Auto all the way.. I tow extensively and don't have one complaint....

Shane

 

Fuel mileage can vary from truck to truck, but the G56 6 speed manual is geared so low that they "generally" get less fuel mileage than a 48RE auto equipped identical truck......running empty on the highway. I wouldn't let that make the deciding factor though. If you like a manual truck better...get it. The G56 trannies seem to be doing great.

 

Like most of these guys said, it all depends on preference. The G56 or 48RE auto will do fine pulling your TT and equipment. Just keep in mind that doing around town towing you'll have to be playing with gears at traffic lights if you go manual. Depends on the area you live in and how many start/stop areas there are. I wouldn't know, as I reside in the northeast lol.

 

Mine listed for $42,700. I traded a loaded up '98 Lariat F150 with 75K miles and they gave me book value $6,500 I figure the trade-in would have retailed at about $9,000 so there's $2,500 I lost on the F150. I cut the dealer a check for exactly $30,500 which included taxes title, tags, and everything. Counting that $2500 spread on the F150 my final price ended up being $33,000 Maybe I could have done better and possibly others have but I was happy with that.

If I had it to do over again I would've kept the deals seperate because it's easier to keep from getting ripped off that way. I should've wholesaled the F150 to some Ford dealer and then haggled with a Dodge dealer on a new truck. Also if you have the paitience for it, which I don't, private sale retail is the best way to go with your old F150.

As for manual v/s auto. Get the manual.

 

I test drove an '06 auto and knew after coming out of a DTT in my '99,I'd have to dump $5,000 into a 48re if I got one. Consequently,I ordered a G-56 in my new one. Love the tranny but have to admit I miss my DTT. Sounds like the new six speed autos are amazing though on the 07.5's.

 

Me and the CTD decide when to shift, not the transmission. It's just the messenger

 

If your bombing it what's the cost of a "upgraded" of a 6 speed vs a auto. IMHO 6 on the floor

 

Automatics are for cars ... manuals are for trucks and towing.

 

Manual will give you many more years of carefree service, if you just don't mind shifting. I'm 45, and out of all my cars and trucks over the years, I only had to replace one clutch disk on all the manual vehicles I owned, but of all my auto vehicles I only had one auto that didn't need rebuilding, the rest of them failed me . The last one was 900 miles from home with my 5er on the back ,and a truck full of screaming kids.

 

Hence the reason I will not have an auto in any of my trucks until there is monumental changes to their design. It's like from day one they are on a countdown to some sort of failure that go into the thousands to repair/replace.