Thanks Chris. Every once in awhile someone needs to put me in my place.

 

Another nice thing about manual transmissions is all of the driveability BS like idle, hanging idle, etc. Yay.

 

Care to explain that for us Chris?

 

With a manual transmission you have to deal with idle stability, surging idle, hanging idle after a shift and other things like that. If that isn't nailed in the tune it is a pain in the butt when the idle hangs after a shift. When you have an automatic you have the torque converter which smooths out a ton of little stuff like that. Does that make sense?

 

Yup...thanks!

 

I know I spent forever getting the idle on my Mustang to drop quickly enough and not hang but yet not stall out either. I finally got it licked with the BBK 75mm TB and the TwEECer

 

I've never cussed at a manual transmission for shifting when I didn't want it to...

 

That's most of my issue with autos right there. The torqshift isnt so bad, but I've gone hoarse screaming at automatics.

I dont know that I'll ever buy a brand new truck, but if I did I would pay premium to get a manual transmission.

I have the torqshift, and its acceptable, but it's not what I want. At one point Ford had a campaign praising the number of options available when building a vehicle. I hope that that returns one day. I understand the simplicity of limiting options to packages, but I'm gonna stay optimistic and hope they bring the manual transmission back some day.

 

I pefer the manual to an auto and would also pay a premium for a chance to get one

 

Why is shifting a pickup no fun but doing the same thing in a Miata or Musting is great fun?Seems to me shifting is shifting. The clutching technique MAY be different but you're still shifting. I'm 70 years old and started out driveing a model A ford at 12 years old. In my life I've only owned 3 cars with autos - no trucks .

 

My first New truck was a 95' F-350, PowerStroke, 5-speed cab & Chassi 4x4,,which had a POS,,,Dual-mass flywheel,,, changed atleast once within 56k miles,,Not too Good for reliability there !!

Traded it for a 99' F-350, 7.3 PS, SC, 4x4, auto,DRW dump, was a Good truck,,had some issues,,,4R100, was OK,,,but shifted kinda wacky,,traded it fora,,,

04 F-350 SC, V-10, 6-speed, DRW w/4;30's,,,that was a Good/Great truck,,even plowing was OK, with the stick,,,draw backs though,,,having to set parking brake, everytime I checked the mail(steep driveway)really did not want to hold that truck on a steep hill,,,hooking up plow was not as easy,,,set brake,,,creep back,,,,aarrrg move over,,set brake etc,,,would still have the truck,,,but wanted a SRW,,traded it for my now/present,,,

06' F-350 6.0, TS auto,SC 4x4 SRW,,,this has been a Great truck,,,Runs Great,,,TS auto is awsome,,,put in park on hills,,,plow hookup,,,pull up to plow,(slightly up hill),leave in drive,,,get out,,grab my MM upper frame(if lined up)push/pull ,,truck pulls forward into place,,slide in pins,,hookup plugs,,good to go,,,,,,No Way CAN A MANUAL TRANS DO THAT !!,,,,when plowing a Auto truck can go 2-3 times faster in Reverse then a manual trans truck,,,,many many times I backup when plowing 20 mph easy,,,25 mph if I want,,,but 20 is easy,,,, long narrow parking lot with no cars in it,,,,Auto for me !

 

Just watch out for those invisible light poles when you are plowing and backing up at 20 mph.

Don't ask how I know that one.

 

That is the thing I hate the most about my manual truck.(I have both auto and manual trucks) I hated always having to depend on the e-brake or else shutting the truck off, putting in gear and apply e-brake. This was especially a PITA when at the boat ramp. Was a PITA towing anything where you had to get out of the truck to check something. Even a well maintained e-brake is something that cannot be trusted, especially when it gets wet.

The manual isn't coming back. Even if Ford would decide they don't like to make money and brought it back it would end up with gates being blocked up to prevent shifting for mpg and emissions concerns.

 

Well then, I hope they start selling pickups without engines or transmissions. If Ford doesn't offer stick, anything I build will be better.

 

The manual gets me close to 70:1 reduction in 4 low and 1st. gear. Everyone has different desires and needs.
Driving a automatic is like trying to walk on numb feet. Where is the road feel.?
I don't need Ford to sell a stick. When the old girl calves I'll, be moving on. For my needs IMO the model has been spiraling down since the last real truck MY04. Ford instead of setting the bar is following chevy, sad and lame.