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The Future Of The Manual Transmission

5807 messages,  Last post on Nov 26, 2009 at 7:20 AM

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What is this discussion about? Transmission


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#5103 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [ny540i6] by ateixeira
Oct 23, 2008 (10:02 am)
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Replying to: ny540i6 (Oct 23, 2008 9:39 am)

OK, so it's not 120 steps, but rather just 30 or so.
 
Ya got me.
#5104 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [ateixeira] by tallman1
Oct 23, 2008 (10:21 am)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 23, 2008 9:07 am)

The latest version of the cramp posts started as my reaction to all the comments here and elsewhere about how awful a manual is to drive in traffic because you would get leg cramps in your left leg. That argument seems a bit silly to me because no one ever complains about right leg cramps with an automatic.
 
Well now we've heard from someone who has experienced those cramps and I'm sure that there is someone who actually got them in their left leg with a stick too.
 
However, I was just trying to make a tongue-in-cheek point that a leg cramp was a pretty weak argument to avoid using a manual in traffic.
#5105 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [tallman1] by ateixeira
Oct 23, 2008 (11:05 am)
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Replying to: tallman1 (Oct 23, 2008 10:21 am)

Gotcha.
 
With a stick, the problem is more in terms of wear-and-tear to the joints. Knees especially.
 
I guess it's the opposite - with an auto your legs don't move, with a manual your legs move constantly.
 
My mom had to give up manuals due to her arthritis plus worn cartiledge on her left (clutch) knee.
#5106 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [ateixeira] by razorasdf
Oct 23, 2008 (2:04 pm)
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Replying to: ateixeira (Oct 23, 2008 9:07 am)

Lol, I didn't actually expect to see all that written out!
 
I'm not arguing that a manual is easier to drive, simpler in number of steps, or less fatiguing. Just saying that I'm a freak that cramps with an auto but not with a manual because of how each is driven. Arguing with me doesn't change that, not sure why we're still on this topic.
 
By the way, shifting to neutral isn't all that useful when you have to move forward every several seconds... With all these workarounds you might as well have three pedals instead of two!
#5107 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [razorasdf] by plekto
Oct 23, 2008 (2:43 pm)
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Replying to: razorasdf (Oct 23, 2008 2:04 pm)

I shift to manual when I have to come to a complete stop as it's just me pressing on the brake and not holding the clutch in while stopped.
#5108 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [ny540i6] by p0926
Oct 23, 2008 (2:59 pm)
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Replying to: ny540i6 (Oct 23, 2008 9:39 am)

Shift from first to second as above....
  
Run second all the way up to 50 mph....
  
Shift to sixth....
 
Just Kidding

 
Why, there's something wrong with that? When I want to get moving quickly but don't want to exceed the speed limit that's exactly what I do. I very seldom run thru all 6 gears in a row.
 
-Frank
#5109 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [p0926] by ny540i6
Oct 23, 2008 (3:36 pm)
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Replying to: p0926 (Oct 23, 2008 2:59 pm)

Nope... nothing wrong with it. I was just poking fun at the absolute literal nature of the previous post.
 
I mean, depending on where I am I do a lot of "1-3-5-6" shifting myself.
#5110 of 5807
Re: Left Foot Cramping [ny540i6] by p0926
Oct 23, 2008 (4:02 pm)
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Replying to: ny540i6 (Oct 23, 2008 3:36 pm)

This actually points out yet another advantage of driving a manual... the ability to instantly select any gear. Even with a manumatic, you're forced to step thru every gear
#5111 of 5807
Re: OK, how 'bout this? [nippononly] by boaz47
Oct 23, 2008 (7:33 pm)
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Replying to: nippononly (Oct 22, 2008 9:27 am)

"Well, when I say "ultimately", I'm thinking of the next 20-40 years, or within the lifetimes of many of us here, in cars in the U.S."
 
Thanks for not assuming what I might say but I agree pretty much with your estimate. And you know me pretty well by now. Like I said many posts ago I believe MB will be the first in the US to stop offering manuals. . You said you thought Toyota. But if the economy doesn't recover or if fuel goes back towards 5 bucks a gallon the ball game could change. If the US moves hard towards hybrids or something like them then the manual could pass from our shores even sooner. If fuel stays low or under 4 bucks then maybe hybrids will slow down.
 
I have also said the manual has a better chance of holding on if we turn clutch control over the the car computer. With a sequencial computer clutched manual then 7 or more speeds would not be anymore of a problem than it is with a automatic.
 
The idea you had about having to be certified in a manual is cute. You know there are more new drivers getting a license a year than there are manual drivers in our county? So who would buy the manuals to certify the new drivers on? With our state budget it sure will not be the state. With so few families owning a manual the only other choice would be to rent a manual. But here in southern California they don't even offer drivers ED so who would teach the kids to drive?
 
Do I agree that sports cars will be the last niche of the three pedal H pattern manual? Yes, it sounds like they might be.
#5112 of 5807
Re: OK, how 'bout this? [boaz47] by p0926
Oct 23, 2008 (8:39 pm)
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Replying to: boaz47 (Oct 23, 2008 7:33 pm)

You know there are more new drivers getting a license a year than there are manual drivers in our county?
 
That's a great sound bite... too bad it isn't true

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