I'd rather row through the gears as well, and a stick should net a little better mileage - especially if you drive off of your boost/EGT gauges.

 

Not with the final drive ratio mismatch. Auto will beat the manual all the time for mileage.

 

On the open highway I agree but not in stop and go city driving it won't.

 

A good friend of mine has the same year truck as mine, with auto trans, same gear ratio. He does not get the fuel mileage that I do around town (non-freeway driving) but on the highway at consistant highway speeds, His truck does much better than mine.

 

I don't know guy's. I have an 04 Auto with 85k pulling 14K all the time with no problems. The only thing I could ask for is an exaust brake. Maybe when I start having problems a full DTT will be in my stocking.

 

I am a fan of the manual transmission because of the reliability and added control. Up until a couple years ago, the manual-equipped trucks had more power, but now they are not detuning the autos. The new trucks with the six speed autos may be as reliable and offer equal performance to the manuals, but the new technology worries me until it has been proven for a couple of years.

 

I was thinking of my '05 with the 37" Toyos... good for 19+ mpg highway at GVWR