If you want to see the manual survive call your representatives in Washington. Ford cannot tune the manual to meet EPA requirements going into 2010 emissions. Right now the 6.4's fuel supply is significantly limited until the motor gets RPMs up - reducing smoke and making the truck drive like a dog. We need to start pushing back on the enviromentalist movement otherwise we'll all be driving 15 year old trucks to avoid the EPA limitations put on new trucks.
The next step for the government will be outlawing vehicle modifications. (See europe's rules) We cannot rely on programmers and chips b/c they could easily be made illegal. The dpf deletes are already illegal - we need to preserve our right to vehicles we want.
Wow some of you just like to live in the past. Let the Standard die in light duty vehicles, its more-or-less lost its place compared to the newer transmissions being built today. And whats the big deal about Automatics? Their future in pick-up trucks is probably going to last another 10 years MAXIMUM. http://www.torotrak.com/ivt There is your future "Automatic". It would already be in use 3 years ago if greedy American drivers didnt constantly nag that the vehicle felt "sluggish" and "slipping". Ask BMW, who invested millions just to have the population say their magnificent technology made them feel like they couldnt accelerate fast enough (in fact, the vehicle can/was accelerating faster than with the normal automatic. Only without the RPM's jumping back and forth and lack of vehicle "lurching" it gave the FEELING of sluggish acceleration) I love how the under 30 category is somehow portrayed as "know-nothings" in some topics. As a fellow under 30 (under 25 for that matter) I will agree and disagree. Of course the older generation will have a strong grasp on technology and values that they grew up with. Do you think your grandfather used to say "Oh kids these days dont know the darndest about steam locomotives, or blacksmithing" Of course he DID! But would that matter to you? NO, I dont need to know about carbs, steam engines, making a spear, building a home in a jungle. Dont be irrational. Gen Y will change the future much faster and become a much more interconnected society/world than has ever been seen before. Could you talk with 20 different people in 20 different countries at one time 20 years ago? Would that be unheard of today? Too end with comedy, dont bash us! We will be running the retirement homes old man! :P
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'05 F-350 6.0L CC Lariat
6" Rancho Lift
ARP studs
Full EGR delete
MBRP Turbo Back
Learning from the best. You Guys!
FlyCanadianGuy, before you start bashing a stick shift, you need to understand what the advantages to them are. I've towed with a torqueshift tranny, watched the PCM control of shift points and rpms both empty and loaded, and frankly I'll keep my 6 speed.
As for us old farts hanging on to outdated technology, those other items you mentioned were created by older generations than yourself. We're still waiting to see what contributions your generation makes aside from being our future diaper changers.
There is a lot to be said for simplicity. Things do not need to be complex to work. There are some folks who still prefer manual transmissions, manual locking hubs, and manual shifting tranfer cases because of the cost factor as well as the cost to repair factor. I would much prefer to own a brand new 97 SD with a 460 in it than a brand new SD with a V-10 in it. Both engines are quite capable of pulling the loads and cruising empty. I never had to pay $400 for a plug change on a 460 like I would on V-10. And I can get the plugs out of a 460 without breaking them off adding to the bill.
I once had a neighbor who did hiring for a trucking outfit in Kansas City. He told me a youngster filled out an application, and as they were talking my neighbor asked if he could drive a standard transmission. Of course, he said he could. Turned out he thought the automatic transmission WAS standard in ALL vehicles.
As for me I no longer need a standard tranny. Don't farm or pull a load or do anything that I need one for these days... but I still own a 4X4.
Come to think of it, I don't need a 4X4 either!
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Love is a merry little elf that dances a jig and then turns on you with a machine gun.
I prefer standard trannys for one simple reason.....
I've never seen a "Standard Transmission Repair Shop" yet I've spent thousands at the local "Automatic Transmission Repair Shop".
I tend to keep my cars & trucks till the wheels fall off. The last auto transmission I had rebuilt was for my Crown Vic and cost $2100.00. I"ve had to replace/rebuild the auto transmission on every auto transmission vehicle I've owned over the years. And yes, I keep up with the maintenance.
