Done with manual trans.

[gizzsdad]

How come all of you M/T lover's aren't calling about my car?

http://tinyurl.com/yky3emn

LOL!! BTW, I agree about manuals in bumper-to-bumper driving, that gets old real fast.

 

[jimvegas]

I love my manual transmission cars. That said, when I'm stuck in the 'beep & creep' for 30 to 40 min, I'd rather have an auto.

Sitting in traffic in my '61 VW goes like this:

1st - 2nd - stop
1st - stop
1st - stop
1st - 2nd - stop
1st - 2nd - stop

Over and over again for 40 min = no fun.

Now I work a later shift and don't get stuck in traffic anymore, I prefer the manual.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: ClarkB
I'm not quite sure what is so exciting about manually shifting gears that makes driving more enjoyable than letting an auto do it for you. It doesn't really makes sense to me that driving a shift-stick is more exciting when most people admit that driving a shift-stick is best done on the highway where you are not shifting all that much. If shifting is so much fun how come people don't like doing it in stop and go traffic? . . .

Have you checked out many common models and compared auto vs. manual? The difference is, in some cases, non-existent . . .

I have some friends that insisted on having a manual in their next car. I'd usually follow that statement up with "Control issues?"

Originally Posted By: punisher
I am confident enough in my manhood to let the computer do the shifting for me.


Well said.


I like driving my car in the city. I like the engine braking that occurs when I take my foot off the throttle even in a high gear, I like that my revs are always proportional to my speed and that my engine feels directly connected to the wheels without a fluid coupling, I like that throttle position does not affect my gear selection, and I just enjoy the physical process of shifting gears. And yes, I have control issues!

However, I don't understand how transmission choice is manhood related. I know many women who can drive a manual transmission, and some even prefer it.

Fuel economy was 10% better in the manual when I bought my Mazda3 in 2004, though I think the auto in the new model is rated the same as the manual. Of course, the manual is still $1000 cheaper.

 

[JohnBrowning]

I am going to be making the switch the next vehicle I buy because of my ankle. I have had 2 ankle surgeries and all the flexing needed to shift aggravates my ankle so baring a super exotic I am just tired of the pain. Short of them regrowing the cartilage in my ankle and repairing the nerve damage I just as soon make the switch to an automatic and call it a day!

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: jimvegas
I love my manual transmission cars. That said, when I'm stuck in the 'beep & creep' for 30 to 40 min, I'd rather have an auto.

Sitting in traffic in my '61 VW goes like this:

1st - 2nd - stop
1st - stop
1st - stop
1st - 2nd - stop
1st - 2nd - stop

Over and over again for 40 min = no fun.

Now I work a later shift and don't get stuck in traffic anymore, I prefer the manual.


What is needed for these bumper to bumper situations is one of those extra low creeper gears that is not used in normal driving. Then you could put it in creeper and just let it idle along, saving the clutch a lot of wear.

 

[wander2039]

I solved my manual transmission issue.. sold the Ranger last night. My first new vehicle and my last almost was a emotional moment. The guy was thrilled to buy it as he's had a Ranger in the past. He said it was one of the nicest he looked which surprised me. It'll have a garage now so it's going to a good home... all Ford home I think since his mom was driving a Lincoln MKS. Still will be driving a manual though although it's a Festiva. The clutch and gearing is easy on those cars.

 

[TallPaul]

Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
Still will be driving a manual though ...

 

[wander2039]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul
Originally Posted By: Eric Smith
Still will be driving a manual though ...

Only for a little while.. driving my dad's car till I can buy a cheaper automatic beater probably a Escort.

 

[Colt45ws]

Looks like you need to change your signature.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: rpn453
However, I don't understand how transmission choice is manhood related.


I don't understand either. I probably drive more miles per year than most of the people on this thread combined and am perfectly capable of choosing a favorite transmission. It doesn't reflect on my manhood in any way.

 

[97tbird]

Just because M/T is good for "sporty" driving and feels manly (for some), i don't think it's very smart to have a manual if you do hwy AND a lot of city driving - changing back and forth between 1st and 2nd gear in crawling traffic gets old - and puts some nice strain on arms and legs/feet.

I learned to drive on a manual and like it, but to be honest, my current (and most probably future) driving demands an automatic, so I will be going with A/T on my next d/d car.

Now, if i was rich enough to have a fun "weekend" car ...that's a different story: i'd totally make sure that THAT car has a M/T

 

[andyd]

If I can hang onto my current job, which comes with a van. I might just get a 5 spd toy. But when I commuted into Boston, I drove automagics. I have a crunchy left knee. But I drove sticks of all kinds for 30 yrs before them.

