Flappy-paddle 'boxes were lamentable when they first came out. They were jerky and imprecise, and you could never parallel park on a hill. But now they are smooth and there’s some inbuilt creep, and they are wondrous. And so surely, it is time to wave goodbye to the manual.
Oh, I know there will be some snuffly noses and damp handkerchiefs from the purists. But look at it this way: when we are all driving hybrid cars that can find their way around by themselves and sipping fuel in the same way that a vicar sips his tea at an old lady’s funeral, there’s nothing to stop people who crave the past driving a big V8 with a manual 'box and a longwave radio.
In the same way that today the horse is completely useless. You can’t even eat it. But the countryside is full every weekend with people using them just for fun.
pretty sure guys like us will all have an analog, manual, fast but not too fast car in the garage for when we want to be nostalgic, but it is 100% true that DCT/PDK-like transmissions blow manuals out of the water in every practical means. even for the ‘experience’ good paddles let you wake up to other elements of the drive.
that said, the Tesla is already the next level where you come to the realization that shifting as a whole is archaic… you should always have maximum torque instantly without having to waste your time shifting a gear.
I would have to agree with clarkson, although it does still hurt a little that you can’t get a manual for fun. I understand in the grand scheme of things the needs of many outweigh the desires of the few, and the numbers don’t lie. Even if it’s “slower” I still enjoy the analog feel of rowing my own gears…it’s partly the reason I’ve gone vintage to replace my daily driver for a resto-mod old truck to attempt to compromise between old and new.
I have a work van I drive for work everyday but my actual DD is automatic and I wouldn’t mind having a manual DD/winter truck. But maybe I will hate it after awhile. When I had my 2000 Trans Am WS6 it was 6spd and I remember when it was fall right before putting it away the tranny felt shitty when it wasn’t warmed up, like just felt like it wanted to warm up to shift smoother. I don’t know if this is the case with all manuals in the winter?
Both the lady and mine are manual. I like the manual for the sake of you cannot be distracted as much in city traffic. There’s no fumbling with your phone when you have to constantly have both hands doing something . I really wish there was a study for accidents involving distracted driving in cars/trucks with and without manual transmission. My fiancé was notorious for texting/calling people while driving when she had her auto. Now it’s non existent. Just my .2
I thought I’d miss having a manual when I sold the STi, but found myself wanting only once in the three months I’ve had the current DD. It’s getting to the point (and I hate to admit this) where I don’t really care one way, or the other and that’s mostly to do with where and how I drive. My commute to work is only 20mins round trip and is made up of mostly rural driving. Sure I’d like a manual and I’d hate to see them no longer offered, but I guess it really doesn’t matter much when it comes right down to it.
ill always have a manual car, but i have my first automatic car in almost 10 years. woah, didnt realize it was that long. its fine. but im longing for that 3 pedal dance
I said the same thing 2 years ago. My current daily driver is an automatic, this is the first auto I have owned other than the brief stint with a Maxima in college. I can’t wait to get a manual for a daily again. I also drive and SUV so that also adds to the BORRRRRRINNNG factor. Most of my other cars were always stick and performance oriented, and I really miss it. Even getting behind the wheel of my old mans stick 5 series seems like a treat compared to my 4runner.
I however live in the southtowns, and spend most of my time in the southtowns so I don’t have to deal with traffic that city or northtowns people deal with other than my commute to work.
I bought my truck because it was automatic. I wanted a simple push the gas and go A-B vehicle. But I’m happy that I have the Miata in manual for when I want to have fun and feel connected to the car.
