Why...why....why..???

[Missinmy5speed]

Why did GM quit offering manual tranny in the v8 4wd 1500's? Its crazy to alienate that big of a following of loyal buyers. My 2000 model has 175,000 miles on it and I go to buy a new truck and no v8 5 speeds...

Sooo...this has cost you at least one sale and in this area it will cost you many many more. Im tearing up the internet and the lots trying to find something I should be able to walk on to a lot and buy just as I have for the last 30 years. If you can build a gas hawg like the Vortec Max than I must be missing something here. Is it that the manual tranny has a lower profit margin than the auto? Cmon guys not everybody wants to buy a car disguised as a truck. Some of us still like our trucks to be trucks. I will NOT buy an auto. My 2000 4.8 5-speed 4wd has gotten 19-21 mpg its entire life and has never had a bolt turned on anything on the drivetrain.


What is the reason for not building them anymore? Am I hung out to dry or is there something in the works? I really dont want to buy a Dodge but at least they still recognize that some buyers arent sheep. I have even considered starting an online petition to get them returned to the lineup. Im sure many thousand signatures would be a breeze to get.

Thanks in advance and please respond.

[sgfootball2006]

I believe there is not enough demand for them anymore for GM to make profit on them.

[Missinmy5speed]

Thats fine...if they dont want my money I will take it elsewhere. In this area there are probably an even number of manuals to autos. I am not the only one who feels this way either. They could at least offer a decent hp 6 cylinder with them instead of the anemic 4.3 which was great for the Blazer's but a total boat anchor for the fullsize trucks.

[HoosierRon]

It looks like I soon will be buying a Jeep Patriot because GM does not offer a single manual crossover (at least in the U.S.). Funny how nearly every other manufacturer has figured out how to offer a manual crossover.

[sgfootball2006]

I think you would be suprised at how many buyers these days prefer automatics. Most new truck buyers dont use them for towing heavy loads everyday and most prefer the auto so they dont have to do more work than a lazy man would. I have never driven a manual vehicle but would not mind it as a option for a performance oriented truck. Like I said most people are not automotive enthusiasts and dont care about feeling in control of the whole vehicle.

[Missinmy5speed]

Well I like many others around here actually use their trucks for what they were meant for...work. When mainstream America adopted the pickemup as their primary vehicle the coffin lid may as well have been nailed shut on the true truck enthuiasts/users. My trucks see a pretty hard life as they are used to haul and tow some pretty heavy stuff. A large percentage of the miles on them are registered on dirt as well. As I said...the existing 4.3 is basically useless in the hills here.


The people who actually kept the truck market going by using them for work have been sold out. Vinyl mats, seats and manual trannies were the options of choice. Now its cloth, leather, satellite navigation and other stuff that are totally useless...but I guess the multitudes who should have stuck with cars and suv's are probably happy.

[BigAls87Z28]

Out of all the trucks I have seen in my short 23 years on earth, only a few I have ever seen were manuals.
I dont see why you need the manual trans, and what you are loosing by going to an auto? They still make base stripper trucks, only with an automatic trans.
You can still get a manual in a Colorado, which engines are more powerful then the dusty 4.3.
I am sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction with the fact that there is no more manual transmissions for the V8 trucks in half tons.

[HoeyHimself]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Out of all the trucks I have seen in my short 23 years on earth, only a few I have ever seen were manuals.
I dont see why you need the manual trans, and what you are loosing by going to an auto? They still make base stripper trucks, only with an automatic trans.
You can still get a manual in a Colorado, which engines are more powerful then the dusty 4.3.
I am sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction with the fact that there is no more manual transmissions for the V8 trucks in half tons.

Well, having driven both a 2.2l Sonoma 5speed and a 2.2l S-10 Auto, I have to jump on the "Bring Back The Stick" Clan. The 2.2l with the auto trans made that S-10 such a dog, the 5speed made me feel like I was driving a sports car by comparison. The differance is just as noticable in a fullsize with a V8. Some people just prefer a manual, and unless youve driven a vehicle with one and the same vehicle with an auto, you cant really appreciate the differance. Fun factor aside, its just more rewarding on a variety of levels. Awhile back I drove a 2004 Dodge Ram Power Wagon 1ton SRW with a manual trans...semi stack exhaust..and 700rwhp wow..fun! going thru those gears, I have never been so excited to see what the next gear would bring. lol Had more fun in that then the handful of Vettes I have driven.

