cactuscowboy

I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions are
on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically a
manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
like the Mustang.

Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C Hemi?
Automatic only.

It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on target.
The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift out
of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
"trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the humiliation
of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
crew cab pickup to look even tougher.

Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.

Best regards,
Dave Rose
Cactus Cowboy
Big Wonderful Wyoming
'49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
'62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
'98 XJ Sport
O|||||||O

I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC
"CRWLR" <CRWLRJEFF@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
news:107g92bjkm5su53@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "herman" <email@adress.there> wrote in message
> news:5Dmdc.1731$PV5.678@news04.bloor.is.net.cable. rogers.com...
> > The new line of jeeps have a hidden agenda , which is, they are designed
> for
> > soccer moms who don't offroad, hence the liberty etc etc. thats the way
> the
> > market is shifting so, why manual?
> >
> > catch my drift?lol
> >
> But, why NOT a manual?
>
> The Unlimited is simply another TJ variation, and all TJs get a manual as
> the standard transmission. The automatic is an option. I can understand
that
> DC might make the automatic the standard transmission, but why would they
> eliminate the manual transmission as an available option on a model
> VARIATION that has this option on the other variations of the model?
Hidden
> agenda aside, there is no manufacturing limitation to support the
inability
> of the consumer to get this model with a manual trans. On the Libby, there
> is no manufacturing capability to provide a manual because DC made a
> decision to not use that transmission. But, on the TJ, the transmission is
> widely used on all variations except the Unlimited.
>
> Does this change foretell the demise of manual transmissions in America's
> line ups? We are already noticing that the new Ford F150 is (reported by
> somebody on this group - unknown by myself) is only available with an
> automatic.
>
>
>
>

L.W.(=?iso-8859-1?Q?=DFill?=) Hughes III

Seems like Ford would miss the boat (literally) if they didn't
offer a granny in all of their pick 'em ups.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

cactuscowboy wrote:
>
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC

L.W.(=?iso-8859-1?Q?=DFill?=) Hughes III

Seems like Ford would miss the boat (literally) if they didn't
offer a granny in all of their pick 'em ups.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

cactuscowboy wrote:
>
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC

L.W.(=?iso-8859-1?Q?=DFill?=) Hughes III

Seems like Ford would miss the boat (literally) if they didn't
offer a granny in all of their pick 'em ups.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

cactuscowboy wrote:
>
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC

L.W.(=?iso-8859-1?Q?=DFill?=) Hughes III

Seems like Ford would miss the boat (literally) if they didn't
offer a granny in all of their pick 'em ups.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
mailto:-------------------- http://www.----------.com/

cactuscowboy wrote:
>
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC

CRWLR

I suspect that the real reason manufacturers are going to only automatics in
the line up is that they can better control the activities of the motor in
order to meet smog rules. Obviously, the driver can select the manual
setting of the trans and defeat the controls that the trans has over the
engine, but the vast majority of drivers will put the selector in D and
never move it. Ever. Still more will put it in D most of the time, and only
move it when they want to move. Very few of them will actively select gears,
or they would have purchased the manual trans in the first place. The very
small number of drivers that will overpower the controls of the transmission
will have very little affect on the air quality, but if there were large
numbers of drivers with manual transmissions, then the affects on air
quality are more dramatic. The idea is that given an option of selecting D
and taking the shift points where they come is more environmentally friendly
than running the gears in a manual trans up to engine speeds much higher
than an automatic will routinely allow.

That explains the move away from manual transmissions in many cars and
trucks, but it does not explain why all TJs, save one, come with a manual
trans as standard equipment and have automatics as an available option. And,
the one TJ model that has the automatic as its standard trans will not allow
the special ordering of a manual.



"cactuscowboy" <cactuscowboy@bresnan.net> wrote in message
news:Nt2ec.114350$w54.825884@attbi_s01...
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions
are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically
a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C
Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on
target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift
out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the
humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC
> "CRWLR" <CRWLRJEFF@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
> news:107g92bjkm5su53@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "herman" <email@adress.there> wrote in message
> > news:5Dmdc.1731$PV5.678@news04.bloor.is.net.cable. rogers.com...
> > > The new line of jeeps have a hidden agenda , which is, they are
designed
> > for
> > > soccer moms who don't offroad, hence the liberty etc etc. thats the
way
> > the
> > > market is shifting so, why manual?
> > >
> > > catch my drift?lol
> > >
> > But, why NOT a manual?
> >
> > The Unlimited is simply another TJ variation, and all TJs get a manual
as
> > the standard transmission. The automatic is an option. I can understand
> that
> > DC might make the automatic the standard transmission, but why would
they
> > eliminate the manual transmission as an available option on a model
> > VARIATION that has this option on the other variations of the model?
> Hidden
> > agenda aside, there is no manufacturing limitation to support the
> inability
> > of the consumer to get this model with a manual trans. On the Libby,
there
> > is no manufacturing capability to provide a manual because DC made a
> > decision to not use that transmission. But, on the TJ, the transmission
is
> > widely used on all variations except the Unlimited.
> >
> > Does this change foretell the demise of manual transmissions in
America's
> > line ups? We are already noticing that the new Ford F150 is (reported by
> > somebody on this group - unknown by myself) is only available with an
> > automatic.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

