Posted on 10/09/2014 6:50:15 AM PDT by C19fan
That manual transmissions in vehicles survive in now-permanent status of endangered species-dom will come as no surprise. Despite all the driving benefits and sense of control a manual brings, even most sports cars now sell more automatics than sticks when they offer their drivers the option. (And when they don't, like the Dodge Viper, they don't sell well at all.)
Today, in its annual report on U.S. vehicle fuel efficiency, the Environmental Protection Agency provided a clear snapshot of just how endangered manuals are in two vivid graphs — along with a surprising sliver of hope for those who prefer three pedals to two.
(Excerpt) Read more at autos.yahoo.com ...
Not practical here with our crazy terrain. You would never quit shifting.
Drive nothing but manuals and live in NYC. You can be sure about one thing; no texting and driving.
Dodge Vipers don’t sell well????? Just try to get one. They’re rarer than an honest Democrat.
Until 2003, I have always had a manual transmission. Since then automatic transmissions in daily drivers.
I have a couple of old Jeeps around and the one that runs is still fun to drive. It’s a rickety old Willys. The CJ7 has been on the back burner for a while.
Good Lord I hate manual transmissions.
Snow and ice - no question, manual is far better.
Depends on what kind of driving you do. Stop-and-go city driving lends itself to automatics. Sportier “free-range” driving is more fun with a manual. I like the paddle shifters that give you the best of both worlds without developing hypertrophic “clutch thigh.”
Two of our three vehicles have manuals.
Our 02 Sebring convertible was an automatic, but I got lucky and found a manual trans out of a sedan (very rare) and swapped it. Had to do some electronic tinkering to fool the ECM into thinking the automatic was still there (Chrysler makes module swapping a ginourmous PITA) but it was worth it. Makes it a completely different, and much more fun, vehicle. That’s my DD and I mostly drive city streets. I shift a lot, but I don’t mind a bit.
Also have an ‘87 Ranger I bought with an automatic, but it was originally a stick. Pulled the auto and put in an M5OD out of a later model Explorer. It also has a manual transfer case. Great vehicle in the snow - the manual transfer case lets me drop in and out of 4wd quickly and the manual trans gives me great control.
Our 00 Sierra pickup has pushbutton 4wd and an automatic. I’ve had to rebuild the automatic twice and the transfer case once. If I ever come across a manual 4x4 version in the junkyard, I’ll probably convert it as well but I have yet to see one. I did put a shift kit in it and a Corvette servo. Regular driving is the same, but if you get on it, the shifts are very crisp. I read that’s actually better for the trans as it doesn’t burn up the clutches, but it does stress the drivetrain a bit more. I generally take it easy, and/or keep it in 3rd instead of OD when I’m hauling a trailer.
Given the choice, I would never buy another automatic. I’d even prefer a manual in a luxury car.
I live in Michigan, and have never needed a stick to drive on ice and snow.
I’ve lived off and on in Europe for twenty-odd years. Basically, it’s almost impossible to find a non-shift used vehicle for sale. Even if you asked for one at the car-rental shops in Frankfurt...it’s less than a thirty-percent chance they’d be able to accommodate you.
I will say this...having done three clutch repairs and one transmission repair over my life...the clutch repair is a one-day affair with the mechanic and never fails or has issues. The transmission episode....it just didn’t work the same as before, and I took it back....for another day or two....and never felt it was the same as the original transmission. At some point, I dumped the car.
I don’t believe the gas mileage business is that big of a deal unless you are doing lots of stop and go stuff on crowded roads, and in that case....I would probably go with the transmission.
I got my first manual transmission at 15 1/2 years old. My mom bought me a new Ford Mustang the first year they came out.
The Mustang is gone but I always buy manual transmission.
They are hard to find sometimes, but so worth it!!!
Dodge trucks can still be had with a manual. I have the 6 speed manual in my ram 4500 dump and 5 speed in my VW Jetta TDI.
Manual transmissions are the BEST. Least maintenance. Least expensive to repair. Best in bad weather (especially snow).
If the EPA says they don’t get the best mileage, then they have idiots driving them. An experienced driver can drive a manual and ALWAYS get better mileage with a manual over a slushbox.
I absolutely HATE automatic transmissions. No feel between the driver and the road. Always downshifting way to far to go up the slightest incline.
The best computer to control a transmission is still and will always be between the ears.
I would never want to have to waste time moving that stupid thing around just to drive down the street.
Shift..ok, time to slow down...shift again...ok, time to move..shift...oh wait...shift again.
Great if you want to pretend like you are a race driver, but just bizarre for 99% of people.
Another thing only us old guys can do, like remembering phone numbers, reading maps and striking up a conversation with a stranger.
Some of us actually prefer manual transmission driving in crazy terrain. The control one has going uphill in a lower ratio / higher torque gear and down hills in the same without burning up the brakes, as well as downshifting through curves are things that we like about it. It used to be difficult to rent a car in Europe with automatic transmission and I know one friend of mine had to pay extra to get one when he was in Italy on vacation. The learning curve to drive stick was too much for any of my three kids to pick up and they can only drive a car if its auto transmission. Sort sad to some of us old timers who had no choice but to learn because that was the only kind of car we could get our hands on.
Kia soul 2.0 litre with 6 speed. Drives like an MG A. Laying rubber in first two gears, working on third gear.
Fun, fun, fun!
One afternoon of test driving convinced me otherwise.
The one nice thing about a manual (in older vehicles, at least) is that you can park them facing downhill and start the vehicle rolling in neutral.
Lose an gear in a Manuel,$500 repair. Lose a gear in an Automatic, $2000 minimum repair.
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