That's a good point, but if people really demanded them the dealers would stock them. If a dealer thinks he's losing sales by not having them they would be sitting on the lots.

 

The real reason that dealers no longer stock them is what any marketing firm will tell you. Women make purchasing decisions more then men do. It is simple marketing. If I take my wife with me to the car dealer, she will want an automatic. I still think there is a need for a manual tranny but the decision makers are not the end users a lot of the time.

Its all about what will sell and who the buyers are.

 

That's not true around here. There were two brand new 6-speeds when I was test driving 08's locally... one each 250 and 350, both extendend cab SRW and white. I still have no idea how I found one in Grey

 

My dealer sells more Ford Trucks than any other dealer in Washington and they have been the top F Series dealer in the United States for several years. They told me flat out that they no longer get vehicles that have manuals unless a customer special orders it. Your dealer must have ordered it that way.

 

Somebody could have special ordered them and then later backed out of the deal. That's how I got the 5.9 I had with a stick. The guy that ordered backed out for whatever reason.

 

If I didn't plow snow, 6 spd. all the way.

 

My sentiments exactly. Took the words right outta my keyboard.

 

I drove stick shift trucks for over 20 years and now I love my auto F350. I will never buy a stick shift. My truck is set up just right for long hauls and just down the street. I like my Auto trans and my 6.0 diesel.

 

I voted "I prefer automatics, but understand the need for manual and hate to see them go."

I've driven a stick almost all my life, but in traffic, or very low traction situations, a stick is just a pain in the rear

 

that is an opinion, correct ?

And, actually, would be a difficult statement to quantify...

UNLESS, your intent was to mean the auto pulls better

 

If you were to be talking about the automatics that were behind the 7.3 and the 6.9 and earlier then I would agree with you, however, when the truck is stock and you are pulling within the spec limitations of the vehicle that you have, this auto performs exceptionally well. While there are some components that are in all trannys, there have been additional gears or actually modified parts(locking TC) that weren't in stock form in the older trannys beyond the two that I mentioned. Now you can add those to the older trannys, but they wouldn't be in stock form anymore, they would be modified trannys.

Now if you start stressing the auto by adding parts that increase hp/tq and heat as well, it makes it hard for the tranny to keep up and thus you well have failure and that can happen with a stock manual as well(my farrier blew out his manual when just a chip on an 06 5.9 and he has only driven manuals and I didn't see anything wrong with his handling of the tranny when I would ride with him) when you start adding go fast parts. I say this just incase people bring in the re-build kit in my siggy again. In fact, only the 1st 3k miles of my trucks life it wasn't modified engine wise in some fashion, so given that I may have a different outlook, but there are too many people that praise it that are still stock.

With economies of scale going in favor of the auto, there will be a time that the manual is no longer needed beyond someone just arbitrarily saying no more manuals now. Are we at that point, some ways yes, some ways no, average it all out and it really boils down to opinion if we are or aren't at that point, so I doubt it. But it will get there based solely on economies of scale it will get there.

 

My next truck will be a manual...if Ford does not offer them, then it is a NEW Dodge!...no regrets at ALL

 

I understand people don't like to have choices rescinded, but its a matter of practicality for the manufacturers.
1) It is my understanding that EVERY drivetrain/body style have to undergo US EPA certifcation and testing. Eliminating the manual eliminates the costs for that (consider that the manual would have to be certified over 3 engine options and 6 or more body styles). That was one of the killers of the GM diesel in their Tahoe/Yukon line.
2) Its also a matter of what sells. They have to buy/manufacture/suppoprt and provide spares parts for all this "stuff". Its much more expensive and times are tough.
I like to drive a manual except when it becomes a chore. My 'vette is fun, but I don't haul or plow snow with it. The automatic is HANDS DOWN better for that type of work, especially plowing parking lots and driveways where there is constant shifting. The auto is easier on the driveline as well, absorbing the shocks of frequent reversals and starts and stops.
Just my opinions so so keep the screaming at me to a managable level?

 

Well, at least Dodge has that going for them. If the company survives at all.

If you happen to be the last Dodge customer, please turn out the lights on your way out.

Ford and FTE will be here to welcome you back.

 

The auto actually puts more strain on the driveline (U-Joints, and Pinion) unless you're a "the clutch is either on or off" type person. This is true ESPECIALLY in constant F-R situations. When you drop from R to D, the transmission reverses output power and is free to move until the slack is out of the line. On a manual, the slack comes at least halfway out of the line when you disengage the clutch, then as you feather the clutch back out (that's right, you don't even have to brake first) the remaining slack is eased out as the driveline reverses rotation...

Automatics are 100% inefficent when holding the brake.
Manuals are disconnected.