I love the stick mated with my 2.8 v6. Nothing like a smooth/free-reving motor and slick 5 speed!
Manual Transmissions And The Fun To Drive Factor...
- Thread starter Jelly
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I have no all out preference. I learned to drive in a stick. But eventually I learned that a manual has it's place. In day to day driving a stick is not fun for me anymore.
I have learned that autos improve drivability by decreasing decision factors for the driver. Offroad and on the street the auto makes it easier to manuver.
A stick is more fun, but only when you can actaully open it up, most the time there are obtsacles to it.. I have found that shift kits and shiftronic transmissions and a couple of years of weaning has broken me of my addiction to a clutch pedal.
In most newer cars the autos are getting as good if not better mileage due to locking torque converters. the weight difference is negligible.
I have learned that autos improve drivability by decreasing decision factors for the driver. Offroad and on the street the auto makes it easier to manuver.
A stick is more fun, but only when you can actaully open it up, most the time there are obtsacles to it.. I have found that shift kits and shiftronic transmissions and a couple of years of weaning has broken me of my addiction to a clutch pedal.
In most newer cars the autos are getting as good if not better mileage due to locking torque converters. the weight difference is negligible.
I really need something bigger than my Cavalier, but the options are limited if you insist on a manual. I see nothing sporty or utilitarian about a large, top heavy, gas guzzling vehicle that isn't even available with a manual.
I love my manual transmission vehicles until I get stuck in bumper to bumper traffic, all to common here in the NY/NJ/CT area
. Driving in Manhattan with a stick is shear joy
. Because dealers stock so few or next to none manual transmission vehicles I end up having to order my vehicles. I'm afraid the brother/sisterhood of manual transmission drivers is very small in this country and shrinking even more. I had to order my 2002 F-150 with the 4.6L V-8 and manual transmission because the only manuals the dealers had were 6 cylinder stripped regular cab work trucks and I needed a Supercab long bed 4X4 for work.
My wife had manual transmissions for years but has since gone over to the "dark side"
. It is harder and harder to get manual transmissions in American vehicles. Ford doesn't even have a manual in their new F-150 line with the V-8's anymore. I have a 1996 Contour with the 2.0L Zetec 4 cyl. and 5 speed manual. I've driven auto transmission versions of that car and they are totally different. With that 4 cyl you NEED a manual transmission otherwise it's a total slug and no fun to drive.
Whimsey
My wife had manual transmissions for years but has since gone over to the "dark side"
Whimsey
Paraphrasing the story a little bit but...
When Porsche introduced the 968 it was really just a 944S2 with Variable timing, new headlights and a (sort of) new spoiler. But it had a 6 speed. In 1992 this was cutting edge.
At some type of Porsche launch one of the Porsche engineers was asked a question on the design motivation behind 6 gears. Was it a tall gear for economy? Closer spaced ratios for flexibility? etc
The Porsche engineer thought for a few moments and then replied, with Teutonic understatement: "Porsche drivers like to change gears".
Guilty as charged. If the post 1999 911 C4 ever depreciates into my price range, I will be hard pressed to explain the logical reason of taking a manual over the TipTronic. But a traditional auto? What would I do with my hands and left foot? I have to tuck it under the drivers seat when I drive my GF's Acura (4 speed auto)
When Porsche introduced the 968 it was really just a 944S2 with Variable timing, new headlights and a (sort of) new spoiler. But it had a 6 speed. In 1992 this was cutting edge.
At some type of Porsche launch one of the Porsche engineers was asked a question on the design motivation behind 6 gears. Was it a tall gear for economy? Closer spaced ratios for flexibility? etc
The Porsche engineer thought for a few moments and then replied, with Teutonic understatement: "Porsche drivers like to change gears".
Guilty as charged. If the post 1999 911 C4 ever depreciates into my price range, I will be hard pressed to explain the logical reason of taking a manual over the TipTronic. But a traditional auto? What would I do with my hands and left foot? I have to tuck it under the drivers seat when I drive my GF's Acura (4 speed auto)
Manual transmissions, there are those that "get it" and those that don't.
I "get it".
I "get it".
I like manual transmissions if they are 6 speeds or less. My car only has 52 HP and it's lots of fun with the stick, I hear the auto versions are very very slow.
If I'm driving a big truck I prefer a 6 speed or an automatic. 5 speeds suck on hills and I couldn't be bothered to shift through 2 or 3 ranges plus overdrive.
Steve
If I'm driving a big truck I prefer a 6 speed or an automatic. 5 speeds suck on hills and I couldn't be bothered to shift through 2 or 3 ranges plus overdrive.
Steve
Buster..you don't want that new Mustang yet..the GT is having head problems...they have to be replaced as per Ford..quote:
Originally posted by buster:
YES. I miss having a manual. I thought it was cool that Nissan decided to offer a 6spd manual for the new 2005 Xterra.Manuals are also more durable. The more I think about it the more I want that new Mustang.
