No, it does not matter to me if the automatic is better or not per se.

What matters is that the automatic is not better for me..

With the manual I have more control, less maintenance, it's more fun for me to drive - including in traffic (L is great for that), it costs less to buy, and Ford took the option away from me - that is what matters to me, just like your auto is what matters to you.

 

You are kidding right?

I have a 1970 Coronet R/T.

That car was available in about 12 different paint colors.

Interior color choices included three blues (light, med.. dark) green, red, white, black and some sort of tan.

There were maybe 6 different colors of bumble bee tail stripes.

And about 5 different vinyl top colors.

Things were so specialized that with some cars, there might be only 1 or 2 identical cars made in a given year. A good thing, because some of them were damn ugly.

Odd ball too. I remember looking at a top-of-the-line Chrysler in the mid-60 that was a three speed on the column and radio delete.

So no, my friend. We have not been given more choices over the years. We have been getting less and less options over the years.

 

While it does stink that no manual will be available for those that want it, in any vehicle of any description, the fact is that the sales volumes for manual transmissions are just not there anymore.

Customers have spoken, and it seems that Ford, GM, and Toyota have discovered that the vast majority of people buying new 1/2 ton or larger trucks just don't buy them with a manual tranny anymore. Even Ferrari has discovered this with their new 458 Italia which will not be offered with a manual at all, but instead will only get a 7 speed dual clutch automated paddle shift gear box.

For a manufacturer it is easier and cheaper to offer only one transmission option anyway. The cost of development is reduced, the cost of carrying extra parts for the plants is reduced, tooling costs are reduced, and the overall supply chain is greatly simplified.

Don't fret too much though, modern automatics with manual control features are pretty damn responsive, strong, and convenient. You can shift them yourself when you want to, and when you don't just stick her in "D" and relax. Maybe one of these days some maker will turn out a dual clutch paddle shift unit that can stand up to really high torque applications. Those things are slicker than snot. Full manual control, shifts completed in milliseconds, and no interruption in power between shifts as one clutch is always engaged. Oh and the units also perfectly match revs on downshifts so you sound like a master of heel-toe shifting.

 

Interesting posts there hobo and jschira.

Here's the short of it..

Whatever happened to regular cab XL 2wd manual transmission trucks?

none of the consumers who have moved into the pickup market ever wanted one - because none of them buy their trucks for work anyway..

Ford is every bit as guilty as these new consumers are for deleting the manual option, they've been pushing this product in this direction for awhile now, manual transmission trucks don't sit on most lots for very long - due to the fact that they are rare to come by and get scooped up as soon as they're noticed. If they aren't there, most customers settle.

This is'int to say that if the dealers had gone about stocking manuals in the same quantities as automatics, that they'd clear as fast - maybe, maybe not - probably not, but what it is to say, is that the apparent lack of demand for manuals was made artificially low, and I'd bet that if dealers were getting maybe 25% of trucks with manuals - in all trim levels, that would probably have been just about right for the actual demand there would have been.

How much demand is there for a regular cab 4x2 XL with no options? I'd venture a guess that it's MUCH lower than the actual demand was for manuals in varying trim levels and cab configurations..

Yet we still have the one but can't get the other. These trucks are becoming way overpriced for work uses these days and Ford dosent want to go in a direction which would help keep these trucks affordable to the layman who will buy one every 4-10 years and run in into the ground.

they just don't make em like they used to..

 

If Ford and GM are producing trucks with only auto transmissions Dodge/Fiat will see potential savings there and probably switch.(already did with the 1500)

They may like manual transmissions across the pond but how many 1500, 2500 and 3500 rams are sold in europe and how many of those are equipped with manual transmissions?

The autos Ford is building are stout and can handle lots of power. The only problem with them (the entire truck really) is the pcm programming adds too much lag and hurts performance.

For a lot of years Fords MSRP prices have been lower than comparable Dodge or GM models. The cost increase is not completely the manufacturers fault. The goverment keeps mandating things on vehicles that adds to the cost. Then on top of that theres inflating costs of materials, labor, overhead in general and etc.

 

Negative. My local dealer has six manual transmission trucks on the lot right now and not one of them has been snatched up.....and they've been there for a while now. 4 are diesels, 1 is a 5.4, and 1 is a V10. And they're a mixed bag of regular cab, supercab, and crew cab in different colors. If you want one that badly, come to SW VA and he'll hook you up.

 

Well what happened is that manufacturers realized that for the most part there is just not much demand for 4X2 single cab, long bed trucks with manual transmissions. To make maters worse when such vehicles do find a home they are usually fleet purchases, or loss leaders at the dealership so there is no profit margin in them.

The average truck buyer has changed, not so much in their need for a truck but what they expect from it. Once crew cab models with some nice creature comforts became available the consumer saw the advantage of these offerings right away. Working Joes and Janes could kill two vehicle needs with one solution. No longer did you have to have a truck for work, or towing, hauling, etc, and a family car to travel in so you can take others with you. Now you could have a vehicle that still has a bed to throw crap in, can still tow your work trailer or your RV or boat, and still has 4 wheel drive to go in the snow.... but it will also comfortably seat 5 real adults in the process, and is pleasant to travel in. So the stripped down work truck has been shouldered aside in sales and production importance by the more profitable, more in demand 4 door optioned up truck that 95% of buyers go for these days.

