Manual Trans in new pickups (all sizes)

[Ncostello]

Correct me if I'm wrong... but in looking at ALL sizes, types and brands of pickups... the only thing I'm seeing available with manual transmissions are the following:



Toyota Tacoma (Regular Cab, 4cyl only)

Nissan Frontier (4cyl or 6cyl, but only in king cab, no regular cab model exists)

Dodge Heavy Duty 2500/3500 (Cummins Diesel only)

Ford Ranger (until they cease the Ranger model this year)



What the hell is going on in this country? Lazy dumb idiots and the EPA... thats what. If a person in the United States can't buy a new 1/2 ton pickup with a manual transmission... thats a joke. Just my opinion.

 

[Simplysmn]

I think it's the demand for a auto that is killing the market for a stick transmission in truck's not all who buy a truck want to have to shift it all the time

 

[HBarlow]

Lots of 40 something year olds learned to drive an automatic and can't drive a manual transmission vehicle.

GM and Furd don't offer manual transmissions because their engines don't produce any low rpm torque so require revving the engine and slipping the clutch.

Dodge Rams are the only trucks worth considering anyway so if you want a manual buy a Dodge or Ram as they are now badged.

 

[surfbeetle]

It's got a lot to do with the EPA. The onboard computers can do a better job controlling emissions levels with an automatic vs a stick. This has led to many 40 years not learning how to drive a stick.



Years ago, my wife had an Isuzu Rodeo manual 5 speed. I took it into one of those quickie lube places, the kid coming out to move the car into the bay could not do it since it was a stick. I was dumbfounded.



My wife and I have owned 14 cars together (and I'm 40) only two of those have been slushboxes (autos).

 

[Tractorat]

Are they just not offered ? Or is it just that the dealers dont order them that way (because most people now want the auto)?



I was looking at a new cadillac cts a while ago. It was supposed to come standard with a manual trans. But, I couldnt find a manual on a lot anywhere. There were all automatics. They said most came with the automatic.



Now, my son bought a new hundai suv in 08 or 09 (?). He wanted a manual trans for that, and he got it and he likes it. (btw, never buy a hundyai with a manual trans). My observation, not his.

 

[Grizzly]

I think it's the demand for a auto that is killing the market for a stick transmission inm truck's not all who buy a truck want to have to shift it all the time

Totally agree with you. Another reason is that more and more woman are driving our trucks and they find it easier to drive an automatic.



My wife on the other hand, loves driving my truck with a 6 speed stick. When we travel with the 5th wheel, she about half the driving.



I'm a stick shift man all the way.



george

 

[mhsmith57]

More and more people prefer the auto now because of the worsening traffic we get ourselves into. However with that said, I'll keep my '05 Ram 2500 p/u G56 transmission until my knees or something else gives out.

Some here say that the new autos are great. What ever floats your boat. I'd rather row than have some computer shift for me.

Mark

 

[surfbeetle]

I was wrong with my earlier post, it's not the EPA...

 

[NIsaacs]

Besides, the Cummins sounds funky with an automatic:-laf



Nick

 

[rscurtis]

IMO, there are several reasons for the lack of stick shift availability. First, on the HD side, there are no transmissions available to handle 800 ft. /lb. of torque without going to some version of a true MD truck transmission. Second, as HB as pointed out, the performance of the 6. 0 and 6. 4 with a stick was so poor that many chose the auto instead. Now, the market for sticks is so small, it is easier to build just one truck with the auto as the default transmission.



I think Ram could source the proper version of a modern Eaton, and make it standard with the new HO engine instead of the previous $1000+ credit you get with the G56.

 

[DZink24]

i believe that GM hasn't offered a stick shift in their trucks for upwards of 10 years or so now, regardless of engine or series. all have raised good valid points, i think that one more would be automakers, in the quest to reduce costs, figure $$ can be saved in regards to inventory costs if they don't have to carry the parts for a whole other line of transmission. between my wife and i we own 3 vehicles, only one of which is an auto, that being the Dodge 2500

 

[Simplysmn]

Not everyone that buy's a 3/4 or 1 ton pick/up want's a stick shift the only stickshift vehicle I have owned in the last 20 yr's was my VW but there again with bad knee's you don't want to shift all the time .

