Every once in a while I get a hankerin' for a pickup. I did have one a coup,e years ago, but it was the $1100 Crapmaster (1988 Dodge Dakota V6, auto, 2wd longbox pile of crap--NOT a daily driver.) This time I'm thinking about a nicer truck, something persentable and not horrid to drive.
The only non-negotiable is a manual transmission, and I'd prefer a full-size truck.
Something like THIS ONE.
How are these to drive? To live with on a daily basis?
Thanks!
In reply to Strathclyde:
Got an 05 with 175k I just about dd everyday. Awesome truck as far as nice ride, descent steering and liveability. I got the 4.6 with 4x4 and 35" tires so mpgs suck. Before tires and chip I was getting 17 to 18 mpgs. Funny thing is I'm not a fan of Fords so I say these things from that perspective when I say these are good trucks.
I dd'd a 95 F150 for years, before that a K5 Blazer. I have numerous friends that dd F150's (a couple have the ecoboost and love it) and other brand trucks. My future son-in-law just traded his Avalanche on a new F150 w/ecoboost. It's his only vehicle and uses as a dd and tow his drag bike. Apparently lots of other people dd F150's too by the amount of them on the road.
Why the non-negotiable manual trans? Automatics have heavier tow/load rating than manuals. Makes for easier dd and more plentiful. Automatic technology has greatly improved over the years. I like my manual trans cars but when it comes to a truck that will haul something, make mine A/T please.
In reply to wlkelley3:
The manual trans non-negotiability is because I'll be driving it. I utterly detest automatics because they're slow to respond and worse in every way, dynamically, for what I want to do. I don't tow anything, so that doesn't figure in my eveluation.
Maybe I'm one of those dreaded ones who would use a pickup as a car and only occasionally use it to haul brush or something small.
I simply like manuals more--so much more that I really don't want one if it's automatic. Sorry, but I care about driving even when I'm not in something cool. I often drive automatics at work--they're city buses--and that's enough for me.
I don't mind some automatics, but the one in the f150 is awful. I wouldn't want one either lol.
I'm about to dd my '95 F150 4x4 again. Did it for quite a while before I bought the Mazda.
I like it, I especially like being able to see in traffic and not feel like I'm about to get squashed if I have to brake hard.
Great visability helps too.
In reply to wlkelley3:
FWIW I'm glad you're happy driving an a/t ...
but I'm with Strathclyde here ... my '97 F150 4x4 4.6L AT SUCKS as a DD for one big reason and that's the AT (makes towing a PITA also) most of the back rds around here have a speed limit of 35 ... the AT computer won't let it slip into torque converter lock-up 'til you reach 38 mph ... and while I don't mind speeding, I really don't like to on the community rds
when towing ( ~ 3000# counting what's in the bed) it's constantly shifting out of lock-up where a manual would let me just mash a bit on the the gas pedal and stay in 5th which would = better gas mileage ... coming up the mountains when I'm coming home from the track the AT will shift all the way back to 2nd gear (4000+ rpm) where a manual would stay in 3rd ..
so like I said ... I can well understand Strathclyde's position of not wanting an AT ... my next truck WILL be a manual
and jdbuilder ... I sure wish I could get the mileage you were getting 
I manage between 12 and 15
Yeah, my E4OD is either in too high a gear (on the faster roads) or you gotta mash it to downshift. By the time it does, it's almost to late.
It's a compromise no doubt but my wife will gladly take it to the store where with an MT, not so much.
jdbuilder wrote: In reply to Strathclyde: Got an 05 with 175k I just about dd everyday. Awesome truck as far as nice ride, descent steering and liveability. I got the 4.6 with 4x4 and 35" tires so mpgs suck. Before tires and chip I was getting 17 to 18 mpgs. Funny thing is I'm not a fan of Fords so I say these things from that perspective when I say these are good trucks.
Similar to my Dad's. His is an 05, leveling kit, 35's, FX4/5.4. Gets about 16-17 without a trailer. He DD'd it for about 3 years, gas hit $3 a gallon, bought a new Civic. Paid for itself in gas savings within 2 years, but he drives 140 miles a day for work. He HATED the Civic, just sold it and bought a Taurus about 5 months ago. Loves that car, and gets about 27mpg average. The truck just sits in the driveway unless we have to tow/haul something. Great truck, wouldn't wanna DD it though.
The above comments are pretty much the same experience I had driving an F150, it was a brand new u haul rental, and it annoyed me the whole time I drove it. It was a while ago, but it was either a 5 or 6 speed automatic (I can't remember), and I was mostly driving where the speed limit was 45 and it would short shift though the gears until it was going 50 mph at idle. I know it was done for fuel economy, but it was totally annoying to drive.
manual transmission is something I wish my Land Rover had. The auto is good, but I still hate it.
From everything I have read on towing websites, it is not that the manual F150 can tow less with a manual, it's that ford did not want to warrenty clutches, so they derated the manuals compared to the autos. They can both tow the same amount of E36 M3
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