Looking for opinions on automatic vs stick

1handyhubby wrote:
I'm looking at fords - F350 v10 dually between 1999 and 2005 and am wanting to know which performs better and holds up better, automatic transmissions or 5 speed manual transmissions. I'd appreciate y'alls opinions and experiences. I have an 11' 3" Lance but am looking to getting a Bigfoot with a slideout. I'd apperciate anyone with a 4x4 to weigh in too. Thanks.

Now, to expand on years and transmissions...it was a ZF-6 for the manual. It's a 6-speed technically speaking. I had one in my 1999 7.3. It's a really nice transmission as far as any manual transmissions go. ZF transmissions are very tight. These were used in all "super duty" trucks until they stopped offering manuals at all. Now, driving it, it's pretty much a 5-speed. First gear with 3.73s and 35" tires was so low that I couldn't shift out of it until I stopped. Started in "2nd" all the time. There are quotations because they called 2nd 1st. Shift pattern was "R", then straight down was "L", after that it was 1-5 like a normal 5-speed. But your reverse was toward you and up instead of away and down.

The 4r100 was the "super duty" automatic for the 7.3 years. It was not a bad automatic. People don't give it enough credit. It was rated for more weight than the truck could pull when stock. Transmission maintinence isn't on everybody's scheduling. The 5-speed torqshift is a really nice transmission. The grade shifting is really awesome if you haven't driven a truck with it. These came with the 6.0 year trucks. 7.3 was 1999-2003. 6.0 was half way between 2003-2007. I'm not sure on the particular specifications of the two automatics, and I am not sure what year or when they went to the torqshift on gasoline models.

As far as "holds up better"...that depends on a lot of things. What terrain you'll drive, what your gross weight will be while driving it, how often you'll drive with that weight, wether or not you want to shift or care.

If you want the opinion of a city truck driver...shifting is a pain. But I still have a truck with a stick and I put a lot of miles on it. Have a friend who's dad has a v10 2002 f250 for work. Doesn't tow at all, but I know it has. It's got well over 250,000 on it with the original 4r100.

I can say more, but I'm not sure what the relevance would be. What would you like to get? Do you want an auto, and are asking about a manual because people say they are more simple and cheaper to buy a clutch for, or do you want a manual and want to hear it'll be fine? I'll say this...if you don't mind shifting, then whatever you find will work great either way.

You can see what I have below. Have had a lot of both. (Three ford diesels, two with sticks, three dodge diesels, two with autos).

If you lived where I do, a stick can be a pain. Nothing is more versatile and gives you more control than a stick though.

I'm a local truck driver in the city. I drive a 9 speed mixer from stoplight to stoplight and stop sign to stop sign. It's annoying as heck. But it's something I deal with. Not something that sways me either way in my personal life.

I like the automatic because there is a lot of traffic around here before I can even get anywhere. It's nice. Especially when going on vacation, or going home from work when I've been shifting all day. But I drive my dodge to work a lot, too. Just kind of is what it is.

Get what you prefer. If I could've found a nice 12-valve dodge dually with a 5-speed, I would've bought it. But instead I found a really nice ford and it had an upgraded automatic. If you think a stick is more fun and want to shift on your way camping, then go for it. If not, then don't. For people that don't feel either way about it, they just end up buying the best truck they can, regardless of the transmission.

I'm into diesel trucks, so I've got my likes of what motor, what brand, with whatever transmission. Just depends on what year truck I'm looking at with what particular motor.

Kayteg1 wrote:
"stick shift is for real drivers"
Even I am reaching retirement age, I still can operate stick on hills with tip on the brake and toe on gas pedal. Something I was actively using 40 years ago.
Newer automatics do have converter lock on upper 3 gears, but I think my present 2007 5-sp auto locks only on 5th.
Meaning lot of engine energy, specially hauling on lower gears goes into mixing ATF.
Than manual takes 1/10 the service of auto.

Not zure on the Fords...but mine locks on 2-6 gear after some aftermarket love....I think 5 Star tuning offers this for Fords..worth it.


I love rowing my own gears in a sports car...my truck is auto after having a Ford diesel for years with a manual. Won't go back..

Bigfoot offers units with slides???

"stick shift is for real drivers"
Even I am reaching retirement age, I still can operate stick on hills with tip on the brake and toe on gas pedal. Something I was actively using 40 years ago.
Newer automatics do have converter lock on upper 3 gears, but I think my present 2007 5-sp auto locks only on 5th.
Meaning lot of engine energy, specially hauling on lower gears goes into mixing ATF.
Than manual takes 1/10 the service of auto.

The 2005 F350 automatic transmission had an undersized internal snap ring that would fail.
Result was a crack transmission case and a VERY expensive repair.
You will need to verify that the upgrade rebuild with the bigger snap ring was done on that particular tranny. (I don't know about the 2003 - 2004 years.)

A stick shift can and may bring out any latent back problems that one might have.
Automatics are luxury. Sticks are for younger folks.

my 03 F350 has the torkshift auto 5 speed. It has towed my 7000 pound horse trailer whith my 4500 pound Lance in the bed all over then mountain roads of California with nary a hiccup. Seems pretty bombproof to me.

Personally, I much prefer a stick, but I couldn't find one that wasn't completely worn out, so I ended up buying an auto. The 4R100 (earlier 4-speed auto) is a decent transmission and pretty durable, but the 5R110 (newer 5-speed auto) is much better. I'm not sure what year they changed over but, if you buy an auto, try to get the 5-speed. In addition to the extra gear, you also get tow/haul mode and better durability.

A stick is nice for the novelty but at my age 50 years old who the hell wants to push a clutch in all day.. It gets old fast...

autos all the way...I know of no performance differences between the two. With the advanced gearing of autos they actually save more fuel then the standard shifts...

I did own both and the 6-sp manual is hard to beat in every aspect, but not convenience.
Bought 2000 truck with auto and 300k on it and it did work well for next 20k before I sold it, but I think PO did some upgrade to it as the 4-sp auto from those years had pretty s***y opinions.