You're pathetic. Your so desperate to justify your love for your budget special truck that you have to focus on semantics and typos rather than the real subject at hand.

Either that or you're TOO SLOW to be able to keep up. Either way, I'll break it down for you: the topic was about the 2009 Ford F-150 and the fact that the F-150 was no longer being offered with a manual transmission.

Now, that said, I thought it was pretty safe to assume (Heh, my first mistake with this crowd) that someone would understand that the discussion would be centered around the F150 in AMERICATthat is of course what the topic was made about, right?). I used a common saying that contextually makes perfect sense. When you say in a conversation that "the world does not revolve around ______" it is common knowledge that you are not actually referring to the world, but it is instead an exaggeration of a situation for effect. I guess I will spell it out for you next time so you can stay on track.

Now, following that same logic the 1% figure is not for "trucks in America," as we are once again talking about the F150 in America, NOT "trucks" in America. Someone else recently posted the 1% figure from a Ford press release. I don't remember which topic it was out of the 100 or so on 2009 F150s, but I'm sure you could find it with a little effort.

Bottom line? Ford is making a business decision, AKA a calculated cost. They will save more money than they would lose by cutting the manual option from the lineup. Period.

Ford (or ANY company for that matter) will ever make EVERYONE happy. I of course am not surprised that a bunch of you have to cry about your one beloved option and try and make Ford seem as if they don't offer enough variance for their customers when they lead the segment by a mile with 35 different configurations. But alas, no number of configurations will ever be enough...

 

Whoah, what's up with the name calling. Looks like someone hit a nerve

And if the topic was about the 2009 Ford F-150, why "in the world" did you start discussing the topic of internet usage in Africa? That doesn't do much to show that your involvement in this discussion is centered around F-150's in America now, does it? You wrote "Fewer than 1.5% of households have internet access in Africa, so anything having to do with selling advertising on the internet should be stopped...only 1.5% of people see it! Please...." When the fact is that 4 percent of Africa's population has regular access to the internet. So 4% would potentially see online advertisements of some sort, not 1.5% as you stated. It appears your percentages are a bit off.

 

Case in point. Classic avoidance syndrome because you got owned and don't have anything to say that actually argues your point.

Also hilarious is the fact that you quote my example about African internet usage being off-topic when the entire point of my example was to point out that YOUR example of European trends didn't apply. Another classic example of your inability to keep up with the conversation.

Just do yourself a favor and call it quits before you find a way to make an even bigger fool of yourself.

 

That's funny, because I've posted information that shows your percentages are off and you can't admit you were wrong. You make unfounded statements and have nothing to show to back them up. Then you complain about being off topic and proceed to discuss internet usage in Africa, which has exactly nothing to do with percentages of vehicles that are manuals. And to top it all off, you were even wrong about your Africa percentage. Too funny!

 

Hey look at me!

Even I admit I'm wrong!

Am I'm damn proud of it!

Because the world does not revolve around me or my manual F150.

 

The thing is, a lot more people would buy a manual transmission if they offered it with more combinations than a v6, regular cab, 2wd. Personally (and I think a lot of others would agree) I would love a manual tranny with a v8, 4 wheel drive, and an extended/crew cab. Ford should do a study on how many people would buy such a truck, I think they would be surprised.

 

Ok...for the record, I want absolutely nothing to do with the debate that has been roaring here. I don't care what % of anything is happening in Europe or Africa...the thread was started to discuss Ford ditching its manual tranny in the F150s.

That said, concerning the Ford rep who supposedly said only 1% of the 2004-2008MY trucks were sold with a manual tranny. I have no idea how accurate that statement is or is not. I did not see, hear, or read the press release, so I am not vouching for its authenticity in any way.

However...lets think about this for a minute.

Ford releases forsale the 2004 truck line-up. Out of all the options, extended cab, 4x4, v6, v8, long bed, short bed, XL, XLT, FX4, etc... the only way to have a manual tranny is in a regular cab, 4x2, v6 pickup.

Said slightly different:

Regular cab, 4x2, v6, manual transmission trucks equaled only 1% of their sales...

Am I and MOford21 the only ones here that see this as a self-fulfilling prophecy by Ford?

I believe the only reason that number is so low is simply because Ford limited the options so much, in my humble opinion.

