Manually shifting an AT.

[Patrick Fisher]

Is a bit of maturity too much to ask?

Hi, welcome to usenet. You must be new here.

 

[GW De Lacey]

Some people just won't do it. It's the reality of families.

Teaching your wife/girlfriend to drive with a stick shift is on the
list of things you should not do if you want to keep your relationship.

It's there right under "Answering the question 'Does this dress make me
look fat?'"[/QUOTE]

Heh
I think teaching stick-shift is a breeze compared to finding the
correct answer to that question.
Seriously though, I agree that all drivers ought to be able to handle
a manual tranny, even if they prefer autos, as I do in my more
sensible (boring) cars.

 

[GW De Lacey]

My previous 2 cars' owner's manual specifically recommended against
engine braking and changing gears with the throttle anywhere near
open, but they were older, mechanical automatics. My 2000 Legacy's
manual gives information on engine braking and changing gears. I guess
the electronic automatics can handle the gear changing and engine
braking that older automatics could not...

My 2 cents...

A further 2 cents in the kitty:
It depends on the design of the tranny. and is to do with the cut of
the helical gears and the effectiveness of the reverse thrust
bearings, or even whether or not they exist. In the absence of an
opinion from someone who has knowledge of a specific make and model,
I'd be guided by the manual.

 

[busterb]

Sigh. Because the wife can't drive a stick and won't learn.
I wanted a car that she could drive as well (new kid and all that).
Just seemed like the thing to do.

Why in this day and age would anyone bother with a primitive manual
transmission? Autos give same or better mileage , less maintenance and
any failures are covered by warranty unlike manuals. A stick may be
more fun in a sporty car on the open roads of nevada or somewhere but
heading south on a friday afternoon after labor day in the ny/nj area
makes an auto the only wise choice

 

[John O]

I have the best of both. I use auto for my everyday very mild driving and

the computer has learned so I get good gas mileage with low shift points. I
over ride the mild computer setting by manually shifting when I want to
drive very spirited.

Edward...are you saying that the AT computer watches the way I drive, and
adjusts its shift strategy accordingly? If so, can I assume that
disconnecting the battery for a while will reset its memory? (this is good
news, if true)

-John O

 

[John O]

Heh
I think teaching stick-shift is a breeze compared to finding the
correct answer to that question.
Seriously though, I agree that all drivers ought to be able to handle
a manual tranny, even if they prefer autos, as I do in my more
sensible (boring) cars.

I agree. SWMBO can drive a stick, but she'll avoid it if at all possible.
Seems a few posters here are a too self-centered to understand what that
means. Hopefully they'll reach 30 years old some day, and then move away
from home. <jk> In the meantime, I drive an AT, AND I'm getting lucky
tonight.

John O

 

[John O]

Why in this day and age would anyone bother with a primitive manual

transmission?

For the same reason this site (and product) exists...
http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/hardware_rh6.htm



-John O

 

[Ragnar]

Is a bit of maturity too much to ask?

I see that you didn't answer the question.

And yes, a bit of maturity _is_ too much to ask

 

[Marky]

Hi, welcome to usenet. You must be new here.

Hi, actually I am not new. I guess I expected a bit too much

Anyway back to work...

 

[Edward Hayes]

To John O: Yes the transmission computer has a learning curve. Drive easy
for a tank or two and the shift points will be lower or drive to the red
line most of the time and the shift points change to higher rpm. You can
reset the default parameters by disconnecting the battery for ~ one hour or
disconnect the battery and push down on the brake pedal several times to
speed up the process. ed

 

[Brian]

Why in this day and age would anyone bother with a primitive manual
transmission?

Because I keep stomping the floor mat when I switch to automatics?

 

[John O]

To John O: Yes the transmission computer has a learning curve. Drive easy

for a tank or two and the shift points will be lower or drive to the red
line most of the time and the shift points change to higher rpm. You can
reset the default parameters by disconnecting the battery for ~ one hour or
disconnect the battery and push down on the brake pedal several times to
speed up the process. ed

OK, that explains why the tranny was wonderful when I bought the car, and
then I drove it like a baby and it started shifting wierd. Esp between 1 &
2, where it clunks hard unless I let it idle down the road into 2, or press
to 3200 rpm right out of the driveway. Then I had to zoom home one day, and
the think kinda freaked. Out to pull the battery cable right now and start
over. Thanks Ed!

