6 M/T Availability - is Toyota stealth ending MT production?

[Doc Rox]

I'm in the process of shopping for a new vehicle, and have a short list of vehicles I'm looking at. The availability of a manual transmission is a huge differentiator for the Tacoma over competing trucks, and would be a deal-winner for me *IF THEY WERE ACTUALLY AVAILABLE*. But, from what I can see they are not.

I live near South Padre Island, Texas and there are a couple dealers around here, both in person and checking their web site, no dice on the manual.

So, then I checked the biggest Toyota dealer in Houston (maybe in Texas) and - again, no deal.

Then I tried to use an app that someone on this site developed to help look for them anywhere, and even thought it shows a bunch none of those dealers have them either.

Am I wrong in concluding that Toyota isn't really in the manual-transmission Tacoma business anymore?

I mentioned "OK, I'll order what I want" to the salesman at Brownsville Toyota and he sort of mumbled and said "you could come near the beginning of the month. That was weird, most dealers (ie: Jeep, Chevy, Ford) are happy to order a vehicle for a buyer - it's a "no risk, no cost" sale for them.

Then I came here are read about the weird Toyota "Dealer Allocation" system, and it seems like (despite having a "Build One") option on the Toyota.com web site, that's NOT an option, and the best a dealer can do is put in a "request" to get on, and who knows what trim level / options it will have.

This would be my 4th new Toyota purchase, but I was not aware of this. To some extent this supports Toyota's way of doing things, I guess. The inability to special order hasn't prevented me from buying a new Toyota three times in the past.

But, then again, I still have the Toyota truck I bought in 1996 - so for something that I'm going to hold onto I'd just as soon get 100% of what I want, especially the M/T (on a TRD Offroad).

If, as now suspect, the manual transmissions were mostly done has part of the 4 Gen launch to get some attention for Toyota, and they don't really bother building them except on alternating blue moons then the Tacoma drops down into the category of "one of" the mid-sized trucks I will consider getting. (Again, maybe there aren't too many people who care at this point?)

I know a handfull of people active here have the manual Tacoma's - I have read every thread on them here. Is anyone else *currently* trying to find one?

Anyone tried to *order* (given the "Toyota doesn't take customer orders") successfully? Any other advice.

My fallback for a M/T vehicle might be a Jeep Wrangler. The local Jeep Dealers do at least have a token M/T on *their* lots (so you can drive one) and are happy to order whatever combo of M/T and other goodies you want. (Which is how it should be: Toyota Tacoma's are made in Texas after all, not far away Toyoda City).

Thanks in advance for any encouragement or information you can provide on this topic.

By the way: my first non-introduction post. Nice forum,

Here is my 1996 Toyota T-100 on the beach a few months ago.
It's a 5-speed manual, and it was easy to get. (I lived in Oregon at the time, the truck was the last made-in-Japan Toyota truck, and they were imported into the Port of Portland, so the dealer could see everything that was on the docs and a gray manual was easy to get).

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[Andrace]

You summarized today's Toyota buying experience pretty well. I really struggled to get what I wanted, and while I didn't get exactly what I wanted, I found one with exception of the paint color, used actually (1,400 mi), so I got it at a discount and available at the time due to the brake line recall stop sale.
If you want the MT you're going to have to work for it.

My advice would be to monitor this search tool, and depending on what you want exactly, you're probably going to need to travel to get it. It's the combination of the Sway Bar Disconnect and the MT that made the search exhausting. I even called a dealer the day the allocation hit the toyota website, because they can technically ADD options early on prior to build, but even that was a dead end.

I've determined through my experience that Toyota has perfected the customer third sales strategy, so remove any and all expectations you have and hunt appropriately.

https://app.powerbi.com/view?r=eyJr...4Y2MyLTJiN2QtNGI2Zi1hMWUwLWFlMTg3ZDljNGI4YSJ9

Nice T-100 BTW, keep that one.

 

[JoeMongo]

It took 12 full months for me to find my MT TRD Offroad. I contacted many dealers, put a deposit down on one that a dealer said he had coming, only to find out that he just made that shit up. At least I got my deposit back.

