New Truck Prices

That's true, but if it's cash, there's no lender.

 

If you really want to save money, don't buy an apple product.

 

They are more efficient and quicker too.

 

Yep.
The manual was always considered to be better, stronger and more efficient. (Mostly due to the direct lock up) But now the manuals (in hd pickups) can't handle the power. And automatics now have lockup converters and really fast shifts that keep the engine in it's power band.

 

And many more gears which keeps the rpm drops, as they shift up, closer which is beneficial to acceleration and mpg.

 

I was but not now, how is that for an answer? Lets just say I was chemo bald for a year or 2 but not now and we w3oll leave it at that.

 

I disagree. A manual is always more robust and much more efficient at power transmission. The ONLY time a slush box achieves the same level of efficiency is when the transmission goes into lock up and bypasses the torque convertor and transmits power directly from the flex plate to the driveline. So long as the torque converter is in play (lower gears), the inefficiency of a fluid coupling (torque convertor) robs power from the engine and why auto transmissions have to have coolers as well. Finally, auto transmissions don't have 'gears' like a manual, they have clutch packs instead.

Why big trucks all have manual transmissions and even the new 'automatic big trucks still have manual gearboxes, but the 'clutch' is servo controlled (instead of a clutch pedal) the clutch - declutch action is electronically controlled.

So no, I disagree with your opinion about automatic transmissions as opposed to a manual.

Finally, a manual will far outlast any automatic transmission in operation and simplicity.

 

Economics of scale killed the manual. Of course they can make a manual to handle the power but how much more would people be willing to pay?
And a lot of people who have stick really shouldn't.

 

They have planetary gears controlled by the use of clutch packs. So yes, they have gears. And multiple sets of planetary gears.

 

Ok
Order your next pickup with a manual.
Bet you'll be waiting a while...

I'm petty sure this discussion was about hd pickups, not semi trucks, so that part of your comment about "big trucks" is useless. Unless you intend to put a 700 pound tranny in your pickup.

As far as towing with an automatic transmission, the automatic will shift under full power and at full boost and as a result will outperform the manual.
After 2018, ram discontinued the manual trans. The HO version of the cummins was not available with a manual transmission. All HO engines got the auto. ... because the clutches would slip and the cases would stretch on the g56.

 

Semis have gone mostly auto for several reasons, one of which is fuel economy from what I hear...must not be too ineffecient (yeah yeah I know they are not true autos)
Modern autos are nothing like the old C4-C6/T350-400/torqueflight of yesteryear! (Although those were pretty tough)

 

Our fire department just got rid of the last manual truck.

 

Probably couldn't use it...the youngins can't drive em! No good if you can't use the truck unless one of the old timers shows up to drive it!

 

Maybe for you it did. For me it didn't. Just wait until you have to rebuild a new multi speed slush box. Get your wallet out....

 

Class 8 road tractors are NOT automatics, they are servo controlled clutches with manual gearboxes. The prime reason why the industry is going to servo controlled clutches is driveline shock on driven components and the fact that drivers today don't know how to properly change gears. Why to get a CDL today in most states, you have to have a special endorsement to drive a manual transmission.

Me, I prefer a 13 or 18 speed Roadranger.

 

Economics of scale means that the volume of production is so low that the price goes through the roof.
Who would be willing to pay the cost of what could be 2 or 3 times the cost of a automatic transmission rebuild just to get a manual.
Leaving abuse aside the automatic transmissions of today are pretty darn reliable. My 2001 Allison has never been opened up.

 

Comparing an Allison to a normal slush box is like comparing apples to prunes. As long as you change the fluid and filters in a timely manner it will last longer than the truck it's in. Allison perfected the automatic transmission, all the others are just following along.

 

I've never worn out a clutch in a big truck (I happen to own an International Eagle Conventional with a 3406 mechanical Cat and 13 speed.). It's a farm truck. That 3rd pedal hardly ever gets depressed except when stopping and starting or reversing direction. Other than that, it just hangs there unused. Same with my farm tractors. I rarely use the clutch and nice thing about them is, directional changes are via the hydraulic shuttle so no clutching is necessary. About the only time I depress the clutch is on a cold start as I like to take the transmission out of the cold start equation. 30 years of driving a company truck (Western Star) conventionals and never had a clutch replacement.

Being retired, I kind of miss it but then again, I don't. Way too many idiots on the road today and way to many Barney Fife's wanting to get in your wallet.

 

I wonder who is going to be able to afford to make repairs on these new vehicles once they are out of warranty. Our shop labor rate is over 200.00 an hour now. (Denver)

 

Independent shops...at $100/hr?