2025 Manual Transmission Thread

[UncleBrad]

Your clearly know your stuff. Good commentary about manuals!

I'm a die hard manual driver myself. It's just more fun for me and I like banging gears. I've been driving manuals since 1999. I learned to drive on an 83' Datsun pickup in a Big Lots parking lot while my dad shouted at me to quit killing the engine.

I love my wife's WRX (2021 MT) and she also used to have a 14 WRX hatch (MT).
I currently have a 21' Wrangler Rubicon with 6 speed MT and Ive truly enjoyed it, I've had a lot of fun taking it off road and it's truly a beast from the factory.

I got sick of the way it drives, saw a Heritage edition and went "Need that", test drove a Bronco and was shocked by how well it felt by comparison on the road. Power is more present and punchy. On the Jeep when you goose the throttle there's a slight delay and then it lurches forward. It's no slouch, but the Bronco turbo gives a nice push at RPM that the Jeep lacks. I've had wranglers as off road toys for 15 years-TJ, JK, JL and enjoyed the heck out of them.

Looking forward to my getting my MT Bronco.

Agreed. I've driven manual Wranglers for the past 25 years pretty much exclusively. I like naturally-aspirated engines, especially the 4L inline with all that low-end torque. But the Bronco 2.3L with the manual, in a lighter 2-door with 32's, was MUCH quicker and lots more tossible. Reaching 60MPH in 6.5 seconds is something a Wrangler with a Pentastar can never do! I'm anxious to see what the Big Bend will do with the Ford Performance tune and a rear seat delete. Also, getting just under 22MPG, which is roughly equivalent to the JK's best return.

I learned to drive on a 1967 Ford pickup. My first car was a 1964 GTO with a four-speed, over 50 years ago now, and this Bronco would surely have given the goat a run for the money. This is amazing, because my first 2.3L produced only 92 horsepower and 121 lb⋅ft of torque in 1975.

Do you know the rear end axle ratio on your new Bronco?

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[UncleBrad]

Ummmm.....why?

He's flexing!

 

[crenca]

The only thing that's more difficult with an automatic is removing the driver's door and walking along side your idling Bronco while steering. Easy with a manual, just put it in 4L and crawl gear. The Bronco will idle at a slow walking pace, even up a 16 degree slope. You can do the same with an automatic with trail control, but you have to fasten the seat belt even though you're not sitting in your Bronco. Even then I'm not sure the Bronco won't think you've fallen out and stop

What is your reason for being out of your vehicle in this manner? Recovery situation?

 

[CalvinT]

What is your reason for being out of your vehicle in this manner? Recovery situation?

Reasonable question. I've never had to do it, but a coworker had to. It was January on a snow covered mountain road. He wasn't sure if he was on snow or road and the right side of the road was a drop off. He didn't want to be in the truck if it slid down the mountain. So he got out of the truck and walked along side until things were more level. Later on a return trip in the summer he discovered his truck was on snow and not road.

 

[CalvinT]

Agreed. I've driven manual Wranglers for the past 25 years pretty much exclusively. I like naturally-aspirated engines, especially the 4L inline with all that low-end torque. But the Bronco 2.3L with the manual, in a lighter 2-door with 32's, was MUCH quicker and lots more tossible. Reaching 60MPH in 6.5 seconds is something a Wrangler with a Pentastar can never do! I'm anxious to see what the Big Bend will do with the Ford Performance tune and a rear seat delete. Also, getting just under 22MPG, which is roughly equivalent to the JK's best return.

I learned to drive on a 1967 Ford pickup. My first car was a 1964 GTO with a four-speed, over 50 years ago now, and this Bronco would surely have given the goat a run for the money. This is amazing, because my first 2.3L produced only 92 horsepower and 121 lb⋅ft of torque in 1975.

Do you know the rear end axle ratio on your new Bronco?

Depends on model, transmission and options.

 

[BigFootie]

They had them at the first Off-Roadeos. But too many people didn't know how to handle a clutch. So all Off-Roadeo Broncos now have automatic transmissions.

I ordered my Badlands with a manual. I learned to drive with a manual. My last personal vehicle with an automatic was a 1979 Z28 that I sold in 1990. I've owned manual transmission vehicles ever since.

I'm happy with the Bronco clutch, transmission, and shift linkage. I currently drive a 2002 WRX and my Bronco. Other than reverse being in a different location, I have no problem transitioning between them. If you like a manual, or want to learn how to drive a manual, order your Bronco with a manual. I think you'll like it.