CRWLR

I suspect that the real reason manufacturers are going to only automatics in
the line up is that they can better control the activities of the motor in
order to meet smog rules. Obviously, the driver can select the manual
setting of the trans and defeat the controls that the trans has over the
engine, but the vast majority of drivers will put the selector in D and
never move it. Ever. Still more will put it in D most of the time, and only
move it when they want to move. Very few of them will actively select gears,
or they would have purchased the manual trans in the first place. The very
small number of drivers that will overpower the controls of the transmission
will have very little affect on the air quality, but if there were large
numbers of drivers with manual transmissions, then the affects on air
quality are more dramatic. The idea is that given an option of selecting D
and taking the shift points where they come is more environmentally friendly
than running the gears in a manual trans up to engine speeds much higher
than an automatic will routinely allow.

That explains the move away from manual transmissions in many cars and
trucks, but it does not explain why all TJs, save one, come with a manual
trans as standard equipment and have automatics as an available option. And,
the one TJ model that has the automatic as its standard trans will not allow
the special ordering of a manual.



"cactuscowboy" <cactuscowboy@bresnan.net> wrote in message
news:Nt2ec.114350$w54.825884@attbi_s01...
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions
are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically
a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C
Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on
target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift
out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the
humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC
> "CRWLR" <CRWLRJEFF@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
> news:107g92bjkm5su53@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "herman" <email@adress.there> wrote in message
> > news:5Dmdc.1731$PV5.678@news04.bloor.is.net.cable. rogers.com...
> > > The new line of jeeps have a hidden agenda , which is, they are
designed
> > for
> > > soccer moms who don't offroad, hence the liberty etc etc. thats the
way
> > the
> > > market is shifting so, why manual?
> > >
> > > catch my drift?lol
> > >
> > But, why NOT a manual?
> >
> > The Unlimited is simply another TJ variation, and all TJs get a manual
as
> > the standard transmission. The automatic is an option. I can understand
> that
> > DC might make the automatic the standard transmission, but why would
they
> > eliminate the manual transmission as an available option on a model
> > VARIATION that has this option on the other variations of the model?
> Hidden
> > agenda aside, there is no manufacturing limitation to support the
> inability
> > of the consumer to get this model with a manual trans. On the Libby,
there
> > is no manufacturing capability to provide a manual because DC made a
> > decision to not use that transmission. But, on the TJ, the transmission
is
> > widely used on all variations except the Unlimited.
> >
> > Does this change foretell the demise of manual transmissions in
America's
> > line ups? We are already noticing that the new Ford F150 is (reported by
> > somebody on this group - unknown by myself) is only available with an
> > automatic.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

CRWLR

I suspect that the real reason manufacturers are going to only automatics in
the line up is that they can better control the activities of the motor in
order to meet smog rules. Obviously, the driver can select the manual
setting of the trans and defeat the controls that the trans has over the
engine, but the vast majority of drivers will put the selector in D and
never move it. Ever. Still more will put it in D most of the time, and only
move it when they want to move. Very few of them will actively select gears,
or they would have purchased the manual trans in the first place. The very
small number of drivers that will overpower the controls of the transmission
will have very little affect on the air quality, but if there were large
numbers of drivers with manual transmissions, then the affects on air
quality are more dramatic. The idea is that given an option of selecting D
and taking the shift points where they come is more environmentally friendly
than running the gears in a manual trans up to engine speeds much higher
than an automatic will routinely allow.

That explains the move away from manual transmissions in many cars and
trucks, but it does not explain why all TJs, save one, come with a manual
trans as standard equipment and have automatics as an available option. And,
the one TJ model that has the automatic as its standard trans will not allow
the special ordering of a manual.



