5 Speed VS. Automatic
#1
5 Speed VS. Automatic
I just ordered a 2001 F-150 4x4 Sport with a 4.6 and a 5 speed.
I wanted to know how the 5 speed hooked up with the 4.6 compares to the automatic combo?
I test drove one with an auto and thought it was ok, I imagine the 5 speed would be much better.
I’ll be getting it in May.
I wanted to know how the 5 speed hooked up with the 4.6 compares to the automatic combo?
I test drove one with an auto and thought it was ok, I imagine the 5 speed would be much better.
I’ll be getting it in May.
#3
Join Date: Dec 1997
Location: Windsor,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 9,417
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10 Posts
2001,
The Automatic is a dog compared to the 5 speed. Good choice.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks, MAC 8.8 Axle Girdle
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Hedman Headers,
Custom air intake system with modified
air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips
The Automatic is a dog compared to the 5 speed. Good choice.
Regards
Jean Marc Chartier
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00 F-150 XLT SC Flairside 4x4 4.6 w/5spd 3.55LSD
Warn XD9000i, skid plates, Draw tite class III,
Rancho RSX Reflex shocks, MAC 8.8 Axle Girdle
BFG 285/75 R16 MTs,
Borla Cat Back, Hedman Headers,
Custom air intake system with modified
air box, Ported Throttle body,
Shortened MAF sensor tower,
K&N air filter,
Superchips
#4
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Kansas side of the greater KC area
Posts: 3,188
Likes: 0
Received 3 Likes
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3 Posts
I wish I had a 5 speed but didn't like the feel of the 5 speed in the truck I test drove and ended up with a auto of course I was going from a Mustang GT to a truck and expected the 5 speeds to feel about the same but there not the same.
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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
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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
#5
Hi Have 99 SC 4X4 AT 4.6L with 3.73 RE
Had 5speed(od) manual with last truck. Got more hook up to rear wheels, etc. There were times i regretted it.but overall, it did what i was looking for at the time.
On my 99 SC, i do have snug-top & stuff in shortbed, so im pretty heavy. With my set-up, yep, kinda a doggie! Test drove empty, but after all my mods,(weight) oops
That 5 speed gotta work better. This 4.6l was hunting all over for the right gear, etc. still not used to it, elect. trans, gotta gear between 3rd & 4th(OD) Sometimes i dont even know what gear its in. HA
Supechip has helped out on shifting & little more power etc.
Driving solo 90%, so AT great in city-stop&go. Dont burn clutch or tires anymore, going up boat ramp, so thats a plus. Sometimes they say AT better for towing, but?
that might be debatable. HA Lost my 4R70W @ 17000mi. Besides, manual cheaper!
Had to do it over again, 5.4L minimum. AT ?
Good luck. OT
Had 5speed(od) manual with last truck. Got more hook up to rear wheels, etc. There were times i regretted it.but overall, it did what i was looking for at the time.
On my 99 SC, i do have snug-top & stuff in shortbed, so im pretty heavy. With my set-up, yep, kinda a doggie! Test drove empty, but after all my mods,(weight) oops
That 5 speed gotta work better. This 4.6l was hunting all over for the right gear, etc. still not used to it, elect. trans, gotta gear between 3rd & 4th(OD) Sometimes i dont even know what gear its in. HA
Supechip has helped out on shifting & little more power etc.
Driving solo 90%, so AT great in city-stop&go. Dont burn clutch or tires anymore, going up boat ramp, so thats a plus. Sometimes they say AT better for towing, but?
that might be debatable. HA Lost my 4R70W @ 17000mi. Besides, manual cheaper!
Had to do it over again, 5.4L minimum. AT ?
Good luck. OT
#6
#7
With a 5-speed, you'll probably want a tach. Check to make sure you are getting a tach with the Sport Package. If not, it comes with the XLT and can be ordered as a stand-alone option on XLs if you hunt through the sales person's options binder. Hard to find and most sales people don't know about it.
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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 limited-slip. CD, remote entry, factory side steps, FORD box liner, rear fender inner splash shields (TSB 00-09-05).
My third F-series ordered new. The other two: '73 F-100 Custom, 240 cube 6, 3 on the tree, tan, "West Coast" mirrors, step bumper, knitted vinyl seat, AM radio; and '98 F-150 SC short-box XL, XLS package, Pacific Green, 4.2 5-speed, 3.55 LS, FM-cassette.
GREAT trucks!
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Black 2000 SC short-box XLT. 4.2 V-6, 5-speed, 3.55 limited-slip. CD, remote entry, factory side steps, FORD box liner, rear fender inner splash shields (TSB 00-09-05).
My third F-series ordered new. The other two: '73 F-100 Custom, 240 cube 6, 3 on the tree, tan, "West Coast" mirrors, step bumper, knitted vinyl seat, AM radio; and '98 F-150 SC short-box XL, XLS package, Pacific Green, 4.2 5-speed, 3.55 LS, FM-cassette.
GREAT trucks!
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#8
Just finished driving my buddies 2001 short box reg cab orp, and it has the new 231 hp 4.6 with a 4sp auto. My 99 with the older 4.6/5sp, same body and trim and 70,000 on it absolutely purrs in comparison.
I mean the motor is nice and new, but the feeling, control and driveablity is nice on the 5sp. The auto is a slug, and finds gears like it's looking for a needle in the ol' haystack.
