wilber1 wrote: Dodge says they will continue building manual trucks as long as there are enough customers to make it profitable. That's the bottom line for all manufacturers.
X2. The reason GM and Ford dropped the manual was because not enough people were buying them. Plain and simple.
It was not some grand conspiracy to force people to use automatics. It was because people were not buying enough of them to make them profitable. They were LOSING money keeping the manual option on the books.
2002 Chevy 3500 DRW 8.1L/Allison
2000 Palomino B1500
...and the reason why I need a DRW to haul a Palomino:
2004 United 7x14 tandem axle enclosed toy trailer
2011 PJ 8x20 7-ton deckover equipment trailer
The current new cars and trucks already get better fuel mileage with the newest 6 speed and 8 speed automatics than any manual shift could. Engine management systems are faster and smarter than we humans, and make better decisions that affect mileage.
The only reason that Auto manufacturers still offer stick shifts is to appease the "performance buffs" who love "rowing thru the gears" and downshifting on corners and hills!
My posts shouldn't be taken for factual data. They are purely fictional, for entertainment purposes and should not be constituted as actually related to scientific, technical, engineering, legal, spiritual or practical advice. Amen.
"The only reason that Auto manufacturers still offer stick shifts is to appease the "performance buffs" who love "rowing thru the gears" and downshifting on corners and hills!"
Maybe...
But, maybe not...
I don't consider my self a "performance buff". I do like shifting gears myself, and I don't mind shifting down on a long hard pull up a hill, but I don't shift down for corners. My truck is a five speed manual, my Rubicon is a 6 speed manual, and one of my sons just bought a 2012 Rubicon with a 6 speed manual.
If I were to buy a NEW truck (never happen), it would HAVE to be a DODGE, so I could get the 6 speed manual tranny.
Anyway, generalizations like that are almost always wrong!
Driving a manual shift vehicle; just one more skill that is dieing out, sadly enough.
But, there IS a positive side to that; manual transmission vehicles are rarely stolen, so they say. The thieves don't know how to drive them!
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
I would think that the automatics have taken over primarily due to ease of use.
I'm not sure if an automatic is more durable than a standard ? Is it a good thing that 3/4 / one ton trucks are pretty well, just offered with automatics...that a standard tranny isn't available as an option, with Fords or GM trucks ?
I wonder ?
What's your opinion ?
Primary above all else is the advantage of the torque converter. Your ancient clutch just can't multiply torque.
None of the big 3 have ever offered an automatic that was truly adequate in strength and durability. Add 50% more HP to any pickup ever made, the transmission will fail, stick or automatic. Today's Allison 1000 is adequate for adding 50% more power to an old 6.5 turbodiesel, but a stock 4L80E wasn't, even if the engine in question was. And it's the same story with manuals. Today's 1-tons really need, but aren't getting, the manual transmissions used in the OTR 18-wheel big-rigs.
A max-effort Allison 1000 will serve 99% of all pickups, but 99% of us wish we were in that 1%. And such a transmission costs $5,000-$10,000, so why bother? But since it can be done, and the results work better than putting the OTR manual behind your 900-HP Cummins 5.9 or whatever, that's what we're stuck with.
'06 GMC C2500HD RCLB gasser 4.10:1, 4L80E, custom camshaft
'84 Trans Am 6.2 diesel, 700R-4, custom Class-3 receiver
'69 F350 dually. GM 6.2 diesel, turbo, 700R-4, NP208 all pending.
I kind of miss those days of shifting manually. Funny thinking about this though. Back then you're "honey bunch" could sit beside you on the "bench" style seat. You could have your arm over her shoulder. You control the clutch, and she'd do the shifting ... of course with every shift came a gentle touch up your leg also ...
Now a days, they're all automatic. Now that we CAN have a free arm to put around our "honey bunch", what do they do? They put bucket-style seats in the front with a console between the seats! You' can't even hold hands comfortable any more!
I think I liked those days of manual transmissions better. MY "honey bunch" still turns me on! and she doesn't even need a key!
DutchmenSport
2005 Chevy Silverado 3500 Dually Duramax 6.6L V8 Turbo
Century Truck Cap Commercial /Toolboxes
Northeast Outfitters Canoe
Manual's are going the way of the dinosaur and IMO it stinks. I am on my first truck with an automatic and try as I might, I can't get myself to like the thing.
The "automatics" available in the class 8 trucks are actually a manual gearbox. But they do not have a clutch pedal. They use a computer controlled manual clutch.
The advantages include not having to worry about the transmission fluid overheating like with the usual automatic transmission. They have more gears available, one common model from Meritor has 12 speeds. This is the transmission that you find in the truck conversion motorhomes from brands like Renegade or Haulmark.
Another interesting thing is that the computer controlling the transmission has a load sensing feature. The transmission does not have to shift into every gear. It picks the gear based on the load. It may skip a gear or two or more if the load is light. For example, if you are starting out on a level spot or a slightly downhill spot the transmission might use 3rd or 4th gear to start moving. And then use two gear splits.
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