-John O

 

[Henry Paul]

When my wife and I got married I was the only one that owned cars and I had
2 5 speed Jeep Cherokees. My wife had only driven autos all her life. Now
all we own are manuals and she won't go back.

--
Henry Paul

Some people just won't do it. It's the reality of families.

Teaching your wife/girlfriend to drive with a stick shift is on the
list of things you should not do if you want to keep your relationship.

It's there right under "Answering the question 'Does this dress make me
look fat?'"

-R.[/QUOTE]

 

[Henry Paul]

Maybe that is true of mileage with Subaru's. My dad had a '94 Jeep Cherokee
AT and I had a '93 MT. I got 4mpg better gas mileage.

IMO, ATs are too boring to drive. I like more interaction with my car.

 

[Rick Courtright]

Why in this day and age would anyone bother with a primitive manual transmission?

Well, I can't speak for anyone else, but I LIKE knowing what gear the
car's gonna be in when I want it in that gear, and I don't like
wondering what some stupid computer is gonna try to imagine I'll need
next depending on whether I feathered the throttle or stomped on it last
time I drove! I've only owned one auto in my life, a Toyota Camry V-6.
Thank God that engine's got enough going for it to overcome the
transmission's vagueries. And I understand Subaru's auto's are even MORE
vague about what they'll do next. I live at the foot of the mountains,
and do a lot of mountain driving. I can't imagine having to drive an
auto up and down the hill as one's only vehicle.

Autos give same or better mileage , less maintenance and

As for mileage, I've yet to see two cars, otherwise equal except auto vs
stick, get the same mileage. Always in favor of the stick IME. Again, I
speak only for the cars I've driven.

Less maintenance for an auto? Gimme a break. I've never (knock on wood)
had to rebuild a manual box yet, and several have had over 200k miles;
the one on my Subie's at 355k right now. Those I know with autos
(particularly American) are pleased to see 100k miles without some major
expense. One exception's been that same Toyota auto--it's got 217k miles
(mostly all freeway) without being torn down. Of course, the $75 plus
flush job every 30k miles might have helped. Hmmm... that's 7 x $75 =
$525. Still a shade higher than a clutch (and, yes, I get good clutch
mileage, again, that freeway driving. Last one went 300k+) and gear oil
changes. But YMMV.

any failures are covered by warranty unlike manuals. A stick may be

Warranty coverage? Guess it all depends... but I wouldn't bet my life on
it.

heading south on a friday afternoon after labor day in the ny/nj area
makes an auto the only wise choice

Now that's your choice. I'd rather live out of a shopping cart in the
park here in SoCal than live in that part of the world--and not cuz of
the traffic. You want traffic? We can SHOW you traffic! But it's every
day, not just holidays!

Rick

 

[-rick-]

Heh
I think teaching stick-shift is a breeze compared to finding the
correct answer to that question.

What's so hard about that?
You can answer "Not at all" while perhaps thinking... it's your ass that makes
you look fat.
-rick-

 

[GW De Lacey]

What's so hard about that?
You can answer "Not at all" while perhaps thinking... it's your ass that makes
you look fat.

Gee, you must have a tame life. That answer can land me in as much
trouble as the other one.

 

[Don.]

Not in this family! I don't do groceries, pickup baby sitters, drive wife to
hair dresser's, run daily errands AND work 7-6. There is the practical side
to life where being persnickety gets in the way! ;-)

 

[John O]

Not in this family! I don't do groceries, pickup baby sitters, drive wife to
hair dresser's, run daily errands AND work 7-6. There is the practical side
to life where being persnickety gets in the way! ;-)

LOL, my MT limitation will be probably be limited to the one who actually
gave birth to the other creatues in the house...when my oldest son gets his
license in a couple years, I'm *sure* he'll learn to drive a stick if that's
all he can get.

-John O