Other than the scarcity of single cabs, another casualty of this trend towards more family friendly trucks has been the manual gearbox. Sometimes your wife might want to drive or need the truck to do something. My wife can't drive a manual to save her life, and I've tried to teach her it usually ends up with me at her. So because of this I bought a truck with an automatic. Now I didn't have a choice because Toyota only offered the 6 speed auto behind the 5.7L V8, but no matter what I would have gotten an auto so she could also drive it. I already have gone through the experience of having a car she can't drive twice already and don't need that kind of aggravation again. I can imagine that I am not the only one with a spouse that will not drive a stick if they have a choice. Manufacturers know this, and they save money as mentioned before not offering a manual anyway.

Even many fleet buyers don't want a manual if an automatic equipped truck is cheap enough. After all who wants to worry about employees that can't figure out a stick? Just give em' all automatics to drive to make your life easier.

 

It's all about money, such decisions are not taken in haste. The consequences are researched and it finally has happened that Ford will now make more money not offering a manual option. The laws of supply and demand have caught up and on the cutting board is the manual transmission in your Super Duty Ford. Will I miss it, no, who cares if there's no manual option. Modern automatics allow the same control through manual gear selection with the option to shift it in to drive and let the transmission do the shifting should I choose. Manuals are becoming a thing of the past, efficiency and user ability is why. Case and point. I work for a municipality that has a Vactor mounted on a 2000 International 2554 chassis with a DT530, for cleaning sewers. Six men need to know how to drive this thing and all of us do within certain capacities. Each of us has our own way of driving it and the 10 speed Eaton Fuller reflects it. That tranny is so far out of whack it's sad. I double clutch, two guys float the gears, two other guys use the clutch to take it out of gear but not in (I don't know how they do it, I can't duplicate it when I drive), and a recently retired gentleman tried to do all of it with no success. So that got shoved in to gear whether it was ready or not with him driving. After thousands of dollars worth of transmission work, the next truck has been spec'ed to have an automatic, push a button to put it in gear and theres little we can do to brake the transmission. An please, don't give me any crap about not knowing how to properly drive a stick either. We all know how to drive it and we all have different ways the transmission works best for us.

 

all i can say on the topic is wach out ford. i have looked at a new 2011 ram heavy duty and it is a masterpeice, ford does not build a superduty that compares and gm never will.. a new 3500 dodge with a cummin's is all the truck and alott more, i only hope the next superduty can out do them and hopefully ford gets a deisal that aint such a peice of ****. the currant deisal and the older 6.0 was a totale p.o.s, and it will take a long time untill i have faith in another ford deisal, from what i heard they are dropping international as there deisal manufacturer so that good....

 

Got any pics of that Cobra swap?

 

check out my thread in the engine swap forum on this site..

 

There are alot of good points here. Most of it boils down to the "follow the dollar" rule which some above me have suggested as well. Also consider the people who are now buying trucks, as mentioned above as well. I agree with the original poster here...a stick screams "I am all that is man!!!" I think there is a direct link between the demasculinization of men in America and the dissapearance of the stick shift in trucks. Ford isnt making them because....well...more pansies and homos are buying trucks. The Hilary Rodem led feminist, socialist, elite-ist are poluting the american man's head and litteraly re-programming our way of thinking. Which is why most everyone on this thread also agreed with the poster who originaly stated that the purchase of a large truck has become more of a status symbol. You really cant buy a truck now-a-days that lets the world know you are a God fearing, gun owning, hunting, beer drinking American man with ***** of steel, and a work ethic of gold, because thats offensive and uncool. Men are now supposed to sip lattes (or however you spell it) drive an eco-friendly truck, count carbs and attend sensativity classes. MOTHERF!&$ THAT! Ill keep my 82 Bronco 4spd on 33's while getting 10mpg and blowing carb smoke all over my neighbors Prius. Before I get off my soap box...do consider these 2 little points...
Manual trans or not:
Ford did not take a big bailout like dodge did this last year AAANNNDDD...
Dodge used their bailout money to close American assembly plants for the Ram and move them to mexico. It is no longer the Dodge Ram, now just the RAM.
Keep your testies gents...youll need them

 

just a little information for you, my F250 was built in mexico.

 

Sure it was, many Fords are, and Canada too. But Ford didnt recently take billions of our tax dollars and close up shop here in the U.S. in turn pissing right in our faces!

 

x2 i agree..

however either if you buy a ford, dodge or gm vehicle thats fine.. i hate when people buy honda's, toyota's, kia's and other **** like that.. i mean wtf it makes no sence, thats why when i see on the tv runaway toyota's with stuck throttles and no brakes like i've been hearing about, i just say good for them. i only hope that the american people lose all hope in toyota and in time they fail as a company.. why is it that nobody whats to remember pearl harbor, they just wanna hand the atackers there money.. i aint thick headed thats just how it is..