I would think that with the current computer technology you could have a set of four to six gear ratios that were selectable. Touch of a button in "manual" mode and it would shift. You could even use and H-gate shifter that was electronic.
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1992 E150, 351, 1 ton E4OD (RIP)
Courtesy of my WIFE: "Why do they call it 'scruff' when it's more like mini-daggers?"
I would think that with the current computer technology you could have a set of four to six gear ratios that were selectable. Touch of a button in "manual" mode and it would shift. You could even use and H-gate shifter that was electronic.
The whole idea behind using a manual trans is to make it less complicated and therefore more reliable. Putting a computer in, as well as all the other hardware required to carry out the computers instructions, would defeat that purpose. Manual transmissions have been doing a fine job for a long time and I don't see why anyone would feel the need to add potential problems to them with electronics. Change is only progress when it improves something, change for the sake of change alone is not allways a good thing.
I think CVTs are fine in a tractor, but not automobiles. Tractors are big and heavy, always doing heavy work at low speeds, exactly when you need max torque. A car cruising down the highway doesn't need max torque. What is the general rule, your average car barely needs half its max power to cruise at 65 mph.
Automobiles are full of engineering compromise!
Also, I wonder why tractor trailers don't have CVTs?
Ford Half tons used to have manuals as a standard. But some of those prior to 1985 models were a real truck. Don't get me wrong, I love my F-150. I tow with it. I have had 2000lbs in the bed. (I know I have the short bed) The newer ones are good vehicles. But the old halfs, and heavy halfs were real trucks.
That being said, I would give my right, er, ah, left, er, ah, you know what I mean, to have a manual in the truck I have now. I guess I could hang the current consol from the ceiling!
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'doin what I can, with what I got.
06 F-150 Scab Lariat 5.4 4X4 (Smokestone1)
06 Mustang GT redfire (sally)
And a very powerful Hyundai Accent! LOL
u's will hate me for saying this, but i like the cvt idea. (ahem-enclosed snowmobile clutch). it's an auto w/o all the torq converter/fluid and such. i imagine we'd might want to get used to the idea cause the new smaller cars (eg-nissan sentra) have the cvt and it's likely the future of auto tranny's. i like the cvt idea except for the boring sound of the engine constant rpm w/o going thru the gears. but if we get used to it, it might be ok. anyone imagine jumping on a kickass polaris and shifting a 6spd manual? most quads have snomobile clutches now ('xept sportquads obviously) and who would go back to a 5spd auto clutch? just my 0.02
Not necessarily. Look at Honda. Their automatic quads are equipped with an actual transmission. No belts or clutches to worry about. They actually shift through 3 gears. I think CVT is good, but I'm pretty sure that the Hondamatic 4 wheeler tranny will outlast and outperform any other clutch/belt driven formation, no matter who makes it. I can see CVT for light cars and tractors that move slowly, but for people who want trucks that can pull 11,000 lbs, I'll stick with an Auto. Better yet, give me a manual!
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Chad
1991 Ranger XLT 2.3 5 speed with over 323,000 miles,
1995 F-150 XL 4x4. 234,000+ miles on truck, roughly 15,000 miles on rebuilt 351, E4OD, BW1356 Transfer case, and 8.8 L/S Rear end. Now equipped with rear leaf springs off of a 77 F-250.
yeah i guess. i drive a peterbilt for a living and honestly get tired of shifting. one thing to note, if you ever see a jeep in the auto traders (cj, tj, tj), and if it has an auto, pay attn to how long it lasts. they sell quickly. sometimes i think the media just promotes manuals and make them look popular, but ask around in real life and it seems folks like their auto's. that said, i don't think it matters how effecient a tranny is, they'll just program the p/u to get 15mpg anyway. politics won't allow us to get the mpg that new vehicles are capable of. dad's '53 mainline and it's flathead 3/tree gets every bit the mpg as any p/u today. i've heard p/u's and cars have different allowances on mpg. mabey that's why a new honda civic (non-hybrid) gets in the 40's and a small p/u an't even touch it even though it takes no more power to push it around a city. i'm not trying to sound like a mr-knowitall, but it's just things i've saw
Ford discontinued manuals in the F-150 quite some time ago because they couldn't give them away!
No because the only ones most dealers could get were plain janes. A Manual trans truck didn't sit on lot any longer than auto around here if had some options. . I have 2 dealers say that the had ordered them and Ford didn't come through. And they can't keep F250 manuals in stock mow.
I know the local Dodge dealer has a waiting list for any truck with manaul and they sell them in less than week . And Ford would be same if they would listen.
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Red Neck rule #1 If you drive a truck you should always be looking for trucks to get parts off of. If you can't find part used you aren't looking hard enough.
believe me i've been in auto wreckers lots over the south, and scored tons of stuff over the years. my best score is my beloved '56 f100 i got in washington state, i can't wait to get fixing it someday, cause it teases the crap out of me sitting in the shed and i can't afford to get at it yet, just sit in the thing and dream away. hard when people always ask me if i'm gonna get to it, and i just can't yet. oh well it least it looks good beside grand-dad's 68 fairlane fastback cow-chaser that dad spent some bucks on. looks like a torino now w/o the stripes. can't wait to go to cruise night in BOTH of them.
Would love a manual,diesel,solid front axle and a bigger motor in it. The 5.4 would be to small for me. Something the size of a 460 maybe. The v-10 would be to big in the truck.
On the CVT's giving max torque, I look at my old work truck - Caterpillar 793B. With a 2500 horse V16, pulling a 300 ton average load, it had a 6 speed auto. If the CVT's really delivered all that torque, Cat would be all over them.
CVTs arent that good for fuelmileages because when they shift back for a hill t he motor will get much higher RPM activity, plus on the highway it would be screaming to hold 70 unless it was geared way down, i know my snowmobile and 4wheeler are redlining at high speeeds to maintain enough clutch rotation, the only good mileage on a CVT 4wheeler is slow speeds ,
i wouldnt call the hondamatic a great design either i havent heard much great about them yet
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2003 F-150.... Airaid, edge evo, piaa's, exhaust and just about all the chrome u can buy...
Although I dont know very much about the theory behind them, what about one of those auto/stick transmissions (like tiptronic from porsche)? seems like it'd be the best of both worlds. I could be very wrong on how they work though.
__________________ Steve-AKA herman391
Last edited by herman391 : 06-19-2007 at 03:06 PM.
i know a couple of honda quads w/ autos and i hear the guys aren't too happy with 'm one said the hondamatic simply soaks most of the power out of it. and what would it cost to fix anything when it gets old. dun't matter, i like the above comment on the tiptronic idea. my sister used to have a mid 90's intrepid with the autostick and it was neat. sure love to see that in a pickup
It is good to see the number of people supporting manual transmissions here in this thread. I to am a die hard manual user. It is nice to know I'm not alone.
Right now I'm in the market to replace my 1990 full sized Bronco (which has a manual tranny) with somthing new. The only option with a manual is the Ford F-250. This is after looking at every truck manufacturer (Ford, Dodge, GM, Toyota, Nissan). Even then the manual option is severly restricted (why do power fold side mirrors or heaed seats require an automac trasmssion?)
You would think that one of the companies would see the giant hole in the market (no half ton pickup with manual transmission and 4x4). Really if any of them sold that truck I'd be at the dealer tomarrow. Here is hoping that ford reads this thread and adds the option to the '09 f-150.
As for CVT and semi-automatic transmissions thoes are upgrades from the standard automatic slush box but nothing compaired to a real solid clutch powered manual.
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