The Demise of the Manual Transmission

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

I've been driving a 6-speed since August 2001.

2002 Acura RSX Type S from 2001 to 2005

2005 Acura TL 2005-present (Car bought new has just over 236,000 miles)


Sad that you don't see many MT cars out there. I do get tired of it sometimes especially now that traffic is getting worse, but I know the day I have to drive an auto is the day I will miss driving a stick.

Never been able to drive a stick shift so the demise of that gearbox is just fine with me.

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Never been able to drive a stick shift so the demise of that gearbox is just fine with me.

It's not hard. My dad taught me, and I'd say it took me an hour to learn, and that was on my brand new RSX back then! I stalled hard on it and the car wasn't even broken in yet.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

It's not hard. My dad taught me, and I'd say it took me an hour to learn, and that was on my brand new RSX back then! I stalled hard on it and the car wasn't even broken in yet.

Well I drive exactly one car - my 2016 EX so I don't see how learning to drive a stick would effect my life that much. The only way I'd see it becoming a necessity is if I started dating and my squeeze drove a stick.

[OI8T12]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Never been able to drive a stick shift so the demise of that gearbox is just fine with me.

You have not really driven a car, until you have driven a stick. Anyone can drive an automatic, but it takes skill to bang through the gears of a 5 speed manual transmission. Going from first gear to second gear and hearing the rumbling of the engine and exhaust, isn't like anything you've experienced before. Hitting third gear and pulling away from your competition is pure heaven.

You should seek out someone that has a stick shift, and take it for a spin. If the car has any balls, you should have a big smile on your face. You might even get a boner.

[Batman1980]

Originally Posted by OI8T12

You have not really driven a car, until you have driven a stick. Anyone can drive an automatic, but it takes skill to bang through the gears of a 5 speed manual transmission. Going from first gear to second gear and hearing the rumbling of the engine and exhaust, isn't like anything you've experienced before. Hitting third gear and pulling away from your competition is pure heaven.

You should seek out someone that has a stick shift, and take it for a spin. If the car has any balls, you should have a big smile on your face. You might even get a boner.

Heh sounds like something I may need to do for my birthday, just to get it out of the way. There are people who've told me you don't know how to drive unless you can drive a stick.

[Dex Robinson]

The imagined superiority of the stick is a misplaced nostaligc affectation. It's the same reason that people buy turntables. I expect the stick will die a slow but well-deserved death. I have great respect for the stick as I respect my old record collection...but it's time has passed.

So you may well be thinking, "Ah, the voice of a delicate little snowflake driving his mom's old Ford Taurus".

On the contrary, I have never owned an automatic in my life. I've driven several. Every few months I do drive my moms little Korean compact with an automatic. However, every car I've owned has had a manual and I still own three of them. I own the first car I ever bought (when I was 19): a 1976, 455 Trans AM with a Borg Warner T-10 4 speed. I own a '59 Corvette that a previous owner fitted with a Muncie M21 Rock Crusher. And I have my old Triumph convertible with the factory 4 speed.

[Show spoiler]

The reality is that modern automatics are fantastic. In most cases, they equal the fuel economy of manuals. They provide superior low end torque that usually makes them quicker off the line. Manuals don't provide any real advantage. Any preceived manual superiority is in the mind of the driver.

Of course, if somebody has convnced themselves that manuals are better, then there is certainly no harm in them enjoying the driving experience. If somebody imagines that vinyl sounds better than digital then it doesn't matter as long as they are enjoying the music. For me, driving a manual is (pardon the pun) automatic. My driving is 90% in town and I can shift 300 times during a trip and not even remember doing so. It really makes no difference to me if I'm driving an automatic or manual. If I had the money for a new Corvette, I'd buy an automatic.

[VictoryAtNight]

I have both of these shift knobs for my car and truck. They are very good quality and inexpensive.

[sk33tr]

right after i got my license, i taught myself how to drive a manual shift.

my mom and dad were gone in my mom's car and i decided to take my dad's car, '72 super beetle, down to the local middle school (less than a mile from my house) and teach myself. well, by the time i got to the parking lot there, i was fairly good with it. i wasn't grinding the gears or letting it slip or anything. i then went to the nearest hill i could think of and see if i could do an uphill start; did that just fine.

i used to own a manual shift quite a few years ago. and i rather enjoyed it until the clutch started going out and slipping.

and i've said for a long time, with thanks to my dad for putting this thought in my head, that everyone needs to learn how to drive a manual shift vehicle. there may come a day when someone needs your help in an emergency and all that is available is a manual shift and you have to drive it. so if you don't know how to drive one, find someone with one and ask them to teach you. they can be quite fun.

[Omegaice]

My last 4 vehicles have been a manual transmission including my '72 Chevelle. My next new car will be a manual as well, just enjoy driving too much to have an automatic.

[s2mikey]

Originally Posted by Dex Robinson

The imagined superiority of the stick is a misplaced nostaligc affectation. It's the same reason that people buy turntables. I expect the stick will die a slow but well-deserved death. I have great respect for the stick as I respect my old record collection...but it's time has passed.

So you may well be thinking, "Ah, the voice of a delicate little snowflake driving his mom's old Ford Taurus".

On the contrary, I have never owned an automatic in my life. I've driven several. Every few months I do drive my moms little Korean compact with an automatic. However, every car I've owned has had a manual and I still own three of them. I own the first car I ever bought (when I was 19): a 1976, 455 Trans AM with a Borg Warner T-10 4 speed. I own a '59 Corvette that a previous owner fitted with a Muncie M21 Rock Crusher. And I have my old Triumph convertible with the factory 4 speed.

[Show spoiler]

The reality is that modern automatics are fantastic. In most cases, they equal the fuel economy of manuals. They provide superior low end torque that usually makes them quicker off the line. Manuals don't provide any real advantage. Any preceived manual superiority is in the mind of the driver.

Of course, if somebody has convnced themselves that manuals are better, then there is certainly no harm in them enjoying the driving experience. If somebody imagines that vinyl sounds better than digital then it doesn't matter as long as they are enjoying the music. For me, driving a manual is (pardon the pun) automatic. My driving is 90% in town and I can shift 300 times during a trip and not even remember doing so. It really makes no difference to me if I'm driving an automatic or manual. If I had the money for a new Corvette, I'd buy an automatic.

Manuals arent "better" but they are subjectively more FUN than a flappy-paddle gearbox. Just took delivery last week of my 2022 Subaru BRZ Limited that I ordered in November of 2021. Its not my only car or daily driver so a six-speed in this is a 100% no-brainer.

You have no choice with a new Vette. You "get" the flappy paddle box. IMO, this what upsets car people. Its the lack of choice.... not that one transmission type is better than another. I can see valid arguments for both but rowing my own gears & handling throttle blips/rev-matching myself is worth it to me. I know.... the Computor can do it faster and better. Good for it. I dont care.

BTW - Here is my new toy!
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tyw...ew?usp=sharing

[BluRayTim]

Originally Posted by Batman1980

Never been able to drive a stick shift so the demise of that gearbox is just fine with me.

Me, too.

I already have too much trouble with an automatic.