Second Thoughts on Manual Transmission

[Brokennose]

That trail turn is the coolest button on the dash for sure. Ticks me off I can't get it with the manual.

Still getting the 7speed MT.

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[Efthreeoh]

Yeah but apparently some people don't care about the off-roading part, it's more an image thing.

I've wheeled manual and automatic off-road, and each had pluses and minuses. Low speed control of the auto can be nice on rocky trails. That said I'm leaning manual for these reasons:

1) Lower initial cost
2) Lower long term cost (I've had three auto trans needing rebuilds, zero manual trans needing rebuilds)
3) More direct control of what happens
4) Not always but generally more fun

Wild card? The 7 speed manual is a new model. How will history regard it? Time will tell. I have some concern being an early user.

It'll be fine. It's a 6-speed manual with an additional shorter 1st gear deigned and built by a manufacturer that is a world-class supplier of manual transmissions to the global auto industry. There is no wildcard here.

 

[UPnort]

That trail turn is the coolest button on the dash for sure. Ticks me off I can't get it with the manual.

Still getting the 7speed MT.

Thought i read somewhere they were working on bringing this to the 7m. Either way guessing it wouldn't be for the 21s even if they do.

It'll be fine. It's a 6-speed manual with an additional shorter 1st gear deigned and built by a manufacturer that is a world-class supplier of manual transmissions to the global auto industry. There is no wildcard here.

Its interesting that you say that. Everyone keeps telling me to wait a few yrs until the kinks are worked out. Im 100% in though on the Bronco, my only concern is the transmission. Not stopping me from buying of course but whether its the new design, Getrag failing the Ford Mustang previously, or Chinese quality control, there is a legitimate concern by consumers. Time will tell of course but i couldnt be more excited to drive w two feet again. Im at the point if it fails, it fails. I'll address it then. You will be able to spot me as the guy driving down the road w a smile on his face for apparently no reason.

 

[Efthreeoh]

Thought i read somewhere they were working on bringing this to the 7m. Either way guessing it wouldn't be for the 21s even if they do.




Its interesting that you say that. Everyone keeps telling me to wait a few yrs until the kinks are worked out. Im 100% in though on the Bronco, my only concern is the transmission. Not stopping me from buying of course but whether its the new design, Getrag failing the Ford Mustang previously, or Chinese quality control, there is a legitimate concern by consumers. Time will tell of course but i couldnt be more excited to drive w two feet again. Im at the point if it fails, it fails. I'll address it then. You will be able to spot me as the guy driving down the road w a smile on his face for apparently no reason.

While I'm not a fan of China for political philosophical reasons, there are lots of products manufactured in China that are of high quality. My B&W loud speakers come to mind. From what I've read, the factory building the MT88 is a Getrag manufacturing facility rather than a Chinese contract manufacturer. The difference means Getrag QC/QA procedures are in place to mitigate poor manufacturing techniques. Product quality is gained by building quality into the manufacturing process rather than testing for it at the end of assembly. I doubt Getrag will use sub-par manufacturing procedures just because the transmission is built in China. Any manufacturer that has built a portfolio of manufacturing techniques over decades of manufacturing its products will stick with what it knows. This is the entire purpose of the ISO-900X concept.

While I'm disappointed the transmission build is in China (political reasons) I've have many Getrag manual transmissions and none have ever failed. I have one car that still is my daily with 400,000 miles on the Getrag. The Mustang MT82 issues are real obviously, but letting a transmission issue from a decade ago influence your concerns over the New Bronco's MT88 is unwarranted. Any manual that is ham-fisted can fail regardless of it's design and country of origin.

 

[Cookieck]

I was in the manual camp until I found out my Ford Bronco would have a 4 cylinder engine. There is no way I would ever be happy with that. I can't imagine having this bad ass looking off road machine and then having to tell someone it has a 4 cylinder engine.

A 4 cylinder that has about the same or more hp and torque than any engine in any previous bronco. And is saying it’s a measly 6 cylinder much better to anyone that you would hate to tell its a 4 cylinder?

 

[Frank N]

I'd wouldn't mind a manual if could

A-get the 2.7
B-Not have to listen to the wife and kids say, dad got a manual so we couldnt drive it' like they did with my Boxster for years. (Yes, I offered to teach them, no one wants to learn)
C-Both

 

[PaulW]

The Bronco 10 speed has manual control when desired.

