Why would you want a manual transmission?

I have a small list

• To be different
• My wife wants the MT also
• To keep Manuals alive
• I have had multiple MT
• The only time the MT is a pain is in traffic I don’t have too much of that
• They look better IMHO
• My last MT lasted 357k miles never touched it.
• What my boys to learn how to drive a stick.
• You feel more connected to the vehicle.
  
  Of course these are just my thoughts everyone has their reasons for what they want.

Good perspective from someone who makes a living driving. I don't make a living driving but I do love to drive! I got my driver's license on my 16th birthday and have loved it ever since. Driving a manual to me just seems like you're more in control, more involved with the experience, more connected to the vehicle. That said, I prefer an automatic for trail driving and rock crawling. It's much easier to finesse over rocks and climbs with an automatic and a bit easier on the vehicle. So what will my Bronco be? Not sure yet - depends on if I expect to do a lot of serious trail riding in a new Bronco. I have an early Bronco (C4 auto) for rock crawling and doubt that I'll be wanting to risk a lot body damage on a new Bronco. For light trails and mainly street driving I'm leaning towards the manual.

Jakob1972

I have a small list

• To be different
• My wife wants the MT also
• To keep Manuals alive
• I have had multiple MT
• The only time the MT is a pain is in traffic I don’t have too much of that
• They look better IMHO
• My last MT lasted 357k miles never touched it.
• What my boys to learn how to drive a stick.
• You feel more connected to the vehicle.
  
  Of course these are just my thoughts everyone has their reasons for what they want.

Great list. I am going with the AT but wanted the 2.7L engine and like the trail turn assist, etc.

I would love for the kids to learn a MT as well. Probably will go that route when we get Momma her new rig. She likes MT as well. You hit it on the head when you talk about being more connected to the driving experience. That is one thing that I think makes it a pure driving event rather than an active passenger.

Generally-
MT last longer than an auto.
The trans are a lot simpler design.

All things being equal, I wouldn’t mind a MT because in certain situations they can be fun to drive. However, all things are not equal. Traffic in many areas involvesstop and go driving for extended periods and in those conditions you cannot beat an AT.
Add to that the fact that there are some nice features available on the Bronco when you have an AT, and that vehicles with AT have a better resale value and it becomes obvious pretty quickly that it’s just a better investment.
Even so, for those who want a MT, I say go for it! It’s your hard earned money and you should get what you want.

It’s said that there are only seven different plots in literature:
https://www.autocrit.com/blog/7-stories-world/
The same is true on this website:
1) 2-door vs 4-door.
3) What color is Cactus Grey?
4) Is the 2.3l enough?
5) Why get the manual transmission?
6) My dealer said....
7) Where are the cupholders?

Sports car =hell yeah. Bronco meh. Auto transmissions are so good these days and the ability to use sport mode and select a preferred gear when the situation dictates (steep icy/snow covered mountain roads for me) eliminates 99.992% of the old manual transmission benefits. But I get it, sometimes it is satisfying to hammer through the gears with a stick shift.

As far as the kids learning to drive it, they don't care, and will never need it, and I don't want mine learning on my new Bronco!

Hobgoblin

Great list. I am going with the AT but wanted the 2.7L engine and like the trail turn assist, etc.

I would love for the kids to learn a MT as well. Probably will go that route when we get Momma her new rig. She likes MT as well. You hit it on the head when you talk about being more connected to the driving experience. That is one thing that I think makes it a pure driving event rather than an active passenger.

Hobgoblin

Great list. I am going with the AT but wanted the 2.7L engine and like the trail turn assist, etc.

I would love for the kids to learn a MT as well. Probably will go that route when we get Momma her new rig. She likes MT as well. You hit it on the head when you talk about being more connected to the driving experience. That is one thing that I think makes it a pure driving event rather than an active passenger.

Mamma wants it is good enough reason for any married man. But trust me, let uncle bob teach the kids mt. I don’t think I’ve ever said “ get your foot off the clutch or it’s not a footrest more in my life”

another good reason for Manual is that it is a thief deterrent these days. most people never learn to drive a stick.

Each their own! I was raised on a Manual and gave serious thought but in downsizing the Auto 10 is a must, had a Auto 10 in my Raptor and was Great and resale for a. Auto 10 is better as pointed out most can’t drive a Manual. Each their own!

Crawler gear is my reason. I want the lowest crawl ratio.

