Ok, i am in the market for a used truck and i need Opinions on both of them. also those of you with 5 speeds, does it get old when you are in traffic everyday? also could u post pictures of the interior of your truck with a 5 speed if u have it? thanks

 

Go with the auto.......pulls more and it stronger than the mazda 5 spd......and yes shifting gets old if you drive in traffic alot...resale is alot better also...Had the 5spd in my 97 before I knew better...couldnt pull squat...Good luck...Dave

This is just my opinion and does not neccesarily (?) reflect the opinion of the majority of this board....lol

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1998 F-150, SC/Flairside,oxford white 4x2,4.6,auto,3.55s,nerf bars,cls 111 towing,bed liner w/mat,atlas polished wheels w/285/75 R/16 BFG A/Ts (black side out),all plastics guards/bug shields,air raid/k & n filter, superchipped, duals out the back corners, flow master 3 chamber, snug top lid, f-150 online sticker back window-honk if you see me!!! Fabtech 3 1/2 lift .coverking dash cover, Lumi Logo's (front and rear), clear front corner lenses, muth mirrors,3" bullseye spindles, dash mounted CB, (TX Chapter requirement,lol),personalized license plates, Superlift traction bars,Image tail light covers (painted).

San Antonio
DWESSELS89@AOL.COM

 

Its a great transmission, I have the 5-speed and love it! Off-roading is much better with a manual

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Check out my site: cooltrucks.net

My email: webmaster@cooltrucks.net

Also:
nerdzfx.com
1997 F150 4x4 XLT with ORP 4.2L V6 and 5-speed manual.

 

I say go with the 5 speed save a little on gas my auto makes the truck get bad mileage plus there is hesitation with the auto when you go to pass or strat out form a light at WOT as mine has done this sevaral times.

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2000 F150 XLT Reg. cab
4.6 Triton Engine
4x2 3.55 rear end gear
sliding rear window
automatic keyless entry
white styleside short box

 

It all depends upon whether you intend to tow or not.

Even IF you want to tow, the major issue with a manual transmission that limits the rated ability to tow is the extreme limit on startability. Meaning, you can tow everything that an automatic can provided you can start your load without toasting the clutch. If you don't need to pull your 32' Starcraft out of Lake Michigan -- you can do nicely with the manual. Then again, if you really want to pull your boat up a tree -- just get a 4x4 and you can pull a barge if needed.

The benefit of an automatic's torque converter to maintain the engine within the engine's torque range is significant -- but if you choose wisely, you can tow very well with a manual transmission.

In fact -- if you really wanted to kick butt with a manual, you can add an over/under-drive box after it and pretend you have a Fuller® !

I only wish I could have one in Nick, as both my wife and I enjoy having something to do with both hands while driving.

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Y2K™ Jim Gorka

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

I love my 5-speed as well. . . The clutch is pretty light and doesn't tire out your leg too badly in traffic.

I was stuck in DC traffic for over an hour yesterday on I-95, and I still wouldn't trade it for an auto

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2000 F-150 XLT Supercab Wedgewood Blue

• 2WD w/ 3.55 Limited Slip
• 4.6L w/ 5 speed manual
• 16" 5-Spoke Aluminum Wheels
• Keyless Entry
• Stereo w/ Single CD
• Sliding Rear Window
• HD Electrical and Cooling
• Medium Parchment Interior

 

Hi, just wanted to say that my friend on the board Crash1 has the fastest 4.6 5 speed on the board

Check out the topic "Magnacharger" under engines to see the install of a couple super chargers.

 

I have the 5 speed. It is a bit notchy and slow shifting, though not as bad as the old heavy duty 4 speeds were. The clutch is nice and light This truck is used on steep mountain forestry roads daily. That is the reason I went with the manual.
Where I live I drive 70 miles to work and see only a couple of other cars and no traffic lights. I only shift through the gears once all the way to the bush. I think it might be tiresome shifting this thing in city traffic. I have never owned an automatic either but this thing does shift like a truck.

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98 Reg Cab 4X4, 4.2 5 Speed

 

I personally have the automatic, and wouldn't trade it for any manual while pulling a load....nice at boat ramps that are really steep, don't have to worry too much about it rolling.....Have seen a few that have rolled into the lake with manuals, and they were pi&&ed about that happening.
I drive in traffic everyday, and like it better with the auto, and once you "learn" how to drive an automatic, you aren't on the gas and on the brake agian.....plus you can still down shift if traffic is just crawling like it does here in the winter...wait, that is year around. I also drive a fair amount of offroad trails and logging roads, and have had no problem with terrain or worrying about getting stuck in a whole due to the clutch getting wet and having it slip....have seen a few trucks with that problem. Just my two cents worth.....anyways, enjoy the truck no matter what you get. =)

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1999 F-150 4x4 Offroad, SuperCab, Prairie Harvest Gold, 5.4L Triton w/ K&N Air Filter, Lund Interceptor Bug Guard, Lund Headlight Covers, Lund Screenfront Grill Insert, Vent Visors Smittybilt Outland Sport Bumper Gaurd w/ Hella 500 & 550 Driving lights, Access Roll-up Cover, Bedliner, Ford Reciever Hitch Cover, Taillight Covers, Bridgestone Dueler AT's

Future Mods:
Gibson Cat-Back Exhaust, Nerf bars, 4" Suspension Lift, 3" Body Lift, 35" Tires

 

LOL!!! Mental picture of someone rolling into the lake due to lack of manual driving skills Once you have a little finness with the clutch its pretty easy. Off-roading with the manual is easy, you can shift without having to touch the gas. Cool to watch the truck crawl up a little hill in first without gas, then shift to 2nd again without gas!

