Gas mileage be damned...who WANTS a manual with autos being better than ever tech wise, rated to tow MORE with an auto than manuals AND who wants to WORK that much while driving the thing. I say autos for everyone! If you take care of them they will last forever. Gears & clutches in mannys will wear out. Auto trans all the way!!

 

Here is my take on this…..

I think that Ford has determined that the cost to maintain the low end truck, or any truck for that matter, is worth it in the long run. My first ever truck I ordered was an 86 F150 reg cab 4x4 with the 302 V8 and a 4 speed (with granny gear). Loved that truck. As I recall, you could even order it with the “3 on the tree” shifter.

In any case, I think those days are gone (for now, at least). I feel it comes down to economy of scale. Not that much demand for these types of trannys with the thousands of trucks they sell. Please the masses, not the few. I am not agreeing with that, just stating what I feel is the case here.

I think their logic (and I am giving them the benefit of the doubt that they are using logic) is that if you are a serious hauler, you will go up to the F250HD. There you can get a stick on every engine type. You notice that the F250 (non HD) model has vanished as well. I expect as time goes on, you will have less and less choices.

Then, years down the road, it will all come back again. It goes in cycles.

Just my 2 cents worth (which is probably only worth 0.489 cents today)

 

They thought that in this particular vehicle, manual transmissions suck.

And they're right.

 

I agree. I use to do work where we offered many different models of the same thing. What you can run into is guessing what will be the HOT seller. It goes in cycles as well. At one time we had 200 of one model on hand and guess what...NO ONE wanted that particular model. You run the risk and it does happen where you have models that no one wants. You loose sales or discount what models you DO have and lose money. If you offer too many differences you will always NOT have something someone wants.

IF Ford is narrowing the gap on the tranny situation I say its probably a smart move on their part AND it helps the consumer make up his mind without having 15 different model options to decide on. I think it is good business.

 

The Cadillac CTS-V has always had a manual. Even when they were first introduced in the US, they had a manual. Even the US 2009 CTS-V is a stick-shift (TR-6060 manual). Come to think of it, I don't think they were ever available with an automatic. The base CTS is automatic, though, and not available with a stick. But the link you posted was the CTS-V, so I just wanted to clarify that.

 

I don't need a stick shift to assert my manhood. I am totally comfortable driving my auto trans and waving with my other hand.

 

well another thought popped in my head about this. if you want a V8 manual f150, buy a wrecked mustang and drop the engine and tranny in your truck.(not sure if mustang's 4.6 will line up with the f150's 4.6 or 5.4) if it will line up with the f150's 4.6 or 5.4,then there you go...i prefer my manual and it is my 4th truck out of 5 to be a manual. i had a 78 f150 351W with a 4spd, a 97 ranger 2.3L with a 5spd, an 04 f150 heritage 4.2L with a 5spd and now an 08 f150 4.2L with a 5spd. never had any problems in any of them except on my ranger the clutch pedal assembly broke which is when i found my 04 f150 so i never got it fixed, i just traded it. im 6'5" tall and yes i fit into a reg cab ranger BARELY!!! i love my 08 over my 04 tho. my 08 has about 6 inches more cab room behind the seat, has 4 doors, and is also a bit wider than my 04. SO MUCH ROOM I LOVE IT!!!

 

alright i can almost sware that i have seen several 4.6 manual f150 maybe a 97 or 98 models. Just wondering if im right?

 

Yes you are.

 

Slightly off topic but just an observation. Being in my mid 40's I learned to drive a 67 Galaxy 500 with a 390 and it had three on the tree.

Now a days, kids for the most part have no clue how to drive a straight shift. It was mandatory back in the day because so many were on the street. My brother in law bought my old beater 89 S10 with a pavement scalding 2.5 iron duke in it and his boys learned to drive it in a field way before they were 16. Then, the oldest one got the truck to drive.

By far the majority of V8 Mustangs are sold with MT. Its not even really close and the reason is that its more fun, cheaper and more power hits the rear wheels where it counts. I fully admit the autos have come a long way and sometimes now can be as quick despite the extra weight and a little more loss in power.

I know these are different demographics but there is some crossover in the Mustang and F150 community. Im just amazed that most younger folks these days have no clue how to operate the third pedal. I guess its not their fault since not as many are around to try out.

I will remain in the minority until physically I can no longer drive a stick shift. I sure wish Ford would reconsider offering this up with a V8. I can buy quite a bit of extra gas with the 1K it would save.

 

Life's harsh with the 6 speed automatic. No more manually rowing thru the gears or pressing down the second brake pedal some people called a clutch. Yup, Ford really snooked us with that 6 speed automatic. They even forgot to include a dipstick to check the transmission fluid level.

In all seriousness, when you consider the F150 is still for all intents and purpose a 1/2 ton truck, the new 6 speed transmission is very well designed as a key component in the drivetrain. Ford utilizes the auto tranmission to improve fuel economy and to meet customer demand of convenience. Fleets managers long abandoned selecting manual transmissions for their 1/2 ton work trucks for servicibility reasons in favor of the automatics. And consumers have done the same thing. Take a new truck out for a test drive - it may change your view about having a manual transmission.

 

Where Ford snookered us was not even giving the option of the MT. But, you can get an automatic butt wiper with the King Ranch. if your having a bad day and passing gas. You can get the navi system on the xyz model when its only over priced by 1500 bucks when you can go to best buy and get that for 1/4 of the price. Yeah, they forgot the big engine as well when the competition pounds them into the ground on a regular basis with little if any change in FE. Some actually want some substance in the truck and be damned if it has the automatic wipers on the headlights. These trucks have more cushy options than a friggen top of the line Cadillac.

More power to them and those that want them that are willing to pay but a truck is a tool to me.

Now, being serious, I know the 6 speed is a great tranny and for sure a step in the right direction but when, not if it fails, what will be the cost to fix it? If its no better than the older 4 speeds then its a failure in my mind. Time will tell I guess.

The F150 is a great truck overall. One of my other pet pieves is the idiot light gages. Why not just put an idiot light in and save 35 cents per vehicle instead of insulting us? That burns me up to no end and they do this across the entire line of cars and trucks.

 

You do realize that best buy don't sell the Nav systems! They don't even sell anything like it. In fact no one makes anything like it and that why it such a good system. I think it's a worth while option if you can afford it when building the truck. You get a upgraded sound system, Reverse cam capability, weather, sports listings, built in hard drive, full external device support, movie listings, snow conditions, weather radar, Sirius, DVD player, MP3 DVDs, full control of climate controls, Bluetooth with music device and phone support, Fully voice controlled, 2nd usb port for expansion and the many other features the system has over other systems.

Also i use my platinum as a tool but like all my tools (construction worker here) i look after them and take care of them. I get loaded up with wood and materials daily and still looks and functions like new. There no reason why you cant have an auto, Butt wiper and coffee machine in any truck these days. For the amount of time I'm in my truck i love the features it has.

 

I guess some people get stuck in certain periods of time and thoughts and cannot progress past that point. For all the manual transmission lovers, I wish you well and I hope when that horrible day arrives when your current, old F150, with manual transmission, no longer works, you'll resist the urge to get into the fetal position and cry mommy.

 

Wow, I've never read so my "cry-babying" before in my life. In this day and age, manuals are only useful in sports cars. Manuals in trucks are outdated and are out performed by automatics. Welcome to the 21st century....