Joeiconic
Well-Known Member
When I moved to ATL in 2001 I had never owned anything but manuals. After a month or two of daily stop and go traffic I traded for an automatic and have never looked back.
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I drive 60 miles a day round trip for my work commute. At work I drive 50-200 miles a day, run at least 2 miles with additional weight, and deliver about 2 1/2 tons of milk by hand each night. I prefer an auto for daily duties. My clutch leg does not get lazy.
I also prefer an auto in an off road vehicle. It makes things easier on the trail.
That being said, I would've ordered my Ranger with the 10R80 even if a manual was offered.
On the flip side, I love a manual in the right vehicle. I've got a light motorsports background and some cars deserve a manual transmission. Currently we don't have any in the house, and that's a bit of a shame as I would like to eventually teach the skill to my girls, 12 & 16. I learned to drive on a '49 Ford truck, Flathead V8, and 3 on the tree.
Also, I find the manual shifting of an automatic to be completely pointless. With the exception of a few very specific instances, it's really just a gimmick.
I've never once heard of or seen somebody do such a thing. Putting your vehicle in neutral when sliding seems like bad idea to me.
I also prefer an auto in an off road vehicle. It makes things easier on the trail.
That being said, I would've ordered my Ranger with the 10R80 even if a manual was offered.
On the flip side, I love a manual in the right vehicle. I've got a light motorsports background and some cars deserve a manual transmission. Currently we don't have any in the house, and that's a bit of a shame as I would like to eventually teach the skill to my girls, 12 & 16. I learned to drive on a '49 Ford truck, Flathead V8, and 3 on the tree.
Also, I find the manual shifting of an automatic to be completely pointless. With the exception of a few very specific instances, it's really just a gimmick.
I've been driving for 30 plus years. I've spent days both learning and teaching vehicle dynamics at AutoX and RallyX schools. Done some wheel to wheel Kart racing and plenty of track time in road going vehicles.
I've never once heard of or seen somebody do such a thing. Putting your vehicle in neutral when sliding seems like bad idea to me.
cVelBlu91
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I've had a manual transmission on the older generation Rangers, and it was nice. Somewhat annoying on a commute for how heavy they were to me. (Both trucks that I had were V6 models with 4WD).
These days the only stick shift I have now is an older MINI hardtop. And it's brilliant for that car. I can't see having a stick shift modern Ranger.
These days the only stick shift I have now is an older MINI hardtop. And it's brilliant for that car. I can't see having a stick shift modern Ranger.
Trigganometry
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Done my share of track driving/racing in decades past. Own all manuals until my last, a Mitsubishi 3000GT VR4. Sold that when kids started arriving as the Mrs. said this really isn’t practical for a family car ? Well it was before we had kids right!?
Anyways, I do prefer standards as the extra control is preferred. If my SCAB came in a 6 speed would have been all over it. Don’t get me wrong here, the 10 speed auto does preform nicely just predicting some of the shift points is close to impossible. Is what it is! I’m keeping it as is and still loving the experiences.
Anyways, I do prefer standards as the extra control is preferred. If my SCAB came in a 6 speed would have been all over it. Don’t get me wrong here, the 10 speed auto does preform nicely just predicting some of the shift points is close to impossible. Is what it is! I’m keeping it as is and still loving the experiences.
jsphlynch
Well-Known Member
Millennial here. Several years ago I moved across the country in a rented moving truck (equipped with an automatic) towing a flatbed with a car on it. My wife got pretty annoyed with me yelling at the truck for being in the wrong gear. When I dropped off the truck, the rental guy asked me if I had any complaints about the truck, and I told him that it was missing a clutch pedal. His response was something along the lines of, "You grow up on a farm? It's always the farm kids that want the manuals."
Yes, I grew up on a farm. The first vehicles I learned to drive were Massey Fergusons, which of course had manuals. After that it was Dodge Ram pickup with a manual. When I bought my first vehicle, it was a brand new Ford Ranger with zero options, and that was my daily driver for over 16 years. Bottom line, I grew accustomed to having control over what gear to be in and when to shift, and that's hard to give up.
