Trucks/SUVs from the last 10 years with Manual Transmissions?

[Gatorgrizz27]

Lots of options if you look around, my newest manual is 17’ ram 2500 with a Cummins

Buddy of mine had a regular cab 2wd one, it had over a 600 mile range. We went from Beaumont TX to Panama City FL without getting out of the truck.

 

[5MilesBack]

If you think my point is about keeping transmissions together for warranty tho your missing what I said.

I don't think that the manufacturers care at all after the warranty runs out. Just look at Ford.......their guide for the 1999-2003 F-350's with a manual transmission says to use only MERCON ATF in it, and specifically that "MERCON V is NOT compatible with MERCON". Then in 2007 I believe, they changed up their recommendation to now use MERCON V in that same transmission. But hey, what do they care what you put in it, the warranty is gone.

 

[Billy Goat]

I don't think that the manufacturers care at all after the warranty runs out. Just look at Ford.......their guide for the 1999-2003 F-350's with a manual transmission says to use only MERCON ATF in it, and specifically that "MERCON V is NOT compatible with MERCON". Then in 2007 I believe, they changed up their recommendation to now use MERCON V in that same transmission. But hey, what do they care what you put in it, the warranty is gone.

It's not the transmission warranty. Standard transmission is pretty easy to keep together normally. But when your relying on an individual to put the thing in the right gear you get concerned about the engine and the differential. I know of several vehicles that had the transmission shoved into the wrong gear and sent the rpms through the roof. Dealership/warranty covered the totaled engine. Think those idiots could have missed a gear with an auto? Probably, but they would have had to try a lot harder.

Your wrong about them not caring about the warranty. It's called engineered lifespan. Think of a washer and dryer, refrigerator, or freezer. You build it to last say 7 years, give it a 5 year warranty. Warranty sells it, but if you built it to last forever you wouldn't ever sell another. So you design it to last a service time. Things are being built now to specifically last only a certain amount of time. Vehicles will be next, I'm not certain we aren't already there.

 

[elkyinzer]

I just picked up a 2019 Taco about a month ago. After driving a Wrangler for ten years I needed something I could get the kids in, but wasn't ready to give up and accept a robo-tranny just yet. Although this will probably be my last manual the way things are looking. It's a real shame, just something to be said for the interactive driving experience. I just love driving it, I get bored in 5 minutes driving my wife's auto. A lot of the distracted driving problems are solved by a manual.

I do have to say I am not much a fan of this Taco transmission compared to my Jeep. I'm not a gearhead by any means nor am I interested in becoming one so I don't know the technical details, but I just can't get used to it. My two biggest complaints...2nd is geared way to high. I can't get the rolling stop down without being way under powered coming out or slowing down enough to drop into 1st smoothly. The other thing is just the feel, there is a delay between throttle and engine response that I just can't get my rev-matching perfect when I blip the throttle to downshift although I am getting better at that timing.

 

[5MilesBack]

Things are being built now to specifically last only a certain amount of time. Vehicles will be next, I'm not certain we aren't already there.

That I agree with. The days of washers/driers, hot water heaters, A/C units, furnaces, vehicles, etc etc lasting for 30+ years are probably long gone.

On a side note, the A/C in my 20 year old F-350 went out.......a leak somewhere. Then two weeks ago the 19 year old A/C in my home went out........a leak somewhere. And then right after touting how well my 31 year old Toyota's A/C has held up without any issues.........it went out last week. What's up with that? All three within a couple months? The probability of that happening in that time frame was slim. That's pretty messed up. Had trouble getting the fogged windows to clear without the A/C on.

 

[Billy Goat]

That I agree with. The days of washers/driers, hot water heaters, A/C units, furnaces, vehicles, etc etc lasting for 30+ years are probably long gone.

On a side note, the A/C in my 20 year old F-350 went out.......a leak somewhere. Then two weeks ago the 19 year old A/C in my home went out........a leak somewhere. And then right after touting how well my 31 year old Toyota's A/C has held up without any issues.........it went out last week. What's up with that? All three within a couple months? The probability of that happening in that time frame was slim. That's pretty messed up. Had trouble getting the fogged windows to clear without the A/C on.

