I would have bought a manual if they offered it. But it was only with the V6 which is just the dumbest thing in my opinion. I think that only 1% of the sales are manual because only that 1% will accept the little V6.
__________________ Matt | 2004.5 F150 STX | 2007 Ford Fusion SEL | Michigan Chapter member
We have a local dealer that gets a boat load of f-150 XL's in stock every year. What they did was make up there own model they call a "Lakes Edition". It's essentially a stock reg cab short/long box that they've changed the wheels, grille, add running boards and added a couple "LE" decals. They sell a crap load of them every year and give the customer a little bit more for their money than the crappy wheels and grille of a stock XL.
As mentioned earlier. The XL market isn't exactly a kick the tires, take a test drive sort of vehicle. Most people that buy them know what they are getting so they handle the inventory issue with dealer trades.
As for the stick shifts, dealers don't keep them on the lot, are usually just interested in selling a vehicle today not order one for later, and most consumers don't have the patience or ability to wait the 6-8 weeks to get a truck built to their specs. Ford won't keep them on the lot, but are surprised they don't sell many manual trannys. Personally I think this attitude has helped Dodge sell more trucks. If you want a new standard today, it's likely going to have to be a Dodge unless you order it and wait.
__________________
Chris
2002 F350 6-speed 444 CID. XLT, Heated Seat, 270,000 & counting. 6637 w/ Pete's armor. Cold air set up for 6637
“Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” Will Rogers
I think ford is missing the boat here and could pick up the same buyers that put them where they are today for a heck of lot less money to us.
Sad but true, Ford has forsaken those who put them where there are. Also sad but my next truck will be a Dodge. The old ones(Ford) that got me involved with the Blue Oval were dang tough but the new ones leave alot to be desired. At least Dodge still offers a "work truck" (their words not mine) The trany issue put me off of Dodge for a while but now that it has been overcomed and becuase Ford is more woried about what soccer moms want then people making a living has influenced this decision. I know there will be alot of people who will flame me for saying this but the truth hurts. And until someone can show me a 1/2 ton Ford with a V8 and a manual I will continue to buy pre-97 Ford and should the plans to buy a new (as in less then 2 years old) truck come to be, it will be a Dodge.
boots6868
You are not in it alone the dealers around these parts all want to tell me what I need. I have said it before on this site and still think this way. “I still think there is a market for light trucks for the job site and wish they would stop trying to sell me a car with a truck bed on the back." I am not saying I do not want a loaded F150 option heck I have that at home for the weekends just that I still need work trucks for the job site.
I had to go out to farm country to find a dealership that more or less specializes in these XL work trucks because of the high concentration of service businesses in the Hamptons and the Farms out in Eastern Long Island, NY that was a good place to buy from- they were very knowledgeable about them in general. Most F-150's you see are toys, the pick-up for better or worse has grown into a multi-use vehicle, and this website confirms that fact in my opinion.
What's the facination with manuals anyway? They have terrible payload and towing capabilities no matter if you want a Dodge, Chevy or good ol'Ford. Maybe the problem is that there are no longer any good manual transmissions ? I dont know not my field, maybe someone can comment on that?
Last edited by Catboat Blue : 01-03-2008 at 11:24 PM.
Reason: forgot something
What's the facination with manuals anyway? They have terrible payload and towing capabilities no matter if you want a Dodge, Chevy or good ol'Ford. Maybe the problem is that there are no longer any good manual transmissions ? I dont know not my field, maybe someone can comment on that?
As a general rule this is incorrect. The new autos have come a long way but for the most part manuals are better at towing for one main reason. HEAT As mentioned the improvements made with trany coolers and better engineering have helped but they are not yet to the point that I would trust my life to them In another 5 years at the current rate of progress, maybe, I'll have to see when we get to that point. I have to add the easier starting with a load for autos is for the most part not knowing how to drive. My brother managed 200K severly overloaded miles and 7 years on one clutch. I logged many hours behind a clutch. Both automotive and other wise. Some people I've seen let of the clutch and forget to hit the gas. Then wonder why it stalls. It's all in how you drive.
A truck traditionaly has been designed with payload and tow the primary concern. Some where along the line the changed to operator comfort at the cost of effiency for it original goal. This exaplains why the MSRP for a fully loaded GM 1500 is $5K more then for a fully loaded GM 2500, despite the fact that the 2500 has higher payload and tow.
Not related to the above quote but those options are nice when there new but when they get old they don't work so well. Of course the life expectancy Of new vehicle has decreased so much in recent years.
