 with MT...plain jane SR.

 

I mean it's not like they make it easy to get a manual....

I had to do alot of searching to find one and the dealers around here had no interest in finding me one either.

The one I did find we put money down on the day before we went to look at it because it was a pretty good ways away and we didn't want it to be gone when we got there, the sales manager said they already had 2 other people wanting it before we got there but they couldn't sell it because we had put money down on it.

They would sell more if they put more out there but they limit production numbers of them so of course they don't sell many.

 

Time was manual transmission vehicles were 1000 to 1500 bucks cheaper, better fuel economy and generally better performing than their auto tranny counterparts. now they are a niche item that is lumped in with a bunch more undesirable features and cost several thousand more and lower fuel economy to boot. Why even bother.

 

That's what i was thinking. Make some more?

 

Yep since 2018, last year for a SR MT was 2017.

 

The $1000 savings really made a difference when MSRP was $16-$24k. It also made plane Jane vehicles lively and fun to drive.

 

We are a rare breed .

 

That time is still alive for Tacomas.

Indeed we are.

 

the suckiest part of it all is the 4dr long beds don't have a manual option. i absolutely would have bought new had it been available at all.

so now i'm left with automatic 'sport' mode...

 

When I bought mine in 2021 I used Toyotas build it website to price the auto and the manual. The manual was around $1500 less than the auto at that time.

 

happy to have scored my 22 Sport MT. Seems that number is low, but I am not one to argue based on my impression.

 

Toyota might be limiting MT production based on mpg standards rather than demand. I'm able to get really good mpg's in town and the 55mph roads but on the 70-80mph freeways I'll loose 1-2 mpg's compared to the auto. Final drive ratios and rpm's does it. Still wouldn't trade out of the manual even if Toyota payed me. If Toyota made 30% manuals their overall mpg ratings would go down.

 

Most of the manual trucks are sports. OR and PRO manual trucks are unicorns. OR and PRO trucks with Auto has the MTS and Crawl features which manual trucks lose...which negates some of the benefits of a manual OR or PRO.

 

You get A-TRAC in place of that, it's pretty effective too.

 

The OR and PRO with the MT have A-TRAC which is the same thing as crawl control without the braking. Crawl control is more expensive than A-TRAC though.

 

I have one of the last ones made. The 4 cylinder and 5 speed MT are a perfect match.

 

MTS and Crawl (Berzerk Mode) are similar to the auto transmission... they make you a passenger. Why would you want a slow cruise control that operates sounding like the vehicle is about to explode. The times I've see it, it is embarrassing for the driver. I would never use it for that reason alone. ATRAC is a better solution if you are actually DRIVING not just along for the ride.

You also lose the push button - aka better theft protection. (And because better control over Clutch start cancel...). The JBL is also not available, but that is also good... (Non JBL is better suited to upgrade)...

BUT regardless - the Manual gearbox on its own trumps everything... no benefits are negated, I'd argue...

 

Yeah. Manual sux.
Maybe in a sports car can’t believe the still make these in a truck.