I perfer an automatic in the city and the manual in the mountains.

Jake

 

wow before that post i forgot about 3 on the tree and such anyone prefer a colum shift to floor?

 

the automatic allows people to talk on the cell phone, and put on makeup at the same time while driving in traffic. i find it is much easier to cause other people to crash around you while you get away if you don't have to shift!!

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 01-Apr-01 AT 03:30 PM (EST)[/font][p]AUTO. for the sole reason that having to DRIVE your car, and driving your car are two differnet things. Tell me, would you rather sit in stop-and-go traffic for 5 miles with a manual or auto? How about tow ratings? you can tow more on a automatic truck, right? Sometimes 3000Lbs more(?). That's what I remember from looking at the specs on a new ford. As far as the shifting...I dunno If you've taken enough time to acctually learn how to control an auto if you think they're uncontrolable. I can work my AOD and make it do what I want it to do, in what gear I want it to do it in. I've taken the time to learn it so that when I need to I can control the power, but it can handle all the stuff that doesn't take thinkin. Also, I doubt very many people can SHIFT faster than an automatic, especially one with any modification. can you shift in a few hundredths of a second(try an f1 tranny...shifts go to thousandths of a second.)? I doubt the average stick handler could run an equivalent truck with a shiftkit-ed auto merely on the reason that they'd lose power on those relativley long shifts they take. What's the use of the extra few (single digit, on the low side) rear-wheel hp numbers if you can't use em in that little instance where your automatic competitor lost power for a moment so small it wasn't even noticeable? starting to wonder now, aren't you?

and after all that, I will say that manuals do kick @*$ when you gotta let it rip in a high hp car on some windy roads. And in they're defense they don't have to worry about damaging heat or fluid changes so often. I still vote auto...or tiptronic...porsche has got something there. any of those "auto-manual" type trannys seem to have the right idea...

P.S.: no auto is Vipers or Shelbys? I'll give you that, but what about all those drag cars running TH400s or c-6s? you don't see drag cars running sticks, do you?

P.P.S.: Regarding the comment made by Nathan about "getting ruber in 2nd and 3rd...I had a Camaro (I know it's a chevy, that's why I sold it...) that had just a 305 with a needed-to-be-tuned q-jet and a th700r4, and that would get rubber in 2nd (3rd too if the pavement was new.) the only reason you get rubber is cuz you can shock the drivetrain on the sticks in more than just the first gear. Rev my auto in park, drop it into drive, and watch the Limited slip reach its limit while both tires break loose...it's all show...

1989 F-150 : 5.0, shorty headers, Flowmaster cat-back, K&N filtercharger intake, March pulleys, "Multi-brand" performance ignition, soon to be Mass-Air...doesn't know she's not a Mustang

 

[font size="1" color="#FF0000"]LAST EDITED ON 01-Apr-01 AT 09:22 PM (EST)[/font][p]Your points about DRIVE vs driving the car are well taken. However I do know that I feel like I am Driving the car when I'm shifting it. I would also point out that maybe you are paying more attention to your driving with a stick. On a bike you stay in your powerband or close to it. If there is a emergency you can respond to it (although yes you may have to put the cell phone down in your truck).

5 miles of stop and go with a clutch? Not bad. I can handle it. Everyday? Sounds like it would be hard on the clutch.

Yes I agree that you can control your truck with the E40D, or the C6, etc, I know I do mine all the time. Yet some part of me yearns for the chance to stir my 5.4 with a stick.

The rest of your points I don't disgree with. I would not want to drive a race car as brutally fast as John Force's or Juan Montoya with a stick. I'm fast but not that fast.

I still stand by the statement that a stick is the only way to go off road. I've been in too many vehicles that were stuck with the wheels not even spinning and the silly thing was trying to shift into 3rd.

Towing, hands down a auto.

Auto's are pretty darn good. But nothing in my book beats being strapped in while controlling the car with a stick.

Call it Soul.

Again, each serve a purpose. Find what makes you happy and does the job.

Besides car thiefs are having a harder time stealing sticks because they don't know how to DRIVE them.

98 F250LD 4X4

 

So you might be right about loosing some time while shifting, but 1/100th of a second is not really something to worry about. What about Nascar? Not very many autos there. I might be mistaken, but a automatic cant handle as much HP/torque as a manual without being unreasonably expensive. I'm also not sure, but if I'm not mistaken automatics are notorious for slipping clutches. So thinking about price, and durability I would have to like a manual better. There is not much a skilled manual driver can do that an automatic cant, except shifitng gears at a very high speed. I'll admit there are some days I wouldn't mind an auto, but shifitng is almost like a second nature to me to a point I barely look at the RPM gauge but instead just listen to the engine noise(not a good idea but it happens on rare occasions). Automatics are nice, but as far as I'm concerened, they are far from superior to manuals. Also hotrodmex not because I dought what you say about the towing differences, but where did you find those nubmers? I couldn't find them on the Ford sight when I looked, can you post a link?

Logan

 

I got that out of a catalog at the ford dealer here in poway. I can stop by there later to day and get my hands on a brochure.

I got no problem with sticks. What I have a problem with is someone coming along and saying that one is vastly superior to the other, stick or auto. You can't really say that. It's like saying all new trucks 4X4s should have straight axle front ends (whole other discusion, don't get started on that one here...). There are a lot of factors that come into play when someone needs 4-wheel drive. not everyone crawls over rocks, right? the same with anything.

