Ford will introduce a new Transmission into the Explorer and some other light trucks for model year 2004. Called the "Powershift", it looks like a pretty big tech leap. The tranny will have 6 forward automatic gears, it will also have a extra low 7th gear for off the line grunt while towing. The 7th gear will be activated by a switch on the dash. The new transmission will improve grunt off the line, fuel economy by 7-8%, shift quality, plus, they hope to see it last at least 150,000 miles without any major overhauls. Sounds like a pretty good tranny if you ask me, thoughts?

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Stephen Withrow
StephenLS400@aol.com
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97 Explorer Limited 4X4 SOHC V6
98 Lexus LS400

Hey Stephen,
Do you think it will be able to fit in our Explorers?

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Happy Wheelin'
Ray L.
97 XLT 4X4 4.0L SOHC
Ray's Truck (http://www.4x4central.com/ubb/Forum13/HTML/000006.html)

That's an interesting question. I'm not sure. I think the SOHC is unchanged in the 01, and the 04 will be identical. I don't see why not. We'll have to wait and see the specs when they are oficially released.

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Stephen Withrow
StephenLS400@aol.com
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97 Explorer Limited 4X4 SOHC V6
98 Lexus LS400

What about fitting that into an older say 93 Explorer? By then I'll have around 120,000 on my tranny and it MAY need to be replaced.
Always keep your options open.

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Nick
'93 XLT 4 Door 4x4
Bosch Plat+4's with SplitFire Dual Core wires and a
K&N Air Filter with a Modified Air Box

Nick, I have a feeling you may need the SOHC engine. I could be wrong though.

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Stephen Withrow
StephenLS400@aol.com
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97 Explorer Limited 4X4 SOHC V6
98 Lexus LS400

what exactly is the difference between sohc and whatever i have in my '93 sport?

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'93 explorer sport 4x4

Just bought a 04 XLT and tranny jumps a little (rougher) more off the start than my old 91 xlt. Will tell you how it pulls my boat out next month... Whit

Boy, this is an old thread lol

Your telling Me!

And we see Ford never made this transmission :(

"Power Shift" is a John Deere transmission. And what good is an automatic when you can have a stick? Well I guess you can't have a stick Explorer any more (shame Ford) :thumbdwn:

There is still a six speed in rumors, for the Explorer line. I don't remember if it was one trans, or more, for all engines. Night,
Don

Sheesh! Now THIS is an old thread ;)

Yeah, any slush box is a worthless POS compared to a manual. Nothing gets me more aggravated than when I think about how the auto manufacturers are moving away from putting manuals in light trucks. It just makes me sick!

True. With Ford, only the Ranger (any trim level I guess) and the XLS base Escape can have a stick. It can be 4x4 though, but no switch or low range. No Explorer offers a manual anymore. 2002 4 doors and 2003 Sports (and I believe 2003 Sport Tracs) were the last of those. And only certain cars offer manuals. I guess Focus, Mustang, and the GT. Not available on new F150s. The day that Super Dutys loose sticks is the day I die, cuz the world is bad enough as it is.

Fact of the matter is though, the vast majority of buyers simply don't want sticks...

Yeah, I know, the manufacturers are just trying to stay in business. So I guess its the consumers fault!

The only vehicle that ford, or any other manufacturer, makes right now that I would even consider buying is the Ranger. But even that has that crappy, worthless, IFS garbage. I'll just have to keep my 92 forever. Ford actually made vehicles the right way in 92; no IFS and standard slush box crap.

Fact of the matter is though, the vast majority of buyers simply don't want sticks...

Me I'd love a stick. But the one I drove in a '03 ranger was the worst I'd ever gotten my hands on. My old '65 F700 had a better stick then that. That's ashame these days.

Yes, I'm keeping my 92 XLT with the 5 speed stick....forever :navajo: .

I have the Mazda manual trans and it isn't the greatest (hard to shift into 1st when hot, even after an overhaul :roll: ) but its still better than any automatic!

I was really disappointed when Ford dropped the manual from the Explorer :fire: . If (when?) my Ex croaks, I don't know what I'd get to replace it; just can't get a similarly-equipped new Explorer. If they made the Escape XLT with the V6 and manual transmission, it would be a lot like the Explorer Sport, but the manual is only available in the base XLS model with the 2.3 L engine. I think 2.3 L is too small for the Escape, even though its rated at 153 hp. (Odd that the 1st gen Explorer with the manual is only rated at 145 hp, why?).

