Sad day when VW stopped the manual trans Golfs, GTIs and R32s. Was on my shortlist for the next vehicle. Where to go from here for a hot hatchback?
Study shows driving a manual transmission is good for your brain
- Thread starter odie
- Start date
I can vouch for this. For a while, I was forced to commute in my 5MT pickup. My route, which was quite busy during rush hour, included a looong uphill grade with a 4-way stop at the peak. This could be backed up for a quarter mile. After ending up in a steering wheel pounding rage one hot afternoon, I started driving my old beater of a van. It was a pile of junk but it had an automatic transmission.I wonder if people who drive a lot in city traffic, and replace their stick shift for an automatic, have lower blood pressure due to less stress and anger issues.
Some folks think a manual transmission can be less trouble, than automatic's. True if its not one that is considered a "glass" transmission, or its just not shifted correctly all the time and abused. If an automatic loses all its fluid, you then need a tow, if its a manual you could likely almost drive it home. At least it can get you off the road. 
Yes, some automatic drivers tendency to actually "stop and go" is a bit annoying! I have one of those intersections, but its only a 4-5 car back up, and oddly enough, idling in first gear is about the right speed... The odd dunce behind me takes a few seconds to understand why I'm not slamming the gas and then brakes repeatedly, but no one has every escalated beyond a horn beep... On a freeway I just pick a lane with some trucks in it and coast along with them. I still do the same things now with an automatic, it just saves gas and brakes.
I've never owned a conventional automatic transmission (See signature.)
Most American drivers aren't smart enough to drive a manual.
Most American drivers aren't smart enough to drive a manual.
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
I grew up shifting several gear boxes - including in Mack or IH trucks. BUT, could not give me one now - vehicles change - jobs change - people change …
Owen Lucas
$100 Site Donor 2023
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2021
- Messages
- 4,891
IDK why, but when I'm in a manual vehicle, I drive it like mad.
Fast shifts, high revs, slamming the clutch, chirping the tires.
The guy I was with said "This is a Ford Ranger, not a NASCAR!!!!"
Fast shifts, high revs, slamming the clutch, chirping the tires.
The guy I was with said "This is a Ford Ranger, not a NASCAR!!!!"
Use it or lose it.
A manual gearbox almost doubles the number of primary vehicle inputs the driver must process, and both of them must also be coordinated to successfully drive the vehicle.
Second nature or not, those synapses are firing in the brain, unlike in a "point and shoot" veee-hicle.
When one is asleep, the brain doesn't turn itself off, but remains active and processes dreams as part of its function.
A manual gearbox almost doubles the number of primary vehicle inputs the driver must process, and both of them must also be coordinated to successfully drive the vehicle.
Second nature or not, those synapses are firing in the brain, unlike in a "point and shoot" veee-hicle.
When one is asleep, the brain doesn't turn itself off, but remains active and processes dreams as part of its function.
100% this^^^^^totally agree.
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2024
- Messages
- 218
I think this is a stretch. It definitely makes you more attentive though.
Always had a manual trans. Even my Ford Taurus was a manual (SHO). People asked how I found a manual trans Taurus and assumed I was being cheap vs the "extra" cost of an automatic. In my mind, even at my age the fun factor compensates for a little extra work on a manual. Acknowledge, I don't drive in heavy bumper-to-bumper traffic that much any more.
For a while, with few exceptions, preferred vehicles were higher performance engines mated to manuals. Wish manufacturers still recognized their appeal, as apart from sports cars very few options (if any?) remain. Finding a few manuals but limited to lower powered available engines. Once they jump to more HP they also abandoned the manual trans. Tragic error!
Took my driver's test on a manual here in the US. Taught my kids to drive manuals and helped other to learn to drive manuals. Far as I know they have never taught or provided the option to learn how to drive a manual at drivers ed. but please correct me if I am wrong. I think this issue (among others) enabled manufacturers to marginalize and ultimately abandon the manual.
For a while, with few exceptions, preferred vehicles were higher performance engines mated to manuals. Wish manufacturers still recognized their appeal, as apart from sports cars very few options (if any?) remain. Finding a few manuals but limited to lower powered available engines. Once they jump to more HP they also abandoned the manual trans. Tragic error!
Took my driver's test on a manual here in the US. Taught my kids to drive manuals and helped other to learn to drive manuals. Far as I know they have never taught or provided the option to learn how to drive a manual at drivers ed. but please correct me if I am wrong. I think this issue (among others) enabled manufacturers to marginalize and ultimately abandon the manual.
The clutch in my jeep is very easy to push. Not like some mustangs I have driven where I come up out of the seat to push it down. I bet my jeep would be ok for you.
I have also rounded out gears 2,3,4,5 from shifting without the clutch so you would only need to use the clutch once lol
Hahaha. I remember a coworker of mine making the argument that video games were exercise. He calculated the calories burnt per keystroke, and since he played a lot of games, he claimed he burned 200 calories a day playing games.
I always found a stick more engaging and more entertaining than an automatic and our daily drivers were usually sticks up until a few years ago.
I personally think that if most drivers spent at least part of their driving careers with sticks people in general would be better and more courteous drivers.
The need to select an appropriate gear and to use the clutch especially from rest do force you to pay more attention to the task of driving.
I personally think that if most drivers spent at least part of their driving careers with sticks people in general would be better and more courteous drivers.
The need to select an appropriate gear and to use the clutch especially from rest do force you to pay more attention to the task of driving.
It's not like they even offer manuals in half tons nowadays, but with all engines offering 300+ HP, even the turbo 4 in the Chevy, with many gears at your leisure, it's no wonder folks say this nowadays.
For the many of us that grew up or were young adults in the Malaise Era, you had the choice of a 3 speed auto or a 4 speed manual with creeper gear, and 230HP big blocks that were out of steam by 3500-3800 RPM, well, back in the day you definitely wanted the manual. Especially for towing.
With the gearing necessary for towing heavy loads with lower horsepower V8s, you were really up against it over 60 with the autos because you only had 3 forward gear ratios, but then, the engines didn't have enough power for more highway oriented gears. The manuals really helped with that also. You didn't have to scream down the highway at 3000+ RPM with your 4.88 gear at 1:1 in your Turbo 400 or similar.
I agree that big truck manuals are not that fun to drive in city traffic, I've had a few back in the day. It's not like some slick shifting Asian transmission that is a joy to bang gears on, had some of those also.
But for serious work on older trucks, they simply could not be beat by the automatics of the era.