As the age of manuals closes around me, I just hope I can keep one running until I can’t drive anymore. Manuals are simply more thrilling to drive than automatics. Performance is so minutely worse, that only professional racers should care.
So what? They existed back then. There just weren't as many idiots to record. One of the funniest shows on in that era was "Candid Camera".You also don’t seem to grasp today’s reality that everyone has a camera and a microphone in the pocket and can engage in street journalism, comedy, whatever at their whim.
I totally agree with you.CAFE has something to with the demise of the manual gearbox
the internet and the smartphone have something else to do with the demise
general lack of interest in vehicles also has something to do with the demise
as well as the general ease of use and advantages a modern automatic transmission has
over the older manual gearbox
throw in manufacturing costs of a low volume unit, and that manual tranny is becoming the Dodo bird.
Not true. Thick traffic is a very real, very punishing thing in many people's lives. For my last car, the manual was available.You either like them, or you do not. Traffic has nothing to do with anything.
I lived with a manual for a long time. To me traffic made a difference.Interesting how conclusions have been drawn that manuals are not as good. I've never had a manual serviced (rebuilt) other than a fluid replacement, nor a clutch replaced, in my lifetime, which doesn't exactly make me a spring chicken. The Maxima went 240k and emissions did it in.
I'll say it probably for the one millionth time on a forum--I've never bought into the, "I like manuals, there's just too much traffic here in Los Angeles (or New York, or Atlanta, or Boston)." You either like them, or you do not. Traffic has nothing to do with anything.
Luckily I still have one in the garage. I prefer them and there isn't any study or marketing that can tell me otherwise. Hopefully it goes up to 1.9% for 2024.
Without getting political, how much different is it than what we're doing with Zelinski and Ukraine today? Most governments deal with villains when they have to. Or when it is advantageous for them to do so......... I built the V1 and I built the V2. I worked for the Fuhrer and I'll work for you too. from a bad presentation I once saw.
My 2003 Ford F-150 XL short bed has the 5 speed manual in it and I really enjoyhttps://jalopnik.com/manual-transmission-sales-are-up-again-this-year-marke-1850871128#:~:text=Cars with manual transmissions are,to 1.7 percent in 2023.
I only have manual transmission vehicles.
The Honda is 6 speed and in the past several months, I've seen less than a handfull come available (as soon as they are available, they are gone).
That would explain problems adding and subtracting."Younger people were those who struggled the most, with 21% in Gen Z (18-24) saying they found telling the time a problem".
I know we're kinda getting off topic here, but I can't imagine why people are moving out older -
my first apartment was a bit less than $300/mo in the mid 2000's, that same exact unit now with minimal renovations (my current work is near it) is over $2000/mo now.
I totally agree with you.
But then why are the sales numbers for manuals increasing despite all you posted?
Shouldn't it be going the other way?
Since it isn't, what's the reason? is this a trend indicative of other factors in North American society?
Which mainstream new cars as of right now have available manual transmissions (in US or Canada)?
Honda Civic
Hyundai Accent/Venue/Veloster
Nissan Versa
Nissan 400Z
VW Jetta
Mini Cooper
Mazda MX-5 Miata
Toyota Tacoma
Toyota Corolla GR
Toyota 86
Chevy Camaro
Ford Mustang
Subaru BRZ
Any others?
I rarely see manual transmission on lots. Maybe vw has a one or two base jettas in manualhttps://jalopnik.com/manual-transmission-sales-are-up-again-this-year-marke-1850871128#:~:text=Cars with manual transmissions are,to 1.7 percent in 2023.
I only have manual transmission vehicles.
The Honda is 6 speed and in the past several months, I've seen less than a handfull come available (as soon as they are available, they are gone).
These days you have to order it special, they are never on the lotI rarely see manual transmission on lots. Maybe vw has a one or two base jettas in manual
I bought a ford mustang and the throttle hang was horrible, worst/longest hanging throttle I’ve ever experienced, ended up but a “restrictor plate” for the idle air control valve which, on that car, helped lessen the time the throttle hung open. My jeep does it too but not nearly as much or as bad. But nothing compares to driving my carbureted Camaro, no throttle hang or anything, it’s amazing new cars are comfortable and nice to drive, but so much emissions/safety stuff ruins the driving experience if you like that raw feeling of a car with no stability control, traction control, abs, etc. but I guess the idea is if the car can do most of the “driving” less room for human error, but that also makes people not know how to control a car on a snowy slope or other areas where the car is at its mechanical limit and needs a skilled driver to recover.Yeah. I watched a video where the EPA had slapped a big penalty on manual transmissions because there is a momentary rise in pollutants when shifting. Apparently, when you abruptly close the throttle when shifting, there is a blip increase on emissions. So modern transmissions “hang” the throttle when someone shifts, to prevent this emissions.
It’s such a shame that emissions have to destroy the fun of driving manual cars. I really must say something like this sounds like diminishing returns to me. Let us have our manuals.