Drove a new one Sunday

[MikeG]

Dang, they are a little hard to find. One dealer (closed) had one in the showroom, but couldn't find any others walking around on the lot. Another dealer (open) had 9 so drove one of those. Salesman was a turd so won't be going back there.

What struck me, though, is both of those lots were just absolutely covered up in full-sized trucks. Seems that Ford severely mis-judged the demand for the new Ranger on the low side, and the f150 on the high side .... wonder if there will be some real deals to be had on full-sized trucks at the end of the model year?

The truck I drove didn't have a window sticker (apparently just delivered) but it was a basic model extended cab with a 6 foot bed. It was the only extended cab "basic" truck they had. Not all that different in equipment than my 97, although a nicer radio and it had cruise control. Sales hack said it would MSRP around $25K. Considering I paid $17K for my 97 B4000 new (2wd automatic ext cab), price increase doesn't seem too bad over 23 years. But holy crap, the blinged-out one up front was over $40k. Ridiculous! I did like the 6 foot bed on the ext cab. Ride was probably a little one the harsh side, nowhere near as smooth as my friend's super duty but I doubt if the Ranger weighs half as much. Wouldn't bother me but then again, I expect a truck to drive like a truck. I am impressed with the engine, it really scooted along. Guess I've never driven anything with the ecoboost. Either that or everything has a lot of performance compared to the 4.0 OHV..... Just wondering how durable the eco-boost and 10 speed transmission will be.

Noticed the rear spring was a single-leaf. Anyone know if it is steel or fiberglass? Didn't bother to ask the sales hack as he didn't seem to know much of anything else. Asked about the new broncos and he said they wouldn't show up on the lots till March or so. He was clueless about a manual transmission option on the Bronco in the future, and kept telling me "no one needs that anymore." Yeah.... I like it when sales idiots tell me what I want or need.

Just some musings.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Rear springs are steel AFAIK, it is a pretty low bar but I bet the 10 speed will be the best automatic put in the Ranger and the Bronco's 7spd will probably die quickly because no dealer will order one on a stock vehicle. So the only ones sold will be special order = low sales volume = customers must not want it.

 

[Jim Oaks]

Salesman probably isn't smart enough to drive a manual.

 

[RonD]

Yes, having a manual, or "standard", transmission used to mean you were too CHEAP to pay extra for an automatic

Now its the other way around, having an automatic means you were too CHEAP to pay extra for a manual

 

[JohnnyO]

Yes, having a manual, or "standard", transmission used to mean you were too CHEAP to pay extra for an automatic

That was me back in the day.
The way computers control transmissions now, you get better mpg and emissions with an automatic. With a stick every time you let off the gas to shift the hydrocarbons go way up for a second or two.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

That was me back in the day.
The way computers control transmissions now, you get better mpg and emissions with an automatic. With a stick every time you let off the gas to shift the hydrocarbons go way up for a second or two.

Manuals are still more fun...and more durable.

 

[JohnnyO]

Manuals are still more fun...and more durable.

I don't know that you can buy a new truck anymore with a manual. I've checked other makes too.

 

[Grumpaw]

Jeep Compass, Wrangler and Gladiator are the only ones listed anywhere available with a manual tranny.
Nothing but auto for everyone else including Toyo and Nissan.

 

[rusty ol ranger]

I don't know that you can buy a new truck anymore with a manual. I've checked other makes too.

Last holdout was the 2018 Ram...but only with a cummins.

 

[MikeG]

I dug through Toyota models on Edmund's, and it did show a manual with one of the 4x4s. Don't know how accurate that site is though.

 

[Roert42]

You can get a manual on a taco, but only with the bigger engine and the special offroad package for like 40K.

In the beginning of this year Nissan listed manual transmission as standard on the frontier, MSRP on a base model was under 20K. I do not see it on their website anymore.

 

[Ranger850]

You can get a manual on a taco, but only with the bigger engine and the special offroad package for like 40K.

In the beginning of this year Nissan listed manual transmission as standard on the frontier, MSRP on a base model was under 20K. I do not see it on their website anymore.

Nissan NO Longer offers a manual, 2019 was the last of them.

 

[Roert42]

Nissan NO Longer offers a manual, 2019 was the last of them.

Must be why I see them in like march, but looked again in august and couldn't find it.

 

[RonD]

There are many new systems that work best with Automatics
Auto stop/start, required to meet idle emissions
Auto braking
Automatic Traction control
Towing

They can be done with manuals just work best with automatics

Automatics are stronger than their manual counterparts, so increased tow capacity, its engineering not driver ability, lol
Manuals are lighter and far less complicated with fewer interdependent systems, so tend to last longer without service or rebuilds
And yes, manuals are more fun to drive, unless you just drive around in city traffic daily, then just driving from one stop light to the next becomes tedious, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, back to 1st, lol

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

You can get a manual on a taco, but only with the bigger engine and the special offroad package for like 40K.

And SWB, you can't get them on a crew cab with a 6' bed.

They might have discontinued it but you could get one on the base 4cyl a couple years ago when I last looked.