Luxury trucks
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
Neither the LT nor the Blackwood sold well. The Lariat, Platinum, King Ranch, Harley Davidson and Limited did, all under the F150 and F250 badges, and they are definitely used as "real trucks" all the time. Heck, the bed of my F250 King Ranch (with heated seats!) has a load in it right now, and that will be emptied tomorrow before I fill it up with firewood.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
Super Duties weigh more and have them. Tractor trailers weigh more and have them.
According to the marketing people I spoke to at Ford its because the take rate on them for the F150 was approaching 1%, with the take rate declining for at least the past two decades. It doesn't make economic sense to produce trucks consumers aren't buying.
According to the marketing people I spoke to at Ford its because the take rate on them for the F150 was approaching 1%, with the take rate declining for at least the past two decades. It doesn't make economic sense to produce trucks consumers aren't buying.
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 1
From: Duluth, Mn.
The marketing people don't tell You that it was a calculated move. They trickled them out in such low numbers that there were none on the lots.
Ask any farmer/rancher. I'd bet over 75% would opt for a manual. But when they went in to buy a truck there were no manuals on the lot. Instead of waiting 6-8 weeks to build one, they bought whatever was available off the lot.
Ask any farmer/rancher. I'd bet over 75% would opt for a manual. But when they went in to buy a truck there were no manuals on the lot. Instead of waiting 6-8 weeks to build one, they bought whatever was available off the lot.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
You have guesses and suposition to go by, not facts. Your 75% number is just made up. I'll trust the feedback from several people in Ford's marketing and engineering about their decisions. They spend millions of dollars studying and researching what truck buyers want, produce it and its why they are the best seller. Maybe they just need to chuck all that out the window and ask your opinion instead? 
It would save them millions.... 
People have been buying more automatics across every type of vehicle with each passing year, and the bigger the vehicle the more common it is to have an automatic. There are plenty of manual Super Duties available, and if they are in such high demand why do the dealershps have a harder time moving them? Just because you're a fan of manuals don't assume the entire market is. The tendency I've seen among many manual tranny buyers on FTE is they don't buy new trucks anyway, often for financial reasons - the manuals are cheaper. Nothing right or wrong with that, just an observation.
It would save them millions.... People have been buying more automatics across every type of vehicle with each passing year, and the bigger the vehicle the more common it is to have an automatic. There are plenty of manual Super Duties available, and if they are in such high demand why do the dealershps have a harder time moving them? Just because you're a fan of manuals don't assume the entire market is. The tendency I've seen among many manual tranny buyers on FTE is they don't buy new trucks anyway, often for financial reasons - the manuals are cheaper. Nothing right or wrong with that, just an observation.
Postmaster
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,511
Likes: 0
From: Marion, VA
My wife can drive a manual great but she won't. My last truck was a manual and that made it my personal struck that nobody else drove.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
Emissions certification is the other reason. F-150's are under 8500lb GWWR so are subject to passenger-car level of certification testing. Each engine-transmission combo, 4x2 and 4x4, needs separate long term tests. This may be less stringent for heavy duty emissions.
Jim
Jim
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 2,585
Likes: 1
From: Duluth, Mn.
It's not so much That I'm a fan of manual, but the thought that a 1/2 ton TRUCK isn't offered with one. How many times have YOU read guys posting that they want one. I've read quite a few.
Again, it's the case of Ford abandoning what got them to where they are. And succumbing to part time truck, commuter use.
They'd rather build trucks with 150 lbs of sound deadening, than a truck that You can throw a wheel barrow in the back without denting the body panels, box rails.
Again, it's the case of Ford abandoning what got them to where they are. And succumbing to part time truck, commuter use.
They'd rather build trucks with 150 lbs of sound deadening, than a truck that You can throw a wheel barrow in the back without denting the body panels, box rails.
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Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
Likes: 0
I like manuals trannies and I buy new, I just had to order my ranger FX4 off road to get a manual. I'm not poor, I even ordered with leather ha ha. However, we are the exception and not the rule. My dealer won't even keep manuals on the lot except for mustangs GT's and a couple of ranger XL's becaue he can't move them. I buy from a small town dealership in farm country where you would think people would want manuals, but no dice. A lot of kids growing up can't even drive a stick anymore. I heard you weren't going to be able to get a manual in a super duty much longer. All is not lost, the 2010 ford fiesta will have a 6 speed manual option and the 2012 4 cylinder based ranger will have the 6 speed option. Of course a lot about the new ranger is just rumors at this point. The new F-150 raptor will be auto only, but with the 6.2 should fly. Manuals in big trucks is just about a thing of the past, but there's still a lot of used ones to be found, there not all in museums yet ha ha.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 5,228
Likes: 5
From: Running Springs CA
There are young people who have never hand cranked a window, much less driven a manual transmission. I could not even find a 4x4 on the lot without power windows, any make or model.
Jim
Jim
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 7,147
Likes: 0
Yeah, the days of just an AM radio, no air and crank windows are gone. When I bought my 01 ranger XL work truck. It came with a 4 cylinder, 5-speed. vinyle seats, roll up windows, no air and just an AM/FM radio. I believe now even the XL's come standard with air. A stripped vehicle is about impossible to find.
Senior User
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 390
Likes: 0
From: Cypress, Texas
I learned how to drive a manual with just three "lessons" from my dad and I'm only 16. I think that everyone should learn how and they should at least keep the option for us to get them. Just my $0.02
Post Fiend
Joined: Jan 1997
Posts: 23,165
Likes: 18
From: Enjoying the real world.
I learned when I was 16 and borrowed my cousin's crappy 3 cylinder Fiat. He asked me if I could drive a stick and I told him yeah. He lived with us at the time (was here from overseas going to university). Luckily he never saw me backing out of the drive way or he would have put a halt to it really fast. By the time I got back I knew how to drive one. 
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