Manual Transmission. If it was offered, would you choose a Standard?

[Larrythelunatic]

I was referring to reliable. In my youth, 40+ years ago, I replaced more than one clutch. I the past 30 year, I have not replaced a single automatic transition.

300,000 miles from a clutch. Sold it…….so some left.
Drive it right, including downshifting, and it will rust out from under you first.

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[Larrythelunatic]

I'd order a manual transmission in a second!! They are fun to drive and require engagement with your driving environment...in other words...pay attention. Besides barely 18 per cent of the American population can drive a vehicle with manual transmission. It is a lot of fun to watch would be thieves throw their hands in the air when they realize they can't drive what they want to steal!!!

Driving a stick takes no more concentration than carrying on a conversation while walking. Shifting, up or down, is just part of getting from point A to point B, sometimes with more spirit than other times.
And yes, if you know what you’re doing, the thinking man’s manual will get better gas mileage than the “dumb” AT.

 

[Ozuye10]

I already have my 2004 Ranger 2.3L 5MT, so no. I ordered the Tremor and the auto will be better off-road.

 

[Criss944]

300,000 miles from a clutch. Sold it…….so some left.
Drive it right, including downshifting, and it will rust out from under you first.

I my youth I couldn't afford new. I did drive a lot of secondary that were more sand than gravel.

 

[Roscop]

I was referring to reliable. In my youth, 40+ years ago, I replaced more than one clutch. I the past 30 year, I have not replaced a single automatic transition.

Ford has had terrible reliability with some of their cvt transmissions, class action law suits with the Focus and Fusion, clutches can go for a long time unless they're not being driven correctly and people are burning the clutch.

 

[AURktman]

Answer for me is not only Yes, but Hell Yes!

 

[NoVaJimmy]

Ford has had terrible reliability with some of their cvt transmissions, class action law suits with the Focus and Fusion, clutches can go for a long time unless they're not being driven correctly and people are burning the clutch.

You're thinking of their dual clutch automatic transmissions (Powershift), I believe Ford only does an ECVT which is actually Toyota technology and has nothing in common with those band type CVTs that have a high failure rate. You actually can't really get more simple than the ecvt, it's actually quite brilliant the way it works and how simple it is. Look up a video on youtube about it, it's pretty interesting.

 

[Roscop]

You're thinking of their dual clutch automatic transmissions (Powershift), I believe Ford only does an ECVT which is actually Toyota technology and has nothing in common with those band type CVTs that have a high failure rate. You actually can't really get more simple than the ecvt, it's actually quite brilliant the way it works and how simple it is. Look up a video on youtube about it, it's pretty interesting.

That's true, I was just pointing out the fact that Ford has had automatic transmission problems in the past, and that in general, manual transmissions are more reliable, and significantly cheaper to fix.

 

[JimParker256]

I grew up driving manuals. First car I ever drove was a VW "Combi" (old van from the early 50's). My first personally owned car was an Austin-Healey Sprite (complete with SCCA roll bars and 5-point seat belts). I owned at least seven other manuals in my life - all of them of the "sporty" nature.

I love driving a stick, but I voted "No" in this poll, primarily because I'm getting a hybrid, and I believe the ECVT is the perfect transmission for the hybrid. If I was getting an EcoBoost, I would definitely be interested, though I would have to drive it first. Some trucks with manual transmissions are total crap in terms of driver "feel"... Others are pretty sweet. (Not to mention that it's pretty hard for a 5-speed manual to match the efficiency of an 8-speed auto these days.)

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