Yeah, but the others should know that you rely on public transportation, day to day.
Manual is fun, until you spend a couple of hours, or more, commuting every day.
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Can you drive a stick shift car?
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Yeah, but the others should know that you rely on public transportation, day to day.
Manual is fun, until you spend a couple of hours, or more, commuting every day.
While I was looking for a new car maybe less then a year ago, and I asked the salesman if they had any manuals on the lot. He replied by telling me yes they do, and we got in a car that had paddle shifters on the steering wheel. I told him this is not a manual car, and he was obviously old enough to remember that a manual car has a "shifter" sticking out of the center, and usually a clutch pedal.
So after that he explained to me that, "All the new cars are like this, there are no more manuals." I looked at him and said um, "I can order one online with a manual, without these paddles. So what do you meant they don't make them anymore?"
I was greeted by another salesman when I got back from the test drive. When he asked me how I enjoyed the car, I asked him the same question, about when would they have a manual model on the lot. He said, "We don't stock those here sorry, but you can order it online and have it shipped here for pick up if you like."
I ended up going to another dealer, who didn't try to tell me, " There are no more stick shift cars." I don't know when they will be trying to phase out the manual car, but it does seem that they are less desirable in places.
However here are some more facts about manual cars:
They are less expensive new then automatics by about $500 - $1000.
They are cheaper to maintain and replace then automatics.
Car dealers and salesmen make less commission on the sale of a manual car because it costs less. ( The paddle shifters, and the sport mode is an option on most cars and is more then the regular automatic transmission)
You can get better gas mileage with a manual car vs an automatic.
That used to be the case, but in recent years even conventional automatics have actually gotten a lot simpler because a lot of the functionality involved in shifting gears using hydraulics have been taken over by computers. As such, you don't see as much highly-complex hydraulics as older automatics, and that's why Hyundai was able to reduce the size of their new six-speed automatic so you even find it in the Hyundai Accent model (Hyundai just showed the 2012 US model today at the New York Auto Show).
Manuals still have their place, but it's likely going to be increasingly found on low-end automobiles and high-end sports cars over the next few years.
sorry no longer the case for most of that.
Manuals now cost more to buy than autos due to fewer of them being built so supply is lower.
No really cheaper to maintain. Hell manuals can go 200+k with out the tranny or the engine needing to be pulled. Manuals sorry you have to pull one of those items ever 100k miles to replace the clutch. That eats up the saving so at best it is a break even in that department.
Tranny might last longer but that is about it. Still has to be pulled ever 100k to replace clutch. Hell an auto tranny will out last the car any how so a non issue.
Power wise yes auto is going to eat a little more of the power off the engine but really not much less than the manuals eat due to modern hydrolics and more physical locking together of the engine and tranny.
Fuel economy. Sorry no longer the case. High way the get the same due to the fact that the tranny of both are physically locked to with the engine so no gain there. City mileage Autos can and often times do get better MPG even more so with the modern CVT. CVT for the extra gear ratios and on top of that you have computer controlled shifting that can time it quicker and faster and at better points for MPG than any human can.
Even Autos now have 5-7 gears so that gain is even lost from the manuals. They have the same number of gears pretty much standard now.
Now control. I will give you that. but that is about it.
sorry, but wherever you got your information, it is not correct. fwiw, my last car, a vw passat, i sold with 312k miles on it. i bought it new at the dealer. still had the original clutch. your 100k replacement claim is bogus.
highway mileage is different due to gear ratios, not "physically locked". automatics use different ratios than manuals, even with same engine. shift speed is irrelevant for mileage.
and lastly, manuals do not cost more. every car i've ever owned, new or old, including my 2007 porsche 911, have come standard with a manual transmission. if you want automatic, that's an option you pay extra for, several $thousand in some cases. i've never owned an American car, so maybe the domestics are different, but your blanket statement is still wrong.
on my wife's mercedes, it needs automatic fluid change every 30k miles. dealer charges ~$300 for this. That's $1000 in service in 90k miles assuming nothing breaks. My manual transmission requires no service or fluid changes for 100k miles. $1000 in maintenance vs $0 in maintenance. automatic is far more expensive from a maintenance standpoint.
Umm porsche not exactly a valid argument of a car and that falls in the sports car catigory. Complete different field.
As for the clutchs 300k on a original clutch is pretty far unless you do heavy high way miles there.
Going heavy city lets see I had to replace the clutch in my old car at around 95k. My dad replaced the clutch in is Honda at 110k. Numbers I have been reading off the net about my current car clutches are going at 90-120k range. Now it does depend on driving. You are not going to find mean 300k on a original clutch. 100k is more the norm. Big time with city miles on it.
Also my car manual cost me more about 1000 bucks more but at it is a higher model as the model right below it is auto only. Manuals are being mostly reduced to sporter car lines/models now days leaving autos for everything else.
