I love driving a manual personally, but I prefer hauling with an auto. Heavily loaded hill starts are one reason, heavy traffic is another. I do miss my straight shift, had it for eight years, I miss the control and the more intimate relationship with the engine, but I like my life slightly simplified while towing and like the auto for that reason.
Does that depend on the year? Mine is a '88 with 140k miles and still the same clutch. I’ve only driven it about 25k miles in the 9 years I’ve had it, but previous to that it was an every day truck as well as a regular NC/TN mountain hauler. Maybe they were better then? LOL
[QUOTE=2bee;5347705]
“Smooth” is all clutch/rpm/mph management. Some people can drive, most can’t.[/QUOTE]
I heard somewhere that there are Drivers and then there are Motor Vehicle Operators 
Don’t want to start THAT debate though, was just curious as to everyones experiences/opinions on the Manual/Auto issue.
I can’t remember who made the comment about most newer trucks being hard to find in ‘standard’ transmissions, and that’s so true! It’s hard to find newer CARS with them. Took me four months to find a 5speed sedan. Depending on what I can find, will probably be a used truck.
Manual is a royal pain at a stoplight at the top of a steep hill…
[QUOTE=JB;5347784]
Does that depend on the year? Mine is a '88 with 140k miles and still the same clutch. I’ve only driven it about 25k miles in the 9 years I’ve had it, but previous to that it was an every day truck as well as a regular NC/TN mountain hauler. Maybe they were better then? LOL[/QUOTE]
If the previous owner did not put a new clutch in it, you will soon.
And the hydraulic clutch gives no warning. It will work perfect and then the next shift it will lock up.
CSSJR
[QUOTE=mroades;5347871]
Manual is a royal pain at a stoplight at the top of a steep hill…[/QUOTE]
Yeh.
Like US 29 through Charlottesville.
And Lynchburg-Madison Heights before the new bypass.
What a pain when pulling horses!
CSSJR
Well aren’t you just a cheery one tonight! :lol:
Every mechanic or actual expert I have ever talked to or heard/read has said that if you are towing (and not driving a semi ;)), you should get an automatic. The tranny really DOES know better than you - and has a better reaction time - assuming it’s in good repair.
And, by the way, I’ve had a clutch go out on me with no warning while hauling uphill on US-95 in Idaho, and it is not an experience I ever wish to repeat.
(The tranny in my automatic needs work now, at 160,000 miles, but I was able to easily tell that WAY before it actually died (which it hasn’t, though I suppose it could decide to thumb it’s nose at me and give up the ghost on the way back to the mechanic…).)
Even the Class 8 trucks (Freightliners, Volvos, etc.) are moving toward automated transmissions. Some are “semi-automatic” like the auto-shift. Others are fully automated like the Freedomline. Many motorhomes built on Class * chassis use them, also.
Given the current level of automatic transmission technology it makes little sense to seek a manual.
G.
Hey…yes, some people CAN, in fact, drive. DH and I both drive racecars (vintage ones, with vintage trannys at that!). We can DRIVE. For real. But we both still think automatics are far better for towing. Any truck built in the last 10 years was built to tow with an automatic and the dealers and manufacturers will tell you that the automatic with a tow/haul feature will prolong the life of your truck - no matter how well you’re able to drive.
Older trucks might be a different story, but if you’re considering ANYTHING more recent than 1998 or so, buy an automatic, not just for the convenience, but because it’ll work better for the long haul.
Hard to stall an automatic tranny (which is why my F250 PSD is auto).
My Mazda 3 on the other hand… love driving a manual transmission.
[QUOTE=EquineImagined;5347785]
I heard somewhere that there are Drivers and then there are Motor Vehicle Operators
Don’t want to start THAT debate though, was just curious as to everyones experiences/opinions on the Manual/Auto issue.
I can’t remember who made the comment about most newer trucks being hard to find in ‘standard’ transmissions, and that’s so true! It’s hard to find newer CARS with them. Took me four months to find a 5speed sedan. Depending on what I can find, will probably be a used truck.[/QUOTE]
I think you can special order them with standard, but its basically ‘sucks for you’ if you want to buy used. I scoured craigslist daily for 6 months before I finally found my stick shift ram. I about cried with joy on that fateful day :lol:.
[QUOTE=Where’sMyWhite;5348740]
Hard to stall an automatic tranny (which is why my F250 PSD is auto).
My Mazda 3 on the other hand… love driving a manual transmission.[/QUOTE]
Ditto! I drive a manual for my daily driver- a MazdaSpeed 3. But my truck is auto because I appreciate the simplicity, especially if I have to worry about having a loaded trailer behind me.
[QUOTE=cssutton;5347712]
If you buy a Ford, in the F250-F350 range, you will have a hard time finding a stick shift.
CSSJR[/QUOTE]
This is true. But it makes them a lot cheaper, which is how I ended up with my F350 6-spd. I gave up both auto and 4WD and paid about half. But, I really miss both!
FWIW I have not had the new-clutch-every-100K miles experience, on any of my trucks.
But I would still take the auto had all else been equal.
Amd its not you…its the shmoe behind you that doesnt give you any breathing room to put the clutch in and get going…
[QUOTE=eponacelt;5348694]
Any truck built in the last 10 years was built to tow with an automatic and the dealers and manufacturers will tell you that the automatic with a tow/haul feature will prolong the life of your truck - no matter how well you’re able to drive.[/QUOTE]
I am surprised after reading everyone’s answers and the above. My Dad’s ~2003 Dodge is auto and I hate hauling with it. The automatic never shifts when it should - it goes way over or under RPMs and then clunks and jerks the entire truck/trailer. I have to force-shift it going up hills or else it stays in 4th/5th way too long and loses all power before clunk-shifting, often into the wrong gear at really high RPM then re-shifting up and down before settling into the right gear :mad: The lower gears going down hill do not do enough to slow it down - the electric brakes on the trailer help, but I have been happier in other peoples’ manuals.
[QUOTE=Blugal;5350166]
I am surprised after reading everyone’s answers and the above. My Dad’s ~2003 Dodge is auto and I hate hauling with it. The automatic never shifts when it should - it goes way over or under RPMs and then clunks and jerks the entire truck/trailer. I have to force-shift it going up hills or else it stays in 4th/5th way too long and loses all power before clunk-shifting, often into the wrong gear at really high RPM then re-shifting up and down before settling into the right gear :mad: The lower gears going down hill do not do enough to slow it down - the electric brakes on the trailer help, but I have been happier in other peoples’ manuals.[/QUOTE]
A Ford or Duramax shifts flawlessly.
CSSJR
That sounds like a transmission on its way out. I’ve never liked hauling with Dodges in general, because I find they just don’t seem as powerful as they ought to be, but I’ve never experienced anything like the above except in vehicles with transmission problems.
The tow rating on two equal trucks are higher with automatic than manual. I was suprised when I found this out. I prefer to drive manuals (regular cars) but automatics are much better for towing.
[QUOTE=Kementari;5350305]
That sounds like a transmission on its way out. I’ve never liked hauling with Dodges in general, because I find they just don’t seem as powerful as they ought to be, but I’ve never experienced anything like the above except in vehicles with transmission problems.[/QUOTE]
I don’t know - it’s got the tow package and has had regular “check-ups” with a very good mechanic for the past 3 years… My Dad has sworn off automatic transmissions after this truck.
