Posted on 05/02/2012 1:50:24 PM PDT by Sopater
Go to any given dealership with 100 new cars.
On average, just four of the 2012 models will have manual gearboxes.
The trend of the vanishing third pedal is nothing new, notes The Detroit News.
Even a decade ago, just 8.5 percent of 2002 models were manuals. The paper’s own automotive reporter even confesses she never learned to drive a stick shift until it essentially became a job requirement.
It’s more than a little contradictory to automotive reviews (including many you’ll read here) extolling the pleasure of enthusiastic driving with a true manual gearbox. Likewise, purists gravitate to manuals for tackling their favorite twisting road or occasional track day. It’s the original form of in-car connectivity.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
As someone who has driven in both NYC and Chicago traffic with a manual tranny, I don’t agree an automatic is better.
When stopped I find I have to shift the auto to neutral anyway because the I find the vibrations annoying.
I was at a light next to a friend. We gunned the engines...I threw it into first, popped the clutch and raced away....in reverse.
If a m,anual trans won’t bolt up to a Transfer Case, is it of any real value?
They dont make them like that anymore. The engine got pulled for a street rod while the rest of the car got turned into a block.
I once had a Citroen DS21 with 4 plus reverse on the tree!
All my manual-transmission cars (and for that matter, all but one of the automatic cars) had the shifter on the floor, but I test-drove a ‘64 Falcon Ranchero with a 3-on-the-tree once during my second year of college. I was looking for a car to replace my ‘74 Pinto, which at the time burned almost as much oil as gas. It didn’t take long to get the hang of it.
But I wound up getting an ‘81 Honda Accord instead, which had a 5-speed.
Once when I was in high school or college, I was driving my mom and brothers somewhere in her station wagon with an automatic. (I had a VW Scirocco with a 4-speed) Getting off the freeway after 100 miles or so, I “clutched” the power brake pedal.
Had a college girlfriend who owned a MG Midget. The car you wore. I think they came in sizes, like 38R and 42L.
Maybe in the US, but not here in Europe. Almost every car, even top-of-the-line cars, come with manual transmissions. You can get automatic, of course, but here if you don’t know how to drive stick, you’re taking the bus.
Glad I learned when I did 22 years ago; a little late at 19 years old at the time, but better late then never.
My latest vehicle, a Kia Sportage, is the first automatic I've ever owned. The arthritis in my knees, hips, and lower back forced me out of the low slung Toyota Corollas I've owned since 1990.
In bad weather, I really miss the clutch and being able to choose my own gear.
Mark
I've owned my Kia for 3 years now, and when I called the dealer to find out how much a transmission/transaxle fluid and filter change would run, he informed me that there is no filter.
I think you're right... After a hundred thousand miles or so, it will be time to rebuild or replace the transmission!
Mark
However, I kept the 6-speed manual (a 2007 BMW 3-series hardtop convertible) to use as a second car, and to keep myself in practice with respect to "real" driving.
To look at it objectively, it is no longer true that manuals are faster, or more economical, than today's automatics. Ten years ago, yes, but no more. Still, the stick is more fun, and I wish my new ride had one.
No reason for a manual tranny in a vehicle other than a work truck these days. Automatics have improved to the point that mpg differences are negligible and they are a lot less likely to have problems than a clutch
Those clutch changes are fun aren’t they. Not really large expensive, but a pain in the ass
3 speed manual with overdrive. That actually meant 6 different gear ratios
Not familiar with those(and lot of others from then) Was the overdrive like a split shift rear axle?
“I’d take a classic Chevy muscle car (i.e. 1971 Camaro) over anything off the production line these days anyway...”
What, in a straight line?
You might drive an Audi quattro, and feel differently. Quattro means full time 4 wheel drive.
Handling, no drama, speed and control. Many optional models and powerplants.
There are many smaller, high performance cars today which blow the doors off early muscle cars.
If all you want is noise, exhaust and spinning tires that is one thing, but if you see an AWD launch that is quite another.
I watched a street race between a 2wd BMW M3, and a Subaru AWD WRX STI. The Subaru won easily.
I once had a 1970 Chevy Malibu that had been, shall we say “worked on,” by the previous owner. That car would move, not like the anemic stuff one encounters today.
And it was downright good-looking, too.
I have nostalgia for the 60’s early 70’s from my teen years too. Face facts though, those Camaro’s, Mustangs and such would be blown off the road by todays cars. It’s not even close
Just an observation, but 9 and 11 do not add up to 21... ;-P
Its a scam. The no dip stick thing kills me. So even if you trust someone to flush the tranny you can’t even check the color or level. Backin the day you would have to check the level quite often after a flush to get the level just right.
I am not sure how it worked internally but there was a solenoid which jerked something inside the transmission into another final drive gear.
The overdrive was a switch you had to push manually. When it was on, all gears had a higher range. I actually had to replace the transmission in my old 55. I did not know much about them but can remember lying on the ground under that car with the transmission on my chest and stomach and having to insert it and the bolts before I could take the pressure off my body.
I was in a lot better shape back then.
I really did like the overdrive btw.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.