The Nissan Xterr and maybe the Toyota 4 Runner are available with a stick, but do I want an import SUV? :thumbdwn:


Gotta have a stick! BTW Happy New Year :us: :exporange :D


Bob

I will never let mine go into retirement. I will continue to replace the engine, transmission, body/paint, axles, frame, and every other part that breaks on it. One day it will get to a point when all the parts for it are out of manufacter and are not possible to replace. Then I will have to have all the parts (engine, transmission, body, etc...) custom recontructed. This will cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, but thats how much I like the vehicle.

One thing is for sure: I will never, ever own a vehicle equipped with an automatic transmission. That doesn't mean that my future wife or children wont, but I will never own an automatic for myself.

As stated above, most people dont want sticks. Correct but a vast majority of the people out there, dont know even how to drive one. Five years from now you all will be hard pressed to find a stick shift out there, with out having to jump through hoops to order it. Maybe we can get the shifters like the Lexus Gs, on the steering wheel has paddle shiters, No clutch that I'm aware of. What do u all think,,and by the way fellas, dont shoot that idea down too quickly! :)

Even on highline vehicles like Ferraris and Lambos way more autos are sold than sticks.

Just a turning of the page in the auto industry i guess!

Yeah well,

The day that I can't get a vehicle with a manual transmission (AND a clutch because this is what makes them so much better) is the day that I stop buying vehicles from the auto industry and start making my own. And I'm dead serious.

I think here at Serious Explorations more of us tend to favor manuals over autos because we all know of the auto problems brought up. If I ever have to sell mine (and I won't) I'll do it here.

I wish I would have bought a '93 4 door Eddie Bauer 4x4 touch drive with a stick that was for sale here long ago. $3000 and in really nice shape.

Or at an auto auction I was at a while back, there was a '96 4 door XLT with Control Trac is nice shape with a stick. Very very nice shape. I watched it go through the auction, and nobody bid on it at $2000. The auctioneer said "come on. Is the entire other side wiped out or something?" I really wish I would have bought this.

Twice, I have seen a 3rd generation 4 door stick. Someday I'll have one.

we'll if they keep up developing land all you off roaders wont have a place to use your toys. Guess that's the general thought process in the automotive industry, AKA Pre-runners, Make them look good, rough, and yet put a auto in the drive train as for they wont see dirt or off road duty. Shades of things to come, just wait! Clutches are on the way out. So all u fellas, and ladies (pc here) better take care of the x's you have. MIGHT be collectors items one day! What say u? :)

I think it has more to do with being enthusiasts. People who like driving like manuals. If I didnt sit in traffic around here all day and drive downtown as much as I do I'd drive a manual, I used to always drive manuals. I once swore I'd never drive anything with an auto and anything with 4 doors...well times change lol

That just goes to show you how rare a car enthusiast is nowadays.

Sad, but true. The stick is a pain in heavy traffic, but not unbearable. The vast majority of drivers these days, especially of SUV's, which have become family cars, don't want and don't know how to drive a stick. So, our choices are very limited. You can still get a Ranger or Nissan Xterra, or Ford Escape (base model only) with a stick, or one of the Subaru wagons that they insist on calling SUV's.

I still think the stick gives better gas milage and better control of acceleration, engine/drivetrain braking, especially in snow.

I've been poking around on Escape-central.com and a lot of Escape owners would have liked the V6 with a stick, if it were available. I read a lot of complaints about the Escape's automatic transmission, too. The last thing I'd want is an unreliable automatic (I hear the VW auto trans isn't too good, either). With a manual, there's so much less to go wrong.


Bob

Fact of the matter is though, the vast majority of buyers simply don't want sticks...
I test drove a Ranger before I bought my Explorer. It had a Stick, I like sticks my last four cars had them. But I gota tell Ya, the Ford's Stick was crappy to drive. Maybe my Acura Integra spoiled me, But even my Chevy C-30 pickup with a granny gear drove better than that Ranger. I'd like to have an Explorer with a stick, But not with "that" stick.

I test drove a Ranger before I bought my Explorer. It had a Stick, I like sticks my last four cars had them. But I gota tell Ya, the Ford's Stick was crappy to drive. Maybe my Acura Integra spoiled me, But even my Chevy C-30 pickup with a granny gear drove better than that Ranger. I'd like to have an Explorer with a stick, But not with "that" stick.

That's interesting. I was considering a Ranger as an eventual replacement for my Ex, precisely because it has the cargo room and an available stick.

I thought that the manual transmission in the Ex and the Ranger would be the same, but maybe not. The stick in my ex is no sports car tranny, though. Good gear ratios, but not a short shifter. You know you're driving a truck, so maybe the Integra did indeed spoil you.

I have considered every 4WD or AWD vehicle and I don't like anything better than my 1st gen Ex 4dr, 4WD stick!


Bob

You need to find a short throw Hurst. They were intended for Rangers but a fella with an Ex installed it and it works fine. Said the shifts are about 2''