Why Not Automatic?!

BULL COOKIES the measure of a driver is to work with what the company requires of them. Would be the day I would hire a driver for any of my trucks who could not drive a stick, they would get bonus bucks if they can drive a 5-4 , or 6-4. I would actually pay a driver more if they could. Because with that knowledge, that ability, that background it tells me that if they get into a small bind they are not going to be calling for roadside assistance. They are worth a hell of a lot more to me than someone who needs to have the truck shift for him, a gps to tell him where the hell he is, and is completely lost if they need to do anything beyond checking the oil and topping up the windshield washer. Hell my wife knows more about doing road fixes to get the truck home than most guys who have come out of driving school in the last 10 or so years, and she can and has driven 5-4 and 6-4's

 

I just got back into a manual transmission today after driving an autoshift ('07 Volvo) for the past 90 days. Did not care for the autoshift. Nice to be back in a manual.

 

No, a driver isn't just a driver. Just because you set in the seat and hold the steering wheel going down the road doesn't make you a truck driver. I guess to all of these schools nowadays it does...and it's you're story you can tell it like you want.

But maybe one day you'll wake up and realize it's just not true.

 

And once again, a thread on automatic transmissions descends into nothing more than a childish game of my weenie is bigger than your weenie. Typical.

 

Have not yet been involved with a weenie measurement thread. Everyone has their views what most people are calling automatics are electronic shift not automatics. The top of the transmission and the clutch are the only difference. Electronic shifts are just another part a very expensive part that adds weight, and repair costs to the truck. The electronic package to replace is around is a shade over 7000.00 without install. A stick about 250.00 installed if you ever break one. Dont get me wrong had a Mack superliner once the darn forks were so worn it would jump out when in a gear and you had to take the top of the transmission off to set it right. But you could do it in about 1/2 an hour, try that with an electronic shift/ auto.

 

True about how so many threads turn into p-contests and name-calling with a few "opinions" thrown in.

Can there be an argument that a driver who can handle a manual trans is likely to have more jobs available to them? I think not. A musician that can play several instruments is more likely to find work than a musician who can play only one.

And no, I can't do 2-sticks; but I would enjoy seeing someone who can! And I can admit that that would make them a more versatile driver than me! Where is my ruler......?

 

look at the bright side, in a few years when everyone is running automatics, being able to shift 1 stick will be as cool as being able to shift a twin

 

Unless he sucks at all of them.

Which goes back to the key point. Transmission type isn't what makes a good driver. Being a good driver is what makes a good driver.

 

I bought one drove it for about 2 years the #### thing almost got me run over one day when it wouldn't go into reverse. (it takes about 20 seconds for the ecm to realize you have shifted into reverse) . So I pulled it out and put a 13 in it.. It got crappy fuel mileage about 5.5 with auto.. with 13 spd I am gettin 7+... I will NEVER own another one..

The main reason I pulled it out was the cost to have minor repairs done was more than the 2k I paided for a used 13 spd rebuilt..

 

Part of which I would say is an ability to handle a myriad of transmissions, both automatic and manual. After all, when it comes to a big truck with a manual transmission, wouldn't competency with that transmission fall under the general ability to control the vehicle?

Unless, of course, you'd like to define for us what specifically a "good driver" is.