The demise of manual transmissions? - Page 3

SteveJH · 18-11-2010, 12:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie muscle

i think motorsports will switch over to autos when they can be set up to be faster than manual. i think the only issue is power loss.

Like the DSG boxes in the F1 cars?

burnz · 18-11-2010, 12:24 PM

i've gone from a manuel to an auto and couldent be happier, in city traffic manuel they are becoming a chore..

the modern autos are superior for city day to day..

Streets · 18-11-2010, 12:30 PM

3vXT · 18-11-2010, 01:48 PM

Changing gears yourself won't keep you awake. If you drive a manual car, changing gears every day, it becomes so normal that you don't even think about it 99% of the time. I don't see how driving a manual will keep someone awake or be a pain in the but in traffic unless you have no idea what you are doing and have to consciously think about every gear change. If that seems like a positive attribute then good luck to you and everyone sharing the road with you

Also, i'll add that i've got a manual (BA XT). It doesn't make me more of a man or a better driver than someone that drives a car with two pedals. The 'i'd rather drive than steer' attitude belongs in the last century. What it really means is 'You're not really driving unless you have three pedals' which is pretty moronic really.

Rodp · 18-11-2010, 03:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by plarazza

Really?! I find if I'm tired driving auto is what I wouldn't want to do! requires less concentration and you can be more lazy( just sit there with one arm on the wheel and cruise control)

On the other hand manual keeps me more alert. More concentration required

Maybe others agree?

Having driven both for so long, I find the level of concentration needed for both boxes to be much the same in every day traffic. For the most part having to drive tired, again - most of your travel is done without the need to change gears. Never affected my alertness.

I did stuff my left shoulder that forced the sale of probably my last manual V8 and my left knee is grateful not having to spend 1.5 hours doing 15kph on a 'motorway'.

My favourite box was the DSG on my R32.

Dezza · 18-11-2010, 04:23 PM

Love driving the manuals. My manual EA is about 10x more fun to drive than my auto AU. I just feel more in control of the car and I love the whole mechanical feel I get from it.

vztrt · 18-11-2010, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Yaw

Been there done that. The little Mercedes A class has a manual with no clutch
Very weird to drive a manual without a clutch

I never understood these. Its about as ****y as sports shift.

dopefish · 18-11-2010, 07:44 PM

I prefer auto these days as I'm lazy and I only drive to get somewhere.

lance · 18-11-2010, 08:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FTE217

Re the US - having just done my 10th + trip being in customers cars and the like not 1 was manual, from Expeditions to large pick ups.
In fact reading recently a automotive journal whilst there 84% of the Nth American market is auto - what do you expect they want to keep stuffing their faces with fried chicken and over sized coke mugs whilst on the road LOL.....Whilst on it Asia is fast growing towards autos and as for EU yes 80% is manual but the trend is starting to Semi Auto's (self changing clutchless manual) at premium models and lower.

footnote : I'm a man - I prefer manual reminds of my growing up days in the late 70's LOL.....there's positives negatives for either.

Driving a manual while stuffing your face, now there's a life skill everyone needs to learn. Reminds me of high school days, driving back from the bakery at lunch, pie in one hand and coke in the other hand, mate changing gear for me as I was busy stuffing my face..

platinumXR · 18-11-2010, 08:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vztrt

I never understood these. Its about as ****y as sports shift.

platinumXR · 18-11-2010, 08:59 PM

Soft.

Auto's are for people who don't know how to change gears.

**DJM83** · 18-11-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lance

Driving a manual while stuffing your face, now there's a life skill everyone needs to learn. Reminds me of high school days, driving back from the bakery at lunch, pie in one hand and coke in the other hand, mate changing gear for me as I was busy stuffing my face..

had many a moments when i wasnt 'able' to change gear so i clutched and my mate changed

Ben73 · 18-11-2010, 10:10 PM

My Jeep is not manual or Auto.
It has 1 gear and never changes.
ITS ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would never recommend one.
Never buying a CVT again.

Franco Cozzo · 18-11-2010, 10:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ben73

My Jeep is not manual or Auto.
It has 1 gear and never changes.
ITS ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I would never recommend one.
Never buying a CVT again.

Nothing like the constant 4000 RPM drone of a CVT when accelerating..... lol.

**Silver Ghia** · 18-11-2010, 10:43 PM

Just want to say I've had my manual XR50 for over a month now, my left leg is alive again, it was slowly dying over the last 10 or so years while driving the AU then the BA. But I did have the other cars on the weekend to keep in practice in the meantime.

Whenever I say its a manual when I talk about the new car, they are most surprised. But I'm glad I bought it, happy again changing gears myself. And the fantastic fuel economy that I'm getting with it (9 - 9.5 lt/100km average) together with the great performance that it has. Although I did manage to stall it this morning (embarassing!!) when I was surprised by a biker that suddenly cut between me and the ute next to me just when the lights changed to green.

grandpa_spec_F6 · 18-11-2010, 11:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Manuals only exist for boy-racers, journalists and people stuck in 1967.

Don't get your nickers in a twist, just because your bone's are becoming too brittle to change gears doesn't mean you have to take out your oldie rage on the transmission

I thought you quite enjoyed driving my v8 no?

TheInterceptor · 18-11-2010, 11:55 PM

I dunno about anyone else, but i like being in control of my car as much as i can be.

And if my battery dies, i can push start the car to get me home or to the battery shop.

Meh...auto's and manuals both have their pros and cons...

