chickenwire

It's not just Ford and it's not just trucks. Even many sports cars are eliminating manual transmissions. Efficiency and performance are greatly improved with the current technologies being employed.

I empathize with the thought of the manual being more efficient but I don't believe that's the truth anymore. Even the "tow/haul" mode on my '12 F150 surprised me. First trip with the travel trailer I felt it wasn't upshifting enough. (Because everyone knows a higher gear means less RPM and hence, less fuel consumption.) On the return trip I decided to use "tow/haul" mode and got 1 mpg better mileage. (Weather and roads were identical both ways.) Was also pleasantly surprised when it forced a downshift when I was decelerating going down an incline.

While there will always be people who would prefer a manual, there's just not much of a business case to be made for them any more.

As for purchasing a Dodge, I wouldn't "hate" to buy one. I've heard and read very good things about them.

tsigwing

certainly your right to buy an inferior truck because you want an inferior transmission


and I'm not hating on manual's, my 2011 Camaro SS is a manual transmission.

coolride

I guess I am just too old school. I have never been a fan of an automatic. That said, I can understand that the computer control systems probably likes it better as the system always knows what to expect vs throwing in the human factor. Basically to control the system, they had to take away the drivers control. I don't worry too much about MPG,s as I have never had any truck that impressed me there. I have had 70's trucks with the old 300 inline 6 that got as good and better than most of the trucks made in the first decade of the 2000's. It seems that truck makers seem to hold 20mpg to be a good mpg. When a carbed 300 can run 16-18 all day long in a 2wd truck, its no real accomplishment to hit 20mpg in 2015 in my opinion.
We all have our likes and dislikes. There's nothing wrong with an auto if you like them, I just don't want one. I'm just disgusted that it isn't even an option from Ford in a new truck.

NASSTY

It's not an option in any half ton truck on the current market. If you abosolutley have to have a manual transmission you're going to have to settle for a mid size truck, a Heavy Duty Ram w/Cummins or buy an old half ton with a manual transmission..

Adam013085

Its called maximizing profits... Its not worth the $$$ having a manual option when it will be put into 1 in 100 trucks off the line.....

xlttune

Are you calling it inferior because it handles less HP?

stainlessman

I had a customer here a year ago with a dodge crew cab 8'bed standard shift...he said he had to order it with the 6 speed manual trans. He had just bought it..I asked him the sticker price ? and his wife said I wrote the check $56.k , the next time I see him with it, it was all pinstriped out and he had added the marker rods on the bumper and air horns and Kenworth mud flaps..(get the picture)....lol


But another friend with a F250 maybe 6 yr ago bought a new truck he wanted a standard shift and that was Fords last year making them he said.


For me. Automatic is easy. I don't need to clutch and shift . To each his own.

tsigwing

Inferior in many ways.

Redneckstone

There is still people that would rather drive a manual over an automatic. It is a small amount of people and sadly its going away quickly. And those people are not the ones burning up clutches. myself included if I could have gotten my truck in a manual I would have. Case in point I converted my 2000 ranger from an automatic when the auto died into a manual with all factory parts. so well it confused the dealer when I took it in for an oil change over a cold *** winter due to no room in my garage at the time.

Redneckstone

there is ****ty built manual transmissions. the old days not so much.. one trans that comes to mind is the ZF behind a 7.3 diesel that is not inferior at all. stout as **** actually.