Done with manual trans.

[Tosh]

Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
Anyone else come over to the dark side?

Maybe you should make a complete switch and go diesel? Now THAT's the 'dark side'!

 

[Tosh]

Originally Posted By: rjundi
In twenty years driving no desire for an automatic. However soon will be an owner of one since Minivans not available otherwise. But they are boring/comfy appliances anyway so what does it matter.

More of a microvan than a minivan, but the Mazda5 comes with a stick.

 

[TallPaul]

Reason there are so few manual transmissions is the masses want automatics.

And to think manual transmissions were once called "standard transmissions." I wish they were still standard. I have a hard time driving some automatics, namely the one in my wife's '92 3.0 Aerostar. It's always going into gears I don't want it in. Wife says I don't know how to drive an automatic.

If I ever get stuck with an automatic, I'll have a shift kit put in to make it work better, and maybe a manual valve body and better shift lever.

 

[PF52]

I've owned several manuals but will probably get an automatic next time. In fact, not just "probably", I will for certain.

 

[jcwit]

Never thought I'd go to an automatic, well I got old and my knees have failed me and an auto is all thats left.

 

[Vizzy]

Unless you do have to deal with gridlock traffic on a regular basis I can't see why anyone would go to an auto...

The benefits of manual are clear

1) Lower cost to buy
2) Lower cost to maintain
3) More control of the vehicle in dangerous situations.
4) Usually better mpg overall.


Sure, I understand the draw when you drive in heavy bumper to bumper traffic or medical issues, BUT the only explanation for the majority of Americans choosing to drive them is laziness and a full court press by car makers marketing depts...

 

[Tornado Red]

The rest of you can do what you want, but I will never own a car with an automatic transmission. What I would like is one of the new 6-speed manual transmissions -- sometimes when I'm in 5th and I reach for the shift lever to upshift, and I end up putting it back in 5th.

 

[ls1mike]

I have had a 6 speed since 93. What is new about them?

 

[mjoekingz28]

Try some Redline transmission fluid if you're not happy with your shifting action. I've had it in three cars.

First, the Aspire which called for ATF but I didnt know any better back then and put in MTL and it made shifting great, as good as it gets. Then I got a RX7 and used the MT90 and as soon as I poured it in (without even cranking the engine or moving at all), immediately the shifting was much improved.

Now onto my Saturn. It was very notchy shifting and not fun at all and after backing out the driveway you gotta stab first several time and/or press and let go of the clutch to get it into gear. Well, I knew I wanted some MTL from previous experience. But Dave at Redline and folks on the Saturn forum said ATF D4 was the way to go because it was recommended. So I used it and while shifting is smoother, still getting it in to first is troublesome. I will replace with MTL one day, but since according to the manual the trans. fluid is never recommended for a change I have a hard time dropping $25 on something unneeded and Im not even guarenteed an improvement since they say D4 is alot alike MTL.

But before you give up on standards, use MTL if you're specced for ATF or 70w80 and use MT90 if you're specced for 75w90.

 

[Kruse]

I love manual transmissions.
Of course, I do no city or rush hour driving. My daily commute is about 50 miles round trip and it's all highway. I can see how the rush hour drivers have that attitude.
To anyone who hates a manual transmission, I've got a Chevy C90 grain truck with a Detroit diesel. Take that for a spin and the love a manual transmission will come back to you.

 

[fdcg27]

I'm not ready yet, but I can feel your pain.
My wife went for an automatic for her last new car, the Subaru, after more than thirty years of sticks.
I am driving a stick at the moment, and will likely replace it with another stick Accord in the next year or so.
Still, manuals are certainly the choice of only a small minority these days, and an apalling number of adults cannot even drive a stick.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: Tornado Red
The rest of you can do what you want, but I will never own a car with an automatic transmission. What I would like is one of the new 6-speed manual transmissions -- sometimes when I'm in 5th and I reach for the shift lever to upshift, and I end up putting it back in 5th.


Be very careful what you say, "never" is an awful looooonnnngggggg time. And unexpected things can and do happen, believe me I know.

But then when I was young I was invincible too. Now I'm thankful for every day the Good Lord gives me.

