Manual Transmission? Yea or Nay?

Caddywhompus wrote:

ricatic wrote:
How many manual transmission devotee's would order an optional manual transmission that added to the cost of the truck?

I want the manual transmission, but I wont pay more for it. That is ridiculous considering the cost of an equivalent automatic is easily twice the manual, PLUS the additional computer needed to control the shifting.

ricatic wrote:
How much would the manual transmission devotee's be willing to pay for that transmission?

I would say the option to NOT have the automatic should save me at least $1000 on a new vehicle purchase

ricatic wrote:
How many manual transmission devotee's would not spend the extra money and just buy the standard automatic transmission?

I did, but not for money, for equipment. As I stated before, manual transmission have been in decline ever since the OEMs started bundling automatics in every option package above base. As a consumer, I was forced to decide which I wanted more; leather seats, moonroof and killer stereo, or manual transmission. My preference would have been to be able to get both, and in a perfect world it should have saved me money, not cost anything more.

Automatic transmissions are fluid pumps, and not 100% efficient ones. That is where the heat comes from, and heat is wasted power. This is simple physics. Do manual tranny make heat? Sure, any time metal rubs against metal heat will be generated. But nothing close to the heat loss an auto generates. Ever notice manual transmissions don't need tranny coolers?

And one more thing, the mileage figures everyone is relying on to make it seem as though automatics get equal or better mileage that manuals is fabricated marketing BS. They are designed to convince consumers "on the fence" that the automatic comes at no cost. It is just not true. Every manual transmission vehicle I have owned since the early 90's (earlier cars had no published stats) got 2-3mpg better than the EPA sticker said it would. My 04 Subaru Forester easily got 34-35mpg in typical highway driving, yet was only rated for 30. A close friend had the exact same car with automatic, and besides it being much slower off the line, it only averaged 25mpg instead of the EPA quote of 29.

In contrast, every automatic vehicle I have bought got slightly WORSE mileage that the EPA sticker. Of course, your mileage may vary.

Finally, someone has answered...I respect your right to your position...but some important parts of the equation were ignored...

Answer to question one: He wants a manual transmission but he wants someone else to pay for it.

His supposition that the manual should cost less so he should pay less does not take into account any of the huge development costs needed to design, test and manufacture a new HD manual transmission for today's powerful trucks. Also ignored are the additional production costs incurred on the assembly line. More stations with different procedures added to an already complicated assembly process.

These costs run into the tens of millions of dollars. Who should pay for these costs...the person that wishes for manual transmission availability or the 98.5% of the buyers who are happy with their automatics...The free lunch for manuals has expired...pay up or do without...

Answer to question two: The manual transmission should cost $1000 less.

How can that happen? We are back to who pays for the development costs...I would grant that after all the development costs were paid back, by the manual owners, the price of the manual option could shrink but it can never be zero...

Answer to question three: I did, but not for money, for equipment. As I stated before, manual transmission have been in decline ever since the OEMs started bundling automatics in every option package above base... As a consumer, I was forced to decide which I wanted more;...

So, by abandoning your principles for luxuries, you further lessened the number of manual transmissions purchased...again proving to the marketing people you despise that they are right...the market for the manual transmission is small.

Caddy,

I am not in disagreement with you on your love to shift...I have done it and can still do it. I agree that it would be nice if the manufacturers would reintroduce a manual in their HD pickups...I believe there is a place for them. Where we differ is in who pays? Until the manual transmission guy's get off their wallets,stand together and buy enough trucks to make the manufacturers cost to produce palatable, it is not going to happen. Asking the vast majority of truck purchasers who have decided that automatic's are their standard transmission to contribute even more money to subsidize a losing proposition is not going to happen...and neither is the return of the manual to GM and Ford HD pickups.

Regards