Driving for a living is a completely different thing than driving for pleasure. They aren't comparable. If you have to shift through five gears to get a Bronco through an intersection, you're doing it wrong. Engine braking with a crawler gear if fantastic. Replacing a clutch is easy, an afternoon job. Broke axles aren't due to what transmission you use, it's the driver, the terrain and skinny pedal.

All of my current and past broncos are/were manual.............time for an auto. Even with the auto it's got the same crawl gearing as the 71' I crawl with, and it's lower than what 75% of what folks use to crawl with.

For me, like others have said, driving a manual transmission just feels like I am more connected to the driving experience and I have a closer connection to the vehicle. It makes the whole experience more enjoyable. I drove my '97 MT Mustang for almost 17 years. I commuted in that car in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Portland, Los Angeles, Si Valley, and Phoenix traffic, and never once in all that sitting in traffic did I ever wish that that car had an automatic. I've had my current Escape for ~7 years now, and I just never got the same level of enjoyment driving it.

You do miss out on certain features with the MT, but the 1% of the time that I will miss those does not make up for the 99% of the time the MT will put a smile on my face.

I'm completely unconcerned about resale value as I never plan to sell my Bronco. Besides, with the way the automotive world is heading and how long I keep cars, this is likely my last chance to get a car with a manual transmission (and an engine for that matter). Electric cars don't have transmissions.

My 17 y/o niece and 14 y/o nephew are super excited for uncle @tlowell01 to teach them to drive a manual. I think they relish having a skill none of their friends will, and both love cars (unlike many of their Gen Z cohort).

Plus I feel like I'm doing my little part to keep the manual transmission around just a little bit longer.

I have always felt that manuals tranny's perform better on the smaller engines ( 4 bangers without boost). Being able to rev up the RPM's a little … gives the feeling of having more power and responsiveness. That is probably not the actual case but the "seat of the paints feeling" is better with a manual.

I have a 1993 Bronco with a 5.8L and a E4od automatic … and a 1996 with a 5.0L and a 5 speed. I just enjoy driving the manual Bronco more. Slapping gears in a truck or Bronco is just tons of fun.

From owning Broncos for 15 years I can tell you that Automatics tend to fail a lot sooner than Manuals. You have to keep the automatics cool or they will wear out quickly. Heat kills electronic components. Think of it this way. Laptops run hotter than desktops …. but since desktops run cooler they last forever compared to lap tops ( at least twice as long)

Now a days an automatic transmission has tons of electronics …… it isn't like the bullet proof C6 Automatics from back in the day.

If your looking for something to last 20+ years get as few extra electronics as possible. Those electric windows, seat warmers, and auto adjusting seats are nice and fancy …. and if your just planning of driving the truck for 10 years … before moving on to the next version .. then by all means get all the bells and whistles. All of those electronic components have a finite life span ….. Not too many starter motors last longer than 8 to 10 years …. but I have seen Manual transmission easily go 20 years before failure.


And finally

YOU CANNOT PUSH START A SLUSH BOX

For me the manual makes me more aware of my surroundings. I pay more attention to the road and not lulled into a stupor. I've owned several cars and trucks with manuals over the years and have never had a clutch go out. Had a clutch cable break on a Dodge Omni but that was the only clutch type repair I've ever had. I too feel more connected and in control with the stick and for me is the best option

I just want a manual again. They are fun to drive outside of stop and go traffic.

Jakob1972

I have a small list

• To be different
• My wife wants the MT also
• To keep Manuals alive
• I have had multiple MT
• The only time the MT is a pain is in traffic I don’t have too much of that
• They look better IMHO
• My last MT lasted 357k miles never touched it.
• What my boys to learn how to drive a stick.
• You feel more connected to the vehicle.
  
  Of course these are just my thoughts everyone has their reasons for what they want.

Don't forget theft deterrent...

paul rondelli

And finally

YOU CANNOT PUSH START A SLUSH BOX

That was going to be one of my points. My last daily driver (13 year old) I probably only used the starter about 50% of the time. I parked on a slope at work and I would just let it roll to start it. The trans outlasted the motor @ 357k never been cracked open.

Jakob1972

I have a small list

• To be different
• My wife wants the MT also
• To keep Manuals alive
• I have had multiple MT
• The only time the MT is a pain is in traffic I don’t have too much of that
• They look better IMHO
• My last MT lasted 357k miles never touched it.
• What my boys to learn how to drive a stick.
• You feel more connected to the vehicle.
  
  Of course these are just my thoughts everyone has their reasons for what they want.

Anti theft device