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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: plekto (Oct 21, 2008 7:01 am) In fact, I usually drive my manual equipped 4x4(not a SUV) without using my brakes for miles at a time. An automatic, otoh, will gladly drop into overdrive and lose all engine compression the second that it can. It's exactly the feeling that you get when you are going up a hill on a roller coaster. That second or so where the thing releases from the cable and there's nothing holding it back from rolling forward. I find it actually a bit disconcerting. Not so fast. Even in heavy traffic with the 330xi slush box, I hardly ever hit the brakes. In fact, after 43K miles, the brake pads are at least 50% and the rotors smooth as a baby's b--t. If you know how to use engine revs up and down the band, you can control this car just as well as a m/t. I never loose compression! I also never hold a cellphone because I am addicted to Bluetooth. Best option ever! Regards, OW
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Replying to: circlew (Oct 21, 2008 12:28 pm) But I think what plekto is trying to get at, and if so I heartily agree, is that people trained on automatics DON'T know how to use engine revs up and down the band. In fact, the limit of most automatic drivers' vehicle control skills is "GO", "STOP", and "GO BACKWARDS". They are unaware the car has any more controls than that. No manual driver, by the very nature of the manual, could be that ignorant of the car's controls, or methods of using the powertrain to control its movement. And I am certainly able to talk on my phone and drive my manual shift car at the same time. Since the advent of the new law banning its use, I do so....less (  ), but it isn't like a juggling act or something. I think people who are unfamiliar with manuals think it's this massive juggling act where you need every finger, every toe, and every brain cell just to keep up with what needs doing, but in reality it's nothing like that. It's second nature after you have been doing it just a little while.
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Replying to: nippononly (Oct 21, 2008 4:55 pm)
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Replying to: plekto (Oct 21, 2008 5:06 pm) You really should have to certify on a manual for your driver's license. After that, if you want to go with an automatic, it's your choice. |
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So if we can agree that the manual tranny is a great idea for a minority of the American buying public (aka "niche market"), and we agree that it is a non-starter for most others, then can we look at a different focus for the discussion? Can we all agree that manuals will be around, and talk a little about where (or if) we see them evolving? For instance, some of us (not me, really) remember when "three on the tree" was the norm, and "four on the floor" was the hot new thing... Somewhere in there came the 1:1 ratio, overdrive, etc... now we are up to the six speed being everywhere. I don't claim to be enough of a gearhead to go on about different final drives etc etc, but I sure might enjoy learning something... I know that I'd probably "retro engineer" some trannies - as an example, my primary driver could afford losing 1st and 6th gears - first is really short, and 5th is fine as a top gear. Any merit to any of these thoughts? I'm simply looking for ways to make (keep?) this particular conversation interesting. |
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Replying to: ny540i6 (Oct 22, 2008 7:40 am) I like having 6 gears as long as 6th is a very tall gear for cruising the highway at 2000 rpm or so. Problem is, in many manuals sold today, it isn't. Indeed, in some cases it is almost as short as 5th, and in the case of some small-engined, 4-cylinder cars, the engine turns at 3000 rpm or more at 65 mph in 6th gear. They should give the car one granny gear for good highway mileage and lower noise at those speeds. There are still five others for acceleration. As for your comment Can we all agree that manuals will be around unfortunately we CANNOT all agree on that, as I'm pretty sure (although I won't speak for him) that boaz and a couple others think the manual is ultimately doomed, although they have not given us a timeline for when its ultimate demise will be.
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Replying to: ny540i6 (Oct 22, 2008 7:40 am) Launch control would make launching easy for even unskilled drivers - floor the accelerator, raising revs to a preset number, and dump the clutch for a quick launch. My favorite feature, no-lift shifting, would have the engine automatically cut throttle despite flooring the accelerator while you quickly kick the clutch and shift gears, safely cutting shift times by a decent bit. Oh, and the engine can be programmed to hold boost for one second while shifting on turbocharged cars, such as the new Cobalt SS. Fun stuff.
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| .. would be overkill given the broad torque peak of modern engines, but quite doable with a second shift case (anybody remember the old old Mitsubishi Colt?) Six short gears for the city and loaded/sporty driving, and a taller set of six gears for the open flat highway via a second speed in a transfer case. | |
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Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 21, 2008 6:52 am) Even outside of stop and go traffic, any situation with frequent braking such as city driving with lots of stop signs and turns can induce the cramp. I could go against normal practice and brake with my left foot, but then what's the point of driving an automatic?
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Replying to: razorasdf (Oct 22, 2008 9:15 am) What indeed?! 
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