2010 Explorers

What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The fact
that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping me from
ever considering upgrading my 92.


--
Christopher Guidry

"Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
...
> What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The
> fact that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping
> me from ever considering upgrading my 92.

You are in the minority of potential Explorer owners. Safety, fuel
economy rules, and emmision control rules require extensive testing of
individual drive trains. These tessts are expensive. Ford probably
assumes (and are likely correct) that not enough manual transmission
Explorers would be sold to justify the time and expense of qualifying
a manual transmission drive train. Plus in many cases the automatic
transmission drive trains are getting better fuel economy than the
manual transmission drive trains (at least when tested by the EPA).

I guess you will need to get a Toyota 4Runner- oh wait, they don't
offer a manual in that, or Nissan Pathfinder, opps, they don't offer a
manual in that either, or a GM, oh they don't offer a manual in any
SUVs. I guess you'll have to get a Subaru Forester, a Ford Escape, a
Toyota RAV4, or a Toyota FJ Cruiser.

The fact is, it is not just Ford that doesn't offer automatics in mid
and large SUVs. Almost no one does in the US. Given our rules, it
makes no sense to qualify a manu transmission drive train when the
number of potential sales is tiny.

If you like your 92 Exlorer you probably just keep it. Nothing sold
today is that "basic."

Ed

C. E. White wrote:
> "Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
> ...
>> What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The
>> fact that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping
>> me from ever considering upgrading my 92.
>
> You are in the minority of potential Explorer owners. Safety, fuel
> economy rules, and emmision control rules require extensive testing of
> individual drive trains. These tessts are expensive. Ford probably
> assumes (and are likely correct) that not enough manual transmission
> Explorers would be sold to justify the time and expense of qualifying
> a manual transmission drive train. Plus in many cases the automatic
> transmission drive trains are getting better fuel economy than the
> manual transmission drive trains (at least when tested by the EPA).
>
> I guess you will need to get a Toyota 4Runner- oh wait, they don't
> offer a manual in that, or Nissan Pathfinder, opps, they don't offer a
> manual in that either, or a GM, oh they don't offer a manual in any
> SUVs. I guess you'll have to get a Subaru Forester, a Ford Escape, a
> Toyota RAV4, or a Toyota FJ Cruiser.
>
> The fact is, it is not just Ford that doesn't offer automatics in mid
> and large SUVs. Almost no one does in the US. Given our rules, it
> makes no sense to qualify a manu transmission drive train when the
> number of potential sales is tiny.
>
> If you like your 92 Exlorer you probably just keep it. Nothing sold
> today is that "basic."
>
> Ed
>
>

Catering to pansy drivers is basically the summary.

--
Christopher Guidry
Sonic.net Tech Support

C. E. White wrote:
> "Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
> ...
>> What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The
>> fact that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping
>> me from ever considering upgrading my 92.
>
> You are in the minority of potential Explorer owners. Safety, fuel
> economy rules, and emmision control rules require extensive testing of
> individual drive trains. These tessts are expensive. Ford probably
> assumes (and are likely correct) that not enough manual transmission
> Explorers would be sold to justify the time and expense of qualifying
> a manual transmission drive train. Plus in many cases the automatic
> transmission drive trains are getting better fuel economy than the
> manual transmission drive trains (at least when tested by the EPA).
>
> I guess you will need to get a Toyota 4Runner- oh wait, they don't
> offer a manual in that, or Nissan Pathfinder, opps, they don't offer a
> manual in that either, or a GM, oh they don't offer a manual in any
> SUVs. I guess you'll have to get a Subaru Forester, a Ford Escape, a
> Toyota RAV4, or a Toyota FJ Cruiser.
>
> The fact is, it is not just Ford that doesn't offer automatics in mid
> and large SUVs. Almost no one does in the US. Given our rules, it
> makes no sense to qualify a manu transmission drive train when the
> number of potential sales is tiny.
>
> If you like your 92 Exlorer you probably just keep it. Nothing sold
> today is that "basic."
>
> Ed
>
>

Catering to pansy drivers who never learned to drive a real car is the
summary of this post. Lazy drivers who don't appreciate the road, there
car, or anything that a vehicle is about are the leading cause that one
day vehicles will be unmanned. Such a sad, sad way to live.

--
Christopher Guidry

"Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
...
> C. E. White wrote:
>> "Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
>> ...
>>> What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The fact
>>> that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping me from
>>> ever considering upgrading my 92.
>>
>> You are in the minority of potential Explorer owners. Safety, fuel
>> economy rules, and emmision control rules require extensive testing of
>> individual drive trains. These tessts are expensive. Ford probably
>> assumes (and are likely correct) that not enough manual transmission
>> Explorers would be sold to justify the time and expense of qualifying a
>> manual transmission drive train. Plus in many cases the automatic
>> transmission drive trains are getting better fuel economy than the manual
>> transmission drive trains (at least when tested by the EPA).
>>
>> I guess you will need to get a Toyota 4Runner- oh wait, they don't offer
>> a manual in that, or Nissan Pathfinder, opps, they don't offer a manual
>> in that either, or a GM, oh they don't offer a manual in any SUVs. I
>> guess you'll have to get a Subaru Forester, a Ford Escape, a Toyota RAV4,
>> or a Toyota FJ Cruiser.
>>
>> The fact is, it is not just Ford that doesn't offer automatics in mid and
>> large SUVs. Almost no one does in the US. Given our rules, it makes no
>> sense to qualify a manu transmission drive train when the number of
>> potential sales is tiny.
>>
>> If you like your 92 Exlorer you probably just keep it. Nothing sold today
>> is that "basic."
>>
>> Ed
>
> Catering to pansy drivers who never learned to drive a real car is the
> summary of this post. Lazy drivers who don't appreciate the road, there
> car, or anything that a vehicle is about are the leading cause that one
> day vehicles will be unmanned. Such a sad, sad way to live.
>
> --
> Christopher Guidry