Yes, I grew up on a farm. The first vehicles I learned to drive were Massey Fergusons, which of course had manuals. After that it was Dodge Ram pickup with a manual. When I bought my first vehicle, it was a brand new Ford Ranger with zero options, and that was my daily driver for over 16 years. Bottom line, I grew accustomed to having control over what gear to be in and when to shift, and that's hard to give up.
sjl136
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Gen X here, about half of my vehicles have been manual, wife has driven them since she was a teen, we will teach our teenage kids as well soon. I've had manuals in Hondas, a great VW GTI, a Volvo V70R, a few A4's and a Wrangler YJ. Still, I would have passed on the manual in the Ranger if it was an option. My current Wrangler is a stick, and while I love the around town driving, and enjoy the manual for 75% of off-road trails, there are times the auto would be better. But loaded down with camping gear, 35" tires, lifted, driving long distances on the highway, that manual Jeep is a royal pain! I'm hoping the auto Ranger loaded with the same camping gear will be a dream compared to it on the highway as we drive to the off-road destinations once the Tremor finally arrives. I am a big fan of manuals, but it will be autos in my trucks.
Radioman
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My first manual shift car I bought in 1965 had 3 on the tree and since then I have almost always had a manual with the current one being a Jeep Rubicon. That said, I'm happy with the auto in the Ranger and would not buy a manual if offered in the Ranger.
Blmpkn
Well-Known Member
No.
No they dont.
If I couldn't turn the traction control off I literally wouldn't be able to get to work when it's snowing, without putting it in 4x4.
Never had this issue with any of my old rwds that didn't have "advanced" electronic nanny systems.
Apples
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Having a manual transmission, is like having sex before you're married—a lot of manual dexterity!
Having an automatic transmission, is like having sex after you're married—no preparation!
Having an automatic transmission, is like having sex after you're married—no preparation!
Jedadiah
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If a manual had been an option, I'd be driving one. This is my first vehicle with an automatic, and while I do think it does a good job, I miss shifting. The trucks that did offer manuals when I was shopping, otherwise didn't offer what I was looking for (RWD, not total gas hogs).
I have no plans of selling my truck, but a 6G with a manual might temp me.
I have no plans of selling my truck, but a 6G with a manual might temp me.
the5Gmartian
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I don’t care how fun a manual is, I like my remote start
Wytchdctr
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I prefer a stick even in Houston traffic, but I'll have a project car soon enough to scratch that itch. Then the Ranger and it's auto trans to tow it when I break it.
AzScorpion
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They have aftermarket remote starts for manuals.
https://www.compustar.com/blog/can-you-remote-start-a-manual-transmission-stick-shift-vehicle/
https://www.mobileedgeonline.com/can-i-get-a-remote-car-starter-on-a-manual-transmission/
Azriq
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I just had a flashback to my 1st Ranger. The truck was a blast to drive. Regular cab, short-bed with a 2.9 V6 and 5 spd manual. Thing would fry tires all day long. My only complaint......I'm 6'3''. If I had the left turn signal on, my knee would turn off the turn signal when I let out the clutch...lol. I'd forgotten how small the 1st gen Rangers were.
Fitzmotor
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Sticks are the most fun to drive, up until recently when the knee got really bad, I drove a stick everyday.
I have taught all my kids to drive a stick, because when I was younger I knew of a situation that was almost tragic.
So, something of interest to those of us who have kids.
A girl was at a party in a bad part of town, the people she was with were leaving, she wanted to stay a while, one of them tossed her his car keys and said "just take my car home" it got late, all seemed good, until she walked out to find it was a stick, she was instantly stranded, she panicked bad, she was locked out of where she was because everybody had left before she knew what was going on, she had to leave but had no way to go, she was there for 2 more hours until somebody thought "she should be here by now" they went back and rescued her, she was hiding in the car when they found her.
I have taught all my kids to drive a stick, because when I was younger I knew of a situation that was almost tragic.
So, something of interest to those of us who have kids.
A girl was at a party in a bad part of town, the people she was with were leaving, she wanted to stay a while, one of them tossed her his car keys and said "just take my car home" it got late, all seemed good, until she walked out to find it was a stick, she was instantly stranded, she panicked bad, she was locked out of where she was because everybody had left before she knew what was going on, she had to leave but had no way to go, she was there for 2 more hours until somebody thought "she should be here by now" they went back and rescued her, she was hiding in the car when they found her.
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