An ode to manual transmission cars

[T & P]

I am guessing the end of ICE car production and the switch to electric vehicles is pretty much a death sentence for traditional manual shift cars, right? I know many or most automatic cars have a manual setting, but it’s just not the same.

I for one will miss manual transmission cars greatly. I am no boy racer but still prefer a manual if given the choice. Automatic transmission has got a lot better over the years (in the everyday inexpensive level at least, I’m sure it’s dandy on premium brands), but it’s still a poor second to manual.

From power to control to driving engagement, it’s just so much better and more enjoyable a driving experience, unless you do most of your driving in congested urban areas. Whenever I hire a car I always choose manual if given the choice.

Anyone else here who will also lament their seemingly inevitable demise?

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Bring back double de-clutching, I say!

 

[Raheem]

And hand cranking !!

 

[Puddy_Tat]

I have (in 30 years of driving) never driven a full automatic.

I have briefly driven pre-select and semi-automatic buses and wasn't that impressed, although didn't really have the time to get used to either.

Bring back double de-clutching, I say!

i have driven buses where you have to do that

and i did with my previous car - the synchromesh was unpredictable so it was simpler to assume it wouldn't. i did occasionally do gear-changes without using the clutch, but it only worked if i didn't think about it

 

[8ball]

i did occasionally do gear-changes without using the clutch, but it only worked if i didn't think about it

Same here. I never do it on purpose, but sometimes notice that I’ve just done it.

 

[T & P]

Let’s face it, most automatics that were anything less than a proper premium brand were positively awful at times in many cases. Wholly pisspoor when you needed it the most, leaving you struggling on a high gear for too long climbing a hill, or wasting fuel cruising at a lower gear for ages.

I also find it boring as fuck frankly.

 

[dessiato]

My driving is usually either 2 or 3 hour drives on motorways, or driving around town. An automatic does both of these as easily as a manual, but automatic is easier.

 

[pseudonarcissus]

Same here. I never do it on purpose, but sometimes notice that I’ve just done it.

And rental cars are there to practice on

 

[platinumsage]

Modern autos are so much better than manuals - more efficient, cheaper to maintain, better control and power delivery, and allow full operation of safety features such as adaptive cruise, not to mention enabling the driver to keep both hands on the steering wheel and freeing up mental space to deal with hazards.

The very notion of shuffling a stick and pedal to change gear is pretty laughable, and belongs in a world with hand-operated injector valves on steam traction engines.

 

[dessiato]

And rental cars are there to practice on

Fastest cars on the road, hire cars.

 

[Aladdin]

I've been lucky enough to have driven both over my driving life.

I recemtly ditched a hybrid automatic and went back to stick shift and I much prefer the stick shift.

Here is why.
The best car to drive up an icy hill is a stick shift. Because of the amount of control the driver has.
Ev automatic drivers just dont have that control. The car dictates; not the driver.

I'll be sticking with my new old stick shift for as long as I can. Its only a 1litre engine so it'll last for me.

 

[marty21]

I have (in 30 years of driving) never driven a full automatic.

I have briefly driven pre-select and semi-automatic buses and wasn't that impressed, although didn't really have the time to get used to either.



i have driven buses where you have to do that

and i did with my previous car - the synchromesh was unpredictable so it was simpler to assume it wouldn't. i did occasionally do gear-changes without using the clutch, but it only worked if i didn't think about it

I've never driven an automatic in 25 years of driving , I'll be sad to see the end of the manual.

 

[SpookyFrank]

Automatics are, ultimately, for people who failed their manual test five times aren't they?

I'm sure we'll lose manual cars soon as part of the general trend towards turning us all into brains in jars. As for 'freeing up mental space' I think the opposite is true, and having to physically do stuff like changing gear keeps you more focussed on what you're doing than just pressing the go button, setting the cruise control and then telling your digital assistant to play your classical chillout mix or whatever stupid shit people talk to cars for.

 

[Throbbing Angel]

Automatics are, ultimately, for people who failed their maunal test five times aren't they?