[Puzzel]

Originally Posted by BigAls87Z28

Out of all the trucks I have seen in my short 23 years on earth, only a few I have ever seen were manuals.
I dont see why you need the manual trans, and what you are loosing by going to an auto? They still make base stripper trucks, only with an automatic trans.
You can still get a manual in a Colorado, which engines are more powerful then the dusty 4.3.
I am sorry to hear about your dissatisfaction with the fact that there is no more manual transmissions for the V8 trucks in half tons.

Since when does "need" drive a consumer market?

I too want a V8 with a manual transmission. I bought a Colorado in the fall of 2004 because I couldn't find a 1/2 ton GM truck with V8+stick within 100 miles of my home, except for a couple "Heritage" conversions that added 10k+ to the sticker. And now the Colorado cannot be bought with the 5cyl and a manual trans -- only with the 4cyl and only in Reg & ExCab models.

My next vehicle will likely be a Camaro or G8 GT with V8+stick. I'm even a little tempted to hunt down a new 2006 GTO with a 6M, but they are getting rare now.

If I replace my Colorado, it will either be a full-size Dodge or a Toyota Tacoma (Double Cab 4x4 V6 5M), unless GM pulls its head out of its collective nether region. I love the way the new Silverado & Sierra look, but I refuse to buy a vehicle with an auto trans.

[likearock00]

Sorry to hear about your problem with GM. I know it is disappointing, but GM cannot afford to put manual trannys in for such little demand. They need to cater to the MAJORITY buyers out there so they can become profitable again, and they felt removing the stick would improve their chances of it. I hope you can explore other option within GM, but from the sound of your posts it won't be possible. Good luck with your Dodge and let us know how it holds up.

[GMCdriver]

Originally Posted by Missinmy5speed

I have even considered starting an online petition to get them returned to the lineup. Im sure many thousand signatures would be a breeze to get.

You want to impress GM, go get thousands of cash deposits from people that will pay a profitable price for a manual instead of thousands of worthless signatures. Of course something of no real value is a breeze to collect.

[ctaylorzl1]

Originally Posted by Missinmy5speed

I have even considered starting an online petition to get them returned to the lineup. Im sure many thousand signatures would be a breeze to get.

Yeah you do that, then FordRules can send his "stop building Tundras" petition to Toyota and you guys can compair results! I bet you will get the same awnser.

[377Z]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

It looks like I soon will be buying a Jeep Patriot because GM does not offer a single manual crossover (at least in the U.S.). Funny how nearly every other manufacturer has figured out how to offer a manual crossover.

Unfortunately for me, manual trans 4x4 SUV's with 2 speed transfer cases are hens teeth these days. Xterra and Liberty, that's it. My last one was a 1991 Explorer XLT 4 door 5 speed--favorite vehicle I have ever owned. If I go with a 4X4 again it will be an Xterra for me, since the Liberty is too compact for its heft and I can't get past the styling (Xterra is no spring chicken either, but I think I could live with it).

Funny thing is, Ford tooled up a 5 speed model in 2002, then dropped it in 2003. Just my luck, I was in the market in 2004, and though they bloated it too much, I still would've bought the Ex had it had a manual. Must've done it for CAFE, only thing that might make sense.

[GMCdriver]

You know what is really hard to find now? A vehicle with a nice hand crank starter on the front.
I really love to be in touch with my vehicles, you know, feeling the cylinders going up and down as I turn the crank.
I hate these stupid electric starters. Just another fancy do-hickey to fail on you.
You know why they did it don't you, why they got rid of the hand crank?
To make money off of you suckers who are too lazy to do a little work to get your vehicle going and make money on all the starter jobs they will get to do on the vehicles.

These Electronic Transfer Cases and Automatic Transmisions are just the car companies sticking it to the consumer again.

I love nut job conspiracies.

[rearden82]

If you think using a manual transmission is nothing more than a chore comparable to starting an engine with a hand crank, either you've never driven one, or you consider cars to be appliances that get you from point A to point B while you eat lunch and chat on the phone.