XR Davo · 19-11-2010, 12:52 PM

just replaced my AU XR6 with T5 after 9 yrs of ownership. Bought a 09 FG XR6 with a 5sp auto. Didn't bother looking for another manual as I knew I'd probably never find one and wasn't cashed up enough to go to a new car. Plus I had heaps of issues with the old manual... cracked fire wall, broken pedal box, clutch cable binding up, clutch replacement every 60000k's. I do mostly city driving so thought it time to give myself an easy life with the auto.

flappist · 19-11-2010, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

I dunno about anyone else, but i like being in control of my car as much as i can be.

And if my battery dies, i can push start the car to get me home or to the battery shop.

Meh...auto's and manuals both have their pros and cons...

No you can't.

The engine computers need a battery to to boot up. You will have no spark nor fuel.

GTP-814 · 19-11-2010, 01:52 PM

I bet they would sell more manuals if there was a price difference of a couple of K, as I am sure manuals are cheaper to build

**Silver Ghia** · 19-11-2010, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XR Davo

just replaced my AU XR6 with T5 after 9 yrs of ownership. Bought a 09 FG XR6 with a 5sp auto. Didn't bother looking for another manual as I knew I'd probably never find one and wasn't cashed up enough to go to a new car. Plus I had heaps of issues with the old manual... cracked fire wall, broken pedal box, clutch cable binding up, clutch replacement every 60000k's. I do mostly city driving so thought it time to give myself an easy life with the auto.

I dont think those problems would happen anymore with the FG, having a hydraulic operated clutch. As far as clutch life itself is concerned, it depends alot on the driver and the usage, so I'll find out sometime in the future how it is with me. The last manual everyday car I had went for 185,000km before trading it with the original clutch still working fine, but I expect it a bit different with this car.

wrongwaynorris · 19-11-2010, 03:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nitro xr

I dont think those problems would happen anymore with the FG, having a hydraulic operated clutch. As far as clutch life itself is concerned, it depends alot on the driver and the usage, so I'll find out sometime in the future how it is with me. The last manual everyday car I had went for 185,000km before trading it with the original clutch still working fine, but I expect it a bit different with this car.

My FG is up to 100,000 ks with virtually no wear whatsoever on the clutch . I'll be ****ed off if I dont get 3 to 400,000 out of it . had a TF cortina that got up to 500,00 on the original clutch . Depends how you drive them , if you ride the clutch if you use it once on the move etc etc .

MustangNut · 19-11-2010, 03:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rancidpunx

This guy is on to it.

I think real men will be able to change gear themselves for a while yet.

Bingo !

The only two reasons to drive an auto would be if you either have chest puppies or are missing an arm or leg

glavas · 19-11-2010, 03:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wrongwaynorris

My FG is up to 100,000 ks with virtually no wear whatsoever on the clutch . I'll be ****ed off if I dont get 3 to 400,000 out of it . had a TF cortina that got up to 500,00 on the original clutch . Depends how you drive them , if you ride the clutch if you use it once on the move etc etc .

dear god why on earth would drive a car with that many k's on it? the thing would be a death trap. i always sell my cars when they hit 50000km which takes me about 5-7 years.

TheInterceptor · 19-11-2010, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

No you can't.

The engine computers need a battery to to boot up. You will have no spark nor fuel.

Not in my Subaru it doesnt. Does a carby and points need a computer to run?

Yes, push starting a new age car would probobly be quite foolish.

flappist · 19-11-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glavas

dear god why on earth would drive a car with that many k's on it? the thing would be a death trap. i always sell my cars when they hit 50000km which takes me about 5-7 years.

Ever ridden in a taxi or bus, they all have large odometer readings.

I suspect you probably do fairly often because you don't seem to drive very much......

Rodp · 19-11-2010, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TheInterceptor

And if my battery dies, i can push start the car to get me home or to the battery shop.

Maybe if your car was built last century.

glavas · 19-11-2010, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flappist

Ever ridden in a taxi or bus, they all have large odometer readings.

I suspect you probably do fairly often because you don't seem to drive very much......

cabs are death traps

never been in a bus

i was on a train once when i was a kid.

i drive about 170km a week. i live near work and i dont do anything in my spare time.

Yellow_Festiva · 19-11-2010, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by glavas

dear god why on earth would drive a car with that many k's on it? the thing would be a death trap. i always sell my cars when they hit 50000km which takes me about 5-7 years.

Death trap?? I would rather buy a car new and properly maintain it and keep it for how ever long I want it than change over a car every 50,000km, get hit with the depreciation etc.

Not all high km cars are old clapped out rust buckets. My first new car went past 205,000km in the 10 years I owned it, never missed a beat and was just as safe as when it drove off the showroom floor due to the fact it was meticulously maintained at or better than the log book recommendations.

Had it not been written off, it would be at 250-270km and I would not have any problems driving it alone or full of gear and people.

TS50 · 19-11-2010, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr Hardware

Yeah, manuals became superseeded technology when they came out with 5- and 6-speed autos that could beat them in a drag race and at the bowser.

Manuals only exist for boy-racers, journalists and people stuck in 1967.

Don't get me wrong, I've owned as many manual cars as I have automatic cars, and i've enjoyed the first couple of weeks of having a manual, but when i'm shifting gear 247 times in one suburb, i get to the point where i go 'get me back in to a bloody automatic!'

Maybe I am stuck in 1967 (mind you i was too young to drive then) or maybe a boy racer
but I love the manual
If I lived in a big city with lots of traffic jams, maybe not for a daily
But down here in Tassie, a manual is just perfect for little old me
And yes I drive new autos tooo, but just simply prefer to be in total control