Yes they have different gear ratios comparing the 2 but for MPG sorry Manuals are losing out. They can not compete with CVS, computer controlled shifting and now adding in extra gears. Those factors are just adding up against Manuals and they can not keep up. Manuals are limited to human timing which losses to computer timing. And the shifting timing is not the speed the shift is done but at what RPM are at the given load. Computers can adjust to getting best MPG at a given load demand far better than a human which means they have better MPG.
Manuals used to have a big advantage over automatics in terms of acceleration and fuel economy, especially back in the days when most automatics had only three to four forward gears and the automatic gear changes were done mostly by hydraulics.
But with the advent of modern computer controls for automatics, this has allowed for the dramatic reduction in the size of hydraulic components in an automatic. It also allowed for more forward gears, with Hyundai's very compact six-speed automatic as the latest example, which is now found on many 2011 Hyundai/Kia models and now on even entry-level Hyundai/Kia models like the upcoming 2012 model year Hyundai Accent and Kia Rio (both of which were shown publicly at the New York Auto Show today).
Amazing that a thread on whether or not a person CAN drive a stick shift car has turned into a full blown debate on the merits of automatic vs manual transmissions. Personally I think this argument is similar to the Mac vs PC argument that has gone on for years, ultimately they're different, and a person should be able to use whichever one (or both) they choose for their own personal reasons. In both cases, transmissions and personal computers, they have their good points and their bad points. To each their own...
Nothing amazing about it. Absolutely natural flow of conversation.
There are several cars that sell more manuals: WRX, Miata, Wrangler, etc. Some cars are available ONLY with a manual, example: Civic Si. My Integra GS-R is manual-only. While most of these are specialty cars hardly any of them are expensive or not mainstream.
As for the rest of your arguments there is way too much misinformation in there to be worth digging through. The point is that a newer automatic is fairly sophisticated and does pretty well, in some cases even as well as the manual. But for pure driving pleasure there is no replacement for the 3rd pedal even in a Ferrari. Anyway you slice it. That's why I buy mine manual only and I would NOT drive an automatic car at all.
My neighbor has a 68 Camaro that's in great shape. Hard to believe but this was his first car and he bought it new in... 1968. He's had it ever since.
Sorry I didn't find this thread sooner, as this has been a topic I like to read about a lot.
About 10 years ago (mid 20s), I was incredibly interested in driving stick, read lots about it, finally my brother took me out in his F-150, and that was an incredibly easy drive ... From there I test drove an Altima, Solara, and even drove my girlfriend's 4 cylinder - which was *significantly* tougher for me to catch the friction point on. Apparently all the V6's I had test driven have much more forgiving clutches or something...
The one and only time I ever had an "Oh s***" moment was testing a Saturn L200 and had to stop for traffic at a small incline. This guy pulled RIGHT behind me, and I had very little experience with hills. Somehow I was so nervous that I shot from the brake to the gas in a split second, revved the RPMs, and the car shot forward without rolling back at all. I was lucky that day
Unfortunately I ended up buying an auto, but now I'm about to get a used Hyundai Tucson - still auto, but it has Shiftronic for being able to stay in a certain gear for longer. Of course it's no manual, but at least you get *some* control back...
So I guess I can say that I can drive stick if an emergency came up, but it's been a few years since the last time.
About 10 years ago (mid 20s), I was incredibly interested in driving stick, read lots about it, finally my brother took me out in his F-150, and that was an incredibly easy drive ... From there I test drove an Altima, Solara, and even drove my girlfriend's 4 cylinder - which was *significantly* tougher for me to catch the friction point on. Apparently all the V6's I had test driven have much more forgiving clutches or something...
The one and only time I ever had an "Oh s***" moment was testing a Saturn L200 and had to stop for traffic at a small incline. This guy pulled RIGHT behind me, and I had very little experience with hills. Somehow I was so nervous that I shot from the brake to the gas in a split second, revved the RPMs, and the car shot forward without rolling back at all. I was lucky that day
Unfortunately I ended up buying an auto, but now I'm about to get a used Hyundai Tucson - still auto, but it has Shiftronic for being able to stay in a certain gear for longer. Of course it's no manual, but at least you get *some* control back...
So I guess I can say that I can drive stick if an emergency came up, but it's been a few years since the last time.
wouw you guys, I've only driven an automatic three times in my five years of having a drivers license
I first got my drivers license in November 1965.(Yes that's right there are some of us oldies still about)
I have driven manual gearbox cars for most of that time, in the late 1990's I did own two automatic cars. In 2006 I retired, when I reverted to manual again in this little beauty.
The sound of the engine as you change down, turns this 64yr old into a teenager age. Look at the bunny go
I have driven manual gearbox cars for most of that time, in the late 1990's I did own two automatic cars. In 2006 I retired, when I reverted to manual again in this little beauty.
The sound of the engine as you change down, turns this 64yr old into a teenager age. Look at the bunny go
Stick shift cars are absolutely the most fun to drive and everyone single person should be learning to drive them.