The public oppinion of new trucks has not been good lately. Which is why around here the price for a 87-91 F-Series 4X4 went from a couple hundred bucks to not being able to touch a good one for under $1000. This just in the last five years
the plain janes last too long, little to no electrical components to break, less moving parts. Manual trannys when driven correctly will last forever. My 87 150 w/ the 300 I6 and four speed manual has 500k on it and the biggest issues it faces is worn out seat and and fuel gauge no longer works. But my 05 is a great truck and I will have to see if it will live up to its predecessor in several years, only at 50k right now
Hey Old Rust Bucket. If "As a general rule this is incorrect." Then why in the specs do you see the payload and towing jump several thousand pounds when only adding a automatic transmission to the vehcile. My Godfather was shocked to learn some years ago that his Cherokee could only tow 2,000 lbs or something like that but if he had gotten only an automatic trans he would jump up to 5,000 (roughing the numbers). Same when I was looking at the 2007 Ford F-150's the manual tranny was pitfully weak at doing any payload compared to the automatics. Just curious about this since I love manual trans as well used to drive them all the time. Does anyone know why they are not rated as well? Seems to be across the board Chevys ,Ford and the Dark side-Dodge?
As a general rule this is incorrect. The new autos have come a long way but for the most part manuals are better at towing for one main reason. HEAT
That is not the issue is used to be and hasn't been with the application of locking torque converters.
Quote:
I have to add the easier starting with a load for autos is for the most part not knowing how to drive.
Incorrect. Torque converters multiply torque, giving more power from the line. Manual transmissions have to solve that problem with a granny gear.
Quote:
My brother managed 200K severely overloaded miles and 7 years on one clutch.
I see plenty of automatic transmissions last 200K.
Quote:
A truck traditionally has been designed with payload and tow the primary concern. Some where along the line the changed to operator comfort at the cost of effiency for it original goal.
Additional comfort has been added to every model change since the 1948 F1. Its called ergonomics and its part of material sciences progress.
Quote:
This exaplains why the MSRP for a fully loaded GM 1500 is $5K more then for a fully loaded GM 2500, despite the fact that the 2500 has higher payload and tow.
Do you have data to back up this up?
Quote:
Not related to the above quote but those options are nice when there new but when they get old they don't work so well. Of course the life expectancy Of new vehicle has decreased so much in recent years.
2005 represented the lowest year since 1949 in vehicle scrappage. The median age of US vehicles has also increased across all major vehicle categories.
In 1975 the medium age of a pickup truck was 7 years. In 1980 it was about 7.1. In 1990 it was just under 8. Its currently at 8.5, despite a larger number of new trucks being sold per year than in 1975. More new vehicles tends to lower the median age, but the increase in longevity is resulting in the opposite trend: more longevity.
Quote:
The public oppinion of new trucks has not been good lately. Which is why around here the price for a 87-91 F-Series 4X4 went from a couple hundred bucks to not being able to touch a good one for under $1000. This just in the last five years
This is due to one thing, and one thing only: fuel prices. There is statistical data showing a direct correlation. People cannot justify buying newer trucks because of fuel prices. So, they stick with what they have, creating more pricing competition for older vehicles. Traditionally, what has been bad for the new vehicle market is good for the used vehicle market, and visa-versa.
__________________
-Ken
Look, I'm gonna have to ask you to go ahead, just come back another time. I got a meeting with the Bob's in a couple minutes.
Well it certainly appears to me that Ford is losing customers because they won't offer us a stripped down work truck.
Now I'm not criticizing anybody that wants a really nice truck with air, leather, chrome, etc. I mean it's your money and you should be able to buy what makes you happy.
However, why can't I?
The argument that a person wanting a manual will settle for an auto is false.
I bought my truck 1 year old.
The reason is I didn't want to pay for junk that I didn't want. Might as well let somebody else take the hit on depreciation.
However had I'd been able to order exactly what I wanted, then maybe I would have.
And having me buy a used Ford doesn't actually help Ford sell vehicles.
Well it certainly appears to me that Ford is losing customers because they won't offer us a stripped down work truck.
Now I'm not criticizing anybody that wants a really nice truck with air, leather, chrome, etc. I mean it's your money and you should be able to buy what makes you happy.
However, why can't I?
The argument that a person wanting a manual will settle for an auto is false.
I bought my truck 1 year old.
The reason is I didn't want to pay for junk that I didn't want. Might as well let somebody else take the hit on depreciation.
However had I'd been able to order exactly what I wanted, then maybe I would have.
And having me buy a used Ford doesn't actually help Ford sell vehicles.
Also, FYI- I was told by a Ford exec. that the reason that trucks with manual trannys have a lower tow rating is solely because Ford doesn't want to replace clutches under warranty for people that don't really know how to drive a stick.
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