Stick shifts, obsolete?

[Habana Mike]

Obviously manual transmission is way more fun. It gives a lot more control cornering or braking (reducing gear when necessary). However, try to drive daily for an hour-commute in the traffic. It gets pretty boring clutching from neutral to first so many times after a while...

Not only that, but 20 years of driving stick, a good half of that in bumper-to-bumper, is really tough on the knees.

Wilkey

I have to agree with you here. While I do love a stick, commuting in DC and then the Atlanta area (2 0f the top 5 worst for traffic in the US) was getting very wearing.

I admit I went full automatic for a few years. Back to being able to control my own RPMs now

[LGC]

In the US... yes it is. We are lazy. When I was looking for a used car, I wanted a 6-spd manual sedan with a V6(Japanese). I found the one I bought, and 1 other one... that wasn't German or a coupe.

[TM-US]

I think that if you're into cars, you have to own a car with a proper manual- not a dual-clutch, paddle shifted car.

Most cars these days don't have heavy clutch pedals. If I can deal with NYC rush hour traffic with a stick, anyone should be able to.

Now if you're talking about a big truck or something like a classic 911 with the cable operated clutch, that's a different story.

There's nothing like shifting through the gears with a classic Ferrari with the gated shifter.

[Fuzz]

Please tell me that's your wife's car?

Nope. The Merc is mine.

[LeafLover]

Bought my son his first car a beater with manual transmission for his first car. I think every man should know how to drive a stick shift as well. Plus will train him for when he buys his first sports car.

[mk05]

Stick shifts, obsolete?

How dare you. We are no longer friends

[Colt45]

I don't think they're obsolete, but for me, with the reality of day to day driving, I really don't miss dealing with a clutch.

[laficion]

There are more Manuals then Auotomatics here in Europe and It's a good thing.

[ramon_cojones]

Worst trend ever, manual guy for life here. Learned when I was 15 and driving ever since, through the worst traffic imaginable on the 405 and never regretted it for a second.

[PaulP]

About 6% of new cars sold in the US are manual. Most US drivers prefer to steer instead of drive.

[Nino]

About 6% of new cars sold in the US are manual. Most US drivers prefer to steer instead of drive.

Pretty sure it's exactly the other way 'round here in Germany - manual rules !

You even have to pay a hefty surcharge for an auto ....

[ramon_cojones]

that's how it should be!

[LGC]

In the US, most don't value the driving experience... but rather comfort, convenience, and appearance.

[Habana Mike]

Pretty sure it's exactly the other way 'round here in Germany - manual rules !

You even have to pay a hefty surcharge for an auto ....

It's at least $2,000 more for an auto here too - one of the reasons I bought my son's car with a manual. That and he needs to learn to drive one!

[nikesupremedunk]

I think both auto and manual are appropriate for different occasions. I wouldn't want to drive an S class with a manual gear box, nor would I want to drive an s2000 with a 4 spd slushbox. Things get a little tricky when you get to cars like the e92 M3 where the dct transmission is not your standard "auto", although I think I would still choose a 6mt.

My first car, a 240sx was bought with a 4 spd auto. I hated it so much, and wanted to learn manual so bad, I did a manual transmission swap and it became a 5 speed. I remember the car changing completely, where it became a whole lot more exciting to drive (once I mastered it). Right now, I have a automatic 335xi and have a love/hate relationship with it. The auto on it is great, but many times I wish it were manual. My next car is definitely going to be manual again.

[pacman41]

Horses for courses. Autos became favoured by city taxi owners in Oz decades ago, a Sydney cab owner telling me an auto box would outlast 4 manual boxes. Subsequently, I became a courier owner/driver and learned that using the brake pedal was far more economical than using the gearbox. Overhaul and repair a manual box, or replace brake shoes/pads, hone cylinders, etc. Brakes win hands (sorry, feet) down. There again, absolutely love driving my Alfa Selespeed 156 in manual mode, even if there is no clutch plate to burn out.

Cheers

PC

[ramon_cojones]

lol if you're braking with your clutch you're doing it wrong

manual boxes easily outlast auto trannys if you know what you're doing

-signed the manual for life guy

[zathan]

Pretty sure it's exactly the other way 'round here in Germany - manual rules !

You even have to pay a hefty surcharge for an auto ....

Sadly, the 991 gt3 only comes with paddle shift. It makes my purist heart bleed a little. Heel/toe and perfect rev match while downshifting under hard braking, is a rewarding feat in itself.

[mk05]

Heel/toe and perfect rev match while downshifting under hard braking, is a rewarding feat in itself.

Amen

[Paneotto]

I will always have at least one manual car in the garage.

[LGC]

Three on the tree... the ultimate driving experience!

[MIKA27]

I have always driven manual vehicles and love them however my latest car is automatic for a couple reasons;

1) I drive to work each day, traffic here in Melbourne CBD is crazy, constantly STOP/GO, STOP/GO... so automatic is a far greater option versus changing gears every few seconds. On average it takes me 1 hour to get to work which is only 15Kms away!

2) My wife doesn't know how to drive manual so on the rare occasion I have a few too many drinks, I have her drive us both home.

I think manual/stick shifting will be a bygone era and sadly because the streets are becoming heavier with traffic.

Nothing beats driving a manual vehicle. It's cheaper to buy, has more power, can be roll started if you break down and is a great deal more fun overall.

Great topic.

[dan5974]

I'm a manual guy for life.They are definently dead in the US.I drive a 2013 Elantra with a 6 speed every day.When I bought it in June the dealer only had 2 manual cars on the lot(out of about 250 cars).This will probably be the last time I can buy a new car with a manual.It aggravates me that most cars are not available in stick.Especially some big name sports cars(I'm talking to you Lamborghini & Ferrari).Imagine that awesome gated shifter is now a thing of the past.I think real irony of the decline of the manual is the way it may shift the collector car market.Where as now stick cars command a slight premium now,in the future autos might command a premium due to the fact that not many people will know how to drive stick.