Manual Transmission? Yea or Nay?
Still looking for the first truck in preparation for our first RV sometime next year and I've pretty much narrowed it down to an F2/350 with the V10. Not sure I want to roll the dice with a 6.0 Diese...
Forum Discussion
The problem is the free lunch is over...and the attitude that prevails in this mind set explains exactly why the manual will not return...
Regards
jaycocamprs wrote:I do not understand this comment...it sounds somewhat desperate.Since the original shootout in August of 2010, the performance numbers have only gotten better. So much so, that Ram made some desperate attempts to jack up the performance of their truck by offering the H.O. version...which by the way is only available with an automatic transmission...no offense to Ram, it was just down on power... Compared to the 2010 comparisons, all the 2011 trucks out performed the earlier models...or are all the testing services and dyno operators telling tall tales. To deny these new trucks put more power to the wheels is whistling past the cemetery...ricatic wrote:
How many manual transmission devotee's would order an optional manual transmission that added to the cost of the truck?
How much would the manual transmission devotee's be willing to pay for that transmission?
How many manual transmission devotee's would not spend the extra money and just buy the standard automatic transmission?
Regards
1: I would not pay extra. I expect at least 1K less. The last year that GM offered the ZF-6 as the base transmission, the Allison was $2300 more if ordered by its self. I understand that point,..but what is the point...98.5% of the truck buyers that year paid the freight for the automatic transmission...virtually no one took the freebie manual...how do you justify keeping such an unpopular option in the mix at any cost to the manufacturer. Assembly line expenses alone cost the manufacturers big money to support what has become a non-entity.
2: There is no reason for the manual to cost more. There is no reason to design a new transmission, they are being built and used in other markets. Where...only in the derated Ram that I know of...you have said that your LLY makes plenty of power and GM acknowledges that the ZF6 manual could handle that power. GM states that the ZF6 would not hold up under the new power introduced in 2011. Fords position on a manual for their 400/800 engine was similar...not durable enough...Broken gear boxes would be something every owner would want warrantied...the manufacturer's know the limits...and cut their losses early...it would cost a small fortune to engineer a new manual for almost no market...who would be paying the bill?
3: Hard to say what one would do in the future. But in the past I told a GM dealer no. I bought a Ford, with a 4 speed. If I bought a new truck today it would be a 6 speed Dodge. But at some point soon there will be no choice. ...and I agree...the manual devotee's should be lining up at the local Ram watering hole to order their new manual transmission trucks...it is their final chance...if Ram bails out...it is over for the manual
And I doubt that the new mega HP trucks get anymore HP to the ground than the old ones. The OEM know how much torque they can handle, and that's all the computers let the engine make. Power on an engine dyno means nothing, power to the wheels counts.
Regards
