The other reason is with the smaller motor you can get on down the road a hell of a lot quicker than with that automatic. Mines a 4x4 and it moves if I want it to. Granted I would like the 8 but beggars can't choose
The other reason was mentioned above, long twisty roads especially at night with no Johny Laws around and almost as good as the newest roller coaster. Hell the wife drives a 5 speed better than most men, then again I taught her over in Europe on the autobahns.
To me if you have a 6 then ya got to have the stick.

 

2000regcab54:

My remark about auto's being for wussy's was all in fun, I wasn't serious. I think they are both great. I do agree with someone else's post about if you have a 4.2 then a 5-speed is the way to go if you want more pep. As far as your 5.4 its got plenty of pep regardless if its auto or manual (you lucky sob ). I'd love to have the 5.4, maybe next time.

I know this is a real stupid question but do the Lightings come with manuals at all, or only auto's? To me they would be more fun with a manual

Talleywacker:

I've never noticed my front end dip when down shifting from 5th to 4th when driving (2 or 3mph) over the speed limit, now the chirp could be a give away...

 

I can't say that I disagree with the idea of a stick being more fun around town, and I agree that they are easier to work on. But I got this truck with the six cylinder and the automatic with the deliberate intention of changing the general perception people have about the 6/auto combination. I already have a formula developed that worked VERY well on my Lightning, but I'm curious to see if the results will be the same on this truck. I know from my Mustang racing days that an AOD can run every bit as fast as a manual transmission car. In some cases the auto was faster. But that was a different vehicle with different hardware and older technology. It will be fun to see the results- especially against other 5-speed equipped V6 & V8 F150's. First things first, though, I gotta get those 3.55's out of there and get some 4.30's in. 3.55 and lower gear ratios are simply horrible with the way this transmission is geared. Even the 5.0L Mustangs bogged against them in vehicles that weighed 1000+ lbs lighter.


Later,

 

more great reasons to get a 5-speed

1) can't tow as much

2) Feels car like 'cause they put in a girlie clutch for babies that can't handle a real truck clutch

3)if you close your eyes and pretend, yes you too could be driving a Ferrari...


but seriously, if you like 5 spd buy it. I just don't see the need for it.

 

why cant you tow as much? The guy who owned my truck before I bought it used to tow cattle trailers. He now tows the same cattle trailers with his automatic. Im sorry but 'Cant tow as much' I smell cow ***** comming from that statement. Im not saying your full of it, but a manual can do just as good. So long as you know how to work a clutch right. I would have to say that the only thing I dont like about my 5 speed is when im in 4th and hit a pothole or something. That shift ball hurts like a mother when it hits your knee.
And hey I like my hydraulic clutch, it was easy as hell to learn on. So by saying "Girlie" does that mean you think all women are weak? That they shouldnt be able to drive at all? Or drive trucks? So I quess then you just dont like women. So you must like...OOOHHHH I See. lol, im just messin with ya. Just like everything else, To each his own.

 

before you call cow $****, go read the owners manual or a pickup brochure. A 5 speed can't tow as much as the auto because the clutch is too weak. It was pussied out for a car-like shift. That's not me, that's Ford's recommendation.

Yes its still a truck and I do believe the 5 speed will tow what the auto can, but expect premature clutch replacement if you do.

You see, Ford, GM and Dodge all realize that 95% of these trucks are for pleasure use, not heavy work so they gave it a softer clutch that would be more enjoyable to drive. I don't fault them for that. I personally would not enjoy driving a truck that required two feet to push down the clutch and felt like shifting an International dumptruck


As I said before, if you want the 5 speed, buy it.

 

They put in a new oem $77.82 flywheel. There are currently no aftermarket flywheels, however come Janurary I should start work on a billet aluminum flywheel replacement. stock flywheel weighs ~ 37lbs. the billet aluminum would weigh ~ 17lbs, making a rotation loss of 20lbs which would free up around 8-10 more HP to the wheels. however cost of this item will be ~ $475.

I thought you meant going from 5th to 3rd, sorry.

I have TOLD you time and time again, auto's do not suck, you CAN get them to be just as fast as a 5spd, HOWEVER, it will cost you an arm and a leg to do so. Your talking gear changed, tranny improvements, and an aftermarket TC. It ultimately costs more with an auto, but when your done you will have a very reliable quick ride.

I myself like the best bang for the buck, hence I traded my auto to the 5spd. Hell, It dropped my monthly payments $165!!!

 

You just summed it up Talleywhacker. The best bang for the buck for you. Your monthly payments.

It really is about choice. There has been an identical arguement for 4x4 vs 2WD, reg cab vs SuperCrew and so on.

Buy what you want, its your 20, 30, 40 thousand dollars.

 

I was approved for 33K.

I took a vehicle that was 15,500.

TallTomG: You are 1,000% correct on that part

 

personally i found that i got to be a sloppy, inattentive driver with my last truck; an automatic. a stick is not only more fun, but gives you increased vehicle control and makes you pay attention to what is going on around you more. there are drawbacks to a manual though. not much fun at a job site. and whoever put the racetrack-fast gear ratio on reverse ought to be put on job probation. i'm just glad that everyone has a choice to buy what they like best. for me, that's a 5 speed.

p.s. anyone know why they offer a 5.4 with 5 speed on the super duty but not in the f150? clearly there is a tranny in the ford arsenal that can handle the torque. why not offer it in the f150?

 

Talleywacker:

"I thought you meant 5th to 3rd" You rock dude!!! and where is that damn "how-to" manual?

Just to note 5-speeds are NOT wussied out like you may think. Someone with a brain and degree developed something that was more reliable then an older version. With the 5-speed you do need to use your brain and know when to shift. Auto's like I said before are awesome, especially since you just stick it in "drive" and not have to think anymore (talk about wussied out)

Another thing is, at least in my own opinion, if you are going to be using a truck to do some serious towing then you shouldn't be using a F150, more like the 250 or 350 so as Emmisions was relating to as far as a 5-speed vs. an auto in the F150 who cares. With are 5-speeds we can tow 3,500lbs which is fine for boats, race-cars (like mine) pop-up trailers, and other fine toys with no problems what so ever. It's rated at 3,500 but if you know what your doing we could probabely go to 4,000 to 4,500. Its always under-rated to begin with. As Emmisions stated if you know how to drive a standard you can just about tow what the other F150 autos can without hurting the clutch.

Talleywacker, which I have come to know from his post knows what he is talking about. His statement about more bang for the buck with a 5-speed vs. auto for performance is a fact, always will be. One prime example that comes to mind is I don't see any Winston Cup drivers with autos in their cars. Its not something you want when racing. If you were to put two of the same trucks or cars togeather one with and auto and one with a 5-speed and two good drivers, the manual will always win period. I see these mustang GT's and Cobras with automatics and I think, whos bright idea was that to put an auto into a performance car???

 

It's hard to get a better feeling than a double clutch downshift from 4th to 2nd at about 50 m.p.h.