Finally, after 12 months of searching, I noticed on the Toyota web page that my closest dealer had on on his lot.

I called them, and it was true. They had it. I was there in 15 minutes with my wife's checkbook, and my wife.

That was almost a full year ago. This is probably the last truck I'll ever buy. Once I move to a house with a bigger garage, I'll buy a used Porsche 911, manual. That will probably be the last car I ever buy.

Right now, I think I need another motorcycle.

 

[ajkitebrder40]

Yeah I'm looking too, I'll tell you avoid the JL manual if at all possible. The clutch is vague, the gearing (at least on the Rubicon) feels off, and I had the recall which has caused nothing but issues for one of my friends with one (limp mode intermittently). I sold mine to Carvana for more than I paid in March 2023 for the Bronco. The main reason - the 7MT in the Bronco is perfect in my opinion, fun to drive, easy to engage with a crawler gear.

 

[Stringburner]

It seems to be at least partly a regional problem. I understand they are probably around 3% of production, so you have that to deal with, but I had no trouble finding a manual TRD Off-Road Tacoma. I drove to the local dealership and there happened to be one on the lot that I was able to test drive. I didn't buy that one, but there were several others listed as allocated on their website. Maybe I was lucky. Earlier this year when I was looking there was a website someone posted that you could sort by features. Also go on Cargurus & do a search for them with manuals. I usually set the distance for 200 miles and see what pops. You might have to drive a little to get what you want.

 

[maxx075]

Seeing as how the Tacoma is the LAST/ONLY newly made vehicle with a M/T, it's probably gonna be hard to get...

Also, Toyota doesn't do "custom" orders like other dealers do.

 

[oxi]

Found one:

 

[oxi]

Found 2 more at this dealer, one has yet to deliver:

 

[TacoFreak]

Finding the exact trim and options on any Toyota has always been tough. I tried for a year to find a 3rd gen manual and never did locate one anywhere near to me. If you are willing to shop a large area and travel to get it, you have a much better chance.

So although Toyota still makes trucks with a stick, good luck getting your hands on one. At least they are still making some , you just have to work for it..

 

[oxi]

Very rare Bronze Oxide TRD off-road manual has not been built yet, premium package:

 

[lauren01]

Keep your eye out for a used one.

 

[Zman1701]

They are very hard to get if you want anything more than a base truck. It took my dealer six months to find one at a dealership 40 miles away. They did get it for me. Off Road with the Premium Package. It was definitely worth the wait. FYI...I also have a JL Wrangler and after the clutch recall it has been an issue. Stick with the Tacoma.

Find the dealer that you want to do business with, and have them search for one, and call them every two weeks until they can get their hands on one. Just because there might be one at another dealership, that dealer has to be willing to swap that vehicle.

Good luck.

 

[Knute]

I ordered - yes ordered - my 6MT OR in early September of 2024 and it was delivered on March 7th, 2025. I received what I ordered (biggest chunks being the Premium package, Bronze Oxide) except for the mudflaps (no issue, better options are available online). I was warned by the dealer that Gulf States Toyota, the regional distributor, would load it up with stuff I didn't want -and they did. $750 steps, $500 dash cam, $75 USB wires, first aid kit are the ones I recall. Totaled $1850. Not singled out - apparently they do it to most of their vehicles.

If you want the manual, and are willing to order and wait for it, call Toyota of Cedar Park (Texas) and ask for Constantin. Know that the lowered redline (5400rpm) and the low gearing in 1st and 2nd gear make the 6MT less fun to drive on the road -where my truck , and most others will expend most of their miles.

 

[08toyo]

We bought our 25 TRD in April and I found four within 1000 miles. Terra TRD with a 6mt that wasn't loaded with all the options,we ended driving to St Louis MO from Michigan to buy it. Definitely hard to find.

 

[ajkitebrder40]

I'm actually debating this used one, it's the color and trim I want. I don't really care about the Upgrade package, but I do like the larger screen. My main issue is the fender bender and mileage, trying to get it to $35k otd with 7y/100k Gold Certified, and maybe a set of tires thrown in.

https://www.fredandersontoyotaofgre...a-Tacoma-9de91f10ac1819737b2830bbc95fd882.htm

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