 

[toughtoaster]

I'd wouldn't mind a manual if could

A-get the 2.7
B-Not have to listen to the wife and kids say, dad got a manual so we couldnt drive it' like they did with my Boxster for years. (Yes, I offered to teach them, no one wants to learn)
C-Both

Option B shouldn’t even be a thing because THEY don’t want to learn...

 

[UPnort]

Any manual that is ham-fisted can fail regardless of it's design and country of origin.

Good point and agree completely on this but..

I know a lot of ppl disagree w me but i have zero faith in China manufacturing. While i was in the military there was one single piece of equipment that costs 100 mil that they bought from one of our contractors. They disassembled it to the bolt and screw numbering each and every piece... only they forgot to to sequence the disassembly procedures. Dont fret though, they thought the could call the contractor and theyd come and put it back together for them! Not a chance in hell of course. They steal technology blatantly and spend pennies on the dollar making an inferior product. Anyways, this and so many other similar stories have me having zero faith in about anything produced over there. Not trying to get political, just stating truths whether people can admit it or not.

 

[Frank N]

Option B shouldn’t even be a thing because THEY don’t want to learn...

And I don’t want to listen to them!
Ha my wife won’t drive the raptor it’s too big...perfect!

 

[Hoofnmouth]

There are also a few boo boos that can happen with a manual ,letting clutch out before engin is stopped while parking it can jump and hit wall ,car ,post whatever.
Parking on a slope no ebrake in gear sometimes compression bleeds and car can move,missing a gear when up shifting is like nails on a chalkboard !
Theres a bunch more ,it takes a little more concentration to properly drive a stick but in this day of self driving cars and 30 speed paddle shifter autos ill take the manual.

 

[Efthreeoh]

Good point and agree completely on this but..

I know a lot of ppl disagree w me but i have zero faith in China manufacturing. While i was in the military there was one single piece of equipment that costs 100 mil that they bought from one of our contractors. They disassembled it to the bolt and screw numbering each and every piece... only they forgot to to sequence the disassembly procedures. Dont fret though, they thought the could call the contractor and theyd come and put it back together for them! Not a chance in hell of course. They steal technology blatantly and spend pennies on the dollar making an inferior product. Anyways, this and so many other similar stories have me having zero faith in about anything produced over there. Not trying to get political, just stating truths whether people can admit it or not.

I'll repeat:

... there are lots of products manufactured in China that are of high quality. My B&W loud speakers come to mind. From what I've read, the factory building the MT88 is a Getrag manufacturing facility rather than a Chinese contract manufacturer. The difference means Getrag QC/QA procedures are in place to mitigate poor manufacturing techniques. Product quality is gained by building quality into the manufacturing process rather than testing for it at the end of assembly. I doubt Getrag will use sub-par manufacturing procedures just because the transmission is built in China. Any manufacturer that has built a portfolio of manufacturing techniques (and specifications) over decades of manufacturing its products will stick with what it knows. This is the entire purpose of the ISO-900X concept.

 

[UPnort]

I'll repeat:

... there are lots of products manufactured in China that are of high quality. My B&W loud speakers come to mind. From what I've read, the factory building the MT88 is a Getrag manufacturing facility rather than a Chinese contract manufacturer. The difference means Getrag QC/QA procedures are in place to mitigate poor manufacturing techniques. Product quality is gained by building quality into the manufacturing process rather than testing for it at the end of assembly. I doubt Getrag will use sub-par manufacturing procedures just because the transmission is built in China. Any manufacturer that has built a portfolio of manufacturing techniques (and specifications) over decades of manufacturing its products will stick with what it knows. This is the entire purpose of the ISO-900X concept.

Ill repeat:

I have zero confidence in Chinese manufacturing. There is a reason the plant is there and not Germany. Sorry not sorry.

 

[Efthreeoh]

Ill repeat:

I have zero confidence in Chinese manufacturing. There is a reason the plant is there and not Germany. Sorry not sorry.

Right; they have dirt-cheap labor (as compared to Germany). That doesn't mean the plant doesn't build a quality product using Getrag's ISO-900X production standards.

 

[Aman]

The Bronco 10 speed has manual control when desired.

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