Anyone else who just can't give up manual transmissions?

[zCypher]

I drove a stick for years.

Honestly, ever since we got this Outback, I can't stand driving anything with gears any more -- standard or automatic. I think CVT is like going SSD in your computer to replace a HDD. I never noticed how slow my HDD was until I got an SSD, and I never noticed all the up and down engine revving and gear shifting until it was no longer there.

The CVT thing is pretty cool, but it's kind of a weird feeling at first. The convenience is nice, but there's nothing like the enjoyment of driving a car with manual transmission, you're just more connected and have better control.

 

[calvie]

OT - but what is the appeal of a Miata? My last neighbor was absolutely nutzoid about his. Are they sort of like powerful go-karts or something? I've never really seen the appeal, but everyone I know who has one is REALLY into them!

I love the power of my Mustang. 412HP v8...who wouldn't like it? From day 1, i think the car is too big and heavy. I lived with it because i WANTED a big fast V8. I have fun with it for 2 years. The car is FAST but does not feel fast at all because of how big and heavy it is. Under 100mph, it feels like it's barely moving. The Miata on the other hand, it feels fast and FUN at any speed. It's light and low to the ground so everything just feel quick and fun. It's way slower but feels fast, you just have to drive one to understand.

I used to think the Miata is girly and ghey. I can't understand why everyone that have one love it so much. Fast forward to last month when my brother bought a CX5. I went with him and sat in a Miata. I felt in love with it just by sitting in one. I took a test drive last Saturday with the top down. I finally see what everyone see in the Miata. It's handling is great. You can toss it around corner and it just does what you tell it to do. It's way slower than the Mustang but feels faster going slower....hard to explain. I am waiting for the sales to call me to pick up a Crystal Pearl White club edition Miata. They need to find one for me...so excited.

Anyway...back on subject. People are not buying manual because 90% of the people don't know how to drive one. People that do, half of them probably don't understand it fully. There is no school that teaches it anymore and you can't rent one to learn. It's really sad. Once you truly understand how to drive a manual, there is really nothing better. I plan to keep this Miata Club edition for as long as i can and use it to teach my nieces and nephews how we "used" to drive in the old days

 

[Throckmorton]

Finally gave up on them about 3 years back. Now they don't even enter into equation. In fact, I dare say I'd almost prefer not to have one now. As mentioned, they are just really inferior in most ways now, and in any case so few people opt for them in North America that they are quite difficult to find in the bulk of vehicles.

A car that drives itself is superior to you at driving, so do you want one of those?

 

[JackBurton]

A car that drives itself is superior to you at driving, so do you want one of those?

Oh hell yeah, I'd love one of those! I've been eagerly awaiting a sedan that would drive me to work while I sleep! That would be awesome!! Now for a sports car, IMO they shouldn't even offer an automatic option.

 

[CraigRT]

Yeah, I still drive manual and hopefully always will, or as long as I keep the desire to drive it.
I have myself never owned an automatic car.

 

[Insomniator]

Listen I love manuals but they are going the way of the dinosaur.

There is just no real reason for one anymore. To most people, and logically really, driving should just be getting from A to B as safe as possible. The 'fun' we have in our cars mostly involves speeding, accelerating, and turning at high speeds. All of these things are evil to the people just trying to get from A to B.

The MPG, popularity and performance of Auto's is killing the manual... and there isn't much of an argument besides "I LOVE DRIVING LOL" against them.

 

[Throckmorton]

Oh hell yeah, I'd love one of those! I've been eagerly awaiting a sedan that would drive me to work while I sleep! That would be awesome!! Now for a sports car, IMO they shouldn't even offer an automatic option.

They're called trains, now get your local government to build them.

 

[Midwayman]

I love manuals, and in a car I am driving because I want to, I would always choose a manual. However after sitting in traffic all the time I'm ready to go auto for my DD. Actually I prefer a self driving car when they come available. For the DD that is. I'd probably still like a sporty manual on the weekend.

 

[Midwayman]

They're called trains, now get your local government to build them.

Not even close if you have ever taken a train to work on a regular basis.

 

[hans007]

The MX-5 is a car that has to be driven to understand. If you have never flogged on through some decent roads, you'll never understand. It really is a joy to drive.

i rented one for a day, and more or less learned how to drive manual on it.

i was having such a good time i spent 5 hours driving it in the 12 hours i rented it.

it really is an awesome car, i suppose for if im driving just to have fun, i'd drive it over most cars.

that said for day to day traffic and road trips and getting from A to B commuting, I'd rather have a much more comfortable, insulated automatic (or better dsg) car that still has some elements of fun (i.e. still not say a camry)

 

[Doppel]

A car that drives itself is superior to you at driving, so do you want one of those?

Yes, if you have seen a few of my posts here I absolutely do. I can't wait for driving to be terminated as a human task and performed by computers.

 

[theknight571]

For those that like the manual transmissions, do you prefer the ones with a clutch pedal or are you happy with the "electronic" shift.

