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
Maybe an oblique view of 'MINE' might help some understand my
side of the coin.... :)
Automatics 'used' to be an optional item that you paid for.
There might have been another optional manual with more gears, but the 'standard'
was a manual it came with. Most likely a 3 speed
Since the herd or the majority wants automatic, the OEMs have gone
'almost' exclusively to automatics and even discontinued manuals on
most model lineups for pickups
Now noodle this:
It's like the current fashion statement driven 'insane' height of current crop
of pickups and full sized SUV's....try to order one of 'regular' or 'old' height
Or 20's (tires and wheels). I don't like overly low aspect ratio tires for my
trucks. Especially off roaders. Try to find one with the higher option packages
16's are no where to be found but on the stripper models and betcha going the
way of manuals
Ditto something like DVD players for each seat belt behind the driver. I don't
like them at all, but try to find a high option package without a DVD for every
seat belt behind the driver
Ditto power everything, leather, etc, etc, etc on the high option packages.
Even the base stripper model's are going that way and the 'true' stripper they
used to derive the 'ratings' are no longer even offered for sale these days....
Is 4x4 coming as the only offering soon?
All 'fashion statement crowd' driven, as they check off just about every optional
box on the order sheet. So the OEMs have learned to stuff their pickup/SUV line
ups.
PS...the weak link is the clutch on manuals vs these very high output
engines (both gasser and diesel). Double clutches has been the norm
on exotics due to their increased HP/torque. Heck, a triple is not out
of the question
Not a huge amount of R&D but they won't budget because the fat part
of their demographics bell curve is for the fashion statement herd
who can not drive, or will not own a manual vehicle
I still want a 5-6 speed manual with a granny 1st and a double OD with
a PPS...most of the new crop of owners won't even know what a granny
gear is, nor that their automatics has a double OD
side of the coin.... :)
Automatics 'used' to be an optional item that you paid for.
There might have been another optional manual with more gears, but the 'standard'
was a manual it came with. Most likely a 3 speed
Since the herd or the majority wants automatic, the OEMs have gone
'almost' exclusively to automatics and even discontinued manuals on
most model lineups for pickups
Now noodle this:
It's like the current fashion statement driven 'insane' height of current crop
of pickups and full sized SUV's....try to order one of 'regular' or 'old' height
Or 20's (tires and wheels). I don't like overly low aspect ratio tires for my
trucks. Especially off roaders. Try to find one with the higher option packages
16's are no where to be found but on the stripper models and betcha going the
way of manuals
Ditto something like DVD players for each seat belt behind the driver. I don't
like them at all, but try to find a high option package without a DVD for every
seat belt behind the driver
Ditto power everything, leather, etc, etc, etc on the high option packages.
Even the base stripper model's are going that way and the 'true' stripper they
used to derive the 'ratings' are no longer even offered for sale these days....
Is 4x4 coming as the only offering soon?
All 'fashion statement crowd' driven, as they check off just about every optional
box on the order sheet. So the OEMs have learned to stuff their pickup/SUV line
ups.
PS...the weak link is the clutch on manuals vs these very high output
engines (both gasser and diesel). Double clutches has been the norm
on exotics due to their increased HP/torque. Heck, a triple is not out
of the question
Not a huge amount of R&D but they won't budget because the fat part
of their demographics bell curve is for the fashion statement herd
who can not drive, or will not own a manual vehicle
I still want a 5-6 speed manual with a granny 1st and a double OD with
a PPS...most of the new crop of owners won't even know what a granny
gear is, nor that their automatics has a double OD
