It's official, Manual Transmissions are making a comeback!!!

[H]

Yeah, I'll probably take up golf when I'm too feeble for real sports too.
And when I am too weak to peddle a bike I'll get a Harley or something. Hey
can anybody tell me where I can get an automatic beer can opener. It's
tiring to walk all the way to the fridge, pull open the door, by hand!,
reach all the way in an heave a can out, after that I'm too beat to pop that
confusing metal thingy up, and sometimes they break off and I have to throw
the whole can away and repeat the fridge door thing all over again, my back
can hardly take it anymore.

H,

Opinionated as always, thankfully, always right!

 

[Tony Burns]

You're someone who clearly doesn't have the driving skills required to
operate a manual gearbox in motor vehicle.

I'm pleased you drive an automatic, most others are grateful too.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Do you actually know how to drive a standard? I know plenty who
don't, you're not alone.

So far all he's said indicates a big NO! I think anyone who knows how,
and drives both, will side with you on the stick. I know I sure do...
and I'll put SoCal traffic up against NJ any day when it comes to giving
the clutch foot a workout. But I'll take that over the "Microsoft" feel
of any of today's computerized autos I've driven where you never know
what it's gonna do next.

Rick

 

[Rick Courtright]

a four year old could drive.

And, as noted recently on the news, did!

Rick

 

[Bonehenge]

I suspect most of these manual tranny sales tend to be in relatively
less-populous areas. Or, they're a smaller proportion of sales in the
more-populous areas. Reason: Stop-and-go traffic. A manual is no fun when
all you use is first and second gear. Clutches wear out faster, too.

I can buy that.

I occasionally go to Cape Cod in the summer, and the rotary at the
base can be a real drag. I'm usually in my Jeep, which is geared so
low that it rolls along a 1-2 MPH while idling with the clutch
engaged, but clutching still gets old.

I can't believe that people deal with that on a daily basis, and I
live in suburbia (CT), which isn't exactly less-populous. <G> While
we don't have NYC and Boston type traffic, clutching isn't THAT
difficult in typical New Haven or Hartford rush hour stuff.

Barry

 

[Bonehenge]

Don't get too involved with this jabario.

Who's trolling?

YOU started this thread, and we commented on it, with me posting my
reasons why I like manuals. That's a troll?

Do you "get" Usenet? It's a two way medium.

Barry

 

[jabario]

Some people on usenet dont seem to get that you will agree and disagree
with other people.

 

[Bonehenge]

Some people on usenet dont seem to get that you will agree and disagree
with other people.

Right!

Just 'cause you and I don't buy the same transmissions dosen't mean we
can't respectfully disagree. That's what the USA is all about! We
BOTH can get what we want.

Maybe it's because we're from the East Coast and have been party to
Yankee/Met/Red Sox, Knick/Net/Celtics,
Rangers/Islanders/Devils/Bruins, Giants/Jets/Patriots conversations?
<G>

Barry

 

[Danny Russell]

Right!

Just 'cause you and I don't buy the same transmissions dosen't mean we
can't respectfully disagree. That's what the USA is all about! We
BOTH can get what we want.

Maybe it's because we're from the East Coast and have been party to
Yankee/Met/Red Sox, Knick/Net/Celtics,
Rangers/Islanders/Devils/Bruins, Giants/Jets/Patriots conversations?
<G>

Every so often the "macho-manual-trans-thing" topic comes up on these groups - LOL. :^) I've owned
plenty of both types and currently own one of each (2 Impreza's).

I find manuals a drag to deal with in perpetual metro rush-hour/construction jams. I'd enjoy a
manual much more in a rural area. It depends on the vehicle too. Engines with a limp feel are
tiring to launch repeatedly say if a person does a lot of driving, whereas engines with strong
torque off-idle are funner to jump away from stoplights and punch-around throught the gears.

Interestinglye, I also get better winter control with the 4EAT (using the manual function). I like
Subaru's auto trans better than any other I've owned. The torque converter has a nice snug
engagement (not real slushy-loose), but the shifts are a little soft for my taste.

These tranny arguments are like "electric" vs "blade". Two different types of tools that both work
good depending on the job. -Danny

 

[Paul Knudsen]

Will this be a long lasting trend or a brief flash? It is still too
early to tell but it certainly shows that the old MT is going to be
harder to kill than it once appeared. The auto companies have now
learned that there is a solid base of buyers who prefer to shift for
themselves and the increased availability of this option is sure to
follow.

I'm sure the mfgrs will be happy to provide manuals, since they're a
lot less expensive to make than autos. Plus all the companies are
world-wide now and they like manuals in Europe and Japan.

We got a Geo with manual only because we needed a cheap reliable car
fast. And I got good exercise clutching my '59 Chev back when. But I
wouldn't touch one on something SUV sized.

 

[Paul Knudsen]

What about fatigue while clutching in NJ shore traffice taking 3 hours
to go 40 miles?

Amen Bro. Been there, done that. And without A.C.!

 

[KORy]

Why I buy standard shift vehicles:

* Better slippery weather control. I have company provided automatic
transmissions with traction control. An experienced driver with the
ability to control one more aspect of the vehicle is far better. I'd
rather feather a clutch than let the computer get me off a slippery
surface.

