Posted on 06/01/2012 7:23:21 AM PDT by US Navy Vet
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 ...
I’ve always preferred manual transmissions whenever I could get one. I still am not a fan of automatics because they eventually develop and overdrive/converter/switch problem.
My last two Hondas, 2005 and 2009 were both 5 speed manuals. If they had had one on the lot like I wanted, my 2010 F-150 would have one.
I’m going to Dresden in a couple of weeks. Reserving a car on Avis, you have to go upscale to get automatic transmission- default is stick. I can’t wait, it will bring back nice memories.
Learned on an old Mack quad box. Two sticks...two hands. never forgot.
http://vodpod.com/watch/3023018-quad-box-shifting
Ruh-Roh. Just bought a manual yesterday.’05 Corolla supposed to get 41 highway.
Not good for resale, but we drive our cars into the ground.
First manual in ten years. It came back to me pretty quick.
Downside for me is that it’s much harder to eat and drive, although I usually do that on the highway.
Yup. Can’t get Mrs. Colonel or the fledglings (both girls) into it, though...
I learned to drive on both manual and automatic, but I prefer a manual. You are much more aware of your driving when you drive a manual.
Sounds like my older borther's '59 Opel. Learning first gear in that one was tough.
My first car, a '61 Impala, was an automatic (283 engine with the old 2-speed, IIRC, powerglide). After that it was all sticks until 2010 when I went for my fourth Honda.
Decided to go with the automatic-equipped Civic EX (I don't think Honda even makes an EX with a stick any more--certainly none on the local lots). The Civic Si model was stick-only (6-speed), but it was a little spendier than I wanted; plus, I was spending a lot of time in stop-n-go traffic in those days.
It’s likely because I’m so used to a manual but there is no comparison on mountainous, winding roads. Also, I do get better mileage with a manual. Now trying to teach a daughter to drive a stick, that I could have done without.
If you work on your own car, you will quickly realize:
new clutch = $200
new automatic transmission = $1,500
I drive a stick because I’m cheap.
Back in the early 80s, the US Army realized that a small percentage of new recruits could drive stick, and that it was a waste of valuable time to train them.
At that point they made all new vehicle procurements with automatics.
And that was 30 yrs ago....
They can have my Dodge 4X4 6 speed when they remove my cold dead foot from their bloodied “clutch”.
It's performance is wasted on me today. I learned that I, too, can die ugly. ;)
/johnny
I just bought a Kia with a six speed manual tranny. I had forgotten how much fun they can be.
Driving a Mini in England was interesting. Right hand drive with a stick...That took some practice...
-—says that auto transmissions are superior for off roading, because they can respond faster to changing conditions than a human can shift a manual transmission.——
Yeah. I drove my manual Wrangler with a foot-long shifter down a Maine logging road. I could barely stay in the seat, nevermind find a gear.
I don’t know about that. I’m in mud heaven here and we have a saying....stick it in low and go!
I not only can drive a stick, I prefer to
Years ago, when my best friend and I both drove 1970-vintage 240Z’s, I observed that girls drove mostly automatics. He showed me plenty of counterexamples to this, which I guess was easy because we belonged to a sports car club.
Anyway, after that time, I saw a lot of stick-driving chicks.
I guess it depends on one’s perceptions, which are not uncommonly refuted by statistics.
AND I (the good farm boy that I am) can drive a “Straight Truck” w/ a “High/Low Axle Transmission too(I can “move” an 18 wheeler if I have to).
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