Is It True???

[coloradocandi]

I am in the market for an Explorer Sport Trac. I prefer a manual transmission. I recently spoke to a dealership and was told that the EST has a bad track record with manual transmission and I'm wondering if this is true. The vehicle I'm looking at is an 2001 with 60,000 miles on it. I'm new to this site, found it in my search for information about the manual transmission info so I'm asking you for help. Sounds like folks here on this site would know.

I had an 02 Escape for 5 years, although parts (like the cruise control button and the guards on doors) kept falling off the vehicle, for the most part it ran like a dream. It was a 5 speed manual trany and when it died (my husband KILLED it in a roll-over) it had 170,000+ miles on it and was still going strong on all original parts. The folks at the dealership where I had it serviced were amazed but I treated my baby good.

So can y'all tell me what's the deal with the Sport Trac??? Thanks!

Coloradocandi

 

[BrooklynBay]

Welcome to this forum! From what people post here, it seems like the manual transmissions are a little more durable to some degree, but like everythingb else, it depend upon how the vehicle is maintained, and used. Anything which is abused will fail sooner. It's hard to know the true history of a used vehicle. These car fax print outs only tell half of the story.

 

[IZwack]

That guy is just trying to sell you the automatic vehicle (which is a bit more expensive) and they know automatics always come back for service where as the manual transmissions keep going and going.

 

[Dopler174]

I would think that the transmission is the same in the EST as in the Explorer. If so, I would ask him about the explorer transmission and see if the answer is the same. If not, call his bullpoop. I can't stand liers and theifs.

 

[briwayjones]

That transmission setup in the Sport Tracs are the same as with the regular Explorers. Get the manual, they are very rare in the Sport Tracs.

 

[410Fortune]

01 with 60K and a 5 speed manual would be a great truck IMO as long as you get a good price on it! With gas prices you should be able to get a good price too!!

Tell the dealer to shove it, the 5 speed is more durable and puts more power to the ground then the auto, if you like 5 speeds he should be jumping through hoops to find you a 5 speed, not try to sway you towards an automatic

salesman = jerk

 

[briwayjones]

They get better gas mileage too.

 

[brianjwilson]

My Sport Trac is an auto with 30 something thousand miles, and every time I see a manual transmission for sale I get very tempted. It is the same manual transmission as the rangers had. It's not great (small clutch, eventually noisy throwout bearing), but imo it is better than the auto. The tow rating is nearly half when you get the manual transmission, but it is still more reliable. I searched all over for a manual when I bought mine, but they are just so rare.
When (not if) my automatic transmission takes a poop I'll be swapping in a manual.
The sales person is just trying to sell what he has, and knows that the manuals are hard to come by.