* It's more the driver's decision to drive economically or for higher
performance.

* More fun to drive. Compare a 4 cylinder manual OBW to an auto.
The automatic drives like my grandmother's car, it's a dog. To get
the same "feel", I'd need the six. When run at higher RPMs, the 4
does just fine, while allowing better mileage at other times.

* _I_ drive safer. When I'm driving an automatic, I become the
slouching on the console, talking on the phone while eating,
inattentive driver that I hate. A clutch pedal forces me to sit up
straight and drive the car.

* Reliability. With the exception of my '01 OBW, all of my clutches
have gone 120,000 miles+. I feel they are the same in reliability
terms as an auto, but usually provide plenty of warning when they to
fail. I've had autos fail suddenly.

* When I tow, manual trannys are smoother to manually downshift.
Automatics lurch into lower gears when descending.

* Cheaper at purchase

It's a personal decision, but the decision is not only about MPG.

Barry

I used to drive Auto, but learnt to drive manual because a friend lent
me their car for few months.
Since then, never looked back. Its much more enjoyable to drive, and
keeps you awake.
But i have to admit, as i get older, i probably will switch back to Auto.

Kory

 

[Tom Reingold]

I used to drive Auto, but learnt to drive manual because a friend lent
me their car for few months.
Since then, never looked back. Its much more enjoyable to drive, and
keeps you awake.
But i have to admit, as i get older, i probably will switch back to Auto.

Kory

Don't bet on it. I'm 44 and still prefer a manual. Same with my wife,
and she'll soon be 54!

And speaking of Jersey traffic with a clutch, try it with a Saab! Your
left leg will get bigger from the exercise! ;-)

 

[Rick Courtright]

Don't bet on it. I'm 44 and still prefer a manual. Same with my wife,
and she'll soon be 54!

Another vote for your side: I'm also 54, and hate the automatic in the
one car I've ever owned with one, as well as all of 'em I've ever driven
(plenty of makes and models, so I think my feelings are moderately well
founded.) My father, 77, still drives a stick, my grandfather was still
driving one until he died at 84, and so do MANY of the "old timers" I
know who have a choice.

And for those who worry that traffic's a clutch killer, I finally had to
replace the clutch in my Subie that spends two to four hours a day in
bumper to bumper traffic. At 310k miles! Most people I've talked to
recently who've replaced clutches have gotten 150k or more... you can
drive 'em in traffic without killing 'em.

Now for all you guys from New Jersey--what's so special about your
traffic? I'm pretty sure we've got more cars in SoCal than you've got
people in your whole State, it seems they're all out on the freeways
24/7, yet I don't see drivers get out of their cars with grossly
enlarged left legs. Not even the big rig drivers.

Rick

 

[Tom Reingold]

Now for all you guys from New Jersey--what's so special about your
traffic? I'm pretty sure we've got more cars in SoCal than you've got
people in your whole State, it seems they're all out on the freeways
24/7, yet I don't see drivers get out of their cars with grossly
enlarged left legs. Not even the big rig drivers.

Rick

Southern California? I'll get out of the way. You're right: we Jerzoids
can't compete with you for bad traffic! :-D

 

[jabario]

I dont know. Raritan toll plaza? Turnpike 9 South to 8? When I visited
Orange County and LA I found than once rush hour passed driving was no
problem.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Orange County and LA I found than once rush hour passed driving was no
problem.

Agreed, as long as those not familiar w/ SoCal "rush hour" realize it
goes from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays, 7 a.m. to about 9 p.m. on
Saturdays, and 9 a.m. to midnight on Sundays!

Rick

 

[Alan B Antill Jr]

I'm coming into the middle of this one, but I drive my 2002 WRX in New
Jersey and NYC traffic every day. I'm 44 and have owned nothing but stick
shifts since 1990. I don't see the big deal about driving a stick in
traffic. It's kind of fun and allows for more control. The clutches don't
seem to mind either. I've never put much over 100k on any car (too many cool
cars and life is too short), but I've never burned out a clutch.

My cars included:
1990 Honda CRX si (5speed)
1994 Honda Passport EX (5 speed) - it took months to find a stick shift
Passport!
1999 Mustang GT (35th Anniversary Edition) (5 speed)
2002 Subaru WRX (5 speed)

 

[Yousuf Khan]

I'm sure the mfgrs will be happy to provide manuals, since they're a
lot less expensive to make than autos. Plus all the companies are
world-wide now and they like manuals in Europe and Japan.

I wonder if the advent of CVT won't make both manuals and automatics
obsolete? CVTs are mechanically as simple as manuals, and offer much
more efficient engine operating ranges than either manuals or autos. And
add on top those advantages the fact it would be much smoother.

Yousuf Khan

 

[Bruce Hoult]

I wonder if the advent of CVT won't make both manuals and automatics
obsolete? CVTs are mechanically as simple as manuals, and offer much
more efficient engine operating ranges than either manuals or autos. And
add on top those advantages the fact it would be much smoother.

How long is it since Subaru stopped making CVT cars? 15 years?