DALLAS: Toyota says it will keep on selling cars with manual transmission.
While the trend is clear — manual transmission vehicles make up less and less of the US auto market with every passing decade — a devoted population of drivers insist that the experience of driving stick shift is more dynamic, more engaging and more fun.
Loyal fans of manual transmission argue that, more than an intuitive understanding of the vehicle, or a “drive feel,” stick shifts offer greater control on the road; like the ability to engage a gear at a higher or lower RPM, for example. And yet other stick shift devotees might point to the fact that it’s just more fun.
Today, Toyota offers several vehicles with the option of a manual transmission, including the 2023 GR86, GR Corolla and even the Tacoma, a midsize pickup truck. And even though only 18% of American drivers know how to “drive stick,” Toyota continues to offer a manual transmission on some of the brand’s most-loved vehicle lines, like the Supra.
Aside from an engaging experience, there are plenty of reasons why drivers enjoy stick shifts.
Consider a situation where a driver needs to quickly accelerate their GR86 to avoid an obstacle: With a manual transmission vehicle, the driver can opt to stay in a lower gear and lose no time accelerating.
Or how about driving a Tacoma with a full payload on a mountain? As a driver approaches a steep downhill, they can easily shift to a lower gear to control speed without overusing their brakes.
