Automatic Vs Manual

[ctskier]

Maybe it depends on the trim package, but ordering the MT prevented me from getting an interior upgrade, hence no heated seats.
I don’t mind, love the MT and I don’t need those gadgets.

Badlands allows better seats and MT

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[DesertMike680]

I have the 7MT and love it. However, I do not love the squeaking though...

 

[DesertMike680]

You can always buy a softer clutch spring (not that the OEM is stiff, I like the feel of it)
https://www.steeda.com/steeda-555-7032-bronco-clutch-spring-kit

What's install like? My clutch pedal squeaks a lot. I wonder if replacing the spring would alleviate it.

 

[ctskier]

Because an auto will be much smoother shifting. Smooth is what you want on ice.
Again, you can manually shift up & down & lock out the gears in an auto.
But the debate will continue to live until the end

yea I don't see that but to each his own.

 

[Ducati1098]

The manuals seem to have the most problems with the typical synchro ring noise, the 10 speeds are pretty much flawless.
But at the end of the day it really just depends on which one you’d prefer. Neither one are necessarily bad.

 

[BroncoAZ]

What's install like? My clutch pedal squeaks a lot. I wonder if replacing the spring would alleviate it.

The spring install is easy, there is a thread where I posted some pictures. I’ve never heard any kind of squeak from the clutch pedal.

I really enjoy the manual in the Bronco. The tech that ford installed is impressive. If you stall the truck automatically restarts when you press the clutch. If you’re lugging the engine at low RPM going up a driveway the truck will automatically add power rather than the truck stalling. This is the easiest manual I’ve ever driven. For criticisms: mine has the “sounds like it’s chewing on rocks when cold” issue, the gearing splits could be a little better, and 6th gear is relatively useless as it gets the same MPG in 5th under 70 mph.

I drove the auto at Offrodeo, it drove great and the 2.7 had good power. It felt like cheating off-road. I specifically wanted manual, but I could certainly live with the 10 speed.

 

[BlueBronco]

This particular 10spd auto transmission is used in all of Fords light duty rear wheel drive vehicles (Bronco, Explorer, Aviator) and comes from the same family, and is an a newer design, of the 10spd auto found in a variety of other Ford rear wheel drive vehicles (F150, Mustang, Expedition, Navigator, Transit) and which was co-developed by GM for use in their rear wheel drive vehicles. It is a proven and reliable transmission that has been around for a while.

The 7speed manual is only used in the Bronco.

We have one of each and no problems with either.

 

[triton420]

So I'm looking at getting a bronco, but I'm kind of in a predicament here. I'm looking between the automatic and the manual. I've seen some mixed reviews with the automatic, but not really much with the manual. I've been wondering how the 10spd auto performs on this car. I remember using a Transit that has the 10, and that was surprisingly smooth and gave the van some gusto. Seem some slightly different opinions with it on the Mustang. On the Bronco I've seen some people like it and it works well, but some would rather have the manual. I like manuals, but don't like heavy clutches. I live in a place with lots of stop-and-go's. Does the bronco have a light or heavy clutch? Also wondering about the shifter. Does it vibrate from the engine and twist from the torque like some other rear drive sticks? I don't do really any kind of modding and/or offroading. Only thing I'd need 4WD for is snow and ice. I'm also wondering about the auto's reliability. Seems like 7 foward + 3 overdrives is a bit excessive and complex.

I have both. I think the auto is peppier and quicker, but I do prefer the manual for anything but stop and go traffic. I don't think the clutch is heavy, but it does depress at an angle that irritates an old foot injury of mine. The shifter itself is a bit notchy feeling, but isn't loose or floppy at all. In fact, I would prefer the stick be a little more truck like and a little less car like in feel

 

[indio22]

The clutch is light.

The shifter doesn’t vibrate or move around much.

There is very little slack in the drivetrain. When you let on or off the gas in gear, it doesn’t lurch back and forth. I’ve had about 10 stick shift cars and the Bronco is the best in this regard.

Jason

Agreed, everyone in my household feels the Bronco manual is the easiest to operate compared to all our other manuals. Knock on wood it doesn't have any grinding, rather it's smooth and easy to shift. When in the zone I'm effortlessly shifting the Bronco and kind of being one with it in terms of control.

