Sounds to me like your confusing emissions with gas mileage. Doesn't matter which trans you have if drive it like you stole it mpg will go in the toilet. If my truck had a 6spd in it I'm willing to bet my mpg would be better. Problem is with autos (especially with the stock tune) the TQ slips way too much and takes to long too lock up. Until it locks up rpms are higher and fuel mileage can suffer. Not to mention when you get off the throttle and back on the TQ unlocks and takes a bit before it locks up again. In most cases vehicles with manual transmissions have less drive train loss and put more power to the ground.

 

Thanks for the information PowerStrokeHD

 

last i heard chevy was making their silverado HD's with a 5-speed manual...

...only problem is its a mexico-only deal.

i really dont want to be driving a mexican chevy

 

I'm with you... and hopefully about the old truck part and not dying early. I'm been wanting a SD the last few years I think 09 will be the year to finally get one. Problem is I got a house on the market that aint selling... paying 2 mortgages... and well basically just my core bills each month exceed my income so you can see where this is going.

Hopefully I can unload the house soon... my plan is to order an 09 in spring when hopefully the rebates are high. And I plan to run the truck untill it dies... hopefully it will give me 20 years. I dont know if that is wishfull thinking, but my 99 150 has given me 10 years w/o any unscheduled maintanence other than an idler pully making noise (i forget exactly, something like a $20 fix i think) and its got the 4.2 which doesnt have the greates track record either. I'm hoping an 09 SD with a 5.4 will be at least as reliable. the 5.4's been out a while, proven performance, and I hope the 6 speeds and manual 4x4 parts will be reliable as well. I'll take my time over the years upgrading it one part at a time. I wouldnt mind buying used back to '05 (I like the 05-07 exterior looks the best, but the interior on the 08-09 much better) but it has been pretty hard to come by a 6 speed used after 05.

In the family (and friends) there are probably 6 SD's in the 00-03 range and every one of them is a stick. Even the 150's are all sticks too, I think maybe out of a dozen trucks between friends and family that work on the farms maybe 2 trucks are autos.

 

Does this mean all the 4x4s will still have the manual available in 2010? I'd expect to see the new diesel in the 2010.5 models that get built after Jan. 1.

 

The sad part of all this is the government is making us trade fuel economy for emissions (as always... the eternal trade off) but when is somebody in washington gonna realize that something has to give in order to break our "dependance on foreign oil" and that something is emmissions. Blah! this pisses me off to no end

there are other engineers on here, yall should understand

 

I have been working on diesel engine development for 8 years. The EPA is out of control and has been for some time.

 

what!!!!!!??????? no fx4 trim, what is wrong with people, noooooooooooooooooo

 

Not really. To my understanding you will be able to get the 6.4L w/ manual in a regular cab, super cab or crew cab but only in XL or XLT trim. The gas motors w/ manual will only be offered in regular cab in XL or XLT trim. 4X4 only regardless of motor...


The Jan 1 date is likely, but they will more then likely be 2011 model year...

 

Hopefully you can unload the house sooner rather then later. Based on the current schedule, the last day of order for the '09 model year is 03/20/09...

 

Yeah I know its cutting it close... probably not going to happen. Might either have to go cross country to find a dealer with what I want or find one used.

 

So, a lot on transmissions, but how about the gas engines. Will the V10 stick around or is the 6.2 en route for 2010?

 

No change in engine choices for 2010. 5.4L and 6.8L gas or 6.4L diesel. 6.2L could be coming, but unlikely before the 2011 model year at the earliest...

 

I wonder if truck mfgs, engine mfgs, engineers, and truck buyers could unite against the EPA? They are reducing the fuel economy in diesels when it should be increasing with new technology. The effect of changing emissions requirements every 2-3 years is drastically increasing the price of a diesel engine and reducing the reliability of new trucks. Plus, Americans cannot import or build vehicles we want such as diesel light duty trucks.

I am in favor of some kind of class action against the EPA. They have too much power and are enacting laws that are unnecessary.

 

Agree in full!