manual or automatic - which is more dependable?

[CATCRACKER]

six seeds may rule but i am trying to buy one and they are not easy to find but i will have one even if it takes 6 months

 

[WadePatton]

My search for a CTD was over a month of searching local car lots, dealers, internet, everything in the phonebook, dodge ram sites.



I spent 1-3 hours every day looking. I was hunting a 97-98 12v, X-cab, LB, 2WD, manual. I finally had to expand the search to 99's and wound up buying a Y2K--which happened to be a great color and a SIXER.



Drove 600 miles one way to get her (in Dad's '95).

 

[RADdodge]

AUTO's RULE Where It Counts...

I liked the three-speed auto in my dad’s 56 Dodge truck. How could my girlfriend (now wife) sit so close with a manual? You guys must be old geezers to not recognize the obvious advantages of an Auto. With an auto, your not dangerous (on the road anyway) with using just one hand. Besides, I like the auto’s cup holders much better. Cool. BTW Pit Bull, didn’t you drive a CTD with an auto until just recently. I don’t know about the drivetrain behind your Cummins, but the color is classic.

 

[kevincook]

THe other thing is that there is a new auto to look at, the new 48E should be a better auto with longer life!



KC

 

[raf2000]

Gotta chime in. . I chose an AUTO and would do it again. Burned it up @ 93K with power mods & spent $4K:--) to replace it. NOW, it is GREAT. I test drove a 6 speed and the truck was never in the right gear and forget traffic. AUTO lets you just gas and go and the auto setup hauls A$$ as far as 0 to ??MPH. However, IF I was going to tow for a living or heavy/lots of loads I would get a manual because they will hold up (by design) much longer that an auto, except of course your clutch needs to be upgraded with power mods. My 2 cents. .

 

[Pit Bull]

Re: AUTO's RULE Where It Counts...

Originally posted by RADdodge



BTW Pit Bull, didn’t you drive a CTD with an auto until just recently. I don’t know about the drivetrain behind your Cummins, but the color is classic.

I needed this RED truck BAD Plus I am old and nobody would want to sit close to me It is funny I do love to drive the 6 speed and like it a lot more than the automatic, but at my age I sometimes have a brain fart and forget that I'm driving a stick But luckily the truck reminds me. This is happening less often, the longer I own and drive the truck.

 

[dpetre]

I went from a Ford auto to the Dodge with the 6speed. The 6 speed makes me think about what I am doing when I am driving. You watch the traffic around because you have to shift and use the clutch to make things happen. The auto you can be brain dead and still make it down the road. I can not count the times I went from point A to point C and not remember going pass point B while driving the Auto. The 6 speed is just plain fun, and will last longer.

 

[Mad Bomber]

RADODGE, It's good to have wife sit next to you in a manual when you slide into 4th (gear) or even 6th. Trust me it's good

 

[bmoeller]

For my use, the auto is the best. Wish I had a 5 or 6spd. though. I prefer shifting for my self, instead of letting a computer do the job. Are manual valvebodies and floor shifters available for 47RE trannys? Would it work better? Would there be a problem with shifting into O/D?

 

[illflem]

Autos are the way of the future, already many over the road trucks, heavy equipment and tractors have switched. As long as an auto is rated to the engine hp, driven and maintained well they will be cheaper to run than a manual, no clutch, throw out & slave to wear out. An auto is also easier on the engine and just as efficient as a manual once in lockup. Stock Dodge trannys are fine till you over hp them. If you do several upgrades are availible to make them last a long time. Easier to drive obviously.



My bet is that in twenty years you won't even be able to get a manual trans in anything if vehicles as we know them are still around.

 

[Koa Man]

I don't like autos in my trucks and wish I had a stick, even tho I have no complaints about the way my ATS trans performs. Fluid temps still get hot reversing a heavy trailer up a driveway. The 03 Dodge I am ordering will have a 6 spd.

 

[Roger rodbolt]

Quote: "manual or automatic - which is more dependable?



If the question is dependable, then no doubt about it, the six speed is more dependable. For certain uses I would consider the automatic behind a hemi or V-10 but for bombed diesel torque make mine a manual. Larry

 

[RADdodge]

Eric, I think you bettered my point on that one. And I DO trust your opinion! But I'm not stir'n this pot again. I'll get in trouble.

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by RADdodge

Eric, I think you bettered my point on that one. And I DO trust your opinion! But I'm not stir'n this pot again. I'll get in trouble.

Go ahead and stir, I started the thread and you have my permission

 

[carson6]

with a boob in one hand...

and a beer in the other who need a stick!

 

[D. Showan]

I'm sure staying in the right gear/RPM towing is easier with the 6 speed. There is too much space between 3rd and 4th in the auto.

 

[WadePatton]

Originally posted by D. Showan

I'm sure staying in the right gear/RPM towing is easier with the 6 speed. There is too much space between 3rd and 4th in the auto.

Absolutely. When using Mom's or Dad's auto truck for towing (before I gots mine) the perfect gear is 4th before lockup. So I have to slow down for O/D off or lug it with O/D and lockup.



Gimme 6!

 

[Task125]

I just got a 6 sp thurs. so far I love it,I feel like I am driving instead of going for a ride,even tried eating while driving after wendys drive thru. takes some practice but no problem. mike

 

[pwr2tow]

I was going to stay out of this one because I got the best for me and that's all that matters, but, I agree with carson6



with a boob in one hand...

and a beer in the other who need a stick!



Ron

 

[JohnE]

Originally posted by HC

...

If you go back about 15 years, Dodge was clearly marketing the manual for heavy towing, but not their autos. Ford was exactly the opposite - they touted autos with extra cooling for heavy towing, and their manuals were lightweight affairs aimed at maximizing mpg. ...

I don't agree with that comment. My brother bought a 85 Ford diesel and they told him only a manual would hold up to his towing AND 4wd usage.

In 95 he went to a gasser with manual. That trany was a POS compared to the 85 and the engine didn't have enough torque to pull itself out of the mud without a trailer. Luckily he has Cummins powered trucks for towing.



In my driving experiences, I have equal luck with both auto and manual for regular towing. For HEAVY towing only a manual has gone the distance.



Find something to keep both hands busy?