You're old enough to remember when automatic trans. were rated way lower than manual. Well. . .the tides have turned. The automatics of to day are better built, heavier duty and are computer controlled. The computer control part is the biggie, it plays to the torque better than most humans do. It would be my guess that if your friend were a really good driver and was well attuned to feel, sound and gages he could do as well as the computer but the company can't rely on that being the case.
I have a brother in law that got a heavy duty 350 for pulling heavy horse trailers and ordered a manuel for that thinking they would do more. The salesman, his brother and I all told him that was not the case anymore but you know brother in laws, had to have it his way. Well, two years later, he traded again and got the automatic. Said it was the best thing he ever did. (he also hunts without earplugs, couldn't hear what his motor was doin' if he tried)
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