I've never had to replace anything on my standard shift vehicles except for clutches and that was only because I was being stupid trying to pull weights I ought not have tried to pull.
That's funny...the only transmissions I have ever had to repair were my manuals...because I drive them like I stole them.
I've had my truck since March of 2002. I towed a lot more when I bought it than I do now...but I live in Houston and I commute in my truck. I learned to drive a on a 5 speed manually shifted DIESEL FORD ESCORT. What a ride. I drove a manual until I was 24 when I bought my truck. I don't consider myself to be old (32), but I believe you should have to do 2 things to get your drivers license...(1)learn to drive a stick and (2)drive with a 20' trailer hanging off the back. I believe those two things contributed greatly to how I learned to drive. When I wasn't driving my manual Volkswagen Beetle I was driving a Chevrolet dually (454 5 speed) towing a 40' gooseneck with a backhoe and who knows what else strapped to it.
I like the manual transmission. It's fun to drive. I wouldn't want one in my 80 mile round trip Houston commute.
I have to agree, I love a stick... but when it came time for me to buy a truck i couldn't find one with a stick. the only one at the time was on 44's and i couldn't talk myself into jumping into the back of that truck everyday.
See...and while i love driving stick from time to time....the only trannies i've ever had to fix were manuals....did two in 90's F-150's, one in a mustang, and one in a chebby....
A well maintained auto should last just as long as a manual.....and the fact that you see more autos die is just simple numbers....there are far more autos on the road than manuals
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2007 Lariat screw - White Sand Tri Coat - chrome package - Black leather captains chairs - sunroof - audiophile - 20" Mark LT wheels - Color Matched Door handles -
2005 XLT scab -
1995 xlt scab - 13 inches of lift - SAS
Needed: 2004-2008 OEM cat back for F-150 supercrew
I've only broken 1 manual tranny (T-5 Mustang). I should have gone with a TKO right away. But I can rebuild a manual tranny myself a lot cheaper than an automatic. And I've broken a lot of automatics over the years. And there is no rush like that of rowing the gears down the 1/4 mile!!! I never was one of those stab and steer guys even though my trucks have been automatics.
It is funny when people talk about it being laziness to not drive a stick transmission. Well, I guess that certainly could be one view. But I bet many of these same people have a remote control for their TV, an electric garage door opener, and many many have someone else mow their lawn. For me, I am looking to buy a new Mustang as a toy, I want a stick transmission, but for my SuperDuty, I prefer my automatic.
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Clayton Parks - Michigan
05 Ford SuperDuty 6.0 PowerStroke 4x4 Toyo Hypertech Magnaflow
57 Ford Ranchero 4x4 390 project
See...and while i love driving stick from time to time....the only trannies i've ever had to fix were manuals....did two in 90's F-150's, one in a mustang, and one in a chebby....
A well maintained auto should last just as long as a manual.....and the fact that you see more autos die is just simple numbers....there are far more autos on the road than manuals
The numbers game is a valid point, but you also have to factor in the number of parts each has. There's a whole lot more pieces inside the auto to break than in a standard.
I've never wiped out clutches and bands or broken a torque converter in a manual tranny before. But I'll own up to some broken blocker rings, synchros, and an input shaft or two. LOL
I get a laugh every time time someone says autos are better because there is no clutch to replace. I always tell them that the better these automatic drivers think they are with a manual, the faster they will burn it out!
When my dad said he was tired of 460s with 5 speeds and got a chevy auto, I told him he would miss them.
He is now after he wrote a $3,000 check for a tranny in that 2004 chevy with on 70,000 miles on it.
i agree with bubba...driving a stick does keep you from getting too relaxed...and the problem i have with automatics is i can never get the power when i want it...its so much more convient to just drop a gear and have the power right when you need it instead of waiting for the computer to decide its time to down shift
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