I still don't understand why they completely dropped the manual in all full sized trucks. I personally enjoy driving a manual vehicle. Probably due to the fact that most Americans are too lazy to ever learn to drive stick.

 

x2

IIRC manual F-150s only accounted for 8% of all sales.

 

Shame. Only in America. When I go to countries like Japan and Europe, every vehicle has a manual transmission. Although, their engines are also insanely small as well.

I drove a Mercedes Sprinter van (Dodge Sprinter in the US) in France one time and it was a 4cyl with a 5 speed. The German drivers got too drunk, so I drove from France, through Belgium to Frankfort, Germany. Made the V6 F150 seem like a race car. I swear I couldn't even get that thing over 50. It would drop down to about 30 going up hills.

Anyway, don't mean to get off topic. Back to the 3.7 V6. Next I'm at my dealer for fuel and air filter change, I'm going to try out all the new 2011's they have.

 

I can see why they dropped the manual - it's a whole other set of powertrains that have to be certified and software written for them. It doesn't pay when the demand is low and manuals do worse than automatics on EPA gas mileage runs. Please note that I did not say real world gas mileage.

However, Ford offers a 6 speed stick in the 3.7 Mustang..............

 

IIRC the Mustang is the only Ford vehicle that has a manual transmission (In the US anyways)

 

It's too bad that you can't at least special order a manual in the F-150. I think there are many out there that would wait and even pay a small additional fee, if it were available to them.

 

That's one thing I don't like about Ford. You don't get what you want- you get what they want. If you want this package, you can't get that one, or it automatically adds this one etc etc

 

The '11 Fusion S Model has a 6 speed manual transmission that is fun to drive. We traded my wife's '02 Stang GT 5 speed for a new Fusion two weeks ago and have only used a 1/2 tank of gas. My wife is really pleased with it. I'm glad for that. It actually is a decent little sedan and it came with the power package and alloy's as a standard feature.

Step up to the SE package and it comes standard with plastic wheel covers, what gives?

 

Not even close. The following all have a manual available:

Ranger
Escape
Fiesta
Focus
Fusion
Mustang

 

If I really wanted a new truck with the 5spd, I'd definitely give the Ranger a close look. My buddy had a Ranger supercab FX4 Level II, all black with the 4.0 V6. Only his was auto, but you can get it paired with the 5 spd (M5OD still?). It was one slick looking truck, the 4.0 has some *****, too.

 

Yea, nice. But the only one that matters to me is not on the list...

 

I wish that Ford would turn the Ranger into what the Nissan Frontier is. 6 speed manual, 4x4, and stuff the new 3.7l V6 into it.

I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

My buddy has a '08 Frontier with the 4.0l V6, 6 speed manual, 4x4 NISMO edition, e-diffs, and clutch start, and it is sick. Nissan's really got the marketing right for that truck. Ford should copy that truck and make their own little additions... but Ford will strip it of a manual transmission I bet.

 

I was at a dealership the day they got their first shipment of 2011 F-150s. I did not drive the 3.7s they had on the lot because they are not even offered in the trucks I am looking at. However, all of their salesmen took turns driving the trucks. EVERY ONE of them said they would take the new 3.7 over the 4.2 or the 4.6 in a race or to drive home in.

 

I would have bought a Ranger instead of my F-150 except the interior is too cramped. I don't need a full size truck but the comfort is worth it.