Buyers...
I don't want these modern pickups with berber carpet, burled walnut trim, and corinthian leather.
Why can't we get a basic pickup with vinyl floors, vinyl seats and a manual transmission?
My first car was a 67 dodge dart with 3 on the tree, next was a 74 dodge colt 4 on the floor, then a Toyota pickup with 4 on the floor. Now no more manual at all.
That will make going down Rocky Mountain passes interesting, indeed. Smell those brakes.
It’s called capitalism. You build what will sell. When any option falls under 12-15% of the orders, it gets cut. In other words, if your orders are 7% manual transmissions, you can’t afford to offer one, stock clutches, shifter linkage, pedals, transmissions, etc.
The last full size trucks for Ford and GM with manuals were 2006 models. Dodge made them quite a while after that for one reason, the failure rate of automatics behind the diesels, their transmissions were junk.
I’ve managed new car dealerships since 1990, nobody wants a stripped down truck. Or car.
04 Cummins, 190k miles, original clutch and tranny.
72 Cheyenne Super ordered w/ 3 on the tree. Daily driver. When I restore it will have a 5 speed Getrag.
Bought soil last week. Kid had never seen a manual in a truck. He seemed fascinated.
My days are numbered and it does not bother me.
I’ve had several manual transmission cars and had the debate about automatic versus manual many times. One thing that often comes up is the cost of replacing an automatic transmission and someone will say... “well the cost of replacing a clutch isn’t cheap either.” Well, I’ve never replaced either a clutch or a manual transmission but I have replaced at least 2 automatic transmissions.
One other thing that often slides by unnoticed in the debate and that is the cost of brakes. A person who knows how to shift efficiently and downshifts diligently and carefully when coming up to lights and stop signs will save hugely on brakes versus someone driving an automatic. I had a Toyota Camry with a manual transmission and a friend had a Dodge minivan with an automatic. We both drove the cars to high mileage and he had replaced the brakes 5 times before I replaced them once. This will of course vary depending on where one lives but for my time on mountain roads, I’d never want to be anywhere near an automatic transmission... riding the brakes when going downhill versus just running in a lower gear (where the engine does most of the braking) makes zero sense.
That is when pickup trucks were used for working and not purchased as a stylish statement.
The little princesses buying trucks killed the manual transmission. Truck buyers are too effete anymore to want a real vehicle that puts you in control. The whole torque thing is just a stupid excuse.
And don’t even get me started on automatic sports cars.
The car I learned to drive with was a ‘49 Plymouth Woodie, with a 3 on the tree. I switched to a ‘54 Ford ‘wagon, with a manual 3 speed overdrive. Next was a 4 on the floor turbocharged ‘63 Corvair, and after that a 4 on the floor ‘64 Corvette. So I’m quite familiar with manual transmissions.
The Corvette I have now is an automatic. It’s difficult to drive in Texas Hill Country with any manual transmission car. Federal regulations on ‘step over height’ are a big part of the problem. In order to reduce incidents of drivers hitting the gas pedal in stead of the brake pedal, a regulation was made that requires separation between the pedals and an increase in the height between the two pedals. That makes it quite difficult to simultaneously press the brake and gas pedals with one foot, and the clutch with the other. That’s required to launch a car in traffic when stopped at a light on a hill, and it’s quite dangerous if you can’t do it. That’s a requirement in Hill Country.
I learned my first stick when I first picked up my 1980 z-28.
Man was it hard to get going in 1st!
About a mile away while getting gas the attendant informed me that smoke was pouring out of my back wheels.
I forgot to release the parking brake lol!
Had a stick Supra as well.
I miss both those cars...
This article makes no sense. Most semi tractors still have manual transmissions. The high torque thing makes no sense.
I would love it if my Tundra was manual.