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I feel the need to make a comment on the manual transmission issue.
I admit that at first I was thinking of getting a manual transmission (I was looking at pickups in addition to the X), but a few test drives with the torque shift convinced me otherwise. There is no longer any palpable advantage to manual transmissions --- modern automatic transmissions are smart and efficient. Add to that the fact that any clutch dealing with 500+ lb/ft of torque is going to be a bit of a bear to work with and it pretty much makes sense to use automatic.
Add to that the fact that many fleets of large trucks are converting to automatic transmissions as they last longer and are easier to service (all the smarts are electronic rather than oodles of little parts (like what make up modern syncromesh))
And you're left with a manual tranmission simply being a status symbol and a method to discourage people from wanting to borrow your truck.
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2004 Excursion EB 6.0 Estate Green. As yet, unmodified. Delivered 2004-07-14
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