Manual transmission "snobs"?

[riker1384]

I drive a Corolla with an automatic and I think the bigger problem is with the throttle than with the gears per se. Since the throttle controls the shifting, you can't use it the same. You either have to use very little power in high gear, or near 100% power in a low gear. With a manual you could open up the throttle all the way for a moment when needed, without changing gears and thrashing the #@$%! out of everything.

I don't know if I would do well with a stick in traffic. It's my first car and the person who drove me around shopping didn't care to spend time to get anything other than a good working car.

 

[biomed_eng_2000]

I remember reading somewhere that he makers of DSG said that they will have some huge market share in just a few years. Perhaps DSG can be considered "manual" since there is a clutch but it is computer controlled.

Do you consider the F1 paddle shifters with robotic clutches to be a "manual transmissions"?

 

[obbop]

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My friend bought his daughter a stick when she turned 16 using the logic that if one hand is on the steering and the other has to shift, there's less time to get distracted with cell phones/texting, ipods, etc. Can't argue with that.

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Makes sense to me!!!! Good idea!!!!

As mentioned earlier but will reitterate here...

Manuals do give the driver more control in the snow. With a good driver, a LOT more control.

 

[eljefino]

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Most likely what will make manual trannies obsolete is lack of sufficient demand to support the production costs.

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... And where this will hit is ECM programming the smog rules in for "manual only" cars. As a 1st example, one can make tons of NOx by lugging a stick shift to a point where an automatic would have already downshifted-- or at least disconnected the TCC clutch on manumatics.

My wife's y2k saturn has a programmed in 'dashpot' mode where the idle takes forever to dip between shifts; it's to blow out any stranded hydrocarbons but revmatching is impossible without a several second delay. Rather, one dumps the clutch with that extra bit of wear.

 

[742]

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I remember reading somewhere that he makers of DSG said that they will have some huge market share in just a few years. Perhaps DSG can be considered "manual" since there is a clutch but it is computer controlled.

Do you consider the F1 paddle shifters with robotic clutches to be a "manual transmissions"?

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VW/Audi consider the DSG to be a replacement for the conventional automatic, not their manuals. And the A3 in the United States offers a 6 speed manual or the DSG (named “S tronic”), but nothing with a torque converter.

Of course I can not speak for others, but it is torque converters that I hate and so the DSG interests me. So I see the F1 transmissions as “not slushboxes”. But I will let you guys know for sure right after I test drive one.

 

[RTexasF]

I prefer my five speed Accord for a daily driver but would want an automatic for some situations, towing for instance.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Please elaborate on why you'd prefer an automatic for towing.

 

[brianl703]

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Most likely what will make manual trannies obsolete is lack of sufficient demand to support the production costs.

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Most everyone in Europe drives manual tranny cars. Even the elderly folks. As long as that holds true, there will be a demand for them.

 

[ccs v2.0]

Yes, but will the cross the pond?

 

[Zaedock]

Most people in Massachusetts drive automatics because you can't shift and give the finger at the same time.

 

[CBDFrontier06]

Women drivers in Dallas would have to grow another arm to drive a M/T so they could still hold their latte, apply mascara and talk on the phone. So, they all drive Tahoes. Automatic and plenty of protection for themselves when they hit someone.

 

[brianl703]

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Yes, but will the cross the pond?

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My Saab 93 2.0T did. For vehicles built specifically for US consumption, many are not available with automatic transmissions, or the manual is only available on the base engine.

 

[TallPaul]

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Do you consider the F1 paddle shifters with robotic clutches to be a "manual transmissions"?

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Seems to me that if you have to manually shift it, then it is a manual transmission.

A "standard transmission" is both manual shift and manual clutch.

VW Beetles used to come with a transmission that you had to manually shift, but did not have to manually clutch. Maybe this type is best called "semi-automatic"?

 

[rjundi]

According to my wife AUTOMATIC=BORING!

I tend to agree. We both enjoy driving cars.

Our fleet:
05 Subaru Legacy GT Wagon 5MT
04 Subaru WRX Wagon 5MT

That being said I would never anyone's choice of getting an automatic.

 

[Volvohead]

It depends on the locale for us. While our newest cars have manuals, if it's a trip into the city during heavy traffic times, an older one with a slushbox goes. Crawling in backups for an hour or two is no fun with a manual.

Otherwise, for open road driving or around town, we still prefer deciding what gear it's in.

The traditional mileage difference between types has practically evaporated in most instances. So other than the purchase cost and any reliability factor, I can't fault folks who enjoy the comfort of an automatic, especially urban commuters.

 

[brianl703]

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Crawling in backups for an hour or two is no fun with a manual.

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That's what motivates me to find alternative routes around the backups, if I must be driving at a time when they're likely to happen.

 

[OriginHacker21]

Well, after reading all 4 pages - my turn to drop some opinion text down:

I am a manual only. My first car - Ecotec with a 5spd manual is the funnest thing to drive and a whole lot faster/funner than my sister's Ecotec with an automatic.

Yes, I drive in Los Angeles and have had my share of traffic. I once spent 7 hours in traffic (serious) during a bad fire season here in California. My left leg was really sore for a few days but I got over it. But yeah... manual in traffic = bad.

I will definitely agree that a manual transmission has made me a better driver. I keep my eyes on the road and I am 100% aware of all the cars around me unlike my automatic transmission friend driving with his knee, eating a Big Mac and holding a cell phone yaking away. I haven't been involved in 1 single accident and I've driven over 70,000 miles in LA.

However, I will not humiliate people when they like Automatic Transmissions as I don't mind driving my parent's minivan (automatic) - it is relaxing but I've accidentally hit the brake with my left foot more times than I can count (really embarrassing)...

Who cares if Joe wants to drive an automatic and John wants to drive a manual? We live in a free country - stop trying to control others.

However... I do think that if everyone drove a manual we'd have a lot of better drivers out there (looks at Big Mac eating cell phone yaking SUV cross into my lane friend).

 

[Steve S]

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Technology will make manual transmissions obsolete. Do F1 cars even have clutches anymore?

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They are not really cars as in nascars are really not Fords or Chevys..

 

[Black Bart]

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above I meant:
Do F1 cars even have clutch pedals anymore?

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YES they do.

 

[javacontour]

I believe car makers have to get configurations EPA certified. So if the costs to certify a manual exceed the expected sale, no manual configuration for North America, even if available elsewhere.