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Automotive News & Views The Future Of The Manual Transmission
5807 messages, Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 7:20 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Replying to: nippononly (Oct 09, 2008 1:53 pm)
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Replying to: nippononly (Oct 09, 2008 1:53 pm) Or maybe buy the actual WRX instead, and get the tried-and-true 3-pedal 5-speed (which is its only transmission choice this year)? So a real EVO and a Real WRX are simply imitation WRC cars? Then shouldn't a real EVO come with a real Paddle shifter? If we are getting "real".  Many moons ago I thought I wanted to be a motorcycle racer. I got a Kawasaki 750 Tripple, added rear sets and clip-ons and got a dust bin faring. Managed to get a sportsman racing ticket and thought I might want to move up. I asked a bike mechanic what it would take to turn my bike into a real racer, he said to take off the mirror and roll a race bike under it. Met Kenny Roberts at the old Ontario track and watched his practice for the pro races that weekend. It was my last day on a real track with what I thought was a real bike. It is always with interest that when in these debates we refer to testing done by R&T or C&D as they "race" the cars against each other. But when you mention how Paddle shifters have all but replaced all third pedals in the top racing cars we fall back on the practicality of a true manual. Seems there is a lot of wishful thinking here. And just after you complained about the new Yota 5 door Yaris and Toyota's choice of transmission. 
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Replying to: kyfdx (Oct 10, 2008 1:31 pm) And boaz, I didn't call the Evo "real" because it has a stick, I called it real because it has the full power and proper handling characteristics, whereas the Ralliart looks the part but is down more than 10% on power, and apparently down about 80% on handling if that article is to be believed. |
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OK folks, what's the largest car with manual transmission available to USA consumers today? Could it be the VW TDI Wagon ?  Largest by any metric: weight, cargo-volume, passenger-volume, passenger-count ... Also, same question but also including SUVs/trucks. ? let's say 2008 or 2009 model year, anything likely/possible to be on dealers lots now? Just a thought experiment here, nobody's actually *buying* new vehicles now but it's fun to talk about.
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Replying to: elias (Oct 12, 2008 4:23 am) |
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| Forgot to mention, when we pulled off of highway 25 onto 50 to get to my sons place in Colorado Springs we passed a station in Pueblo that had gas at $2.99. It may not last but believe me it was good to be on a vacation with the gas prices this week. My fuel bill will be about half of what it was last June-July. | |
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probably mid-size sedans like the Accord and Altima. The Porsche SUV does come in a stick. How big is a BMW 5 series now? May not even be as big as an Accord, although it is probably heavier. |
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I have been doing a long, nasty commute with my 4 cyl 5 speed Accord for the last 2 months. For those familiar with the Philly area, this means NJ to Valeey forge, so dealing with a bridge into Philly, the full length of the Schuykill expwy, and then down 202 to Malvern. About 43 miles each way, 40 of which qualifies as highway. Problem is, the highway is somewhat erratic as to movement, especially in the PM. The morning isn't too bad, just about 55-60 minutes regularly (as long as I leave home by 6:15). There are a couple of spots that still clog up, so I spend part of that time stop/go or creeping. PM is a crapshoot. I have made it in an hour, but more normal recently is 1:20 - 1:40. That is a lot of stop/go involved, broken up by short bursts of actual movement. The record so far is 2.5 hours to make the 44 mile return trip. Basically 35 miles in the middle of solid brake lights. That day my left leg/hip was a bit tired! But overall, the stick isn't really an issue on the normal days. It helps that the Accord has a nice light clutch so you hardly notice it. And in some ways, it is easier to deal with the traffic since you don't have to worry about the AT crawl. I am looking though at a different car, but at this pint largely because I want a wagon (just got a big dog that doesn't fit well in the back seat!), and am looking for an AT this time. Partly for the commute (at least you can shift position and keep from getting as stiff), partly so the rest of the family can also drive it (wife rusty, son never learned), but largely because everything I like only comes that way! but anyway, IMO the gotta have a AN for the commute is probably a myth for the majority of people.
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Replying to: elias (Oct 12, 2008 4:23 am) Assuming that you aren't talking about SUVs and crossovers, then the BMW 5-Series Wagon (i.e. the 535xi Sport Wagon with a 6-Speed manual transmission) is probably the car that best answers your question. Best regards, Shipo |
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Replying to: stickguy (Oct 12, 2008 9:15 am)
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