i will be looking for a 2001+ edge supercab 4dr, 4.0L, 2wd, and am undecided on the tranny...

i plan on a camburg lift and 33x12.50 A/T's

I think I prefer a manual because they usually have less problems (although I heard that this manual has had it's share)
But I don't mind an auto,,,I am just skeptical about trusting an auto.

I drive mostly San Diego city streets and my off roading is mostly dunes with some other desert terrain

What do you guys think will be best for my situation?

Do the manuals do well in the sand?

Thanks for any input..

 

I've had some issues with the auto, so i'd say manual...I know Carl had some issues with his manual...but manuals are cheaper to fix or replace than autos. Autos are nice, but when they go it sucks.

 

Auto's hold up better in the desert..

Do you want to be shifting in the middle of a whoop section?..

Most all desert trucks run an auto..

Couple things to think about...

 

if your running desert get auto but if your doing like mudding or daily driving I am 100% a maunal person i hate auto. get the auto pull its *** out and take it to a GOOD tranny shop and have them make it bullit proof

 

I like my auto for everyday driving. I kinda wish I would of bought a stick but like Jason said auto is better in dezert. I havent had any problems with mine and I have around 70000 miles on my truck and I drive it pretty hard.

 

I like everything about an auto,,,except that i don't trust them...
I don't want to shift during the whoops like rngprerunner said

do these autos (2001+) need to be reprogrammed when switching to larger tires?
Are they electronically or hydraulically controlled?

Because i will be getting 33's.

thanks for the info

 

electronically controlled... Get a manual...

 

My take.. A stick is more reliable, easier to fix/replace, slightly more efficient (better on gas), easier to control in the snow (important to us New Englandahs), and one helluva lot more fun to drive. As long as I live in a moderately suburban/rural area-which is to say as long as I can-I will opt for the manual trans. My opinion is that the auto is only good for city and stop and go traffic. Now if I commuted to Boston on a daily basis, I'd probably want an auto.

That said, I don't know the first thing about desert driving, so I can't comment there. Although I would think that shifting while in the 'whoops' wouldn't be that hard.. as long as you are properly secured in the seat. Besides, wouldn't you want to avoid shifting while negotiating obsticals like that? Eh, like I said, I'm clueless of suchthings.

The one black-mark on the manual trans for our truck is that it is not especially strong. Bob and I got into a discussion about the trans back in Centralia. IIRC he said something like "The Mazda trans is a peice of junk, it always has been!" He went on to say that even if there is a problem w/ the trans, you could probably buy a whole remanufactured manual trans for the cost of your average minor repair on an auto.

The official towing capacity of the Ranger w/ a manual is roughly half the spec for the same Ranger w/ an auto. That's a huge hit, especially on the LII's like my truck, which are already very heavy w/ the 4x4 drivetrain and extra crap.

 

Since you do lots of city driving, I would say go with an auto. My truck is enjoyable on more open roads, but when I hit stop and go traffic, it gets old.

 

That's very true. City traffic with a stick gets OLD real quick.