Before retiring I had several jobs that required driving 3/4 ton 4x4 trucks over desert terrain and up/down rough mountain roads. I was on 24/7, 365 call and had to respond no matter the weather or terrain, whether it be rain, mud, sand or snow. Some trucks had manual transmissions, some had automatics. With an automatic, the torque converter would free-wheel when going down hill. This meant next to no engine braking when going down a step grade.

I just attended the Nevada Off-Roadeo. Highly recommended. I learned a lot.

What I'm going to say next may be heresy to some. I like driving my manual. I ordered my Bronco with a manual because of bad experiences driving 4X4 trucks with an automatic. But knowing what I know now, if I had to do it over again, I may have ordered an automatic.

Ford has fixed my major complaint about an automatic transmission. The torque converter has a clutch that locks when in M1 or M2. So you have excellent engine braking when going down a steep hill.

With an automatic it's easier to crawl over rocks at a snail's pace (no need to manipulate the brake, clutch and throttle at the same time). It's doable, but takes more concentration and can be hard on the clutch if you're not careful. You also get Trail Turn Assist and Remote Start with an automatic.

The only thing that's more difficult with an automatic is removing the driver's door and walking along side your idling Bronco while steering. Easy with a manual, just put it in 4L and crawl gear. The Bronco will idle at a slow walking pace, even up a 16 degree slope. You can do the same with an automatic with trail control, but you have to fasten the seat belt even though you're not sitting in your Bronco. Even then I'm not sure the Bronco won't think you've fallen out and stop.

I went to an off road event sponsored by Bronco Nation before they were making deliveries and when it came to picking your vehicle, they asked if anyone had a manual ordered. I was the only one. They gave me the 2 door Black Diamond with the MT to drive.

 

[CalvinT]

I went to an off road event sponsored by Bronco Nation before they were making deliveries and when it came to picking your vehicle, they asked if anyone had a manual ordered. I was the only one.

At first I thought you meant a book type manual, not transmission.

 

[BigFootie]

At first I thought you meant a book type manual, not transmission.

I still haven’t ordered one of those!

 

[RadDad]

Agreed. I've driven manual Wranglers for the past 25 years pretty much exclusively. I like naturally-aspirated engines, especially the 4L inline with all that low-end torque. But the Bronco 2.3L with the manual, in a lighter 2-door with 32's, was MUCH quicker and lots more tossible. Reaching 60MPH in 6.5 seconds is something a Wrangler with a Pentastar can never do! I'm anxious to see what the Big Bend will do with the Ford Performance tune and a rear seat delete. Also, getting just under 22MPG, which is roughly equivalent to the JK's best return.

I learned to drive on a 1967 Ford pickup. My first car was a 1964 GTO with a four-speed, over 50 years ago now, and this Bronco would surely have given the goat a run for the money. This is amazing, because my first 2.3L produced only 92 horsepower and 121 lb⋅ft of torque in 1975.

Do you know the rear end axle ratio on your new Bronco?

4.7 for mine. Don't fear the gear!!

 

[CalvinT]

I still haven’t ordered one of those!

I have one. It's in the glove box. But I prefer the pdf version on my computer. I can search it.

 

[BigFootie]

I have one. It's in the glove box. But I prefer the pdf version on my computer. I can search it.

I need to get one at some point. Kind of ridiculous to think one doesn’t come with the vehicle. How thick is it? I have one from a model T that’s pretty thin, maybe less than 1/8 thick and around 1/4 sheet size. Even one from a mid sixties Ford is relatively thin, but about the size of a business envelope. The one that came with the Bronco Sport is around 3/4 of an inch (19mm) for my friends up north.

I haven’t tried to search the Bronco one yet online. I imagine that’s fun!

 

[CalvinT]

I need to get one at some point. Kind of ridiculous to think one doesn’t come with the vehicle. How thick is it? I have one from a model T that’s pretty thin, maybe less than 1/8 thick and around 1/4 sheet size. Even one from a mid sixties Ford is relatively thin, but about the size of a business envelope. The one that came with the Bronco Sport is around 3/4 of an inch (19mm) for my friends up north.

I haven’t tried to search the Bronco one yet online. I imagine that’s fun!

They're on Ebay. Make sure you order one with a cover or case.

 

[TJP249]

My status changed to "In Production" today. No window sticker yet.

 

[HaroNRA14]

Same here, tracking on the vin shows “in production”, but still waiting on window sticker and scheduled blend date.

 

[ggjjr]

My status changed to "In Production" today. No window sticker yet.

Mine, also. And since this morning.

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