Save the Manuals!
07-29-2010, 11:15 AM
#81
Three Wheelin'
if it have more than 2 pedals, i won't buy it! the days of manuals being a gas saver, cheaper to repair, lighter, more fun, blah, blah, blah,.....are over! today's technology have caught up with manuals and automatics/semi-automatics, etc....have made manuals look silly. how so? visit your local dealer and ask how many manuals do they have in stock or have sold. buyers determine what is popular and when 95% of buyers want autos, dealers and manufacturers will follow.
but you say manuals are more fun to drive!.....sure it is... bec. a small group of people say it is, not the majority. manuals are usually always driven hard, usually driven by younger, aggressive drivers. that's fun alright! other than that, there's not much else benefiting a manual anymore. automatics/semiautomatics are just as fun and more so when the situation calls for it. with manuals, you're stuck! got my "flame" suit on!
but you say manuals are more fun to drive!.....sure it is... bec. a small group of people say it is, not the majority. manuals are usually always driven hard, usually driven by younger, aggressive drivers. that's fun alright! other than that, there's not much else benefiting a manual anymore. automatics/semiautomatics are just as fun and more so when the situation calls for it. with manuals, you're stuck! got my "flame" suit on!
Last edited by silver3.5; 07-29-2010 at 11:19 AM.
07-29-2010, 12:05 PM
#82
With automagic transmission, I'll be stuck driving a boring POS.
07-29-2010, 12:24 PM
#83
Three Wheelin'
if you consider fun being stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 260 days a year rowing through your gears constantly, then let it be. i rather have the best of both worlds..and switch to auto when this happens or switch to manual mode when i feel like superman on the open highway.
07-29-2010, 12:45 PM
#84
if you consider fun being stuck in traffic for 2-3 hours a day, 5 days a week for 260 days a year rowing through your gears constantly, then let it be. i rather have the best of both worlds..and switch to auto when this happens or switch to manual mode when i feel like superman on the open highway.
07-29-2010, 12:49 PM
#85
AZ Community Team
if it have more than 2 pedals, i won't buy it! the days of manuals being a gas saver, cheaper to repair, lighter, more fun, blah, blah, blah,.....are over! today's technology have caught up with manuals and automatics/semi-automatics, etc....have made manuals look silly. how so? visit your local dealer and ask how many manuals do they have in stock or have sold. buyers determine what is popular and when 95% of buyers want autos, dealers and manufacturers will follow.
but you say manuals are more fun to drive!.....sure it is... bec. a small group of people say it is, not the majority. manuals are usually always driven hard, usually driven by younger, aggressive drivers. that's fun alright! other than that, there's not much else benefiting a manual anymore. automatics/semiautomatics are just as fun and more so when the situation calls for it. with manuals, you're stuck! got my "flame" suit on!
but you say manuals are more fun to drive!.....sure it is... bec. a small group of people say it is, not the majority. manuals are usually always driven hard, usually driven by younger, aggressive drivers. that's fun alright! other than that, there's not much else benefiting a manual anymore. automatics/semiautomatics are just as fun and more so when the situation calls for it. with manuals, you're stuck! got my "flame" suit on!
07-29-2010, 12:54 PM
#86
Three Wheelin'
it's not an excuse, it's reality! sure, autos are boring most of the time and rightly so bec. i don't have to do anything. manuals are fun no doubt about that, but if "fun" is the only thing you care for, we got a problem. i got better things to do that is way more fun than driving a car!
07-29-2010, 12:56 PM
#87
Fahrvergnügen'd
Here's the bottom line:
If I had two cars, one would be an automatic and my daily and the other would be a manual and my weekend car.
Unless my weekend car was a Ferrari and then I'd get the sequential gearbox because those are every bit as good as a manual without the third pedal.
But if it's a floppy-paddled gearbox that's just a regular auto with paddles, I'll get the manual instead for the fun car.
If I had two cars, one would be an automatic and my daily and the other would be a manual and my weekend car.
Unless my weekend car was a Ferrari and then I'd get the sequential gearbox because those are every bit as good as a manual without the third pedal.
But if it's a floppy-paddled gearbox that's just a regular auto with paddles, I'll get the manual instead for the fun car.
07-29-2010, 12:57 PM
#88
The six-speed manual is a half second slower to 60 mph. A half second alone isn't much, but when comparing 4.2 to 3.7 seconds in a car such as a Ferrari, it's an eternity.
Terry
07-29-2010, 01:09 PM
#89
it's not an excuse, it's reality! sure, autos are boring most of the time and rightly so bec. i don't have to do anything. manuals are fun no doubt about that, but if "fun" is the only thing you care for, we got a problem. i got better things to do that is way more fun than driving a car!
07-29-2010, 01:20 PM
#90
Fahrvergnügen'd
And that reminds me of Clarkson's quote that basically was, "If you don't care what kind of car you drive then you don't care about driving. And if you don't care about driving you're probably not very good at it. And if you're not very good at it, you probably don't deserve to be driving in the first place."
07-29-2010, 01:21 PM
#91
Three Wheelin'
i truly enjoy driving and look forward to it whenever i get the chance. sometimes i make excuses just to go out so i can drive. i love driving. the music thumping, the wind rushing thru the top, windows open, hearing the engine roar, sitting comfortably behind the steering wheel with one arm out the window...i truly enjoy driving. just this past month, i drove 3600 miles on a road trip. my wife said she wanted to fly, i said no way when i can drive....does it always have to be a manual to have fun or love/enjoy driving? i don't think so.
