4.0 Auto vs 3.0 Stick

[Boghog1]

I have been looking and it is tough to find the 4.0 stick that I am looking for should I

1. hold out for the 4.0 5speed
2. Get a 3.0 with the 5 speed
3. Get the 4.0 with the auto

 

[RangerSkate28]

I would go 5 speed. I have the 3.0 auto and regret not having the stick

 

[Hopman]

Hold out for the 4.0/stick. You'll be glad you did. Besides, a stick Ranger is more fun to drive.

 

[adsm08]

Yeah. I haven't had the pleasure myself, but from what I've seen around here, the consensus is that the 3.0/stick and the 4.0/auto are pretty much the same to drive, but stick is just more fun.

 

[Hopman]

My 2.3/stick combo is fun to drive. I haven't found the dry handeling limits of my Ranger yet. I've push ing thing at 45-50 mph through corners posted at 25 mph. Sticks to the asphalt like superglue.

 

[3literEarl91]

I absolutely love my 3.0 stick. it has plenty to get out of its own way, and it is a blast to drive. I don't want to start a 3.0 v 4.0 war but if it is for a daily driver in my opinion you can't really go wrong with a 3.0.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

It depends on where you live IMO. Going to college in the middle of Nebraska my 5 speed was fun to play with after the two or three stops on the way to school. But after graduation I HATED it during the stop and go traffic in Omaha.

 

[Hopman]

It depends on where you live IMO. Going to college in the middle of Nebraska my 5 speed was fun to play with after the two or three stops on the way to school. But after graduation I HATED it during the stop and go traffic in Omaha.

I learned how to drive stick in a 10 speed Freightliner. Manuals in traffic don't bother me one iota.

Besides, either the gearing my trans is short in 1-4 or I just short-shift alot. I usually hit OD (5th) before around 40-45 mph. 35 if I can use the momentum of a hill. (a lot of those here in my area of NH!)

 

[bmonee5]

I would personally wait for the 4.0/stick combo. You can never have enough power and if you baby it you can always get good MPG. Plus the additional torque you get with a 4.0....can't go wrong.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

I learned how to drive stick in a 10 speed Freightliner. Manuals in traffic don't bother me one iota.

Besides, either the gearing my trans is short in 1-4 or I just short-shift alot. I usually hit OD (5th) before around 40-45 mph. 35 if I can use the momentum of a hill. (a lot of those here in my area of NH!)

The shifting from first to second, back to first, slip the clutch awhile because traffic wasn't moving fast enough for first, shift to second then back to first.. crap got old.

I learned in a old one ton truck, if I had its creeper first it wouldn't have been quite so bad. Out in the open or in my small hometown was fine, but city driving took the fun out of it for me, after awhile you felt like a mouse that was pushing all the buttons in the right order at the right times and still wasn't getting any cheese.

I went back to an automatic and never looked back.

 

[robertc1024]

It depends on where you live IMO. Going to college in the middle of Nebraska my 5 speed was fun to play with after the two or three stops on the way to school. But after graduation I HATED it during the stop and go traffic in Omaha.

+1 City driving and sticks get old. I also agree with the creeper 1st gear. My ranger has got the 4.52(It's the really tall one?) axle and a 5 speed and at just idle it cruises at > 5 MPH. That's fine, but in traffic all I think about is "How can I slip my clutch less. Don't have time to replace it now."