"RG" wrote in message
...


I gotta go the other way on this one. This is one of those things where
more is really more. The extra gears get you a lower low and a higher
high. Makes for a quicker, smoother, and more economical vehicle. I love
the 6 speed auto in my daily driver. 1st is quite low for quick starts,
and 5th and 6th are both overdrives. Great economy, and smooth as buttah.
Auto trans technology has come a long way in the past five years. The new
07 replacement for my car comes standard with an 8 speed auto. I'm
guessing you're at a point of diminishing returns there. Mercedes has a 7
speed in a number of its cars.

It did make a huge difference in the diesel truck going from a 4 speed in
my 2000 to a 5 speed in my 2005. Night and day.


I've read that the 5 speed TorqueShift (which is really a re-designed
version of the older 4 speed) was developed specifically to handle the
higher torque of the 6.0L Powerstroke diesel when Ford retired the 7.3L.
It's features worked out well for heavy hauling and towing, so it is also
used in the gas Super Duties.
My son's '05 F-250 with the V-10 also has the TorqueShift. It appears that
the F-150 series still uses the older transmission.

Eisboch