Car slide (continued)...
I like the ease of use with the automatic, but I do miss running the car through the gears too! My 90 Mustang was a thrill (5.0 engine, fun), as was my 2008 Civic Is with its 6-speed. I’ve had a few other stick shift cars and trucks over the years (Ranger, Pinto, Dodge 3/4 ton pickup), but I’ve also enjoyed the luxury of automatic transmissions.
Interestingly, the new Ford Bronco can be had with a manual transmission, but it is only available with the 2.3 liter turbo 4, and not the really strong 2.7 liter twin-turbo V6. I would love that with the V6 and a manual transmission. Even though it would be the least practical vehicle in the world (I have a pickup truck now, and it is very useful, even if very big too).
I’ll probably be keeping the truck for 2 or 3 more years, and then move into a smaller truck like the Ranger. Too bad they’re not the really small trucks that they were in 1983 - my first Ranger was a 4 speed stick with a 4 cylinder engine that regularly got 30 mpg on the highway, even without overdrive. Then again, we sometimes forget how the smaller trucks rode like a truck and weren’t very roomy inside.
Car slide continued -
The Miata’s a 6 speed, while the Honda Sport is only 5. Both make driving fun instead of a get-from-A-to-B thoughtless routine. They’re both only 4 cylinders but they go like heck and I love how responsive they are off the line. They’re neither fancy nor expensive but I love my cars and keep them immaculate. My son loved his Ranger too but it was an automatic because he couldn’t drive a manual at the time. He has my old Civic now and likes driving the stick.
For the first time ever, it cost me slightly more for the 5-speed this time than the automatic. I remarked about that and the dealer said it was because people don’t drive the stick any more so they manufacture many fewer of them than they used to. Manuals may even be on their way to becoming an expensive option.