End of the manual transmission

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Doppel

Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
3
0
NutBucket

NutBucket

Lifer
Aug 30, 2000
27,155
635
126
As long as there is some demand car makers will continue to offer it. One of the main reasons I bought a CR-Z was the availability of the 6MT. Definitely would not have bought it with a CVT.

Conversely, the lack of a manual transmission in a Titanium spec Focus was one reason I didn't buy one. I stated such in some survey I took and amazingly, you can now get a 5MT in a Titanium spec Focus.
 
MagnusTheBrewer

MagnusTheBrewer

IN MEMORIAM
Jun 19, 2004
24,122
1,594
126
Fortunately, it'll be roughly 2030 before I get around to driving any of the 2012 models and by then, I won't want to drive a standard. :)
 
SpatiallyAware

SpatiallyAware

Lifer
Sep 7, 2009
12,960
3
0
That's sad to hear.. I don't care about 0-60 or track times, even in my fun cars. I just drive to have fun and enjoy it, and most of the time I enjoy driving a manual.

If you're stuck in traffic every day it does get old quickly.
 
Doppel

Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
3
0
W

WackyDan

Diamond Member
Jan 26, 2004
4,794
68
91
I decided not to get a manual anymore in my daily drivers for two reasons.

2000: Bad back and nerve pinching... caused my left leg to be largely unusable parts of the day... push the clutch in was painful, and difficult.

2002: A motorcycle accident screwed up my left leg again for several weeks. Driving was almost impossible.

Lastly... I couldn't even buy a manual in the last two new vehicles we bought... My bike continues to be a manual so I get my thrills that way.
 
S

SyndromeOCZ

Senior member
Aug 8, 2010
615
0
71
They're even starting to phase manual transmissions out of the 2500/3500 sized trucks with a diesel motor.
 
H

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
I can maybe just get by if I had to drive manual. I actually had to rent a car to learn. Grew up in la and no one I knew had one ( I'm 31). So my generation in an urban area its like 99% auto. Live in la now and well I am not sure I'd so it daily but definitely want a second car with it.
Its just so fun and makes slow cars feel better.
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
hans007 said:
I can maybe just get by if I had to drive manual. I actually had to rent a car to learn. Grew up in la and no one I knew had one ( I'm 31). So my generation in an urban area its like 99% auto. Live in la now and well I am not sure I'd so it daily but definitely want a second car with it.
Its just so fun and makes slow cars feel better.
Click to expand...

I think a lot fewer people are car enthusiasts now than a generation ago. I don't have many friends who can drive a stick.
 
IGemini

IGemini

Platinum Member
Nov 5, 2010
2,472
2
81
As a kid I really wanted to learn how to drive stick for a long time. I know how much the sport car enthusiasts love them. But neither my parents nor friends had a car they'd be willing to let me learn with.

Ended up having to learn how to drive stick for a job doing dealer swaps for GM. Worst part is that modern GM clutches have virtually non-existent friction points, even people who have driven a lot of stick have trouble with them. I don't feel too bad about my learning curve by knowing that fact, but so far it hasn't made the experience particularly enjoyable. I enjoy the so-called "manumatics" more by virtue that there's no clutch to worry about stalling the car.
 
V

Viperoni

Lifer
Jan 4, 2000
11,084
1
71
The vaguest clutch I've ever felt is my friends 2006 Audi TT. Do NOT feel the engagement point at all, and the clutch throw is tossing out a boat anchor.
That's the driveline's only downside though :D
 
H

hans007

Lifer
Feb 1, 2000
20,212
18
81
Throckmorton said:
I think a lot fewer people are car enthusiasts now than a generation ago. I don't have many friends who can drive a stick.
Click to expand...

I've read stories online about how the "millennial" generation when polled think of cars as a hassle and just a chore in life.

Me I might not buy a manual next car for a lot of reasons but I've half convinced myself to buy a new rwd coupe next year solely because I'm afraid of the day when they won't make non hybrid / non electric cars that is fast approaching . Or maybe a stick beater miata if I can get a second parking spot
 
Throckmorton

Throckmorton

Lifer
Aug 23, 2007
16,829
3
0
Viperoni said:
The vaguest clutch I've ever felt is my friends 2006 Audi TT. Do NOT feel the engagement point at all, and the clutch throw is tossing out a boat anchor.
That's the driveline's only downside though :D
Click to expand...

The other downside is it's FWD based
 
R

richaron

Golden Member
Mar 27, 2012
1,357
329
136
not sure about you ****, but my front yard gets muddy a few months per year.

without manual clutch riding I'd be fuxed (slippy diff').


I'm sure about the fact that we don't allow that here.
admin allisolm
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Doppel

Doppel

Lifer
Feb 5, 2011
13,306
3
0
hans007 said:
I've half convinced myself to buy a new rwd coupe next year solely because I'm afraid of the day when they won't make non hybrid / non electric cars that is fast approaching .
Click to expand...
I really think there may be something to this. In recent years performance has gotten cheap and ubiquitous, but even if an energy crunch doesn't make performance cars dinosaurs increased traffic enforcement definitely will (technology is growing by leaps and bounds with that, too). It wouldn't surprise me in the least if 20 years from now it's virtually impossible to drive a car with gusto on public roads because even if some traffic device doesn't catch you doing it the GPS in your car tied to your insurance rate will.
without manual clutch riding I'd be fuxed (slippy diff').
Click to expand...
You're trying to convince us that an automatic Jeep can't get through your yard?
 
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