As very well informed and knowledgeable Automotive Enthusiast, you may be
right in your opinion. On the other hand, the drivers and manufacturers of
"real cars" may feel differently. Particularly those pansy, lazy,
non-real drivers of new Porsches, Maserattis, Lamborghinis, etc, et al that
have moved to automatic transmissions would be interested in your input.
There are "gear heads" and then there are those that need a lube job!!

Auto magazines are full of stories lately saying that the dual clutch
automatic is rapidly replacing manual transmissions. It looks like
manuals are about to be a thing of the past.

"Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
...
> Catering to pansy drivers who never learned to drive a real car is
> the summary of this post. Lazy drivers who don't appreciate the
> road, there car, or anything that a vehicle is about are the leading
> cause that one day vehicles will be unmanned. Such a sad, sad way to
> live.

Using your logic, shouldn't we all be driving horse drawn wagons? Or
maybe stomping on pedals like the Model T used?

I suppose you'd prefer hand cranks to electric starters and acteleye
lights to electric lights....

Ed

Alas, the shift to automatic transmissions in the US is symptomatic of the
decline of western civilization...just let somebody else think about the
driving, I'm along for the ride <sigh>

On a more serious vein, I am in total agreement with you. The '97 XLT I have
was the last year you could get any upgraded options with a manual trans,
afterwards they were only available on the base model, and with the next
body style the manual option was dropped altogether, some 10 years back. My
Explorer has been the most useful and reliable vehicle I have ever owned and
I would have upgraded it during that period had Ford still let me do the
driving, but like almost all domestic offerings, they have dumbed down most
of their models now. I now drive an '08 Mustang, where you can get a manual
in any setup, and keep the Explorer for days like today (14" of snow).

There is still one domestic SUV that has a manual transmission offering, the
H3 Hummer. I seriously looked at that to replace the Explorer, but it faired
poorly in comparison to my '97...bigger outside, smaller inside, less power,
same ground clearance (mine has bigger tires than standard), so I just kept
the old beast. Sad thing is everywhere else in the world the manual
transmission is on 80-90% of the vehicles, even those virtually identical to
what is here. If you want to feel bad, look at how the Explorer is equipped
in Australia. Too bad the steering is on the "wrong" side.

=Vic=
Bear Gap, PA
"Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
...
> What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The fact
> that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping me from
> ever considering upgrading my 92.
>
>
> --
> Christopher Guidry

Why would you want a manual transmission. Just get in and drive. Driving
shouldn't be work. Period.

Even my Vette is automatic.

Get with the program, man. Its transportation.

GeorgeC



"Vic Klein" > wrote in message
...
> Alas, the shift to automatic transmissions in the US is symptomatic of the
> decline of western civilization...just let somebody else think about the
> driving, I'm along for the ride <sigh>
>
> On a more serious vein, I am in total agreement with you. The '97 XLT I
> have was the last year you could get any upgraded options with a manual
> trans, afterwards they were only available on the base model, and with the
> next body style the manual option was dropped altogether, some 10 years
> back. My Explorer has been the most useful and reliable vehicle I have
> ever owned and I would have upgraded it during that period had Ford still
> let me do the driving, but like almost all domestic offerings, they have
> dumbed down most of their models now. I now drive an '08 Mustang, where
> you can get a manual in any setup, and keep the Explorer for days like
> today (14" of snow).
>
> There is still one domestic SUV that has a manual transmission offering,
> the H3 Hummer. I seriously looked at that to replace the Explorer, but it
> faired poorly in comparison to my '97...bigger outside, smaller inside,
> less power, same ground clearance (mine has bigger tires than standard),
> so I just kept the old beast. Sad thing is everywhere else in the world
> the manual transmission is on 80-90% of the vehicles, even those virtually
> identical to what is here. If you want to feel bad, look at how the
> Explorer is equipped in Australia. Too bad the steering is on the "wrong"
> side.
>
> =Vic=
> Bear Gap, PA
> "Christopher Guidry" > wrote in message
> ...
>> What gives with Ford no longer offering standard transmissions? The fact
>> that there line of 2010 Explorers are only automatic is keeping me from
>> ever considering upgrading my 92.
>>
>>
>> --
>> Christopher Guidry
>
>

George Csahanin wrote:
> Why would you want a manual transmission. Just get in and drive. Driving
> shouldn't be work. Period.
>
> Even my Vette is automatic.
>
> Get with the program, man. Its transportation.
>
> GeorgeC

Automatics usually want to get right into top gear. The dumb things
don't see the hills and corners ahead.