Done with manual trans.

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: Steve S
Originally Posted By: jcwit
Originally Posted By: Steve S
I had to bring this post up!!! I Hate auto [censord] matic transmissions. If I were king of the USA the first thing I would do is ban them!


You wouldn't if you were over 65 with bad knees.

Bet you have trouble with your auto, right?
No problem I have been driving my dads 96 Toyota truck 58,000 miles and maintained like a 747 it runs great . The auto trans ruins a good truck. I really do not like autos I would rather take command and drive the car.


Driving your dads truck, well that explaines it. Wait till you have a few years on you and the body parts don't work like they used to, it happens to all of us, whether we want it to or not. Its a fact of life. But then what do I know, I've only been driving for 50 some years.

 

[meep]

I miss owning manuals!!! But i developed chronic wrist injuries that I'm stuck with.

But I haven't forgotten how-- I borrow one every once in a while and LOVE it. Just can't live with one daily. :-(

Mike

 

[Spyder7]

Have driven and owned about half and half. There's a certain fun factor with manuals, I've always found, while an auto can be a bit more relaxing (especially in city traffic).

I was originally hoping for a manual when I bought this car, but an auto trans wasn't a deal breaker for me so I looked at both. No regrets, and probably would be just as happy if it was a stick.

-Spyder

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: BlownF150
That all and good for you....no cookies available though.

Funny, I was just writing a similar response to your post about the technical superiority of automatics.

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: greenjp
It's possible (not certain) that automatics will end up being truly more fuel efficient than manuals sometime down the road. But you can't just look at fuel ecomony in a bubble - you have to account for total ownership cost. That 50 year old manual tech works, is inexpensive, and is reliable. Computer controlled DSGs with all sorts of electrical and hydraulic controls are expensive, require maintenance, and are a guaranteed high cost repair item.

The reason manuals have seen very little development in the past 50 years is because they are nearly perfected. Add automatic throttle blipping on downshifts (the 370z has an option for this) and you're pretty much done. There's an elegant simplicity to the manual transmission that no fancy automatic can match. Hmm, cheaper to buy, cheaper to maintain, more fun to drive. No brainer.


Exactly. Additionally, manual transmission cars are not only cheaper to buy and maintain, but they probably stay on the road longer because a transmission failure on an older car won't inevitably result in scrapping.

Ten years from now, how likely will folks be to spend $4000 for a replacement automatic transmission, or $6000 for a replacement DSG, in cars that will not be worth that much? OTOH, a junkyard manual transmission or a new clutch is always going to be cheap enough to justify the expense, on all but the most decrepit cars.

 

[cchase]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Automatics have alot of benefits to them. In very poor road and visiblity conditions I'd rather be able to keep both hands on the wheel at all times.


Amusingly, manuals are specifically better for driving in poor road conditions because you have the ability to engine brake which is often-times the safest way to decelerate on ice and snow (no chance of locking up) and because many automatic transmissions (especially those in sporty and/or more powerful cars) can break traction during the shift unexpectedly.

 

[Autobahn88]

Automatic transmissions have their place and are good in some vehicles. I, on the other hand could not live without my manual transmission. I am pretty lucky because my wife also hates auto transmissions so when I was looking for a vehicle to carry my 2 daughters around we purchased the Mazda5 with a manaul transmission.

 

[KrisZ]

To me the fact that the manual transmission saw very little changes in the last 50 years or so, is the proof of a very robust and superior concept and design. If it took automatics 50 years and who knows how much money in R&D to just match manuals, is proof in an inherently inferior design. To think that just because the design saw very little changes, it must be obsolete now is just foolish, men discovered the wheel thousands of years ago, the wheel saw absolutely zero changes in all that time, yet you don't see anybody suggesting it's an obsolete design.


Banning automatics is as foolish, some people need them, some want them for convenience, but if it was up to me, I would make it mandatory for every young driver to pass their driver's test on a manual transmission car, as I think manuals teach driving dynamics, car control and situational awareness a lot better than automatics do.

 

[Bill in Utah]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
Originally Posted By: Nick R
Clearly, the majority of the population, and the automakers, disagree that manuals are better. Newer automatics even get better gas mileage than manuals.


In the real world of driving manuals with a decent driver best their EPA MPG figures. Even Consumer Reports found this in their own testing of MPG (http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/cars/...-vs-auto-ov.htm)

I don't think any agenda going with them, just the data they ran into testing the vehicles.

In the end its personal preference.


Also most of the manuals are geared differently than the autos on final drive so the EPA computer thinks the MPGs will be worst.

Agree, someone who KNOWS how to drive a manual WILL beat a auto in MPG. Also NO QUESTION on what lasts longer with less overall maintenance. Plus the extra $1000 for that Auto on the sticker HAS to be figured in the total cost of ownership of the vehicle.

