I just bought my first dodge ram. i traded in a 02 powerstroke and this truck runs circles around the ford. i was a little reluctant to get the manual but I found a good used one and the rest is history. My wife cannot drive the manual, she could if she would learn, but chooses not to so she hates it. I drove both the auto and the manual and the auto seemed that is didn't have the power as the manual does. Also, the Jake brake seems stronger on the manual as well. Shifting is the SMOOTHEST tranny I've ever drove.

 

I drove both the auto and the manual and the auto seemed that is didn't have the power as the manual does.

The funny part about that is that the trucks with the manual option actually comes from the factory with like 25-50 less hp i think it is.

 

to me it is personal preference . dodge finally has a good auto as well as a good manual . i like a manual to pull with because i put it in whatever gear i want it in and even the best auto will tend to hunt for gears when pulling steep grades . with the good transmisions available now , it all boils down to whichever one you had rather drive .

 

Dont get a manual i have had nothing but probs out of mine. The factory clutch is weak too, the auto shifts awesome and the warranty is great. So go with the auto.

 

my last Dodge was a manual and I loved it. My wife talked me into the auto with this truck and it is awsome! Pulls like a freight train with my 10K trailer and with the engine brake and tow haul it slows down without any problems.
Personally, if you are not a manual guy I would go with the auto. If you love to shift, you would not be askin the question

Chris

 

Like others have stated, depends on your needs and wants. I went for an Auto this time with me getting old and lazy. Pushing a big clutch gets old fast. One thing I miss now having an auto is me choosing what gear to run in or my shift points. My driving style has always got me better mpg than others due to my choices on gears and holding in higher gears in hill sections etc. My clutches last forever.
I do understand I'm taking a risk with the auto. All my previous ones have gone out at 100K on my Dodge cars. I'm specifically altering my driving habits to help that along. I feel much of the wear in the Dodge autos comes from slamming of the clutchpacks and gears with low pressure from sitting in park. I now go to Neutral for a few seconds to build up fluid pressure first. Only time will tell. :confused013:

 

What do YOU want? That should be your only concern. Both the manual and auto have their good and bad points. Pick the transmission YOU want to use. Manuals have a few less parts to wear out, the clutch being the big one. Automatics apply the power smoother all the way through the power band. Automatics have more moving parts and can be costly to repair if and when it is needed.

 

Be nice fellas. You're taking this off from the OP's question.

 

I agree that it depends on what you want to do. If you don't plain on doing any major HP mods then either one will probably suit you fine. however if you want something to hold up to some horse power for cheap, then I would suggest a manual. As for the stock for stock Manual vs. Automatic... despite the fact that the automatic has 40 ft/lb more torque I think they put the same power and torque to the ground.

IMHO...

 

from the dyno sheets i have seen , they both put about the same to the ground .

 

I chose a manual because my wife suffered a catastrophic failure of an automatic enroute to Cali. She spent 4 fun filled days in lovely Grants Pass Ore. fighting with the 3rd party insurance co. that administered the extended warranty. I admit to a mild case of paranoia on this issue.

 

Third party insurance is never good news...

 

For what it is worth, firemansdiesel is correct in that the Dodge brochure does indeed show less hp and torque for the manual equipped trucks. I have an 09 brochure right here at my desk. Why that is, I have no idea. Maybe Dodge didn't want to spend the money to put a real clutch in the truck. So many have complaints that the clutch is at it's limits with a stock truck.

 

i wasn't aware they had dropped the hp on the manuals for 09 but , back in 07 when i bought mine , the hp was the same and only the torque was less .

 

the newer autos behind the 6.7's are awesome

 

I upgraded all of my manual vehicles to auto transmissions over the past few years
I love my auto in the Dodge. The 4 speed auto's gave Dodge a bad reputation but the six speeds are much better. Plus manual transmissions are so 1980's
that's what one of my friends said and he's correct in my opinion

 

Your friend is right about the 80's thing. I'm 45 and love the tech. I can't live in the 80's.That being said, I work for a Caterpiller dealer and also love the techarty018:.The larger trucks, ex 773,777 and 785 trucks with automatics. Even the little backhoes, ex 420 and 430's ,while using a manual shift 4 speed , have a torque converter in front of them.

 

I'm really happy with the automatic. I always had sticks before.

 

My auto 6 speed has been really good. I have 58k on the odo. I have had one issue so far where the tranny would slip out of reverse, warranty repair. It has happened since but not often and I really just make sure watch when shifting to reverse. I think I could be part of the problem.

I think a better way for me to tell you about this is things I'd like to have to make it the perfect auto. First a tighter TC, second get the TC locked up by second gear, third let me have full manual control of the shifting if and when I want it. Sounds like I would like to have it act much more like a manual just without the clutch.