The clutch can get wet? Didn't know that! I do cross about 2 feet of water then climb 35 degree pitches with the Ford? Never heard of that problem! I did once get stuck in A LOT of MUD It was sooo deep that when I opened the door the mud was equal to the door sill. But thats not because of the clutch, thats me being stupid and not scouting a new trail. Live and learn

 

I miss the 5 speed I had in the Ranger greatly and catch myself still "feeling" for the clutch at stops. If you enjoy driving a manual then driving in traffic won't be a pain, it becomes "second nature". I commuted North towards Chicago for several years with a manual and never once did I think, "If I only had an auto...". I begged and pleaded for a manual with the 5.4 but they just don't make it, otherwise, I'd have one.

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all4chem@aol.com
Y2K XLT Supercab Flareside, Oxford White, Medium Graphite, Captains Chairs, 6-Disc, 5.4L, 3.55LS, Tow Pkg, Block Heater, Sliding Glass, Keyless Entry, 5-Spoke Al Wheels, P235/70R-16 OWL Tires, Clear Corner Lenses, Eaglite Plasma Headlights, Al Striker Plates for the rear doors, Oxford White Lund Interceptor, Line-X Liner.
Ordered: 01-17-00
Built: 02-23-00
Delivered: 03-13-00

 

Ah -- but that's because you are 'blessed' with nice diaphragm pressure plates.

I love gearboxes -- but I remember that old HP 3-finger 5,600# leg-buster I had in my old toy -- and I didn't sit at the light with the clutch disengaged for long, or my leg would start shaking and hopping like a frog on a battery.

These things drive Niiiiiiiiiiiice.

The wife and I hooked up the trailer this evening and dragged it down to the local State Park (I'm back at the keyboard cuz the park is full) -- and on the way, couldn't help but marvel over just how car-like in quiet and ride smoothness and transmission shift quality (5.4 - so = Auto).

Some time back, while I was researching the symptoms being complained about on the manual gearbox (another thread) - I stopped by the local dealer and drove several of his used trucks. While I was able to identify the notchiness and other 'features' being discussed by that thread -- I did marvel over just how well each of those trucks shifted.

We're a picky picky lot here -- and the result of those picky ones before us is the superb trucks that we're all enjoying and making better with our tweaks and modifications.



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Y2K™ Jim Gorka

Toreador Red, Keyless XLT SC SB 5.4L E4x4 4wDisc/ABS, 3.73LS, Skid, HD 7700# Towing, LT-245's on Chrome, Tube-Steps, Captain's, 6CD, Tonneau, named: "Nick"

 

Hunter 4x4: I had the 4.6 4x4 5speed. Loved it and I still keep a picture of it in my new truck. I had the manual 4x4 too, so there were two stick shifts on the floor. It was kind of tight up front if I had a third person in the middle. It shifted very smooth and clean and I had no problems selling it to another guy (from this board). I lived in Wash DC for a year (DC traffic is the worst) and I never tired of driving that truck. If you like a manual and like shifting then go for it. If not, stay w/the auto.

All4chem: of course the 5.4 comes in a manual!!!! There's even a couple of guys here with them. I'm guessing you didn't check out the SuperDuty trucks???? I personally have never even seen one but the 5.4 manual does come standard on the F250 SD V8 If my ford dealer ever gets one in, I'll test drive it just because I'd like to see how it feels to drive one.

Y2K 7700 4x4: "leg would start shaking and hopping like a frog on a battery" Boy does that ever describe my first week w/my new Superduty diesel manual truck!!! Still love that manual though

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2k F250 CC SWB 4x2 6 speed Diesel XLT Super Duty, Woodland Green
Power Mirrors, 3.73 LS, Captains Chairs, ARE tonneau top, rear privacy glass
TT Pkg, Class IV hitch, sliding rear window, running boards, mud flaps
265/75/16 AS OWL tires, am/fm/cassette/cd, rechargable MagLite
Clarion APA 5240 amp, Memphis speakers:Components front, 5x7 rear, 10"sub
SuperChip, Stepshields, Ventshields on windows, rubber bed mat
rugged liner bedliner on tailgate, quick disconnect jumper cables
unaFORDable (decal on tailgate)



[This message has been edited by Tina (edited 07-23-2000).]

 

And let this be a warning!

In a butt-kicking contest, stay away from Tina's left kick!

;0