Why do people like manual transmissions?

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I actually sat in both an Altima and a Maxima, and found the Altima's interior to be more......refined, for lack of a better word. The Maxima's still got the "cheap" Nissan interior styling from the 02+ era, whereas the new Altima seems to have a much nicer looking interior. The ride's pretty quiet in the Altima (even quieter if you go for the SL, but then you lose the wannabe 350Z suspension that's on the SE), that nice VQ under the hood is always ready (or the QR if you go for the 4-banger), and it definitely attracts looks, even though mine is but a "common" silver model. Plus, it starts with a button, I mean, how cool is that?
Any specific questions about it?

Hmmm maybe I'll have to visit the local Nissan/Volvo dealer and ask to see the 2007 Altima and 2007 Maxima to see if it feels that way to me. I really like the sound (heh) of a quiet ride.. my Stratus right now isn't really that quiet. My mom's Saturn is quieter while driving for Pete's sake!

I was originally looking at the SL model for the "ultimate comfort" aspect. I just went and tried to configure an SE, but it seems you can't really create a nice mix between performance and comfort (you really either select the sport or tech/premium package). I think really just based on that, I'd rather go with the SL3.5 for the high level of comfort and sexiness .

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
EDIT: This thread is now about pancakes. Sorry for the thread hijack OP

Bah, this thread was practically flamebait to begin with and just think of it this way, we're discussing the middle of the road solution (cars equipped with CVT)!

 

[rhino56]

i like a manual trans in sports cars because my wrist isnt too limp to shift myself.
i like an auto in a dd so i can feel the breasts next to me in the passenger seat.
you better stick to your padded silicone mouse pad wrist support.

 

[Frintin]

I was just thinking to myself the other day...I am really sick of shifting gears after 30 years of driving.

Never have owned an automatic,

 

[Gagabiji]

I just like the feel of driving a manual transmission better. Way more fun, IMO.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Originally posted by: Aikouka

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
I actually sat in both an Altima and a Maxima, and found the Altima's interior to be more......refined, for lack of a better word. The Maxima's still got the "cheap" Nissan interior styling from the 02+ era, whereas the new Altima seems to have a much nicer looking interior. The ride's pretty quiet in the Altima (even quieter if you go for the SL, but then you lose the wannabe 350Z suspension that's on the SE), that nice VQ under the hood is always ready (or the QR if you go for the 4-banger), and it definitely attracts looks, even though mine is but a "common" silver model. Plus, it starts with a button, I mean, how cool is that?
Any specific questions about it?

Hmmm maybe I'll have to visit the local Nissan/Volvo dealer and ask to see the 2007 Altima and 2007 Maxima to see if it feels that way to me. I really like the sound (heh) of a quiet ride.. my Stratus right now isn't really that quiet. My mom's Saturn is quieter while driving for Pete's sake!

I was originally looking at the SL model for the "ultimate comfort" aspect. I just went and tried to configure an SE, but it seems you can't really create a nice mix between performance and comfort (you really either select the sport or tech/premium package). I think really just based on that, I'd rather go with the SL3.5 for the high level of comfort and sexiness .

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
EDIT: This thread is now about pancakes. Sorry for the thread hijack OP

Bah, this thread was practically flamebait to begin with and just think of it this way, we're discussing the middle of the road solution (cars equipped with CVT)!

Minor problem, the sports package is just a spoiler, fog lights, and a sunroof. You could just find a 3.5 SE with the premium package, and get the spoiler and fog lights as a dealer installed option. Not sure about the sunroof though. Plus, with the 3.5 SE, you get nicer rims and better rubber.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Ehhh give me the best of both worlds.... DSG.

QFT. Every car ever period needs to come with a DSG type transmission. Audi/VW got the picture, everyone else needs to! It's also the only transmission other than an auto I'd ever ponder getting in a car, I've got a 90 minute commute every morning in p!ss poor traffic, and I can't stand the thought of "shift into first, second, clutch/coast to a stop, back in first, coast some more." If I had to drive a stick in rush hour traffic, I'd just leave it in neutral, get out of the car, and push.
On another note, I :heart: the CVT in my Altima. Floor it, and it just sticks to the highest RPM point in the engine's powerband, and STAYS THERE . Or, you can throw it into the manual shift mode, which tries to make it behave like a normal transmission, you know, one with gears, and it'll always downshift one gear from where a normal slushbox would have it; works great for passing people.

:thumbsdown: The only thing slushier than an automatic transmission is a CVT. It's fine for an SUV like the Murano I guess but for a supposedly performance oriented sedan they are worse than an automatic IMO. I don't think I could get used to one.

