What's Ford's official position regarding phasing-out manual transmissions?

[cpadpl]

After spending some time building different trucks on the Ford website, it seems even harder than it was a few years ago to get the manual on much of anything except the regular cab. Apparently, it's completely unavailable for the Supercrew 4x4.... I guess I could go up to the Superduty... Anyway, has anyone read anything about Ford's plans? I always here yeah they'll never stop making manuals, but I feel that's maybe propaganda to slowly convert the manual drivers to autos, then when the remainder is too small to raise a fuss, they'll kill us off completely...

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[Matt90GT]

they will be here through '03 from last internal documents that I saw. Basically expect the v6 and small v8 to have the 5 sp optional. 5.4 is auto only, so is the expy, excursion, screw and any other family hauling truck.

http://www.blueovalnews.com

That is where you want to camp out for internal ford info and new models.

[99flareside]

Originally posted by Matt90GT
Basically expect the v6 and small v8 to have the 5 sp optional.

Actually the 5spd is standard on all F-150s with the 4.2 or 4.6 except on Lariats and Supercrews.

[cpadpl]

Matt90GT

Thanks, that site looks kind of anti-Ford...interesting stuff. So I guess that means I should keep my eyes and ears open and may have to purchase a 2003 vehicle...That bums me out about the Screw, I really like the looks of that thing. I've got a Reg. Cab right now and love it, but eventually all men age to a certain point where the cops will pull you over and tell you to get your kids out of the back of the truck bed and your wife will be pissed cause there's no room for shopping bags in the cab. So this is really my last regular cab....sniff...sniff..

I'm hoping that at 2004 they're going to develop a 5 speed that can take the 5.4L's torque output....But a little voice inside my head is saying, nahh...they'll just ixnae the 5-speed all together..If Ford keeps backing me into a corner, I'm going to have to get a Superduty to stay in the damn Ford family...

[Cougar Guy]

They already have a 5 speed that mates to the 5.4 . . . in the Super Duty's If I'm not mistaken, you can get a manual with the V10 and Diesel's as well. So the tranny is there just not in the light duty 5.4's.

That being said, it probably comes down to marketing and the fact that the vast majority of the 5.4's would be sold with the auto tranny even if the manual were available . . . I could be wrong, but I think most users would opt for the auto especially seing as how the truck market has gone "mainstream".

With the introduction of the new baby diesel in the light duty F-series, it will be interesting to see if a manual is an option . . .

[hmustang]

back in August I went and test drove a Mustang GT I aksed if they had any 5 speeds on the lot and the salesman said no most folks want the auto so we don't order any manuals unless it is a special order I would have gotten a 5 speed in my truck but the V6 I test drove that had one I didn't like the feel of it and went with the auto and well the auto has made me lazy I need to get back to a 5 speed to give my left leg and right arm something to do while driving.

[Matt90GT]

http://www.bonforums.com/trucks/

that may be a better link. They use to have internal documents on the trucks up to 2010 scanned there. The diesel in those documents was to phase out in 2005 as the emmissions could not be met. Who knows now with the new v6 one coming on line.