Car Chat

[FoMoJo]

It makes no sense to buy a, sort of, sports car like the 86 with an automatic.

[MX793]

teh manuelz 

https://www.autoblog.com/2019/05/15/toyota-manual-transmission-sales-figures/

The problem with that article is that it doesn't consider that the MTs weren't available in all trims and configurations of those models.  In may cases, the MT is only available in the cheapest, least desirable trim which sells poorly to begin with, or the most expensive trim (which also often doesn't sell well with cheaper cars).

For the Taco, the MT was only available in the TRD models (TRD Sport short or long cab, TRD Off-road long cab, TRD Pro).  What percentage of all Taco sales were TRD models?  What percentage of those were sold with a stick?  IIRC, Toyota's volume sellers were the SR5 (AT only) and Limited (AT only).

For the Corolla, the MT was only available in the mid-level SE trim.  The L, LE, XLE, and XSE were all auto-only.  How many Corollas were SEs?  How many of those were equipped with the MT?

For the Yaris hatch, MT was only in the 3-door L (cheapest) or 5-door SE (most expensive).  The volume trims were AT-only.

As for the 86, not sure if things have changed since the days when that car first came out, but when the FRS debuted, Toyota dictated how many manuals vs autos were built and what dealers got what, not the consumers.  An associate who was a salesman at the local Scion dealer was complaining that they couldn't get an MT FRS from Toyota and they were losing customers left and right who would stop in upon seeing the car was in stock and leave with a "call me when you get one with a stick" when they saw it was automatic.

[BimmerM3]

For the Taco, the MT was only available in the TRD models (TRD Sport short or long cab, TRD Off-road long cab, TRD Pro).  What percentage of all Taco sales were TRD models?  What percentage of those were sold with a stick?  IIRC, Toyota's volume sellers were the SR5 (AT only) and Limited (AT only).

TRD Off-Road long cab, short bed

I want that, but with a long bed. Auto only.

I briefly searched out of curiosity, but couldn't find numbers listed by trim. Anecdotally, most of the Tacos I see here (Boulder, CO) seem to be TRD Off-road trim but it's also an area where people actually use those offroad in situations where a rear locker might come in handy.

[cawimmer430]

End of May a shoot for a car magazine: Hyundai Kona E (Electric) and Hyundai Nexo (Hydrogen Fuel-Cell).

Looking forward to driving both if I can.

[FoMoJo]

Sounds interesting, especially the hydrogen fuel cell.

[FoMoJo]

This thing just makes me drool .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos7-D2SP8A

[giant_mtb]

TRD Off-Road long cab, short bed

I want that, but with a long bed. Auto only.

I briefly searched out of curiosity, but couldn't find numbers listed by trim. Anecdotally, most of the Tacos I see here (Boulder, CO) seem to be TRD Off-road trim but it's also an area where people actually use those offroad in situations where a rear locker might come in handy.

Long-cab, long-bed Tacos are friggin' unicorns. 

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

This thing just makes me drool .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hos7-D2SP8A

Seems like Motor Week has been on forever! LOL!!! I watched it as a little kid back in the 80's......

[93JC]

Seems like Motor Week has been on forever! LOL!!! I watched it as a little kid back in the 80's......

Very first episode of MotorWeek; October 15, 1981:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwXM199GKYg

[Gotta-Qik-C7]

Very first episode of MotorWeek; October 15, 1981:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwXM199GKYg

I was 7......

[MexicoCityM3]

This thing just makes me drool .

GT350 is lovely. End-of-an-era analog car. I really like it.

[FoMoJo]

I was 7......

Yeah, I always looked forward to watching it.  Not a real in depth automotive show, but usually laid back and informative.  Davis and Goss have grown into old farts on that show.  Haven't seen it for years though.

[BimmerM3]

Long-cab, long-bed Tacos are friggin' unicorns. 

They're not super rare around here, but definitely way less common than long cab, short bed.

[giant_mtb]

They're not super rare around here, but definitely way less common than long cab, short bed.

They look odd to me.

[BimmerM3]

They look odd to me.

They are quite long - almost 3 ft longer than Exploder. But having a real back seat and a bed long enough to sleep in is appealing.

[giant_mtb]

They are quite long - almost 3 ft longer than Exploder. But having a real back seat and a bed long enough to sleep in is appealing.

For sure.

[cawimmer430]

A question...

The green D appears when I am in ECO MODE and only when I coast at lower speeds. This means the car is in Sailing Mode - the transmission is decoupled from the engine.

How does this save gas? 

[CaminoRacer]

Less drivetrain resistance = the car can coast further = you don't have to touch the gas pedal as much because your speed doesn't drop as quickly.

[Soup DeVille]

You're coasting. The engine can idle at a lower speed than it could if it had to keeping matching the transmission/driveshaft speed.

[CaminoRacer]

You're coasting. The engine can idle at a lower speed than it could if it had to keeping matching the transmission/driveshaft speed.

I've heard that modern engines will shut off the injectors while coasting. Don't know if it's true or not.

[Soup DeVille]

I've heard that modern engines will shut off the injectors while coasting. Don't know if it's true or not.

Yes, well, some, in some conditions, but this produces a mild engine-braking effect.

[Eye of the Tiger]

I've heard that modern engines will shut off the injectors while coasting. Don't know if it's true or not.

Older fuel injected things, but not too old. New shit has to spray fuel to keep the converters warmed up for emissions.

[cawimmer430]

Less drivetrain resistance = the car can coast further = you don't have to touch the gas pedal as much because your speed doesn't drop as quickly.

You're coasting. The engine can idle at a lower speed than it could if it had to keeping matching the transmission/driveshaft speed.

[Laconian]

Older fuel injected things, but not too old. New shit has to spray fuel to keep the converters warmed up for emissions.

ORLY?

[2o6]

ORLY?

I'm pretty sure that's dependent on the model. My Yaris would cut the injectors

[Eye of the Tiger]

I'm pretty sure that's dependent on the model. My Yaris would cut the injectors

It is very model dependent. You never know what some dumbass engineer is going to program into the ECU.

[MexicoCityM3]

Police seized a lot of exotic cars in my town today. A banking hacker group was arrested. Take a look:

https://www.am.com.mx/noticias/Asi-se-llama-la-banda-de-hackers-que-robo-millones-y-fue-detenida-en-Leon-20190516-0037.html

I'd seen a couple of those cars around. One of the raided houses is in the complex where I live.

[93JC]

Leader of the hacker group is named Hector; coincidence? I think not. 

[Eye of the Tiger]

Leader of the hacker group is named Hector; coincidence? I think not. 

It's always some guy named Hector with a bunch of cars.

[12,000 RPM]

I've heard that modern engines will shut off the injectors while coasting. Don't know if it's true or not.

I think they have been doing this for a long time

I'm pretty sure that is how you can bump start a car with a manual transmission.