Habana Mike Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Just bought my son a new car. Went for a manual transmission since 1) it's a couple $K cheaper, 2) every man should be able to drive a stick, and 3) I am cheap (see #1). Anyway, showing him how to drive one, and talking with his friends about their experiences, I learned that few if any of the younger generations have ever seen, let alone tried to drive a car you actually have to shift gears in by hand. Clutch? What the hell's that?!?!? Sure, your high-end sports cars must be sticks but I'm talking about the everyday pedestrian basic car one uses to get around town..... Anyone else think the stick's pretty much gone by the wayside? I can tell you it's tough to find one!
oliverdst Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Hello, Mike, Here in Brazil most of us drive manual transmission cars. Of course almost all of them have the automatic option but different from USA where the usual is automatic cars here we have transmission as the usual. I think both have pros and contras. You have much, much more control of the car with stick cars. You have much, much more confort with automatic cars. There are other differences and there is no right answer for this question but I think you did the right choice for you son, at least at his age.
Marker Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Put an analog clock in it and you will have made the car undriveable and he will have no idea what time it is.
oliverdst Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Oh, and answering your topic title question: yes, they are obsolete.
khomeinist Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Only obsolete given silly luxury trends towards A.I. driving experience. A Mazda3 with manual is a great budget option. Zoom zoom mofos
rckymtn22 Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Nope, I have no plans of buying an automatic. Hate driving them.
Fuzz Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Definitely not obsolete. You get better throttle control with a manual than an auto any day. Yes, I drive an auto now, but I started out on a manual and still enjoy driving manual whenever I get the chance. In NSW, if you learn on an auto, you are restricted to driving an auto for the rest of your provisionary licence period until you get a full licence. Besides making you concentrate on driving, a manual also keep your hands busy and away from your mobile (the use of which whilst driving is illegal to all P plate drivers anyway).
ramon_cojones Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 So tired of this trend, you can't even buy a bloody gt3 with a manual anymore.
khomeinist Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Love GT3s If you love driving, using your brain, etc, a manual is a beautiful thing.
polarbear Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 A lot of Aussie Manufactures dont offer base model cars with a manuel trans anymore Autos are better for fuel ecconomy but i still prefer my manual
ramon_cojones Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Love GT3s If you love driving, using your brain, etc, a manual is a beautiful thing. Even on manuals they're incorporating auto throttle blips on downshifts and the stupid trend of bmw and porsche piping in engine sound into the cabin needs to stop.
Tan1801 Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 I think as strictly a form of transport, yes manuals are obsolete. For those that enjoy driving, manuals are a very crucial part to the driving experience. I love manual cars and am frustrated that there are many cars I would love to someday own with the exception that their auto only. My last car was my first auto car and it was great in peak hour, but horribly boring otherwise. I have learnt that I really do enjoy driving manuals.
khomeinist Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Even on manuals they're incorporating auto throttle blips on downshifts and the stupid trend of bmw and porsche piping in engine sound into the cabin needs to stop. The 2014 WRX STI looks tasty
Marker Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Learned to drive in a 3 speed international box truck at age 12 on the farm. Grain has to get to elevator somehow. Then it was the Honda 75 motorcycle. Took my drivers test in a manual. Got married and my wife had no clue how to drive one. Such a shame.
ramon_cojones Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 The 2014 WRX STI looks tasty indeed, my buddy just got a gallardo in manual because it was his last chance at owning a manual exotic i've yet to drive it though
Fuzz Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Wasn't impressing the ladies with my current ride because it is an auto... So I'm gonna get myself a proper manual transmission vehicle....
Tan1801 Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Wasn't impressing the ladies with my current ride because it is an auto... So I'm gonna get myself a proper manual transmission vehicle.... Sounds like a good plan .
ZinZan Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Wasn't impressing the ladies with my current ride because it is an auto... So I'm gonna get myself a proper manual transmission vehicle.... You can pick up chicks, a whole farm of them. To answer the question, i still find the relevancy of a manual transmission but for city driving is just much more easier with an auto.
Smooth Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 I love munual... Haven't had one since 2005 First love was a 1985 Porsche 944 manual. Not fast but handled like a go kart. Still get sad when I see one in good condition. Second was my R33 GTR, the sound , the feel , the flames from the straight through exhaust on downshift... I miss that feeling! Should never have sold either of them...
Hiroshiro Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 My RX must have Stick shift. Its not a vacuum cleaner if it doesn't!
Philprop Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 They're easy to find here, but usually only in sports cars and small to medium sized sedans. I had a 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer as my first car a few years ago, got it in a standard transmission. Absolutely loved driving that car! Loved the car in general, couldn't get it stuck in the snow even if I tried. It's one of only a few regret I have in not keeping it. Needed to upgrade to a bigger rig so I couldn't ow a camper and haul around larger items for renos and what not. So went with a F150 with Ecoboost engine. Definitely love my truck but still wish I had the lancer to burn around in for fun. I don't necessarily think they are obsolete though. Although a lot less vehicles offer stick shift any more. Hell, I've noticed less acne less sportier cars going around town that are stick shift. Can't get a full size pickup in stick, or full size sedan.
hanhan Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 In asia, manual is still very common. I myself drive a manual but that's because its a 4x4 vehicle that sees mine site duty as well. Recently had a look at a diablo with a steel H pattern shift gate... sexy!
bolivr Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Love driving manual. But since autos have come a long way, even the humble Commodore blips downshifts in sport mode, plus the sort of driving I have to do then a manual is hard to justify. Plan to get a play car one day. The original Miata MX5 for instance had a ripper manual shift.
Styler Posted October 17, 2013 Posted October 17, 2013 Obsolete, no way. We get a lot of snow here in Scotland and a manual gives you so much more control. Plus they are fun to drive and can be more fuel efficient than an auto if you know what you're doing. If you're into performance cars then an automatic is often counterproductive as they are set to shift up too quickly so you lose out on a pretty big chunk of the cars available power. Then there's the increased service/repair costs. I'd go as far as to say that you can't drive a car if you can't drive manual.
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