With my 1986 Jetta total COST of maintenance over 394,000 MILEs was $144.

Clutch cable $53 installed
Tow $75 (had to be towed to a shop)
Oil $16

That's it. Plus the vehicle cost back then $750 less over an Auto.

Not too bad for "50 year old manual". I'd love to see any auto match that.

With that said, when we bought the Subaru we had a choice and got the Autostick. Why? Did not care for the manual on how it felt and the hill holder IMO was something to go wrong. So every 30-45k I'll spend the $100 in fluid and do a few drain/refill and every 60k miles take the spin on filter and replace. But I know that even with all that time and cost the auto will not last as long as a manual.

Bill

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Autobahn88
Automatic transmissions have their place and are good in some vehicles. I, on the other hand could not live without my manual transmission. I am pretty lucky because my wife also hates auto transmissions so when I was looking for a vehicle to carry my 2 daughters around we purchased the Mazda5 with a manaul transmission.

My fiancée and I are the same way. One of the things on which she and I agree most strongly is that we will do our best never to own a non-manual car.

It's not about thinking manuals are better, or faster, or more economical in any way. It's just that all automatics take away a certain measure of control that we would rather not be without.

 

[Spyder7]

I'd like to buy a manual next time around (as a feature in the second, project, car) to have the best of both worlds: the improved control in rough weather and 'fun factor' of the manual, and the point and shoot simplicity of the auto for the days when that's all I want. When you like both, its nice having the best of both worlds.

-Spyder

 

[ClarkB]

The original post:

Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
Possibly I could be getting lazy but I'm done with manual transmissions. I came to that conclusion after having to drive in rush hour traffic last night. Usually my drive times prevents me from doing so but even with stoplights can be a pain. The Ranger is a extremely hard manual to drive.. the clutch is stiff and the gear ratio's are to low. Fine for a truck but it really starts wearing on a person unless you drive alot of highway. Which orginally that's why I bought it plans changed though. Funny how I used to love driving manual trans.. banging those gears. Going to replace with a F150 Supercrew 5.4L/auto in the spring.. I don't think I've seen the wife that happy in a while. Anyone else come over to the dark side?


It amazes me how any post on automatics eventually devolve into people stating why manuals are better for them.

Clark

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: ClarkB
It amazes me how any post on automatics eventually devolve into people stating why manuals are better for them.


So, do you think this thread should only contain comments from those who agree with the OP?

Also, "devolve" is such a loaded word; why not say "progress" or "advance"?

 

[silverrat]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
I have to laugh at the "BAN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS!!!!!111!1!1one!" people. If you don't like automatics... Don't drive them! There are still a few cars with manuals out there, get one of those. Stop complaining about how driving an automatic means that you aren't in control of car. Yes you are. You still have a steering wheel right? Gas pedal? Brake pedal? Yes? Then you are in control of the car! Automatics have alot of benefits to them. In very poor road and visiblity conditions I'd rather be able to keep both hands on the wheel at all times. Clearly, the majority of the population, and the automakers, disagree that manuals are better. Newer automatics even get better gas mileage than manuals.


Before you form an opinion like this, please learn how to drive a manual transmission.

 

[millerbl00]

First time you have to repair an automatic you may change you mind.

 

[IndyIan]

My pond excavator has a late 90's Dodge Ram 3/4 ton, 4x4, manual transmission with a Cummins TD. Its been worked but not beat on.
Hearing that truck go through gears brings brought smile to my face. One of the last of the real working trucks with a solid front axle as well.
When I heard him shifting gears it reinforced my decision to hire him.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Nick R
Clearly, the majority of the population, and the automakers, disagree that manuals are better.

1. What population? I'm assuming you're only referring to USA, but if you take world population as a whole, I am pretty sure manual transmissions are still more commonly used. As recently as 2008, 75% of all cars sold in Europe had manual transmissions. I would expect the numbers for Asia and South America to be similar.

2. And as for why the automakers like slushboxes more... well, it's pretty simple really... they can charge you more money for a car equipped with an auto, and an estimated useful life of an auto trans is shorter (compared to manual) which means more money in the parts business. Either that or you'll be back at the dealership in less time to buy another new car if you don't want to fork over the money to fix your broken trans on your existing car.

With that said, I do agree that with time, manual transmissions will become just about extinct. With so many cars on the roads, driving a car will no longer be fun for most of us... it'll be a chore, so we will be forced to automate it.

 

[d00df00d]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
With so many cars on the roads, driving a car will no longer be fun for most of us... it'll be a chore, so we will be forced to automate it.

I'm pretty sure most people already treat it that way, which is why they buy terrible cars, which is why most cars are boring and most transmissions are automatic.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Yup.

 

[wander2039]

Wow you guys are something. I have nothing towards manuals they have their purposes.. just not mine on a daily basis. Truthfully why fret over which one is better? Go have a beer and watch something relaxing much more productive.