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Bambino Online
Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; factory snapless tonneau; twin 6" kicker sub tubes; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820-S
I mean the motor is nice and new, but the feeling, control and driveablity is nice on the 5sp. The auto is a slug, and finds gears like it's looking for a needle in the ol' haystack.
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Bambino Online
Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; factory snapless tonneau; twin 6" kicker sub tubes; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820-S
#9
Sorry, I forgot to mention that it is and XLT so it comes with the tachometer.
I had a feeling the 5 speed would be much better. I drove and automatic and felt the same way about how the transmission didn’t know what gear it wanted to be in.
I also test drove a 2001 mustang gt automatic and the same car in a 5 speed. Their was a HUGE difference between those two cars. So I figured there would also be a big difference in the f-150 too.
Thanks for responding
I had a feeling the 5 speed would be much better. I drove and automatic and felt the same way about how the transmission didn’t know what gear it wanted to be in.
I also test drove a 2001 mustang gt automatic and the same car in a 5 speed. Their was a HUGE difference between those two cars. So I figured there would also be a big difference in the f-150 too.
Thanks for responding
#11
I got the exact same setup, and all i can say is the 5-speed as amazin, much better than the auto's.
Since these trucks are very light in the back, yet with tons of momentum, they are a pain to stop in slick conditions, and if i werent for being able to downshift in 4x4 mode, i would have probably clipped a few people from behind by now! PLUS, you arent driving when you have an automatic, as my friend says, "you are just directing!"
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The TRUCK:
1999 Black F150 XLT Sport 4x4 Flareside, 4.6 Triton V-8, Manual Transmission, Captains Chairs, Power Everything.
Appearance Changes:
Button-down Tonneau Cover, Webasto Sunroof, Spray-on Bed-liner, Xenon Fog and Headlights, Blackwidow Car Alarm, Window Tint, Wet Okole Seats (ALL).
Stereo:
2 10" Kicker CompVR's on Fosgate 360a2, Kicker Components Front & Fosgate 5x7 Rear on Fosgate 200a4, Blaupunkt Muchen Deck.
Performance:
265/70 R17 Yokohama Geolandar A/T+, Borla Split-Rear Cat-Back Exhaust, K&N FIPK.
Since these trucks are very light in the back, yet with tons of momentum, they are a pain to stop in slick conditions, and if i werent for being able to downshift in 4x4 mode, i would have probably clipped a few people from behind by now! PLUS, you arent driving when you have an automatic, as my friend says, "you are just directing!"
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The TRUCK:
1999 Black F150 XLT Sport 4x4 Flareside, 4.6 Triton V-8, Manual Transmission, Captains Chairs, Power Everything.
Appearance Changes:
Button-down Tonneau Cover, Webasto Sunroof, Spray-on Bed-liner, Xenon Fog and Headlights, Blackwidow Car Alarm, Window Tint, Wet Okole Seats (ALL).
Stereo:
2 10" Kicker CompVR's on Fosgate 360a2, Kicker Components Front & Fosgate 5x7 Rear on Fosgate 200a4, Blaupunkt Muchen Deck.
Performance:
265/70 R17 Yokohama Geolandar A/T+, Borla Split-Rear Cat-Back Exhaust, K&N FIPK.
#12
Join Date: May 1999
Location: Kansas side of the greater KC area
Posts: 3,188
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Received 3 Likes
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3 Posts
A couple guys at work told me why would I want to go back to a manual as they said with a auto all you do is put it in drive and floor it. I told them that may be true but it makes you lazy plus it eats more of your power and gas. Boy do I miss shifting gears I should have had the dealer do a search for 5 speed V8 and everything else my truck has instead of getting this auto gas guzler.
#13
I think that the tow rating is higher on the auto-magics becuase of your weak clutches. At least, thats what i think when i'm towing...
Bambino
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Bambino Online
Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP/Silver on Dk Graphite - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; factory snapless tonneau; kicker sub tubes; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820-S; Amsoil Series 2k in the diffs.
Bambino
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Bambino Online
Owners Gallery Truck #179
1999 reg cab/short box/ORP/Silver on Dk Graphite - 3.55; 4.6l 5sp; factory snapless tonneau; kicker sub tubes; Custom Exhaust; Mobil 1 5w30/Motorcraft FL820-S; Amsoil Series 2k in the diffs.
#14
My preference is definitely with the 5 speed. But this kind of a decision is so dependent on personal preferences and situational factors. If you tow a lot, do a lot of low speed back and forth (construction), live in the city, or don't like to shift, I can definitely see the automatic. The 5 speed gives me the control I want, the involvement in driving, and I think a performance advantage. I like the feeling of being directly hooked up versus the slippage inherent in the torque converter.
#15
I agree, the weakness of the clutch makes for a lower tow rating. I had a V-6 with a 5 speed and got rid of it at 75K because there was almost no clutch left in it. I didn't tow much with it at all. Took my lawnmower to the shop a couple of times behind the truck on a trailer. I have a 4.6 with the auto now and am much happier. I will miss being able to downshift during bad weather, but that's about all.
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'97 F-150, 2WD, 8'bed, 4.6L,Auto, 3.55 LS, Duraliner, D. plate toolbox, K&N filter, 3" air box mod, silencer removed, Westin nerf bars,towing pkg,headlight flasher
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'97 F-150, 2WD, 8'bed, 4.6L,Auto, 3.55 LS, Duraliner, D. plate toolbox, K&N filter, 3" air box mod, silencer removed, Westin nerf bars,towing pkg,headlight flasher