"cactuscowboy" <cactuscowboy@bresnan.net> wrote in message
news:Nt2ec.114350$w54.825884@attbi_s01...
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions
are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically
a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C
Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on
target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift
out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the
humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC
> "CRWLR" <CRWLRJEFF@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
> news:107g92bjkm5su53@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "herman" <email@adress.there> wrote in message
> > news:5Dmdc.1731$PV5.678@news04.bloor.is.net.cable. rogers.com...
> > > The new line of jeeps have a hidden agenda , which is, they are
designed
> > for
> > > soccer moms who don't offroad, hence the liberty etc etc. thats the
way
> > the
> > > market is shifting so, why manual?
> > >
> > > catch my drift?lol
> > >
> > But, why NOT a manual?
> >
> > The Unlimited is simply another TJ variation, and all TJs get a manual
as
> > the standard transmission. The automatic is an option. I can understand
> that
> > DC might make the automatic the standard transmission, but why would
they
> > eliminate the manual transmission as an available option on a model
> > VARIATION that has this option on the other variations of the model?
> Hidden
> > agenda aside, there is no manufacturing limitation to support the
> inability
> > of the consumer to get this model with a manual trans. On the Libby,
there
> > is no manufacturing capability to provide a manual because DC made a
> > decision to not use that transmission. But, on the TJ, the transmission
is
> > widely used on all variations except the Unlimited.
> >
> > Does this change foretell the demise of manual transmissions in
America's
> > line ups? We are already noticing that the new Ford F150 is (reported by
> > somebody on this group - unknown by myself) is only available with an
> > automatic.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>

CRWLR

I suspect that the real reason manufacturers are going to only automatics in
the line up is that they can better control the activities of the motor in
order to meet smog rules. Obviously, the driver can select the manual
setting of the trans and defeat the controls that the trans has over the
engine, but the vast majority of drivers will put the selector in D and
never move it. Ever. Still more will put it in D most of the time, and only
move it when they want to move. Very few of them will actively select gears,
or they would have purchased the manual trans in the first place. The very
small number of drivers that will overpower the controls of the transmission
will have very little affect on the air quality, but if there were large
numbers of drivers with manual transmissions, then the affects on air
quality are more dramatic. The idea is that given an option of selecting D
and taking the shift points where they come is more environmentally friendly
than running the gears in a manual trans up to engine speeds much higher
than an automatic will routinely allow.

That explains the move away from manual transmissions in many cars and
trucks, but it does not explain why all TJs, save one, come with a manual
trans as standard equipment and have automatics as an available option. And,
the one TJ model that has the automatic as its standard trans will not allow
the special ordering of a manual.



"cactuscowboy" <cactuscowboy@bresnan.net> wrote in message
news:Nt2ec.114350$w54.825884@attbi_s01...
> I sell Ford and DC vehicles. From my perspective, manual transmissions
are
> on the way out. Not available in the new '04 F150, although still offered
> in the F150 Heritage (old body style, base level work trucks). Typically
a
> manual transmission is only available on 'stripped' base models with the
> smaller engines, e.g. Ford Escape, Focus and Dodge Neon or niche vehicles
> like the Mustang.
>
> Whatever happened to big V8's and stick shift? The new Chrysler 300C
Hemi?
> Automatic only.
>
> It's all market driven. "Soccer moms who don't offroad" is right on
target.
> The vast majority of my customers who buy 4WD vehicles will never shift
out
> of 2WD, much less leave paved roads. Toss in a transfer case, call it
> "trail rated" and the tough soccer mom does not have to bear the
humiliation
> of driving a minivan. Worse yet are the poseurs who insist on driving a
> crew cab pickup to look even tougher.
>
> Please keep buying manual transmission vehicles. Vote with your wallet.
>
> Best regards,
> Dave Rose
> Cactus Cowboy
> Big Wonderful Wyoming
> '49 ****** Pickup (parts truck)
> '62 ****** Pickup 4WD 226
> '98 XJ Sport
> O|||||||O
>
> I'd love to see thousands of customers write to DC
> "CRWLR" <CRWLRJEFF@YAHOO.COM> wrote in message
> news:107g92bjkm5su53@corp.supernews.com...
> >
> > "herman" <email@adress.there> wrote in message
> > news:5Dmdc.1731$PV5.678@news04.bloor.is.net.cable. rogers.com...
> > > The new line of jeeps have a hidden agenda , which is, they are
designed
> > for
> > > soccer moms who don't offroad, hence the liberty etc etc. thats the
way
> > the
> > > market is shifting so, why manual?
> > >
> > > catch my drift?lol
> > >
> > But, why NOT a manual?
> >
> > The Unlimited is simply another TJ variation, and all TJs get a manual
as
> > the standard transmission. The automatic is an option. I can understand
> that
> > DC might make the automatic the standard transmission, but why would
they
> > eliminate the manual transmission as an available option on a model
> > VARIATION that has this option on the other variations of the model?
> Hidden
> > agenda aside, there is no manufacturing limitation to support the
> inability
> > of the consumer to get this model with a manual trans. On the Libby,
there
> > is no manufacturing capability to provide a manual because DC made a
> > decision to not use that transmission. But, on the TJ, the transmission
is
> > widely used on all variations except the Unlimited.
> >
> > Does this change foretell the demise of manual transmissions in
America's
> > line ups? We are already noticing that the new Ford F150 is (reported by
> > somebody on this group - unknown by myself) is only available with an
> > automatic.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>
>