I think the best thing that they did to improve economy was the locking TC.

 

there is enough love for the 6-speed that it isn't what is keeping them on the lot...

being a white truck, short box, with paddle mirrors, no cruise, AM/FM only radio, conventional headlights, vinyl bench seats etc is why they won't sell...

 

For what it's worth, I have wanted a 6 speed for a long time, finally got it. I love it. Got the 6.0 L PSD too. It all depends on how you drive it. I'm very easy with it. It's got lots of torque so I don't have to shift all the time. But then again I'm not trying to see how fast I can get to the next stop light either, I'm not in a hurry, I get to where I'm going. It's a personal thing for me I just like jamin gears.

 

Yep and one other thing that's particular with myself, but I won't say it. As much as I like to argue and carry on, I don't think I could stand that particular argument tonight, maybe another night.

 

plenty of people are a fan of the 5.4L

personally I'd've taken the 10 over my 5.4, but that's not what was in the truck...maybe I'll swap them one day

 

Twenty years ago, I wanted a clutch in my car and truck, but a powershift in my tractor. Go figure! My '89 F-250 and my '90 F-350 are both 5 speed manuals. I love them. They are neither dangerous to shift nor any more time consuming to drive than my '08 F-350.

Even my wife was surprised when I brought the '08 home with that 5 speed Torqueshift automatic. I love the tow/haul mode on this truck. Driving here in the city, I like not having to shift gears. Down on the farm that doesn't make a whole lot of difference. The manuals are just as easy and functional as is the automatic.

The torqueshift really shines, though, when I'm loaded or towing heavy. No needing to decide when it's time to downshift. No wasting momentum downshifting while going uphill.

Unfortunately, the long and the short of it is that Ford is dropping the manual transmission in the Super-Duty with the 2011 models. There is a place and a personal preference for both transmissions. We can not dictate which is better by making stupid assertions about one or the other.

Oh BTW, my tractors are still all powershifts or hydrostats or they rarely, if ever, roll out of the shed.

 

It is sad to see the manual transmission go away. I'm one of the few who actually prefer the manual transmission, and I had to custom order a 2009 F250 to get it. There were simply NONE on the lots in early 2009.

I believe that if dealers would have stocked a manual transmission truck or two, perhaps Ford would have seen a higher take rate. Lot-Rot is always an issue, but a (small) customer base is there. The trick is knowing your area as a dealer. There's plenty of country boys in my area that'd buy a manual transmission crew-cab short bed 4x4 in a XLT or FX4 trim level.

 

One guy that pulls flat trailers told me he found he was always in the wrong gear and afraid to try to shift, miss a gear and get stuck/hung. I am sure on the open road it does not make a lot of difference. The MH is auto and I do like it. The F700 is a 5 speed and while the stiff knee makes it hard I prefer it as farm truck I plan to keep for many years yet it will see little use. It is nice to be able to "shake" a dump truck when dumping sometimes.

 

I just sayin' they will save you money.

 

Strange how 90% of these posts are on the stick-shift bandwagon but almost everyone in here has a automatic. No wise kickback and drive automatic fans in here?

 

Well if you read the whole thread it seems that most people here did not get a manual because of availability. It looks like most bought used and it's hard enough to find a manual new let alone used. Yeah it stinks that Ford is dropping the manual. But I understand why. It's hard enough to do business in this economy and compromises have to be made. It stunk when Chevy dropped it but it hasn't hurt them much as far as sales go. An now that they are owned by the gov they will be just fine.

All my vehicles (2) are currently manuals and that is what I prefer to drive. They are very fun to drive and I like being in control of my vehicles. Every auto I have had always shifted when they weren't supposed to or they gear hunt. I also always had to worry about heat with the auto. The manual is just fun to drive and I was fortunate to find one used. I have a 2006 Lariat V10 and it's nice having all that luxury with a manual. Best of both worlds.

EXv10, I read the whole thread and you seem to want to start something in here. Just because you prefer to let a computer shift for you, you don't have to take it out on us. Not being facetious, just making an observation. Thanks.

 

2 years later they filed Chapter 11...

coincidence?

 

I don't think so. Not for dropping a manual transmission option. I guess what I should have said is that I see a ton of GM trucks on the road.

That company has been operating high on the hog for a long time. The unions did them in among other things. Plus just some stupid design decisions. With the way they operated it's surprising it hasn't happened before now. It all doesn't matter as I will never own a (new) Government Motors Corporation vehicle ever again. My Dad retired from GM and he can get a killer discount but I won't support the bailout. YMMV.

 

In of itself, that really isn't enough to say that one caused the other. Let me give you an out there, hopefully, no one would believe example:

I flew to Las Vegas, won lots of money, so therefore, when I fly to Las Vegas I'll win lots of money.

That follows the same thing that you are hinting at:

Chevy dropped the manual tranny option, 2 yrs later they filed for Chapter 11, so therefore, Chevy dropping the manual tranny caused them to file for Chapter 11.


Not exactly what I would call concrete, hard-core "evidence", although a lot of people try to use it as such. I see it alot on this forum when they try to show that their tuner on their vehicle caused an issue, which sometimes yes, sometimes no. The problem is that their level of proof doesn't support it enough to definitively say that it did(just like it doesn't here) despite them trying to say that it did.

 

Marketing research and "focus groups" probably led Ford to do this. Get a bunch of people in a room and ask them about driving a stickshift and out of ten people, six would go "AHHHH!!!" and panic, three would shrug their shoulders and one would say "Oh heck yeah!"