My Altima has the "manual" 6 speed, which is an automatic that has a manual mode. (I'm not sure what the proper terminology is)

I drove it in the manual mode and it's just not the same as having a clutch pedal and having to "throw" the stick into the proper position. Flipping the shifter up and down just isn't the same.

 

[WackyDan]

Yes, it's called wanting to have fun when you drive.

The vast majority of Americans are dull sheeple. They aren't like you. They don't care about seeing the world, doing something mechanically engaging, or even living in a nice place that isn't an awful treeless suburban sprawl with a 1 hr commute.

We gave up manual in our cars for many reasons... The sedan due to plans to have a child and not wanting to mess with a manual with a child in the car.

Got rid of the manual Dakota in Jan 2012 and went F-150 and no F-150 comes with a manual...

But here is the thing... I had a bad disc in my back in 2000 which made driving the Dakota a real discomfort (affected my left leg).. Then in 2002 I had a bad motorcycle wreck that really screwed up the left leg for a bit... Made driving the Dakota a real pain in more ways than one... *ANd I was single. Didn't have anyone else I could rely on.

So for general transportation, automatic it is. My bike is still manual, and someday I hope to have a "Fun" car that is manual... So don't deride all of us with autos as "Sheeple"... It's just that we have in many cases, very valid reasons for buying autos.

 

[tuxberg]

Haven't owned an automatic transmission in my life and will not be starting any time soon.

 

[JackBurton]

They're called trains, now get your local government to build them.

Nah, those suck. With a car I can come and go as I want. Don't like set schedules.

 

[Zeze]

My first car was a stick on purpose. And I had a blast with it over 11 years (2003 Mazda 6i, 4 cyl- voted most fun to drive in manual by Car & Driver).

I'm getting older now and just plain don't care about stick shifting. My next car will be auto.

 

[Throckmorton]

Nah, those suck. With a car I can come and go as I want. Don't like set schedules.

So you'd rather sit in traffic for 2 hours a day than zip to and from work in half the time? Where are you coming and and going when the roads are all congested?

 

[Throckmorton]

For those that like the manual transmissions, do you prefer the ones with a clutch pedal or are you happy with the "electronic" shift.

My Altima has the "manual" 6 speed, which is an automatic that has a manual mode. (I'm not sure what the proper terminology is)

I drove it in the manual mode and it's just not the same as having a clutch pedal and having to "throw" the stick into the proper position. Flipping the shifter up and down just isn't the same.

Even dual clutch paddle shifting automatics suck. I drove a diesel Golf with one and it was just like an automatic.

 

[NutBucket]

So you'd rather sit in traffic for 2 hours a day than zip to and from work in half the time? Where are you coming and and going when the roads are all congested?

I love manuals and support public transit but there are limits. For example, it would take me 3 trains to get to work. Travel time is estimated to be 90 minutes each way. I my total commute time by car averages maybe 100 minutes total. Yeah, trains are great...

 

[mmntech]

Never driven a manual car. Hardly anybody does here. I can see why people like them though. More control, faster shifting.

 

[Throckmorton]

I love manuals and support public transit but there are limits. For example, it would take me 3 trains to get to work. Travel time is estimated to be 90 minutes each way. I my total commute time by car averages maybe 100 minutes total. Yeah, trains are great...

I think that's mainly a factor of the trains in LA sucking. At least it's not Houston where we don't really have trains. We have one line inside the loop, but that's it.

 

[phucheneh]

I'm a control freak and I value simplicity. I like manuals.

That's about all there is to say. It's not about the fastest shifting or anything; it's about being in control of both the clutch and the current gear. And knowing my car will go 100k+ without needing to worry about anything trans-related.

More like 150k+, but I would throw a fluid change and maybe some linkage adjustment and/or repair in there.

 

[NutBucket]

I think that's mainly a factor of the trains in LA sucking. At least it's not Houston where we don't really have trains. We have one line inside the loop, but that's it.

Final train thought. The sad thing is the train's route is fairly direct. Just a function of too many transfers and stops I guess. The station is about a mile away from my apt and there's a stop a block away from the office so its not inconvenient, just too slow.

Anyway, on topic I love my manuals. Luckily my wife does too. Our SUV is an automatic (full size with a manual, yeah right) but all of our other cars have been MT. Hell, we even have the elusive manual hybrid.

 

[hans007]

I love manuals and support public transit but there are limits. For example, it would take me 3 trains to get to work. Travel time is estimated to be 90 minutes each way. I my total commute time by car averages maybe 100 minutes total. Yeah, trains are great...

I love cars, but I wouldn't mind sitting on a train and taking a nap for 60 min instead of driving a car every once in a while.

They actually are building a working train system I actually work next to one of the stations that will open in 2014 or 15

 

[JackBurton]

So you'd rather sit in traffic for 2 hours a day than zip to and from work in half the time? Where are you coming and and going when the roads are all congested?

Yes. I don't like being elbow to elbow with people on a train. Plus I'm in Texas, so an autonomous car is much more likely to happen than a train.