Logan...Autos can't handle the hp/torque without being more expensive? look in your summit catalog (I know everybody has one) and look at the prices. a B&M street/strip AOD tranny runs $1480 (handling round 450 hp(?) like the TCI one does) .The richmond gear super t-10 FOUR-speed: $1319. Five speed: $1899. comparing apples to apples (High perf to high perf) it seems they're similar in price. the Manual tranny cost also doesn't include the bellhousing or clutch disc/presureplate assembly. An auto with worn out bands and clutches will slip, but so will a worn out manual clutch, right?

ultramagdan...since I'm getting an auto Bronco in the near future, I'm listening to your point about the blindness of an auto:"I've been in too many vehicles that were stuck with the wheels not even spinning and the silly thing was trying to shift into 3rd." don't all of the perf tranny manufacturers make auto/manual kits or even valve bodies? The kind that run in auto only in the top gear, but hold every other to any RPM. how would that be different than a stick (except for the fact that nodoby would think it was cool like a stick)? isn't the non-lockup at lower RPM a plus?


1989 F-150 : 5.0, shorty headers, Flowmaster cat-back, K&N filtercharger intake, March pulleys, "Multi-brand" performance ignition, soon to be Mass-Air...doesn't know she's not a Mustang

 

hotrodmex: Let me clarify, I work for the Gov. As such we don't always get the V8's. So we get a lot of 1/2 tons with a V6 or now, (very rare) a inline 6. Those engines with a auto just cannot cut it. I've driven chevies, dodges and Ford's with the small engines. No ? the Ford did better but when the rear axle was buried in mud they would shift into 2nd and if you waited long enough it might get 3rd with full throttle (dodges were real bad about this). Very frustrating. Those same engines with a stick - you could get the rpm's to the tires and start moving mud and the truck. I can tell a difference between the auto and stick in heavy mud. The auto wants to load up the engine and tranny. In my opinion this is hard on a lot of components. But when you have a stick going through the slop you can keep your rpm's high enough that you are not loading the engine or dumping a lot of heat into your tranny.

Working for the Gov does not give one the option of installing a shift kit or other performance mod. The Gov buys whatever is cheap and plentiful so we get auto's now.

With a V8, a auto can work very well. With a small engine I plead for a stick.


98 F250LD 4X4

 

Two words: MORE CONTROL

You can punch the throttle in a given gear in the mud without doing 360's too!

Matt
1978 F250 Ranger 4x4 - 351M

 

What it really boils down to gentlemen, is that automatic transmissions are for sissies. Says so right in the Motors Manual

If your knuckles ain't bleeding you did something wrong.

'72 F-250 "Hi-Boy" 4x4, Dana 60/HD44, FE390 @ 400hp(purt near!), 4-speed, custom suspension w 4" lift, mud on black.

 

The manual tranny puts you into a closer association with the machine: you become part of the machine in a way that just dosen't happen with an automatic. Also, have had a couple three-on-the-trees--they're great!

 

Before I modified my truck it had a 300, three on the tree with 2.47 rear axle. The truck could not pull much, but it sure did move and I loved that three on the tree. The only reason I got rid of it was that I turned the truck into a one ton four by four with a 351w, c-6. For lack of power and controll over the truck. I am now contemplating installing a 460 with a 4spd, even though it has a plow, tows a car trailer and off-roads.

The first vehicle I drove was 1976 f-150 360 4spd. Since then I have been hooked. Now I just wish they would have put a manual in my 1995 T-Bird 4.6L.

 

I must say that stop and go traffic for 5 miles has never been a problem where I live. Generally I cruise into school with about 4 lights over 6 miles. Highway driving: Nothing like picking the gear you want when you want it. Offroad: Grade braking baby, that and when you need to get a good run at a hill, you can keep it in gear so you don't lose power. I don't mind the manual at all. I also don't mind auto's, I just don't see any reason why I should get one.

Daywalker
92' F-250 351 4x4 xlt 4.10 5spd supercab longbed

Sound System: Stock Stereo, RockfordFosgate 800 watt amp, Vega 18" sub (400 watt rms), one Cerwin-Vega LS-12 3 way floor speaker with the Vega sub removed (because I blew it) and a RockfordFosgate 12" sub (500 watt rms) in its place. And one Boise floor speaker with a 75 watt power capacity (you know it ain’t gonna last).

Performance Mods: K&N Air Filter.

Cosmetic Mods: Black Grill Guard, 5% window tint, bug guard, bed liner.

http://albums.photopoint.com/j/View?u=1426655&a=10683799&p=36629681&Sequence=0&re s=high

 

Manual all the way. I have a 4 sp in my truck and absolutely love it. I've driven my fair share of autos and manuals and have always preferred the stick in any situation. A manual requires you to actively drive your vehicle where as an auto is just plain boring. The manual also has a huge advantage in compression braking. I've compression braked down hills that had another guy I know sliding everywhere because his auto equipted blazer had him on the brakes hard. I also enjoy a wonerful 6.68:1 1st gear in my stick while a 3:1 is considered good in an auto. I can idle over most anything where torque converter slippage will require throttle to get through. I also like the ability to name my shift points where an auto will sometimes "fight" you cause it doesn't want to shift the same time you do. This is great for short shifting and using the low end torque of my big block. This greatly helps w/ gas milage. Manuals are just simple strong and reliable, where as autos are complicated, expensive, and generate alot of heat that kills reliability.

"Like a Rock"; on the sides of roads everywhere.

 

I just killed a auto in my bronco II wasnt even driving it hard havent even had it a week. My 77 manual tranny hasent ever given me a problem ever so im for manuals now the autos are ok for city driving but if you loose a gear atleast with a manual if you blow a gear out you can skip that gear unlike a auto.

Curtis
77_F150_4x4 aka
"The BeAsT"
85 Bronco II aka
"Baby Beast"