1st Year a manual trans was offered in 4Dr Taco

[toyota_jon]

I'm curious to know what was the first year Toyota offered (either from the showroom floor or by special order) a manual trans. with their 4dr tacomas. The more i look at the 4dr's from 00-04 the more i like them. However if a manual trans. isn't offered at all i just can't stomach an auto. My disdain for auto's runs deep and i just can't stand them. every auto i've owned has been problematic... taurus, ram, wagoneer, mercedes... And if no manual was offered anyone seen someone who converted one over? i sure would hate to have to nix getting one over not being able to find one in a manual form.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Someone correct me, but I don't think Toyota ever offered a stick shift in the previous generation Double Cab. I think the first year you could get a stick in a 4 door Tacoma was 2005, with the new body style. Trust me, I hear you on the automatic... I don't know how easy or hard it would be to convert to a stick. Toyota did offer a stick in the truck with the XtraCab and regular cabs, so it might be just a matter of getting the tranny and ECU from a wrecked stick truck.

 

[detailbarn]

I know the 00-04 4 door does not offer a manual trans. But I am not sure if it started to be offered in 05 or 06.

 

[Scott Brady]

2005 for 4wd

Unless you get a 2wd 01-04...

 

[Martinjmpr]

2005 for 4wd

Unless you get a 2wd 01-04...

Are you sure about that? My understanding was that the 01-04 Dcab was never available with a MT, period. IIRC the only 2wd version was the "Prerunner." IOW there was no "standard" 2wd Dcab.

 

[Cackalak Han]

To the OP: I've also only had manual cars since the day I could drive. I love how connected you feel. My 4Runner was the first auto. It's really not as bad as you think. I have not had any issues with it. I had 130k on my last 4Runner and this one has 90k, and both has zero issues with the transmission. I say, if you want the d-cab, give the auto a try. Then if you don't like it, auto-->manual swaps can be done.

 

[Scott Brady]

Are you sure about that? My understanding was that the 01-04 Dcab was never available with a MT, period. IIRC the only 2wd version was the "Prerunner." IOW there was no "standard" 2wd Dcab.

About 99%. I actually look at a few early on, as I could buy the 2wd prerunner and then install a t-case and solid axle. It has been four years though, so I could certainly be wrong

 

[cruiseroutfit]

I was in the "manual or bust" stage for quite sometime, but I really wanted the DC and my ExCab was getting up there in miles and didn't have a single straight panel left... I needed something newer/cleaner. I had driven plenty of 3.4l auto equipped rigs, no doubt they felt sluggish compared to my 5spd, but they wern't the end of the world and realistically they wern't that much slower either, side by side with my buddy Sully's auto ExCab, we pretty much moved the same over 30mph. I ended up with a SC'd auto in my 04 DC, the SC makes up for all the lackings of the auto. Reliability? Well, I don't have any personal experience with them failing... my dad has a 96' with the auto in a 4Runner, its towed a boat, trailers, scouts, etc... never had a trans issue at nearly 200k. Sully's truck had 200k on it when he bought it... the motor was done, but the trans was still original and tight. Toyota manufactures one of the better auto trans's on the market, a good enough reputation to satisfy my reqs.

 

[shawkins]

Converting the '01-'04's to a 5-speed is pretty easy, I've done it. Your check engine light will be on if you dont get a ECU from a 5-speed though.

 

[dennisuello]

every auto i've owned has been problematic... taurus, ram, wagoneer, mercedes...

That's quite a collection there, but I wouldn't judge Toyota autos by either of these cars.

 

[toyota_jon]

Well i am certain that toyota makes a decent auto, i just can't do it. Something in my moral fiber won't let me... ok maybe a little over dramatic but the point is still there. I wouldn't be opposed to swapping one into a DC, however my main concern would be with new cars it seams that everything is connected, and i'm very particular about my cars, i want everything to work as it supposed to, and something like a CE light would drive me nuts. so if there is a way to swap a AT to a MT and have the end product be just as good as factory i would look into it.

and from my searches a MT was first offered in a DC in 05.

 

[Martinjmpr]

Well i am certain that toyota makes a decent auto, i just can't do it. Something in my moral fiber won't let me... ok maybe a little over dramatic but the point is still there. I wouldn't be opposed to swapping one into a DC, however my main concern would be with new cars it seams that everything is connected, and i'm very particular about my cars, i want everything to work as it supposed to, and something like a CE light would drive me nuts. so if there is a way to swap a AT to a MT and have the end product be just as good as factory i would look into it.

and from my searches a MT was first offered in a DC in 05.

Unless you have a particular fondness for the 01-04 Taco, it seems it would just be easier and less expensive to get an 05 with a 6 speed.

Personally, I don't care for the 05+ - I think they're too big and I hate the pushbutton transfer case . However, other than that, I understand them to be very capable platforms. And I actually think the shortbed DC is the best looking of the lot. I was next to one in traffic the other day and I was admiring its lines.

 

[Cackalak Han]

Personally, I don't care for the 05+ - I think they're too big ....

That's the reason why I bought a 3rd Gen 4Runner vs. 4th Gen. I was disappointed that Toyota made both the 4Runner/Tacomas so much bigger than their previous gens. I've heard rumors that the next gen is going to be smaller? Surely hope so.

 

[toyota_jon]

Unless you have a particular fondness for the 01-04 Taco, it seems it would just be easier and less expensive to get an 05 with a 6 speed.

Personally, I don't care for the 05+ - I think they're too big and I hate the pushbutton transfer case . However, other than that, I understand them to be very capable platforms. And I actually think the shortbed DC is the best looking of the lot. I was next to one in traffic the other day and I was admiring its lines.

For me the 01-04 taco's just seam to be where it's at for me. they are a good size, unlike the new gigantic things. The motor has a good amount of pep to it. one of the few new cars where i actually LIKE the way it looks. It has a few more creature comforts so my girl will actually enjoy going 4x4ing instead of being sore at the end of the day.

and the thought of a push button t-case........ :violent-smiley-031: lets just say it ain't gonna happen. It's already a big enough compromise to go without manual locking hubs.

As i'm sure the picture is quite clear by now, i'm a bit old school. I like knowing how everything works and keeping it as simple as possible for the trail. However like i mentioned before along with old school rigs comes that old school ride, and i love my truck enough to tough it out, and my girl loves me enough to go, but i know she's just SORE and TIRED at the end of the day. So i'm looking into what rigs will be suitable, for our purposes. and it's looking like a tacoma, or an FZJ-80. i'm leaning more towards the taco for the bed and size aspect.

 

[esh]

i love my truck enough to tough it out, and my girl loves me enough to go, but i know she's just SORE and TIRED at the end of the day.

Seems like you could put that money into your 4runner and make it a more comfortable ride? Fatigue is caused by more than suspension quality (noise or seat quality for example)... have you exhausted making the 4runner the best ride it can be?

Oh wait, nm.. what are you going to do with your 4runner? :costumed-smiley-007