Love my 96' AUTO. I grew up/learned to drive with manuals though...ah those days on the farm...

 

I've got a 6 speed behind my Cummins H.O. There's 5 speed manuals in my Wife's Dakota and my son's Ram and our new Neon. What's an automatic transmission???</P>


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My Laramie QC came with auto and I don't mind,I like how thecab's laid out. I don't believe anyone builds a 'three on the tree' (column shift) anymore which allows bench type seating. So Ijust ground my son and take the Wrangler out for some fun driving. Shifting is best.</P>


<IMG src=smileys/smiley4.gif border="0"></P><edited><editID>Quicksilver</editID><editDate>38016.8386921296</editDate></edited>

 

1st truck auto, learned to drive stick bought a Dakota w/ a manual, got better driving a stick, guess what, my '03 ram is a manual too. when I drive a vehicle that's an auto I'll try to shift, hehehe.</P>


I like the control of when the shift is, especailly at the light, I don't have to drop it into N to rev my engine lol, I can rev anytime I want to, while I'm stopped or while driving!</P>

 

I had a f150 5 speed manual for almost 10 years. It started out being alot of fun. However,it got old as I got older. Especially when traffic is backed up and you have to stop then go 20 ft and shift and stop again. It will wear you out. I love my 04 QC 4x4 Hemi auto ram. I can drink and eat ice cream now or whatever. However, it I were going tobuy a sports car I would want a 6 spd manual.</P>

 

<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have a 99 QC with the 318 and a 5 speed. I had to order and wait the the silly thing. My friends and family think I am nuts for getting a 5 speed. Thats OK....they don't have to drive it. It is a great driver. After I stripped the original tires off the thing I put a set of 265/70-16 Cooper tire on it and now it handles as well as it goes. Did I mention that it really goes. </FONT></P>


<FONT face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif">I was getting about 14MPG on the freewaywith the original gears (3.21:1). Then the main bearing in the rear end scattered. I had shorter (3.55:1) gears put in with a posi-traction (well worththe $200). I now get 16-17MPG @ 80MPH. I really made the truck quick. I went with the 3.55 gears as a compromise. I really wanted 3.92 gears but knew it would just turn the engine to much on long trips. The increase in mileage was a hidden asset. I guess that the engine just had to labor a bit too much to keep it going with the original gears.</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Arial>Any way...if you really enjoy a stick then the 5 speed is the way to go. Be prepared for a stiff peddle in traffic....but the rewards in performance is well worth it to me. Besides....the flowmaster exhaust sounds mean when you double-clutch downshift to stop lights. Every one looks to see what sports car is comming...with the stock rear pipe I just leave them wondering untill I take off.</FONT></P>


<FONT face=Arial>Just my thoughs.</FONT></P>


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Ooooh... you really make me envy you! I love my Ram, but I miss driving a manual BAD! Even my Sunfire that was a stick was a ton of fun. LOL! Welcome to the site by the way!

~Amanda</P><edited><editID>Dodgegirl19</editID><editDate>38019.5367013889</editDate></edited>

 

Gee, let me think..My last stick shift that I OWNED was my '63 Ford Galaxie 500 XL with a 427-dual quads and a Borg Warner 4 speed w/Hurst shifter. That was fun then (when I was 17) but now I'm 55 and I can tell you that stick stuff get get old real quick especially in city driving or when you have to shift alot. I've got freinds my age who swear by them though.

 

Auto - if you have to let your spouse drive it (as she can't drive a stick anyway)</P>


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Manual - because nothing compares to a short-throw, narrow-gated 6 spd and dropping the clutch at the light!! </P>


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Unfortunately, when my girl called to me.. she was a hottie dressed in Solar Yellow and the *only* Yellow Ram-ette I could find in the North/South Carolina area.. even brought her home on a Sunday.. She was an Auto but she loves me nonetheless </P>


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I will make the same observation that SOLARAM made.....If you know some one that does not know how to drive a stick well, then DO NOT LET THEM DRIVE YOUR TRUCK!!!!!!!!!! </P>


My ex-wife did make one fatal mistake about a year after I got my truck. She parked it at a book store, got out, locked the door and went inside the store. After a short time in the store she went out to get in my truck only to find it was no longer there. As she had a heart attack thinking that someone had just stolen my pride and joy, she noticed that some one had parked accross the parking lot.....skewed a bit. Then it dawned on her......she had forgoten to put the parking brake on.After $1600 in rear 1/4 pannel and bumper I was still facedwith the shame of paying the repairs onthe Chevy 4X4 it hit...it was a $150 paint job onthe frontbrush gaurdand a new plate holder.</P>


Needless to sayI have sincecured that little problem<IMG src=smileys/smiley2.gif border="0">.</P>


Eric</P>