 

[ClarkB]

Originally Posted By: css9450
Originally Posted By: rpn453
However, I don't understand how transmission choice is manhood related.


I don't understand either. I probably drive more miles per year than most of the people on this thread combined and am perfectly capable of choosing a favorite transmission. It doesn't reflect on my manhood in any way.


I think the original quote is aimed at the fact that one's manhood is usually questioned if they prefer an auto over manual, especially on BITOG. Turning the tables anyone?

Clark

 

[Tornado Red]

Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Just because M/T is good for "sporty" driving and feels manly (for some), i don't think it's very smart to have a manual if you do hwy AND a lot of city driving - changing back and forth between 1st and 2nd gear in crawling traffic gets old - and puts some nice strain on arms and legs/feet.

I've driven rentals with automatic transmissions in heavy traffic, and it's just a constant accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake and so on.

I would rather try to find a good gear and stay in it, just accelerating and decelerating and never touching the brake or clutch.

Frankly I do not care whether you think owning a MT car is smart or not. I've owned AT cars before and have vowed never again.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: Tornado Red
Originally Posted By: 97tbird
Just because M/T is good for "sporty" driving and feels manly (for some), i don't think it's very smart to have a manual if you do hwy AND a lot of city driving - changing back and forth between 1st and 2nd gear in crawling traffic gets old - and puts some nice strain on arms and legs/feet.

I've driven rentals with automatic transmissions in heavy traffic, and it's just a constant accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake-accelerate-brake and so on.

I would rather try to find a good gear and stay in it, just accelerating and decelerating and never touching the brake or clutch.

Frankly I do not care whether you think owning a MT car is smart or not. I've owned AT cars before and have vowed never again.

I can do the same thing.
I move my gear selector down to (2) or (1) and try it let it crawl as much as possible. Not rocket science.

 

[rpn453]

Originally Posted By: TallPaul
What is needed for these bumper to bumper situations is one of those extra low creeper gears that is not used in normal driving. Then you could put it in creeper and just let it idle along, saving the clutch a lot of wear.


I like the low first gear in my Mazda3 for that reason, as well as the peppy feel it provides. It's very easy to start off without touching the throttle and it happily idles along even up a grade without throttle input. In heavy traffic, I often just idle along, watching the gap in front grow and shrink while brake lights go on and off.

Unfortunately, they also left a big 1-2 gap so it's more difficult to make the shift smoothly. I wish they had made second gear about 15% lower and third gear about 5% lower.

 

[Audi Junkie]

It's a toss-up. When buying the Accord, I didn't really care and bought an auto because it was on the lot...very late in the model year at a heavy discount.

This Honda trans is very nice and I am glad I got it. I have a degree of confidence in it reliability-wise. It suits my driving style at 44 years old.

The Astra was a different story, we hd no interest in the autotrans. A different car for a different purpose. We like it as-is quite a bit.

So, no set answer. Even a pick-up truck would be tough to decide. Again, it depends on how it's driven and used.


As a side note, I tend to think the engines get worked harder in a manual, oil wise. Engines that get carbon build-up do better with a manual trans too, imo.

 

[TallPaul]

Some folks cite bad knees for not liking to work the clutch, and that is a valid point. I have knee problems too, but thankfully it has not affected my driving a manual transmission. My '95 F150 is a lot easier on the knees than the old '77 F150 was. Funny, I drove a coworker's small manual trans car once on official travel (abt 10 yrs ago), think it was a Mazda or like, and it was actually hard to get used to working the clutch because it was so light on pressure. I am used to a good heavy feeling clutch (by mid-90s pickup standards) and that thing was like a feather.

 

[UNC017]

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.


That depends. I can tell you that driving a vintage 440 backed by a 727 automatic that barks the tires into every gear when you're "on it" is *very* fun, even if you're not working the clutch.

I love the 5-speed on my Jeep, and absolutely hate the way the Aisin AW-4 automatic sludge box that Jeeps used for so many years shifts. The newer 545RFE automatic Jeeps are better, and even the 42RLEs are better than the AW-4.

I guess what I'm saying is that the fun factor depends on a whole lot more than whether the transmission is automatic of manual for me. The rest of the car matters too, as does how well the automatic works.

 

[BeanCounter]

Two sore legs are soon forgotten after 5 minutes of the throttle response and mannerisms of your average automatic transmission.

I like having complete control of my vehicle, but a straight drive can get somewhat tiresome in constant traffic, sure.