 

[hpichris]

The day manuals stop existing, is the day I quit living.

 

[jcwit]

So you would give up your driving freedom because of health issues with your legs?

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: mjoekingz28
Try some Redline transmission fluid if you're not happy with your shifting action. I've had it in three cars.

First, the Aspire which called for ATF but I didnt know any better back then and put in MTL and it made shifting great, as good as it gets. Then I got a RX7 and used the MT90 and as soon as I poured it in (without even cranking the engine or moving at all), immediately the shifting was much improved.

Now onto my Saturn. It was very notchy shifting and not fun at all and after backing out the driveway you gotta stab first several time and/or press and let go of the clutch to get it into gear. Well, I knew I wanted some MTL from previous experience. But Dave at Redline and folks on the Saturn forum said ATF D4 was the way to go because it was recommended. So I used it and while shifting is smoother, still getting it in to first is troublesome. I will replace with MTL one day, but since according to the manual the trans. fluid is never recommended for a change I have a hard time dropping $25 on something unneeded and Im not even guarenteed an improvement since they say D4 is alot alike MTL.

But before you give up on standards, use MTL if you're specced for ATF or 70w80 and use MT90 if you're specced for 75w90.


I had MTL in it for about 30k.. RP's and in the end wasn't worth it. Makes me gun shy about using any other synthetic's. Not saying their all bad. Thinking about Pennzoil sychnromesh (?) the next time or just plain Mercon. Have Mercon V in there now and I know it's sound off but it's to slick. The synchro's just isn't working.. hard to put it in gear even though the stick moves very easily. But that's not my main complaint it's the pedal and gearing.

 

[Vizzy]

Originally Posted By: hpichris
The day manuals stop existing, is the day I quit living.


Good point.... one of the joys of owning a car is the ability to control as much of the machine as possible!

I definitely think t hat if manual no longer existed I would not really care about driving that much anymore.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: Kruse
I love manual transmissions.
Of course, I do no city or rush hour driving. My daily commute is about 50 miles round trip and it's all highway. I can see how the rush hour drivers have that attitude.
To anyone who hates a manual transmission, I've got a Chevy C90 grain truck with a Detroit diesel. Take that for a spin and the love a manual transmission will come back to you.

+1 For my commute a manual is not an issue either. We've owned the Tracker since new and I don't anticipate putting a clutch in it ever. Its got a very low 1st gear and low range beyond that so the clutch doesn't see much slipping.

The detroit diesel would be fun, what's the gear box setup? There are some great clips on youtube with detroits and dual transmissions. Closest I get is my tracker or my 300 kingquad with a 5spd, its great fun going through the gears in low range with big load in tow, feels like your really doing something.

 

[ffracer]

I have a manual Ranger with a 2.3 2wd and 180k. If it is hard to drive, it is the fluid in hydraulics need to be bled out correctly and it will shift very easy. One of the easiest vehicles to drive with stick. This is a common issue when serviced. They don't know how to bleed the slave cylinder.

Also, make sure you use ATF. Gear oil will cause rough shifts.

No automatics for me. What do they do better? Except for alieviating rush hour fruststation?

 

[hpichris]

Originally Posted By: Vizzy
Originally Posted By: hpichris
The day manuals stop existing, is the day I quit living.


Good point.... one of the joys of owning a car is the ability to control as much of the machine as possible!

I definitely think t hat if manual no longer existed I would not really care about driving that much anymore.


Yup, even an eight year old can step on the gas and go. It's pointless with an auto. I get bored. The last thing you want to be while driving is bored.

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: ffracer
I have a manual Ranger with a 2.3 2wd and 180k. If it is hard to drive, it is the fluid in hydraulics need to be bled out correctly and it will shift very easy. One of the easiest vehicles to drive with stick. This is a common issue when serviced. They don't know how to bleed the slave cylinder.

Also, make sure you use ATF. Gear oil will cause rough shifts.

No automatics for me. What do they do better? Except for alieviating rush hour fruststation?


Clutch has been that way since I got it at 50 miles. The only thing I've did was suck out the reservoir a few times and replace with Dot 3/4. No air got into the system as it didn't change. Maybe that's the problem it's not broke in yet.