07-29-2010, 01:24 PM
#92
Three Wheelin'
And that reminds me of Clarkson's quote that basically was, "If you don't care what kind of car you drive then you don't care about driving. And if you don't care about driving you're probably not very good at it. And if you're not very good at it, you probably don't deserve to be driving in the first place."
07-29-2010, 01:59 PM
#94
Senior Moderator
5MT here
07-29-2010, 02:47 PM
#98
My only car is a Bus
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: Republik of Kalifornia
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When I lived in France only old, infirm people drove automatics. I was hitch hiking in Normandy and this guy in his 70s picked my gf and I up and he was rowing through the gears. I asked him if he wanted an AT instead he just laughed and said it gave him something to do.
'nuff said!
'nuff said!
07-29-2010, 03:23 PM
#99
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
07-29-2010, 03:28 PM
#100
Registered Member
07-29-2010, 06:05 PM
#102
Better buy your passes in bulk then because the future doesn't look good for a transmission that rarely seems to make up even 10-15% of sales in most cars.
Eventually, the only companies offering manuals will be the small supercar companies & even they are phasing them out. Koenigsegg just switched to a sequential gearbox for the Agera as will Pagani. Even ol' Porsche will get rid of the manual as the standard option as the PDK becomes more & more advanced.
Eventually, the only companies offering manuals will be the small supercar companies & even they are phasing them out. Koenigsegg just switched to a sequential gearbox for the Agera as will Pagani. Even ol' Porsche will get rid of the manual as the standard option as the PDK becomes more & more advanced.
07-29-2010, 06:31 PM
#103
07-29-2010, 06:46 PM
#104
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
07-30-2010, 03:43 PM
#106
Suzuka Master
Thread Starter
Better buy your passes in bulk then because the future doesn't look good for a transmission that rarely seems to make up even 10-15% of sales in most cars.
Eventually, the only companies offering manuals will be the small supercar companies & even they are phasing them out. Koenigsegg just switched to a sequential gearbox for the Agera as will Pagani. Even ol' Porsche will get rid of the manual as the standard option as the PDK becomes more & more advanced.
Eventually, the only companies offering manuals will be the small supercar companies & even they are phasing them out. Koenigsegg just switched to a sequential gearbox for the Agera as will Pagani. Even ol' Porsche will get rid of the manual as the standard option as the PDK becomes more & more advanced.
07-30-2010, 04:34 PM
#108
That's fine if a manufacturer don't want to offer manuals. I'll simply look for a car that offers it then, even if it's older.
As for the post above me...
As for the post above me...
07-30-2010, 05:03 PM
#109
Someday, an RS6 Avant+
My next car, if I stay here, will be a 6MT of some sort. No question. If I get sent stateside, no doubt a manual is what I'll have.
07-30-2010, 05:44 PM
#110
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
07-30-2010, 05:59 PM
#111
In the Mid-South meow
iTrader: (2)
I love driving my 6mt in traffic. It's fun to see how fast I can o 0-15-0.
07-30-2010, 06:02 PM
#112
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
I love being able to practice the clutch engagement. Even with a heavy clutch.
07-30-2010, 06:14 PM
#114
My TL was the first AT car that I ever owned (granted I had an A/T S-10 but I don't count that) and one of the reasons why I bought it was due to the "being in traffic a lot" excuse. I figured since I drove in LA traffic everyday that an AT would be a good change; and it was...for awhile. Sure it was nice being able to kick back and not worry about shifting in bumper to bumper traffic (and I know my left leg was loving it) but when I wanted it to get up and go, the performance just didn't compare to an MT. Also, I feel that if you drive MT long enough (most of my cars have been MT and I've quite a few cars), shifting becomes second nature and you don't really notice or think about it in traffic, at least I don't. 
Regardless if technology makes an AT better, MT ftw in my book, but to each their own I guess.
Regardless if technology makes an AT better, MT ftw in my book, but to each their own I guess.
07-30-2010, 06:26 PM
#115
My TL was the first AT car that I ever owned (granted I had an A/T S-10 but I don't count that) and one of the reasons why I bought it was due to the "being in traffic a lot" excuse. I figured since I drove in LA traffic everyday that an AT would be a good change; and it was...for awhile. Sure it was nice being able to kick back and not worry about shifting in bumper to bumper traffic (and I know my left leg was loving it) but when I wanted it to get up and go, the performance just didn't compare to an MT. Also, I feel that if you drive MT long enough (most of my cars have been MT and I've quite a few cars), shifting becomes second nature and you don't really notice or think about it in traffic, at least I don't. Regardless if technology makes an AT better, MT ftw in my book, but to each their own I guess.
Regardless if technology makes an AT better, MT ftw in my book, but to each their own I guess.
Absolutely. 
People who say they prefer autos due to traffic aren't giving a legitimate excuse, IMHO.
I live in SoCal. I've NEVER wished for an auto.
07-30-2010, 07:06 PM
#116
Registered Member
I agree. I have never wished I had an automatic, traffic be damned. Like the man said, it just becomes second nature... like breathing. It's just what you do.
07-30-2010, 07:19 PM
#117
Whats up with RDX owners?
iTrader: (9)
And much like breather, if you think about you'll screw up
07-30-2010, 09:37 PM
#119
07-30-2010, 10:09 PM
#120
Senior Moderator
There are FEW days where i miss having a manual but pretty damn happy with my automatic. 
For me it also depends what kind of gearbox it is. Wasnt too pleased with BMWs manual trannys but Hondas... YUM. That made driving a manual enjoyable.
For me it also depends what kind of gearbox it is. Wasnt too pleased with BMWs manual trannys but Hondas... YUM. That made driving a manual enjoyable.
Last edited by Crazy Bimmer; 07-30-2010 at 10:12 PM.