Ford Ranger wildtrak - Auto or manual...

[pidsy]

right, got the option to upgrade a 2013 Ranger to the newer version - only issue being, the wait of a few months for a manual or... taking the Auto they have in stock now.

never having driven an Auto pick-up (lots of auto cars) - what, if any are the pitfalls?

the US market has for years only really had Auto's - so why is it such a new thing over here for our trucks?

Manual or Auto?

thoughts please.

[scubadude]

pidsy said:

Manual or Auto?

I drove the manual Wildtrak last year, bloody clunky bus gearbox (caveat- it was very new) was not impressed, it spoilt the driving experience IMO so if you can tolerate the fuel consumption I'd be tempted by the auto- better for towing and off road anyway and its hardly a sportscar!

[pidsy]

scubadude said:

I drove the manual Wildtrak last year, bloody clunky bus gearbox (caveat- it was very new) was not impressed, it spoilt the driving experience IMO so if you can tolerate the fuel consumption I'd be tempted by the auto- better for towing and off road anyway and its hardly a sportscar!

thanks.

I hadn't thought of the increased fuel usage. we do tow a long trailer sometimes - presumably, Ford have designed the auto box with that in mind?

[pidsy]

bump for the daytime crowd.

[jamieduff1981]

I drove both and went for the automatic. I've only done 1200 miles so far but I'm glad I made that choice. The manual had a notchy gear change and it is a driver-hostile diesel after all so the automatic seems the better truck.

I read that the gearbox is based on a ZF design albeit built by Ford. It's not the best gearbox I've ever had, but it's better than the manual option.