I'm looking at 2 trucks. Both white, supercab, long box. 4x4

2003 (2 Valve, leafs up front)
6 Spd ZF6
No pw or pl
70k miles

2005 (3 Valve, coils up front)
5R110
75k miles
$500 dollars more expensive

In other respects the trucks are the same. Previous owners both seem ok.

I'm a big fan of the manual transmission but I am wondering if the auto isn't a better deal....I really like the manual trans though....I worried about long term durability.

I would like to get to 200k miles before I start looking for another one.

Anybody want to sway me one way or the other?

Thanks!

 

I bought my truck new and took the 6 speed manual primarily because the 4R100 wasn't as reliable a trans as the manual. If I had known that the 5R110 was coming out in 05 I would gladly have waited. The 5 speed auto is far superior to the old 4 speed version. Plus with the 05 version you get the 3 valve engine which is far superior in horsepower (310 verses 362). Anytime you can get 5 speeds coupled to 362 horses you have a winner. Just a side note, the gear ratios of the top 5 gears in the manual 6 speed are virtually the same as the 5 speed auto. The only advantage the manual gives you is the "creeper" low gear.

 

I do realize that this is an old thread, but I was wondering what opinions were on fuel mileage difference between the automatics and the manuals .