A number of septic service company owners I’ve spoken to recently have made the switch to automatic transmissions as they spec new pumping rigs. As the quality of auto transmissions in work vehicles improves and the American public keeps falling away from using stick shift in their personal vehicles, this transition seems inevitable. Like it or not—and I’ve heard from a few old-school pumpers who don’t like it—it looks like the auto transmission is here to stay in work trucks.
The auto vs. manual transmission debate is an ongoing one in my own household. While I would prefer to drive a stick, my wife sees absolutely no reason to bother with gear jamming.
Before I got married, I never had a personal vehicle with an auto transmission. I even had to order a pickup truck with a five-speed stick (most were auto even 20 years ago) because I saw the benefits to handling the shifting duties myself. As most hangers-on to the original technology will argue, the stick gives a more connected feel to the driving experience and the pavement. It seems to coax more power out of smaller engines. We also say that the simpler manual gearbox is less prone to costly repairs. And, at least in the past, we’ve been able to argue that manual transmission yields better fuel economy.
I say “in the past’’ when talking about the fuel economy because that argument doesn’t appear to hold water anymore. I’m always looking at new cars, and the government fuel ratings now often say the automatic transmissions squeeze a little more gas out of every tank than the stick shift. It seems that better computer control of shift points and the explosion of gear-free CVT, or continuously variable transmissions, are helping edge stick shift vehicles further to the back corner of the car dealership lots
For grins, another gearhead passed along a personality study prepared by Hunch Inc. for the makers of the Mini Cooper car comparing the personality traits of drivers who know how to shift and those who don’t. We drivers who prefer stick shift are more likely to be over 35 years old, optimistic college-educated men who know how to change a tire, who would like to own a sports car and want to eat ribeye steaks. Those who don’t know how to drive stick are more likely to be under 35, high-school-educated pessimistic women who like to eat pasta and drink white wine. (not my words, dear)
Look at the entire humorous list right here:
Which side are you on, when it comes to both your personal vehicle and your vacuum truck? Post your comments here or send me an email at editor@pumper.com