I'm sure we'll lose manual cars soon as part of the general trend towards turning us all into brains in jars. As for 'freeing up mental space' I think the opposite is true, and having to physically do stuff like changing gear keeps you more focussed on what you're doing than just pressing the go button, setting the cruise control and then telling your digital assistant to play your classical chillout mix or whatever stupid shit people talk to cars for.

Is the automatic only driving test & licence still a thing?

 

[SpookyFrank]

Is the automatic only driving test & licence still a thing?

Yes. The seem to have changed the rules recently to make it easier to drive something you haven't passed a test on, but there are still 'automatic only' licences.

 

[IC3D]

I wonder how many just do the auto test now compares to manual. I've really enjoyed manual but only on a nice nippy car, it's pretty tedious otherwise. My current auto is powerful enough to pull away but I wouldnt chose the gear it selects if it was manual, guess the gearbox will last longer

 

[Elpenor]

I have an automatic now, used to have a manual.

It was fun asking my American friends if they could “drive stick” in a wink wink nudge nudge manner

 

[Throbbing Angel]

I have an automatic now, used to have a manual.

It was fun asking my American friends if they could “drive stick” in a wink wink nudge nudge manner

" Yes. But only when I've had a LOT of poppers."

 

[DownwardDog]

A manual 991.2 GT3 is ten seconds slower round the Nurburgring than a DCT automatic. Game over, man.

 

[marty21]

Automatics are, ultimately, for people who failed their maunal test five times aren't they?

I'm sure we'll lose manual cars soon as part of the general trend towards turning us all into brains in jars. As for 'freeing up mental space' I think the opposite is true, and having to physically do stuff like changing gear keeps you more focussed on what you're doing than just pressing the go button, setting the cruise control and then telling your digital assistant to play your classical chillout mix or whatever stupid shit people talk to cars for.

I passed my test on the 6th attempt and love driving manual cars .

 

[Elpenor]

I passed on my third attempt but didn’t drive an automatic until 10 years later and 100k+ miles on manuals.

My worrisome left knee is certainly a lot better for not having to change gear constantly especially during urban driving. Was fine driving a manual hire van last year.

 

[bimble]

driving engagement

What actually is this what does it mean . You already said Power and Control so it must be something separate from those. Something to do with having to use your brain and hand endlessly clunking and scraping the gear stick around I assume which some men for some weird reason find pleasurable.

 

[SpookyFrank]

A manual 991.2 GT3 is ten seconds slower round the Nurburgring than a DCT automatic. Game over, man.

The Nurburgring does not feature in my commute at all tbh.

 

[Ax^]

only past my test about 8 years ago and will missed manual car when they go



Automatics just feel like golf carts to me :/

 

[SpookyFrank]

There are lots of steep and windy roads round here. The ones I drive often, I know exactly what speed, revs, gear changes I need and when. A car does not. A car cannot plan ahead.

 

[tim]

All this messing about with wheels, pedals and sticks is just a waste of time. Get a season ticket and snooze on the way to work and read on the way back, like I do.

 

[DownwardDog]

There are lots of steep and windy roads round here. The ones I drive often, I know exactly what speed, revs, gear changes I need and when. A car does not. A car cannot plan ahead.

The Rolls Royce Wraith (and probably others) does. It uses GPS and mapping data to optimise its shift strategy for the road ahead.

 

[Crispy]

I've never driven an automatic that was actually any good at choosing the right gear at the right time, but it's all irrelevant with electric so it won't be missed. Assuming regen is turned off, you can just take your foot off and put it back down again if you want Jerk.

 

[Ax^]

All this messing about with wheels, pedals and sticks is just a waste of time. Get a season ticket and snooze on the way to work and read on the way back, like I do.

ah fun untill you need to go to the shops and its pissing down at 8 pm a saturday

 

[Elpenor]

There are lots of steep and windy roads round here. The ones I drive often, I know exactly what speed, revs, gear changes I need and when. A car does not. A car cannot plan ahead.

This is a good point but I tend to drive in the slower lane these days if there’s a choice. I find my car (13 year old Mercedes) isn’t that bad at the gear selection.