I searched high and low for a manual trans OBS F350, ended up driving 12 hours each way to pick one up and paying a premium for it. The automatics available on the trucks in my price range at the time were basically junk without thousands put in for a high performance rebuild, I put a south bend clutch on my ZF5 and basically stopped worrying about the drivetrain. Truck is strictly for camping or occasional heavy hauling, so I don't mind the manual one bit.
In a brand new truck today, I would get an auto. The Big Three all put very stout automatics behind their diesels, my choice would probably be a Ram 3500 with the Aisin option.
Even my Tacoma is making me an automatic convert, as much as I hate to admit it. I was stubborn and ordered a 2013 6 speed manual, waited a long time and probably paid a premium for that one too. My dad bought a basically identical automatic version. His stomps all over mine for power, speed and MPG. 3MPG more on the highway, and he usually cruises at 75, I notice a BIG drop in MPG when I cross 70. The only advantage I have is up and down the mountains, I get to pick the gear. I believe ALL the new automatics behind diesels let you pick gears on the fly now, too.
Edited by slus, 29 December 2014 - 12:56 PM.