Drive one, then comment. I said the same thing.
And don't go in expecting it to drive like the Elise either

I've driven 2 of them. I had a Nissan Murano for a week recently as a loaner car and my wife rented a Ford 500 about a year ago after she mashed in the driver's door on my Maxima. I didn't like them...not one bit.

BTW-I don't like the new Maxima and I wouldn't buy one. The new Maxima is a porker and I just don't like the look of it. My Maxima is the last of the 5th generation Maxima and I actually prefer it to the new one. I checked out the new Altima but discounted it immediately because of the CVT...not that I would buy one anyway. I'm looking to hang onto my Maxima for a few more years and possibly pick up a Lotus Elise in the next year or so.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124
Minor problem, the sports package is just a spoiler, fog lights, and a sunroof. You could just find a 3.5 SE with the premium package, and get the spoiler and fog lights as a dealer installed option. Not sure about the sunroof though. Plus, with the 3.5 SE, you get nicer rims and better rubber.

Well, if I were to worry about rims, I'd probably just buy some aftermarket ones as I'd get to choose style, weight and color that way. Personally, the color I prefer on rims is gunmetal .

I've always found fog lights quite useless to be honest. My talon had them and they did absolutely nothing in the fog that low beams didn't already handle. Although spoilers tend to be over-used, I think done correctly (not too gaudy or sheet-metal-y), they can accent a car well. But they're definitely not required. But the one thing I'd really want the most when it comes to a new car is a good ride and the color I want. The last thing I'd want for paying $35,000 for a brand new car is to not get exactly what I want (especially since I have the option to choose)!

EDIT: You know, I just noticed it... the Nissan Altima also looks kind of like the newer GT-R from the side... The GT-R being my favorite car of all, but Nissan is equipping it with a not-so-favorable high price tag .

 

[Raduque]

Originally posted by: freebee
I don't like them. All the people that posted above have never driven a truly powerful auto tranny car. "Control" is not necessary when you have torque. Drive a high horsepower/torque motor with quick shifting auto. ie MB E55 (now E63, etc).
These cars are like space ships. They don't need to downshift to pass, there is no lag or hesitation. There is no "appropriate" gear. Every gear will blow your pants off.

My Oldsmobile was like that. It'd spin the tires in 3rd at 60mph if I stepped on it hard, and it Just Went. God I miss that car. Oh yea, it had a shift kit on the turbo350 "slush" box that'd outshift the best manual driver in this thread.

 

[Robor]

Originally posted by: tbike06
Control. /thread

:thumbsup:

 

[ch33zw1z]

Originally posted by: tbike06
Control. /thread

 

[IronWing]

Originally posted by: Robor

Originally posted by: tbike06
Control. /thread

:thumbsup:

By posting your agreement with /thread you have extended the thread thereby negating your intended statement.

 

[firewall]

Originally posted by: tbike06
Control.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: Raduque
My Oldsmobile was like that. It'd spin the tires in 3rd at 60mph if I stepped on it hard, and it Just Went. God I miss that car. Oh yea, it had a shift kit on the turbo350 "slush" box that'd outshift the best manual driver in this thread.

Prefering a manual is not always about faster shifting or faster acceleration.

 

[psteng19]

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: JulesMaximus

Originally posted by: mrSHEiK124

Originally posted by: PaulNEPats
Ehhh give me the best of both worlds.... DSG.

QFT. Every car ever period needs to come with a DSG type transmission. Audi/VW got the picture, everyone else needs to! It's also the only transmission other than an auto I'd ever ponder getting in a car, I've got a 90 minute commute every morning in p!ss poor traffic, and I can't stand the thought of "shift into first, second, clutch/coast to a stop, back in first, coast some more." If I had to drive a stick in rush hour traffic, I'd just leave it in neutral, get out of the car, and push.
On another note, I :heart: the CVT in my Altima. Floor it, and it just sticks to the highest RPM point in the engine's powerband, and STAYS THERE . Or, you can throw it into the manual shift mode, which tries to make it behave like a normal transmission, you know, one with gears, and it'll always downshift one gear from where a normal slushbox would have it; works great for passing people.

:thumbsdown: The only thing slushier than an automatic transmission is a CVT. It's fine for an SUV like the Murano I guess but for a supposedly performance oriented sedan they are worse than an automatic IMO. I don't think I could get used to one.

