We need to have an intervention for Manual Drivers

[Zachowon]

I mean the fastest cars out there are not manuals. So I can get that same feeling without needing to go through the extra steps and money kf buying a manual.

I wanted my first vehicle to be a manual, it was hard as hell finding them for a reasonable price

 

[Free-Stater 101]

I mean the fastest cars out there are not manuals. So I can get that same feeling without needing to go through the extra steps and money kf buying a manual.

A car being fast has nothing to do with the Transmission type if both have similar sized gears, they go the same speed.

 

[Zachowon]

A car being fast has nothing to do with the Transmission type if both have similar sized gears, they go the same speed.

At a certain speed. Manuals are not as useful and can be even more dangerous. Semi automatic is the next best thing for a proper classic manual sportscar in this dau and age.

 

[Sailor.X]

It's sad that you're so weak and girlish as to need the many-headed abomination of hydramatic. A manual is better in every way. They are easy to fix and last as long as you want to make them last. An automatic is a nightmare of stinking fluid, burnt clutches, bad bands and dozens of evil little balls and actuators under spring tension just waiting for your dumb ass to unbolt. The best transmission I ever had was in a 66 Ford Econoline pickup with three on the tree. The truck came with a convenient hole in the floorboard for throwing out beer bottles, a rifle rack across the little back window and a Royce Am Fm CB radio.

1: I know how to drive a manual. I prefer Automatics because I am not a Neaderthal in a cave still scratching my butt
2: I am a former Engineman. And have been arms deep in more engines and transmissions than most manual drivers
3: Manual Drivers are just the same as the people 100 years ago who said anyone who preferred a Car to a Horse and Buggy were just weak and not good with animals.

 

[Zachowon]

After driving Humvees and LMTVs, I prefer automatics. I also drove a automatic back in the states, but seeing how simple of an automatic diesel all the Army ones are are pretty amazing

 

[Sailor.X]

After driving Humvees and LMTVs, I prefer automatics. I also drove a automatic back in the states, but seeing how simple of an automatic diesel all the Army ones are are pretty amazing

Indeed. Driving an automatic has made me even more observant of the road. I have avoided so many accidents by not having to worry about shifting or messing up my left knee.

 

[Shipmaster Sane]

That and you can change a clutch in about an hour.

Oh thank god the part you don't need that will break is easy to fix.

 

[prinCZess]

This is silly. Soon enough, automakers will come to their senses and make more manuals than autos. Because manuals are faster for shifting in performance cars, and more fuel efficient besides. Add to that their ingrained capacity to deter theft from the filthy, no-respect-for-tradition heathen criminals out there who don't know the glory of manual driving, and they are clearly the superior option!


Matter of preference--and there's plenty of legit reason to prefer automatics (physical ease among them).
That said...I feel infinitely more in control in a manual than an automatic. I do more prediction and defensive driving in one because I know the shifting will be required for decel or acceleration, and while driving through traffic might be frustrating in a manual, where I live that had a tendency to be less common than driving up and down hills or in subpar conditions of ice or gravel or what-not. Being able to gauge the road and everything necessary in gear and RPMs to stay in positive control always felt better to me than the rough guesstimating it always feels like I'm doing in an automatic (and we don't even need to mention how infinitely aggravating automatic CVTs are on this realm--I have to drive a car with one of the things daily, and I shall curse it every day I do until it explodes on me). And there's a real satisfaction to a perfectly-executed shift and the driving that accompanies it. Makes me feel all skilled and junk.

 

[Zachowon]

For how terrible the HUMVEE is nowadays, it outperforms any manual vehicle i have driven when it comes to off road performance.

 

[Free-Stater 101]

Indeed. Driving an automatic has made me even more observant of the road. I have avoided so many accidents by not having to worry about shifting or messing up my left knee.

Really? I have had the exact opposite experience driving a manual keeps you from at attention with cruise control and a automatic transmission it's easier to slip into autopilot and not pay as much attention.

Oh thank god the part you don't need that will break is easy to fix.

Try buying a used automatic over 150,000 miles and change the fluid first thing, if you don't between there and 300,000 miles your going to have it break and need replacement within that space of time, but at the same time the engine is 150,000 miles and if it's dirty enough replacing the fluid will destroy it easily.

Don't get me wrong I am not sh*tting on automatic transmissions here, if you buy a car brand new and religiously change the transmission fluid, it isn't a issue. But, if your buying a car used, a manual will have a longer shelf life.