For the record, I will say that I would love to have my truck with a manual transmission. Being able to have my truck with an even bigger v8 or diesel and manual tranny would just be icing on the cake.

Later,
Mike

 

That's a good point Mike.

Ford doesn't offer a manual tranny in the F-150 in the various options with which they offer the automatic, so naturally sales would be low.

When I bought my '04 I had to get the Heritage model to get a manual transmission because they didn't offer the new body style with a manual tranny.


Kind of explains why sales numbers for '04 F-150's with manual transmissions would be low when they didn't even offer them unless you bought a Heritage.

 

Wow, Wildbill you're literally the dumbest person on these boards hands down.

that said, you are all wrong about your conclusion for the lack of manual sales. Only way is with a V6? Tell that to the guys ON THIS FORUM with the 4.6 and a manual tranny.

 

Lumadar, take a chill. I've tangled with you before and I frankly do not care for the way you flame and harass people. Grow up and act like an adult.

 

Here you go buddy...free of charge.

 

Yeah... and at that time the 4.6l and the 4.2l HP/TQ ratings were so close, it really didn't matter.

If Ford offered it in the 5.4l... it would probably split the sales of the F150 to roughly 80 automatic 20 manual or somewhere within that range.

It's not due to the fact that the truck would be stale with a stick... it's the mere fact they didn't offer it in the higher end models, so how Ford could do a market analysis based upon the worst case (being the v6 with stick and no options) is beyond me. That's like me saying the best selling truck is a F150 with a v6. Well sir, what about the v8's? Oh, I forgot about that... duh.

I think it would be in Ford's best interest to offer a ZF 6 speed out of the SD and throw it on the '09 F150, and then do market analysis, even if it was just for one year.

Being educated around the business world, that would be the best and most accurate way of justification for not selling the manual. By not selling the manual for some skank and unclear answer is NOT the way to do market analysis or even run a business.

By the way... running a business is all about luck. Who knows... Ford might get lucky.

 

Although everything you said about trying it on different models *may* be true, the problem is Ford is no where near being financially stable enough to try their luck. That's the only reason it got canceled. they can not afford to offer it.

 

Well... personally, if Ford keeps going on the route they are going, they are just going to stay in a stagnant line (or called market stagnation) not going anywhere anytime soon. To the eye, even though Ford is offering new vehicle lineups, does not necessarily mean it is going to help them get more money. In fact, by offering a new line of trucks, it is only going to keep them at the same level the have been for the last few years to keep up with the economic depreciation of their market share due to inflation of money.

If you were to do the math, you'd see what I mean. They haven't really shifted much throughout the years. But if Ford really wants to do well, they have to take a dive, and try out something different. That means Ford should do the following to get their **** into gear:

1. Offer the diesel light duty pickup first.
2. Offer a standard shift on ALL v8 and diesel models.
3. Make a larger gas engine that is WELL built.
4. Make a 6 speed automatic that will last and not bust.
5. With everything being built better, go back to the 3 year / 36k warranty.

Why go back on the warranty? Because if Ford markets the trucks being better built, and a well designated claim to a warranty that is less than the others because the truck is well built and they've got proof beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Ford should really sit back, and take a good look at themselves. They've got a lot going for them if they ignore the risks, and do what Nike says, "Just do it!" and take the risks.

I mean, even with the body redesign of the '09... Ford is taking a big risk! It is much riskier beefing up a transmission. Heck... *say* if that new 6 speed auto turned out to be a rotten egg just because Ford spent more money worrying about looks rather than practicality.

These days, more people look for "practicality" on the Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs than anything. They don't want a truck that will leave them stranded on some desert highway because Ford didn't put the engineering into it, because they would rather have a Microsoft SYNC system in the truck. Personally, I'd rather have the downright fact that my truck will start, run, and get me from point A to B. "Luxury" falls way up on the triangle on the MHN, which would include a nice body, SYNC, nice seats.

Personally, I'd rather have a truck that works, rather than a truck that breaks every time I go someplace, even if that means it looks like it came off the shelf 10 years ago.

 

Ok, I'll bite. Show of hands...er posts. Who here has a 2004-2008MY F150, non-heritage edition (in other words, the "new" body style), with a v8 and manual transmission?

If you do, how did you get it?

Oh, and one more thing. If you bought it new from a dealership, I want the VIN number as proof.