Drive one, then comment. I said the same thing.
And don't go in expecting it to drive like the Elise either

I've driven 2 of them. I had a Nissan Murano for a week recently as a loaner car and my wife rented a Ford 500 about a year ago after she mashed in the driver's door on my Maxima. I didn't like them...not one bit.

BTW-I don't like the new Maxima and I wouldn't buy one. The new Maxima is a porker and I just don't like the look of it. My Maxima is the last of the 5th generation Maxima and I actually prefer it to the new one. I checked out the new Altima but discounted it immediately because of the CVT...not that I would buy one anyway. I'm looking to hang onto my Maxima for a few more years and possibly pick up a Lotus Elise in the next year or so.

Try a new 2007 Nissan CVT (Altima, Maxima, Versa, Sentra).
It's an updated CVT with less rubber band feeling to it.

 

[mezrah]

We have an automatic...used to have a manual. That being said, my wife was a much better driver when she was driving stick. She paid much more attention to what she was doing.

 

[letdown427]

If I had to sit in traffic a lot, then an automatic would have a certain appeal, as fine, sitting in traffic going first > second > first > second over and over isn't fun.

That's the only time I'd think yeah, I want an auto. In normal driving, changing gear is just a natural process you don't even think about, same as turning on the wipers (even that is automated now, although it gets it wrong which is annoying...). It doesn't take any real effort to drive a stick over an auto in normal conditions, however the option is there if you do want to be a bit more involved in things.

Another thing, that I believe has been mentioned, autos can change at annoying times, or in an annoying way. I did a track day a while ago, and the Gallardo was utterly, UTTERLY ruined by the auto box, as it changed up early, and even mid corner, which just threw the car into a little shimmy, it was ridiculous. The paddle's made a huge difference.

Also, something that I only really encountered in the new XK8 on that day, but I've heard is in SLs and things too, you have these areas of pedal travel that will indicate ok, shift down if possible, then another (typically the floor) that says shift downa s much as possible etc, which was also just, annoying, you're trying to smoothly apply the throttle out of a corner, and suddenly, it jerkily drops a gear and everything lunges around again.

Either way, a proper manual that could just shift for you when in traffic would be excellent.

 

[vi edit]

It's the same argument as charcoal vs. gas grills.

 

[theeedude]

Originally posted by: Accipiter22
what's the big F'in deal? So you save a mile or two per gallon on gas. Most people here that can afford a nice car with a manual don't need to worry about money. And automatic transmissions are so advanced now that you barely get any extra gas mileage out of them. I know some people think they're funner....but why?

Same reason playing music yourself is more fun than listening to it on a CD.
Because it's you doing it. Mileage has nothing to do with it.

You move a stick a few times on a car ride and that makes it funner? Shouldn't you be paying complete attention to the road...

When you drive a manual, you pay more attention to the road, you need to anticipate turns where you need to downshift, etc. Shifting keeps you more focused on the road.

I can't think of a single objective reason why ANYONE should or would want to drive a manual instead of an automatic

There are objective reasons, but the main reasons are subjective. It's just is more fun to some people. An extra sense of satisfaction when executing a pefect shift, the feel of all the power in your right hand. There is nothing wrong in buying a car that you enjoy, even if others don't enjoy shifting for themselves.

 

[mb]

Maybe I've been spoiled by the 5 speed automatic and 4.3l V8 in my car, but I'm perfectly happy without a manual transmission. Maybe Mercedes does a better job with automatics than your average Honda/Toyota/GM/whatever, I don't know, but I would hardly consider it a "slush box" with no feeling of control. I remember when I was younger that automatics could be rather clunky.. but it's been a long time since then and I haven't driven anyone else's car in quite a while either.

 

[DainBramaged]

Originally posted by: tbike06
Control. /thread

Very good, n00b.

 

[koomey]

Originally posted by: Kalvin00
you must be a woman

and for the record i hate automatics with a passion. i will shift when i want to goddamnit

HAHAHAHAH! So true!! The only people I've heard say stuff like that were female.

 

[deejayshakur]

i learned to drive on a manual at 15. i find that when i drive an automatic, i'm actually MORE distracted by the road and everything around me. having the need to constantly pay attention to the stick, engine speed, and clutch makes me more in tune with the car and vigilant of things around me. even for getting around in the city, manual all the way.

 

[Jack Ryan]

I'm sad to see that most people feel they are more attentive while driving a manual. Yay for ADD. Yay for driving a 2 ton machine at 55 mpg and needing an activity to keep you focused.

 

[50cent1228]

manual cars makes driving more interesting and fun...and its better for racing

 

[VIAN]

Control.

Throttle response.