I would never own a non-stick car, no way, no how. There really is nothing like driving a stick shift through the mountains and curves and feeling like you are a working part of the car itself. You can tune the throttle just right to tweak out that extra power curve or save yourself from disaster by down-shifting at the right moment. PLUS, you don't have to rely on your brakes so much--my mechanic says that he replaces brakes much less frequently on stick-shift cars as opposed to automatics, where people practically ride the brakes all the time. Sticks really do save you money!
When driving an automatic, I feel like I'm on auto-pilot, totally disconnected from the driving experience.
The typical stereotype of an Automatic user seems to be lazy people who feel like they need to be stuffing their faces while driving, is pretty much what I see.
The US appears to be the only country where Automatics are the majority, the same country that is 2/3's obese. Correlation? I believe so!
Get it together people, keep your hands on the car!
I would never own a non-stick car, no way, no how. There really is nothing like driving a stick shift through the mountains and curves and feeling like you are a working part of the car itself. You can tune the throttle just right to tweak out that extra power curve or save yourself from disaster by down-shifting at the right moment. PLUS, you don't have to rely on your brakes so much--my mechanic says that he replaces brakes much less frequently on stick-shift cars as opposed to automatics, where people practically ride the brakes all the time. Sticks really do save you money!
When driving an automatic, I feel like I'm on auto-pilot, totally disconnected from the driving experience.
The typical stereotype of an Automatic user seems to be lazy people who feel like they need to be stuffing their faces while driving, is pretty much what I see.
The US appears to be the only country where Automatics are the majority, the same country that is 2/3's obese. Correlation? I believe so!
Get it together people, keep your hands on the car!
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Manual cars (stick shift) are the best. I owned an automatic car a few years ago, just needed a cheap car at the time, and it was the most boring thing to drive. I'm not a petrol-head or anything, I just love driving a manual, there's nothing else quite like it.
That said, I can see how people could prefer driving auto in congested cities, but I don't think I could.
That said, I can see how people could prefer driving auto in congested cities, but I don't think I could.
Me, too.
I've owned 17 or 18 cars - all sticks. Current car is BMW M Roaster, 6 speed manual. My first car was a Hudson Commodore, with a three on the tree. Wouldn't drive anything but a stick.
I learned to drive on an Auston-Healy 3000. Couldn't imagine how to work three pedals with two feet. After I learned that, the guy who taught me then taught me how to break the back end loose and power slide through corners. At that point I was totally sold on driving a stick - and a life long love of sports cars.Took some years to be able to get one, and I've never looked back.
Manufacturers aren't making things easy for manual fans. I've been considering a replacement for my Mazda, but it isn't easy. I have been looking at the new Ford Focus and the Hyundai Elantra, but both only offer a manual in the base model. At least Ford will let you custom order a base Focus with alloy rims, which Hyundai doesn't allow. I would get a Mazda 3, but I hate that Joker smiley face front end.
Learned on Automatics.
Own automatics.
About once every 5 year I get behind a stick and can drive them no issue, except for the muscle cars, they are very touchy.
Own automatics.
About once every 5 year I get behind a stick and can drive them no issue, except for the muscle cars, they are very touchy.
The one and only time I ever had an "Oh s***" moment was testing a Saturn L200 and had to stop for traffic at a small incline. This guy pulled RIGHT behind me, and I had very little experience with hills. Somehow I was so nervous that I shot from the brake to the gas in a split second, revved the RPMs, and the car shot forward without rolling back at all. I was lucky that day
Hills were the worst when first learning.
A month after I bought my first stick shift car, I went on a little road trip with it, everything was going great until I hit bumper to bumper traffic. It was all stop and go for like an hour, and on a steep incline. I'm in a strange city and don't know my way around and don't know any alternate routes, so I'm stuck in this traffic. Amazingly, I managed to make it through without rolling back into anybody, thanks to some quick handbrake and foot work. But I probably burned the hell out of the clutch.
This is not true.
The manual/auto rate's completely flipped in Japan and Korea over the past 15-20 years, the latter to well over 90%. Of the major car producing countries/regions, the EU is the only manual holdout.
I see a lot more manuals for sale and on the road in African and SE Asia in the past couple of years than 5-10 years ago. Even China and India will cross over the 50/50 threshold in a couple of years.
The thing that will end the reign of the manual transmission is the wider and wider acceptance of dual-clutch sequential shift transmissions, such as Volkswagen's DSG and Porsche PDK. Indeed, Ferrari, which used to be almost completely manual with their famous gated shifters, is now making mostly cars with dual-clutch transmissions. Even Porsche is finding out that the PDK transmission option has become VERY popular, in spite of the substantial price premium for this transmission. Indeed, it's known that a Porsche equipped with PDK can lap Nürburgring's Nordschleife faster than a Porsche equipped with a conventional manual.