Whatever happened to the plain jane??

[FTE Ken]

Originally Posted by DIRTY289

Except that Ford wants to sell vehicles and people want automatics.

Wait a minute.... you said earlier Ford doesn't sell them because of warranty issues. Now you're saying its because people want automatics? Well, that was exactly my point.... it has nothing to do with warranty and everything to do with demand.

Ah, but you're not comparing apples to apples.

Please explain as I thought that I was.

Here's what I mean...

Basing the position that a 6 speed from another truck would do the same job as an automatic doesn't address the fundamental principle that an automatic actually tows more per any gear ratio. Lots of manuals will do the job, but that doesn't mean an automatic isn't up to the task, or more suited for it. The one place manuals shine is where there are extreme weights which increase heat --- typically not a problem with pickups. Its certainly an issue with big-rigs, but in those cases its the number of gears which helps the most.

Let's take your analogy to the next step, what if we put a 6 speed manual up against a 6 speed automatic? The automatic will tow more.

Bottom line Ken, please explain why you think that if 2 trucks are built for towing, but one has an auto and the other a manual, why you think that the auto equipped truck can pull more weight.

Automatics multiply torque. Its why racers swap out higher stall converters. It gives way more power on the bottom end that way (but high stall impacts mileage which is why you don't see them that way from the factory). An automatic allows the transmission to output more torque at a given speed than a manual is capable of.

[DIRTY289]

Actually I said that Ford underrates the towing capabilities of manual equipped trucks because of warranty issues.
I don't know why Ford won't build V8/ manual F150's. Again that's how this thread started.

I suppose the best that we can do is agree to disagree.

Either that or e-mail me if you're ever in the Toronto area and we can continue this over a beer.

Cheers... Bruce

[TruckMgr]

I am a truck Manager that specializes in Commercial Trucks in the Philly region. I deal with business who purchase XL's all the time. The deal is, that any Ford dealer anywhere in the country, has the ability to trade with or swap inventory with any other dealer in the country. So even if the dealer you were at, didnt have the truck you wanted in stock, they could get it from one that does somewhere else and ship it in. Not alot of dealers will stock Man. Trans. because the market has gone down for them . The gas mileage difference is 1 mpg from the v6 to the 4.6L v8 on the highway. Also the 4.6L v8 only has 46 more hp and 34 lbs or tourqe than the 4.2L v6. that is easily made up with aftermarkets.

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