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Curious Why it Seems so Many People Want a Manual Trans?

goatman

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Curious why a manual is so important. I know, some people like stick shift trans, but why in a Bronco? Do you get a stick in all of your other cars and trucks? Not trying to start a stick vs auto debate (but a good discussion is fine), but I've seen so many comments about a manual I'm wonder what folks reasoning is.

Part of my question is that for almost ever there has been a perception that a manual is better off road. However, this perception is almost entirely folks who have little off road experience. Experience shows that an auto has many advantages over a stick off road. So, what the heck, why do so many folks want a stick Bronco?
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Dads_bronze_bronco

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Yes - never owned an automatic for my personal vehicle. Haven't owned a dual clutch either.
My wife always has had autos. I can't stand it when the computer decides to shift, or not.
 

Lakelife36

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I can't speak for everyone, but personally I love driving stick and have a hell of a time finding a vehicle that suits my needs with one. So since the Bronco comes with it that's the Bronco I want. In fact if it didn't have a manual tranny I wouldn't even be buying it. The fact that it has the best shift pattern we could hope for is icing on the cake.

Edit to clarify: The Bronco name means a lot to me personally and is part of why I'm getting one, but the fact that it's a stick is more important than the fact that it's a Bronco.
 

peta8368

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Yes - never owned an automatic for my personal vehicle. Haven't owned a dual clutch either.
My wife always has had autos. I can't stand it when the computer decides to shift, or not.
Absolutely agree and in the same situation. I've daily driven manuals for the last 15 years or so. The only auto car in the household is the wife's. Her current car is a 2015 VW Golf Sportwagen, and I actually like that car in every way except the auto transmission...

It upshifts too early as I round a bend ready to accelerate, it disengages the gear near full stop (so crawling up to a wall in the parking garage is tricky, the transmission will engage at will, causing the car to jerk forward, and possibly right into the wall), it hesitates on engagement when a light turns green, etc etc etc

I haven't had an auto that always did what I wanted when I want it to.. so manuals for me...
 

Chuck_Ruck

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Well back in the days of 3 & 4 speeds in the autos, and 4, 5, & 6 in the manual, you had a better handle on the output to the wheels. No hoping the engine was in the power band, and putting it to the wheels. You just put it in the proper gear, and do it. Also, pulling the vehicle into neutral and just coasting while decelerating would have saved fuel. I got 38mpg coming across I10 in the west texas hills, with an f150 because it had a manual.

Now, automatics have come forward incredibly! Better computers, more gears, just tech in general has helped improve so much. Yes the mileage is better, yes the power band is more efficiently utilized, and its easier to use wheeling on trails.

But why did I get one? Little bit of nostalgia, the crawler gear, the opportunity to teach my wife and kids how to, cheaper to service, theft deterrent... A multitude of reasons, not that it matters to anyone else, just a personal choice.
 

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buzpro

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Bottom line, a manual gives the driver the ability to make the decision on WHEN to shift, as opposed to a computer ..... depending on the terrain there are many situations in off-roading where that comes in handy
 

pan-y-cerveza

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Mostly so they can tell people it's a manual and make lame "millennial theft deterrent" jokes.

Kidding.... Mostly.

I just prefer driving one. Is it better than an auto? Nowadays not so much. But I still like them. All my favorite vehicles I've owned, not coincidentally, have been manuals.
 

Thechief86

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Manuals are fun on the road, which is where I do at least 80% of my driving. Manual off road is great as long as 4 low is low enough. Crawler gear on the Bronco has a good chance of achieving that.
Automatics are for people who can't drive.
 

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AZHUND

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A Bronco is supposed to be fun - why else put up with horrible mpgs, road noise, pathetic towing capability, etc. if your ideal vehicle needs an automatic and a hardtop go get a explorer or highlander…
 

Drex

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Curious why a manual is so important. I know, some people like stick shift trans, but why in a Bronco? Do you get a stick in all of your other cars and trucks? Not trying to start a stick vs auto debate (but a good discussion is fine), but I've seen so many comments about a manual I'm wonder what folks reasoning is.

Part of my question is that for almost ever there has been a perception that a manual is better off road. However, this perception is almost entirely folks who have little off road experience. Experience shows that an auto has many advantages over a stick off road. So, what the heck, why do so many folks want a stick Bronco?
Some people enjoy the engagement of the act, coordination, thinking, it is just more fun. Like some folks (not pointing fingers) who question why a manual...those folks like watching porn, while manual drivers like being being actors in it.
 

Razorbak86

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Part of my question is that for almost ever there has been a perception that a manual is better off road. However, this perception is almost entirely folks who have little off road experience. Experience shows that an auto has many advantages over a stick off road. So, what the heck, why do so many folks want a stick Bronco?
FWIW, I agree with you. While I have mostly owned vehicles with manual transmissions, and I love driving them (especially sports cars), my Bronco will have an automatic transmission specifically because I plan to use it off-road. 🤷‍♂️
 

De Brus

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Some people enjoy the engagement of the act, coordination, thinking, it is just more fun. Like some folks (not pointing fingers) who question why a manual...those folks like watching porn, while manual drivers like being being actors in it.
Not true. 8 years in the industry and I still choose an automatic.
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