I hate to admit how much money I let a 43 cent oring on an ac compressor cost me. 4 doors on a tractor. Can't drive them in the sun without a/c hardly. Old man would drive into the barn and forget to close the door, he only did it 3 times. The 4 th door was him trying to fix it without help and likely so I wouldn't find out. He dropped that one and broke it. Was also the only door they had in stock, so took a week to get a replacement that time.


I'd definitely keep your powestroke going, probably the last good truck ever made. I keep my eye out for the '97's.

 

[Billy Goat]

I just picked up a 2019 Taco about a month ago. After driving a Wrangler for ten years I needed something I could get the kids in, but wasn't ready to give up and accept a robo-tranny just yet. Although this will probably be my last manual the way things are looking. It's a real shame, just something to be said for the interactive driving experience. I just love driving it, I get bored in 5 minutes driving my wife's auto. A lot of the distracted driving problems are solved by a manual.

I do have to say I am not much a fan of this Taco transmission compared to my Jeep. I'm not a gearhead by any means nor am I interested in becoming one so I don't know the technical details, but I just can't get used to it. My two biggest complaints...2nd is geared way to high. I can't get the rolling stop down without being way under powered coming out or slowing down enough to drop into 1st smoothly. The other thing is just the feel, there is a delay between throttle and engine response that I just can't get my rev-matching perfect when I blip the throttle to downshift although I am getting better at that timing.

That delay is likely from drive by wire, many vehicles don't have an accelerator cable anymore. Don't know if the taco is one or not.

 

[ronaldquackenbush]

What is it about Nissans that make them unreliable?

Nissan vehicles just aren’t as reliable as Toyota, and that’s really a result of the Renault merger back in ~2000. The French don’t value quality like the Japanese automakers do. They use cheaper parts, and the overall quality just isn’t as good. That said, I own a Nissan Titan and I’ve been relatively happy with it, especially considering that it cost less than half of what I would’ve paid for a comparable used Toyota Tundra. I’ve had to do a considerable amount of wrenching to keep it up, but it’s paid off and I don’t have a lot into it and it’s never left me stranded.

I think the only relatively common issue I’m aware of with the Frontiers is that the transmission cooler will crack and cause coolant to get into the transmission fluid. Not sure which years have this issue exactly though. This is a problem with a lot of Nissan trucks and SUVs. The obvious fix is to put a better radiator/transmission cooler unit in before it happens. You can get an all aluminum one for <$400 probably and it’s not a very difficult job to do yourself. However, considering you’re looking at a standard transmission anyways it wouldn’t be a problem because I don’t think the standard transmission has a cooler.

Other common problems with Nissan trucks/SUVs include exhaust manifold leaks, catalytic converters that fail prematurely, relatively weak front suspension components, and rear diff failures. Not really sure if any of those apply to the frontiers, but I know they are all common to the Titan, Armada, pathfinder, and xterra based on personal experience and the experiences of friends who own them.

At the same time, I’ve talked to Nissan owners who have 200k on their vehicle with very little in the way of repairs. I purchased my Titan from a friend with 100k on it for $7500, and I’ve put about $4000 into it (including a set of tires). It now has 150k on it and shows no sign of slowing down. The engine is in excellent shape, the transmission shifts smooth, the AC blows cold, and I rebuilt the front suspension on it so it rides like a dream. That being said, I have friends who own first gen Tundras with 250k+ and they haven’t needed to do a fraction of the repairs I’ve had to do on my truck at 150k.The bottom line is that you can get them for a lot cheaper than a Toyota truck, but you’ll likely spend more money/time keeping it up.

 

[5MilesBack]

I'd definitely keep your powestroke going, probably the last good truck ever made. I keep my eye out for the '97's.

I bought that truck after we got back from overseas when diesel was going for $5+ a gallon. Blue book is still more today than what I paid for it 12 years ago.