In the entire debate of Manual vs. Automatic. Nothing trump's longevity, as you want your vehicles transmission to last above all else because if it fails they are so expensive to rebuild or replace you might as well by a new vehicle by that point. Manuals have a advantage of the clutch taking most of the wear over the transmission itself which increases reliability.

 

[Zachowon]

Really? I have had the exact opposite experience driving a manual keeps you from at attention with cruise control and a automatic transmission it's easier to slip into autopilot and not pay as much attention.

Try buying a used automatic over 150,000 miles and change the fluid first thing, if you don't between their and 300,000 your going to have break and need replacement within that space of time, but at the same time the engine is 150,000 miles and if it's dirty enough replacing the fluid will destroy it easily.

Don't get me wrong I am not sh*tting on automatic transmissions here, if you buy a car brand new and religiously change the transmission fluid, it isn't a issue. But, if your buying a car used, a manual will have a longer shelf life.

In the entire debate of Manual vs. Automatic. Nothing trump's longevity, as you want your vehicles transmission to last above all else because if it fails they are so expensive to rebuild or replace you might as well by a new vehicle by that point. Manuals have a advantage of the clutch taking most of the wear over the transmission itself which increases reliability.

I dont use cruise control much with my automatic. I like to keep my own speed and traffic in GA is all over the place speed wise so that helps me not use it.

I have zoned out driving my manual while watching my surroundings when on the highway and took me a little to long to properly decelerate. I lost focus more in my manual then I do in my Automatic.

I mean, the manual I owned had more issues with its clutch then my automatic has had with its tranny. Everhone has diffrent experiences

 

[Free-Stater 101]

I mean, the manual I owned had more issues with its clutch then my automatic has had with its tranny. Everhone has diffrent experiences

Your right, but remember the advantage to a clutch is they are cheaper to buy and install than rebuilding the transmission.

 

[Zachowon]

Your right, but remember the advantage to a clutch is they are cheaper to buy and install than rebuilding the transmission.

I would rather have something that I know will last me longer that I dont have to constantly replace.

You shouldn't be happy of anything goes bad oj your vehicle. Cars are made, especially now to last longer then people often think. You may have to replace your clutch many times in your manual, perhaps it will cost as much as my tranny when I finally have to get it fixed, if I even have too.

 

[GoldRanger]

I'm a manual driver, have been for 11 out of 12 years with a driving license. And I'm loving it.

It has become lately that some people who love to drive manual cars are pushing well bullshit out on the internet. These are their main BS statements.

1: The Stick Shift is the Ultimate Theft deterrent.

An Interesting claim. I wouldn't call it an "ultimate" deterrent, but yeah I can kinda see it. A lot of people simply don't know how to drive a manual car. On the other hand I seriously doubt that someone with the skills and the tools to bypass the anti-theft measures on a modern car will stop merely for such a minor reason.

2: Manuals are more fuel efficient than Automatic Transmissions

Probably true for the old 4 speed planetary automatic transmission that was ubiquitous in, like, the 90's. With modern 6-8 speed double clutch transmissions that's probably no longer true (although they have their own issues, such as inferior reliability, especially compared to manual transmission)

3: Manuals are faster for shifting in performance cars.

lolno when it comes to double-clutch. It's no coincidence that the top hypercars such as the Ferrari LaFerrari use a double clutch transmission with paddle shifters. This is yet another statement that might have been relevant 20-30 years ago.

4: Automakers will come to their senses and make more Manuals than autos. The last one made me spit out beer.

The future is in electric cars, which don't really need what we think of as a transmission at all. Unfortunately, since I love the manual transmission and I love internal combustion cars, purely for the fun aspect of it.

So I don't think I need an intervention. As a manual gear lover, I can say that the practical advantages are in cost and maintenance, that's about it. It's a cheaper, older, more reliable technology that is suited for those who don't mind the fiddling too much. It's not very fun in a city with heavy traffic though. Personally, I love it because it just feels like I'm more in control of the car and it's more fun. Both of the latter are probably pretty subjective.

Automatic cars are more of a American thing then anything else really woth countries like Germany and Korea being the other two that I know use mainly Automatic. Even then Korea mainly only has it in new vehicles.

The Israeli consumer vastly prefers automatic, even though the cost of cars is ridiculous here (there's around 100% import tax on cars, which means the cost doubles even before the greedy import companies try to widen their margins). Out of hundreds of makes and models available for purchase, maybe a dozen even have a manual option, and almost exclusively mini (or sub-subcompact) cars that cater to the low-income population. And those barely sell.