 

[Ncostello]

First, on the HD side, there are no transmissions available to handle 800 ft. /lb. of torque without going to some version of a true MD truck transmission.

Well at one time there weren't any capable of handling 660 ft/lb... . so that statement is misleading. If they wanted one... they'd develop it. THEY are the builders of such stuff. Thats the R&D departments job. They have developed and built many manual transmissions since 1900. PLUS... I'm not sure there are any MD manuals that handle 800 well. If there are... which ones?

i believe that GM hasn't offered a stick shift in their trucks for upwards of 10 years or so now, regardless of engine or series

I've seen a few Duramax trucks with manuals... and I know you could get Vortec V6 1500's with 5 speeds in the last 10 years. I've driven them.

Not everyone that buy's a 3/4 or 1 ton pick/up want's a stick shift the only stickshift vehicle I have owned in the last 20 yr's was my VW but there again with bad knee's you don't want to shift all the time

Maybe not everyone wants one? Yet, some do!!! Bad knees and owning a VW are not the reason they were cancelled. A 3/4 and 1 Ton is a PERFECT PLACE for a manual transmission. And they are not available which is sad to see.



Its obvious "if they only have one transmission its cheaper and easier". But that could well have been the case since the automatic hit the market... yet it wasn't.

 

[rscurtis]

The Eaton/Fuller FSO 8406A would be a good starting point. Weighs the same as the NV 5600. 800 ft. /lb. input capacity.

 

[surfbeetle]

It's fun to see everyone's differing opinions on this subject. One important point that I don't think anyone has brought up is this: When ordering vehicles, dealers order what they perceive will sell in the shortest amount of time. If a car or truck sits on the lot for an extended period of time, the dealer's profit margin begins to dwindle. Whether it includes a stick shift, air conditioning, or vinyl seats, the dealer just wants to move the vehicle off the lot.

 

[GCroyle]

Here at work we have no relationship with any OE's we respond to what they did and sell to the aftermarket. One thing we do have is some pretty good research tools and off the top of my head the D-Max with M/T last year was '06 and the current registered vehicle population is about 15,000 units or so out of the total D-Max M/T production. The Ford 6. 4L last year with M/T was '08 and I haven't looked those production numbers up, sorry.



I think streamlining at OE production is an issue, less options = less problems, procurement, servicing, parts supply, training tech's, sales dictates a lot but one other thing to throw into the question, who makes the actual M/T? Wasn't the D-Max and Ford trans a ZF and Dodge has used Getrag, NV and for a while a sister DC division out of Brazil for the G56 and now that is not a part of Chrysler Corp LLC, right? So for M/T's they are outsourced while until recently most (?) A/T's were house built. If you are buying outsourced M/T's and not your sister division A/T's thats a possible annoyance. And I don't know if in my career if I have ever seen let alone handled a clutch that was made by the same name as the vehicle. And outsourced A/T's have become more and more sophisticated and computer controlled, witness all the discussion about power limiting in certain gears.



But one thing that I have seen for a long time in car adds, if you want to introduce "sport appeal" and fun into the add, it shows a M/T.



I'm glad to see Ram continue as far as we know with the handshakers, some of us will always prefer M/T's for personal or cost reasons. IIRC when I found my '05 the savings on the M/T pretty much paid for the options that it came with.



BTW, before I was even in the clutch industry I had already ORDERED two Chevy's with M/T's a 1975 Camaro 350 4 spd and then a 1979 C-10 350 4 spd. Started my career with clutches just after I got the '79. My Camaro and the C-10 both had old school manual freeplay style adjustment linkages.



Yes, I feed my family and pay the mortage with my clutch job, but I also drive them and I have taught two of my kids to drive them too.

 

[Grizzly]

It's fun to see everyone's differing opinions on this subject. One important point that I don't think anyone has brought up is this: When ordering vehicles, dealers order what they perceive will sell in the shortest amount of time. If a car or truck sits on the lot for an extended period of time, the dealer's profit margin begins to dwindle. Whether it includes a stick shift, air conditioning, or vinyl seats, the dealer just wants to move the vehicle off the lot.

It's not exactly their profit that dwindle. It's the Holdback money that reduces in time. If the dealer sell the vehicle on day one, he get 100% of the Holdback money, which goes down to $0 in 90 days. Plus, the longer a vehicle sits on the lot, the more finance charges he has to pay.



george