You might drive an Audi quattro, and feel differently.
I'm talking about preferences, which include looks and quality of construction. Those old muscle cars were built with solid steel and looked awesome. Here's a '68 to drool over. ;-)
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 ...
Pikes peak is not a typical road course.
Galaxy was not a slow car.
I am curious about the “freewheeling” effect. I think this was just an effect of having a very high(low numercally) gear ratio, but not really a “slipper clutch” type of effect. I would say that most likely if you were in first gear, you would have the engine braking effect even in overdrive.
At least I don’t remember any slipper clutch like action from the old overdrive trannys.
My old 1955 had a 4.11 rear end.That is one reason it was so quick off the line. That worked just fine in combination with the overdrive.
A manual transmission is an excellent theft deterrent these days.
Yes, and it also keeps people from asking to borrow your car...or truck. Usually people ask to borrow pickups more than cars, but if it is a stick, they ask someone else instead.
I LOVED that tranny, and I loved the car I installed it in; a 1957 Chevy Bel Air Sport Coup.
Now THAT was a nice car. Wish I still had it. I learned a LOT from that car.
Don't forget the 12 bolt rear end either.
“Pikes peak is not a typical road course.”
The LeMans series has been dominated by Audi quattro turbodiesels for several years.
LeMans, Sebring, Laguna Seca, etc. Road courses.
Since 2000 Audi won all but two times.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_24_Hours_of_Le_Mans_winners
and here
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_Le_Mans_Series_champions
and you think this is because of the 4wd?
I would rebut to you that audi engineering overcomes their 4wd handicap via sheer brain power. No other brand has the brain power to do this.
“and you think this is because of the 4wd?
I would rebut to you that audi engineering overcomes their 4wd handicap via sheer brain power. No other brand has the brain power to do this.”
Why would they keep it, if it is a handicap, and they are superior engineers? The only handicap I know of is weight.
BTW the Deutsche Touring Motoring class will start in 2013 licensed with Nascar.
I like racing, but Nascar leaves me bored, round and round, every week. Once in awhile, sure...like Indy 500.
There is nothing like watching cars go through the corkscrew at Laguna Seca and then accelerate past the grandstands.
I've found I get worse on both. With the auto, I figure they're playing with the numbers. With the stick, I play too much for it to be efficient. ;-)
At least manuals are not completely gone yet.
My 2010 Mustang Gt had a wonderful 5 speed manual, and my 2011 Hyundai Genesis Coupe 3.8 has a 6 speed manual that absolutely rocks.
Numerous cars have paddle shifters now.
Almost all Camaros have paddle shifters, Hyundai Genesis Coupes along with other models have them, Nissan Altima had them, etc etc
My Miata now has 277K on the odometer and is on its third clutch, which IIRC went in at around 235K. Clutch #2 lasted close to 140,000 miles.
Yes, changing a clutch is a hassle. On a Miata you have to remove a LOT of stuff to get the transmission out, including the entire exhaust system from the downpipe back, but if you don’t abuse the clutch you don’t have to change it very often.
I'd imagine AWD has at least some benefit on the race track, given that a lot of racing organizations have banned it.
Audi’s LMP cars are rear-drive. You are correct that they are turbodiesels (except for the R8).
As far as shifting gears nothing competes w/Mack 10speed duplex trans,one arm thru steering wheel for one stick,other
hand on 2nd stick to split gears
Don’t remember the make but I drove a four on the tree truck in Japan.
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