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#4504451 - 01/21/20 05:35 PM Anyone still driving a manual transmission car  
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oldgrognard Offline
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I was talking with some younger people and found almost none are driving a manual and more than half never have.

I am still driving a manual; sort of.


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#4504455 - 01/21/20 05:48 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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I never learned. When I took driver's ed class in high school all of the cars were automatics and then I didn't even own a car until after I graduated from college.

To be perfectly honest, it's a waste to have a manual transmission car in the stop and go traffic congestion of Miami. The thought of constantly upshifting and downshifting is not my idea of fun.


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4504459 - 01/21/20 05:56 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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Arthonon Offline
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I drove manuals up until June of 2018, when I bought my latest Mustang with a 10-speed auto. I got the auto because it had better performance, and Ford made some changes to the manual that reduced performance. I sometimes miss the connection of shifting, but am trying to use the manual shift option in the auto more, which I find does provide similar control to having a manual, but it still doesn't use the third pedal, etc.


Ken Cartwright

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#4504460 - 01/21/20 05:57 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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semmern Offline
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
I never learned. When I took driver's ed class in high school all of the cars were automatics and then I didn't even own a car until after I graduated from college.

To be perfectly honest, it's a waste to have a manual transmission car in the stop and go traffic congestion of Miami. The thought of constantly upshifting and downshifting is not my idea of fun.


As a daily driver in traffic, an auto box is very nice. For a weekend fun car, a manual is a must. I am looking at an early 1970s Alfa Romeo 2000 GTV. A beautiful little two-door that is starting to gain popularity, and rise in price as well, unfortunately.


In all my years I've never seen the like. It has to be more than a hundred sea miles and he brings us up on his tail. That's seamanship, Mr. Pullings. My God, that's seamanship!
#4504463 - 01/21/20 06:09 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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I already know that when I finally make my first trip to Europe I’ll be mostly walking and using public transportation. I will not be driving since most of the cars there are manuals!


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4504464 - 01/21/20 06:13 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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I do every day.

#4504465 - 01/21/20 06:15 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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I have a 5 speed manual pick up truck as 3rd car.

It comes in handy.


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#4504466 - 01/21/20 06:16 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer

To be perfectly honest, it's a waste to have a manual transmission car in the stop and go traffic congestion of Miami. The thought of constantly upshifting and downshifting is not my idea of fun.


It's not as bad as you think. We learn ways to deal with the traffic and often involves staying in one gear along with engine breaking and distance management of the car in front of you. Knowing how to double clutch and heel-toe helps sometimes, also.

I feel the downside of heavy traffic is made up for in spades when you're on a nice winding road or driving on a race track. Way more fun with stick. smile

#4504467 - 01/21/20 06:32 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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Chucky Offline
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Panzer,I would guess that nearly all rental places here in the UK offer auto options.

In 2017 around 35% of all new cars here were auto.

I currently drive a 6 speed manual but would prefer auto any day.


EV's are the Devils matchbox.
#4504468 - 01/21/20 07:08 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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BlueHeron Offline
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Love driving a manual, especially in the snow. I find with automatic, the disconnect between me and the road is jarring. I can never get used to the fraction-of-a-second delay while the transmission "thinks" about what to do next.

#4504471 - 01/21/20 07:11 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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How would people be able to use their smartphones for texting and browsing the net if they have to have one hand occupied using a stick shift?



The horror....the horror...


“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4504472 - 01/21/20 07:14 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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NoFlyBoy Offline
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My father made sure we all knew how to drive a manual and parallel park before he send us to the driver's license office for our written and driving test.


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#4504473 - 01/21/20 07:16 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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I am. But only because it was an emergency car. My automatic car broke down on my way to work one morning and I saw this one on my walk back home. I was able to pay cash for it, get it insured, inspected, and registered the same day and only miss one day of work in the deal. Six years later I'm still driving it.

*edit*
Oh, and my bike is manual, too.

Last edited by vonBaur; 01/21/20 07:17 PM.

SALUTE TO ALL!
#4504474 - 01/21/20 07:27 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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rollnloop. Offline
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
I already know that when I finally make my first trip to Europe I’ll be mostly walking and using public transportation. I will not be driving since most of the cars there are manuals!


Most are still manual, but you should have zero problem renting an auto. Driving in traffic might be problematic since drivers are not always civil, but then I almost got killed by a maniac on a florida highway.

#4504475 - 01/21/20 07:40 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: BlueHeron]  
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Arthonon Offline
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Originally Posted by BlueHeron
Love driving a manual, especially in the snow. I find with automatic, the disconnect between me and the road is jarring. I can never get used to the fraction-of-a-second delay while the transmission "thinks" about what to do next.

One of the things I like about the auto in my Mustang is that I can shift with the paddles. It has two modes, Drive and Sport, and both can be fully automatic, or with Sport, you can make it manual only, so it won't shift until you tell it to. Even with in Drive mode, you can control the shifting temporarily, and that's helpful to get around the transmission having to "think." If I'm driving down the highway and a car is going slow and I want to downshift and go around, just a few flicks on the downshift paddle and I've dropped a few gears and can get right around them. You don't have to punch the throttle and wait for the transmission to figure out it needs to downshift (although in sport mode, it's pretty quick at figuring that out).


Ken Cartwright

No single drop of rain feels it is responsible for the flood.

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#4504476 - 01/21/20 07:55 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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NoFlyBoy Offline
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I was at the GM dealership once to drop off my SUV for regular scheduled free maintenance.

It was 7 am and there was a line that long at the service bay.

All the service advisers were standing around doing nothing: not even checking in the many waiting customers sitting in their vehicles.

What was the hold up?

There was a vehicle at the front of the line that has already been checked in but it was blocking the bay.

It was a manual and no one knew how.

They were on the PA asking any employee who knew how to drive a manual to go to the service department:

body shop people, parts people, office people, sales people, someone come move this.

Not one person showed up.

I finally had enough of the bull and go into that car and I moved it to the closest parking space.

One of the adviser yelled at me: Sir! You can't do that!

I answered: Well, none of you EXPLETIVE were doing it and none of you knew how.

By the way, You are EXPLETIVE welcome!

p.s.

it was one of those Vette with a 6 digit price sticker.


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#4504477 - 01/21/20 08:01 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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The only time I'd want a manual anymore is if I'm in a vintage sports car on an open road, or offroad.

Heck, I even wish motorcycles came with dual clutch transmissions.

#4504478 - 01/21/20 08:05 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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PanzerMeyer Online centaurian
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PanzerMeyer  Online Centaurian
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At the current rate, knowing how to drive a stick shift will eventually be about as outdated as knowing how to use a shoe shining kit. wink

Last edited by PanzerMeyer; 01/21/20 08:07 PM.

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4504480 - 01/21/20 08:13 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: PanzerMeyer]  
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Originally Posted by PanzerMeyer
At the current rate, knowing how to drive a stick shift will eventually be about as outdated as knowing how to use a shoe shining kit. wink


Give it another 15 years and manual driving period will probably be limited to ageing holdouts.

#4504482 - 01/21/20 08:18 PM Re: Anyone still driving a manual transmission car [Re: oldgrognard]  
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I'm an ageing holdout... I will never own or want to drive an automatic.

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