In typical me-fashion, I am forced to point out that the Corvette was available with a new 6-speed in 1989. Not that this has anything to do with the topic...
Apologizing in advance for being off topic...
Kevin I didn't mean that the 968 was the first, just early (1991 euro introduction). At a point where the 6 speed was a novelty on sports cars. Today it seems that everything has a 6 speed option and appears in marketing drivel for every 3 cylinder Kia.
No argument that the Corvette has been a groundbreaker and I think everything post 1984 has been an unbelievable value for the dollar. Any Vette before 67 is just plain cool, value be ****ed (I think the early 60s cars are just gorgeous). I take a little more convincing on the 67-83 range but maybe that is more driven by painful memories of growing up in the 70s
Also no argument that the 968 is really a car whose major design is a mix of 1983, 1985 and 1989 and not a groundbreaking design of the early 90s.
Two of my 4 are manual. I love the mpg of those two. My wife does not like driving the manuals. She will drive them occasionally, but does not really want to if not necessary. I test drove an '03 F150 stickshift base model with the intention of buying the cheapest 1/2 ton pickup I could find. I couldnt stand that rowboat. I ended up with an auto truck. I like the manual in cars, but not trucks I guess.
Set your sights higher
For cars, I really don't care. For trucks, they all should have a manual transmission. For the two reasons a lot of people buy trucks for, hauling/towing and off road use.
You ever tow with an automatic?
You ever 4X4 off road with an automatic?
Many other reasons, as well. Your brakes will last much longer with a MT, easy to maintain, etc, etc
You ever tow with an automatic?
You ever 4X4 off road with an automatic?
Many other reasons, as well. Your brakes will last much longer with a MT, easy to maintain, etc, etc
I think that most of the transmission decision is based on personal likes. Also the cost of an automatic can drive the price up. For towing, my personal choice is always an automatic. Have you ever seen a boater launching or recovering their boat with a manual transmission on a 6-8% grade. I can dig up the pictures of some that the truck went swimming. In 1995 the F250 PSD had a higher tow rating with auto than it did with the manual transmission.
On my PSD's I use an EBV (exhaust brake valve) and the torque converter stays locked up until the truck slowes to 28 MPH. Between the 2 I save on brakes and use the engine for braking. I also have a tow mode that locks the torque converter.
If you decide to up the power of the engine with a chip, injectors, ball bearing turbo and other goodies, you can also upgrade the auto trans.
Just my opinion on towing with an auto.
On my PSD's I use an EBV (exhaust brake valve) and the torque converter stays locked up until the truck slowes to 28 MPH. Between the 2 I save on brakes and use the engine for braking. I also have a tow mode that locks the torque converter.
If you decide to up the power of the engine with a chip, injectors, ball bearing turbo and other goodies, you can also upgrade the auto trans.
Just my opinion on towing with an auto.
I wish my Grand Cherokee had a stick. On 1993 and 1994 model Grand Cherokees, there was a 5 speed option on the 4.0L engine. If you opted for this, you automatically had 4x4. This is what turned off some buyers, as well as not being able to upgrade to the Selec-Trac Full Time Transfer case. There were other things such a options that were not avalible on the 5speed versions. In fact, the 5 speed was avalible on the base model (at the time), the SE and a discount option if you selected it on the Laredo. It find a 5speed Grand is hard but some own them and some even convert theirs to a 5 speed.
My friend has a 1995 Chevy 3/4 ton truck that some of the LSU Tiger Band tuba section uses to drive back and forth to gameday practice and sometimes its hard to keep balance in that truck when he releases the clutch. Thank God I don't play tuba.
My friend has a 1995 Chevy 3/4 ton truck that some of the LSU Tiger Band tuba section uses to drive back and forth to gameday practice and sometimes its hard to keep balance in that truck when he releases the clutch. Thank God I don't play tuba.
I am 38, have never owned a vehicle with an auto and have no plans of doing so. $1,000 less sticker, better gas mileage and more fun to drive. My wife's cars have always been auto's and her 2003 Ecotec powered Cavalier, while still a fun car, would be a real hoot with a 5 speed.
On trucks an auto often has a higher rating as it reduces driveline loads compared to what a manual can deliver, ironically sometimes at the detriment of load capacity. The Allison on the GM seems to have been designed for lower output engines than what is seen in the current models as it defuels the Isuzu diesel in 1st and 5th in order to protect itself. The newer Ford auto may do the same, as one Dodge owner with a stick noted that when delivering a heavier than spec load of hay to someone with a new Ford 6.0 diesel, the Ford owner couldn't even move the load up a small hill. The Dodge owner moved it for him, using the older Cummins that is rated for lower power output. Even Dodge owners with autos have noted that sometimes they're pretty much stuck if they have to stop with a heavy load on a hill.
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