I've had people riding with me that were shocked that the car is manual, they thought manual cars are a nostalgic thing from the 90's that's not really a thing anymore.

1: I know how to drive a manual. I prefer Automatics because I am not a Neaderthal in a cave still scratching my butt
2: I am a former Engineman. And have been arms deep in more engines and transmissions than most manual drivers
3: Manual Drivers are just the same as the people 100 years ago who said anyone who preferred a Car to a Horse and Buggy were just weak and not good with animals.

Now this unwarranted bullshit.

 

[Zachowon]

I'm a manual driver, have been for 11 out of 12 years with a driving license. And I'm loving it.

An Interesting claim. I wouldn't call it an "ultimate" deterrent, but yeah I can kinda see it. A lot of people simply don't know how to drive a manual car. On the other hand I seriously doubt that someone with the skills and the tools to bypass the anti-theft measures on a modern car will stop merely for such a minor reason.


Probably true for the old 4 speed planetary automatic transmission that was ubiquitous in, like, the 90's. With modern 6-8 speed double clutch transmissions that's probably no longer true (although they have their own issues, such as inferior reliability, especially compared to manual transmission)



lolno when it comes to double-clutch. It's no coincidence that the top hypercars such as the Ferrari LaFerrari use a double clutch transmission with paddle shifters. This is yet another statement that might have been relevant 20-30 years ago.



The future is in electric cars, which don't really need what we think of as a transmission at all. Unfortunately, since I love the manual transmission and I love internal combustion cars, purely for the fun aspect of it.

So I don't think I need an intervention. As a manual gear lover, I can say that the practical advantages are in cost and maintenance, that's about it. It's a cheaper, older, more reliable technology that is suited for those who don't mind the fiddling too much. It's not very fun in a city with heavy traffic though. Personally, I love it because it just feels like I'm more in control of the car and it's more fun. Both of the latter are probably pretty subjective.



The Israeli consumer vastly prefers automatic, even though the cost of cars is ridiculous here (there's around 100% import tax on cars, which means the cost doubles even before the greedy import companies try to widen their margins). Out of hundreds of makes and models available for purchase, maybe a dozen even have a manual option, and almost exclusively mini (or sub-subcompact) cars that cater to the low-income population. And those barely sell.

I've had people riding with me that were shocked that the car is manual, they thought manual cars are a nostalgic thing from the 90's that's not really a thing anymore.



Now this unwarranted bullshit.

Korea has a lot of both, woth most being automatic and most people with newer vehicles getting automatics

 

[GoldRanger]

Korea has a lot of both, woth most being automatic and most people with newer vehicles getting automatics

Interesting. While one will naturally find more manuals among the older cars, I recall that Israel was heavily skewed toward automatics even in the 90's, and that's when the manual transmission had tangible advantages. I attribute it to the heavy traffic jams that are prevalent in the country. Nobody wants to drive a manual in a traffic jam.

 

[Zachowon]

Interesting. While one will naturally find more manuals among the older cars, I recall that Israel was heavily skewed toward automatics even in the 90's, and that's when the manual transmission had tangible advantages. I attribute it to the heavy traffic jams that are prevalent in the country. Nobody wants to drive a manual in a traffic jam.

Most modern Korean cars are automatics, which if yo have ever seen Korean traffic in major cities it explains a lot.

 

[GoldRanger]

Most modern Korean cars are automatics, which if yo have ever seen Korean traffic in major cities it explains a lot.

By the way, KIA and Hyundai (actually IIRC both are basically Hyundai) hold the largest portions of the new car sells in Israel for years now. Only Toyota is in serious competition (although still losing). Congrats and all

 

[Zachowon]

By the way, KIA and Hyundai (actually IIRC both are basically Hyundai) hold the largest portions of the new car sells in Israel for years now. Only Toyota is in serious competition (although still losing). Congrats and all

Oh I am not Korean. Just been here for half a year and have noticed a trend while exploring the countryside and the cities.

 

[Sailor.X]

Really? I have had the exact opposite experience driving a manual keeps you from at attention with cruise control and a automatic transmission it's easier to slip into autopilot and not pay as much attention.

You see my good chap I live in the rural countryside. Where Deer, Coyote, Wild Boar and Alligators can and do cross the road on the regular. Not paying attention to the road be it with a Manual or Automatic in my area would be just plain stupid.

Now this unwarranted bullshit.

He poked the bear first. The Bear swiped back. But if you read back in old newspapers from 100 years ago. People did indeed say those things about cars, trucks and tractors.