Gdetrailer, yes I understand and am quite familiar with most trucks and drivetrain combos from the last 30 years. From driving, owning, managing fleets of (aware of overall cost of ownership) and wrenching on them.
Correct, clutches don’t last forever. And I agree that high miles original clutch is a liability. No more than an auto trans with the same miles though. And both could be great or both could be junk. The more info, service records etc the buyer can get, the more informed a decision they can make.
I don’t agree that the, now 20+ year old feature of tow haul is the best thing since beer in a can. Yes it’s good, yes it is merely a substitute for grabbing a lower gear yourself when talking downhill runs. Higher shift-points are plus though. But a manual trans has that capability too. Just requires operator input.
Just like this entire discussion, whether it’s which brand of vehicle , which engine,etc, in the old, high mile, low budget category, in general, the best condition, lowest miles vehicle wins. Auto or manual.