Personally I've had bad luck with service life out of automatics, while in comparison all my manual transmissions have been rock solid past 100k miles. Will see how the Bronco trans holds up, but I got tired of auto trans slippage and rebuilds. Probably the complicated 10 speed auto will cost a small fortune if it has issues out of warranty.

I'd say the 10 gears of the automatic would be nice on the expressway, more to choose from when keeping the engine at desired rpms. And can probably accommodate tire diameter changes better for same reason - more gears to choose. And auto with esentially infinite slow speed control is overall better in my opinion for heavy off-roading (if it doesn't burn up), but OP isn't getting for that usage.

 

[DesertMike680]

The spring install is easy, there is a thread where I posted some pictures. I’ve never heard any kind of squeak from the clutch pedal.

I really enjoy the manual in the Bronco. The tech that ford installed is impressive. If you stall the truck automatically restarts when you press the clutch. If you’re lugging the engine at low RPM going up a driveway the truck will automatically add power rather than the truck stalling. This is the easiest manual I’ve ever driven. For criticisms: mine has the “sounds like it’s chewing on rocks when cold” issue, the gearing splits could be a little better, and 6th gear is relatively useless as it gets the same MPG in 5th under 70 mph.

I drove the auto at Offrodeo, it drove great and the 2.7 had good power. It felt like cheating off-road. I specifically wanted manual, but I could certainly live with the 10 speed.

Good info. Thanks! Yeah, my clutch pedal squeaks and its really annoying. Took it to the dealership and they would have to take the entire clutch apart, so thats a month without my Bronco. Engagement and all other aspects of the clutch feels great.

So is it worth it buying that spring and installing it vs keeping stock?

 

[BroncoAZ]

Good info. Thanks! Yeah, my clutch pedal squeaks and its really annoying. Took it to the dealership and they would have to take the entire clutch apart, so thats a month without my Bronco. Engagement and all other aspects of the clutch feels great.

So is it worth it buying that spring and installing it vs keeping stock?

I prefer the clutch feel with the spring. The spring is a bit lighter, so the pressure on the pedal to operate is easier to moderate. Before the new spring I felt like I was fighting the pedal to engage slower, the pedal wanted to spring off the floor.

 

[JT58Bronc]

I would say test drive both and see what you prefer. I typically love manuals. I went with auto in the Bronco as I reserved it and had to have the 2.7 and it came auto only. I love performance and wanted the lightest weight Bronco with the biggest engine. I also prefer "long" gears in a manual to better keep up with traffic. I don't like short gears- especially first gear. I test drove a Jeep Wrangler a few years ago with a manual and the gears were nice and spaced out- long- easily was able to keep up with traffic. I have not driven a Bronco with a manual. I don't know how second gear is to start off. The manual has had a lot of posts with issues of scraping noises, etc. Don't know how bad that really is. The 10 speed auto has been good for me- peppy enough and good MPG at 22. It does shift a lot if you are not used to it. My wife feels it shifts too often and gears are too short compared to her 2013 Silverado which has a 4 speed auto with O/D.

 

[BELIZE91]

I like the MT/ it's nice to be different, and I figure resale will be higher for someone who has to have that option. It's easy to drive. I waited 3 years to get it.

 

[CarmeloS]

Manual or bust. If it wasn't available in Manual, I wouldn't be here, period

 

[dgorsett]

It sounds like the OP has decided to go MT but here are my observations on the AT. I n Normal mode day to day on road or forest road stuff it's pretty invisible. It has been noted in other threads it skips gears as appropriate, so there aren't 10 shifts in an acceleration cycle. The manual shift mode works well and can actually be downshifted when in D, it will resume shifting when you accelerate. It would be nice if the current gear were always displayed and you could limit upper gears like my F250, but no.

In Sport or Sand mode it really boosts shift points and is more aggressive Downshifting going downhill .

In Manual it will let you run up RPMs to the limiter but will downshift itself if you get too slow for your chosen gear. An update must of changed something but I cant yet prove it. When operating in 4L I often run M mode. I run 2 or 3 in 4L a lot. Formerly when I'd stop it would shift down to 1 and I'd have to run it up to 2 or 3 again, kinda annoying. On my last 4L venture it stayed in the higher gear at stop and restart, I think, I hope.

First gear is quite low and handy off road. It does not hold back as well as I'd like going downhill when downshifted. I think this is more of a throttle thing than transmission. I think it senses rich burn and increases throttle to burn off unburnt fuel for emissions. My F250 does this also, it actually holds back better in 2nd than first.

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