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Automotive News & Views The Future Of The Manual Transmission
5809 messages, Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 12:30 PM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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Here's some bad driving clips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxNZ1p13rJw&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JZmcUX-IsI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5FItiAxpUlI&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtB8F3ieHMM.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=segBM1Sh_qs&feature=related.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bf3TCCVnxic&feature=related.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QVWj8B-ueSk.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYOo2u9UPAU.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lUFBl-CVaDM&feature=related.... http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=1724081.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VA0aHEFCIHQ&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fInatX9uiCg&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e-x8F_SpSQ8 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H0c0PGXpJWs http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jzdkHKN0TU&feature=related# http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WypkzocFxXg http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Jy32d--R2A&feature=related http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VtcNB32HY2Q&feature=related\ Curious question would is would a person who was drunk say between .08-.15 be a better driver than some of these people in the various clips above. |
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3-pedal cars are on the rise! 
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 08, 2008 10:14 am) 1. Some people still buy them for performance, hence the high take rate on Mustangs and the new Camaro pre-orders. 2. You HAVE to buy the manual in some models to get the special high-fuel-economy trim. The new Cobalt XFE is that way, and of course the news item itself was spurred by the high level of interest that GM is suddenly seeing in manuals. 3. This is still fairly discouraging, given that it comes from Hurst: Nate Shelton, chairman of Hurst Performance Vehicles, doesn't disagree about stick shift's long-term potential, but says the brand has new life based on fond memories. "I think manual transmissions are probably not long-lived," he says. The shifter's appeal is mostly "buying them because of their nostalgia factor." I still say the manual will hang around in many sporty applications for the next 40 years (which is all I care about), especially among small-engined applications. And I bet it has at least 20 years to go in small commute cars. There, I am putting some hard numbers on it! 
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 08, 2008 10:20 am) But the rest of the market? Look - the main reason they don't offer it is that any mechanic can change a clutch or crack a case and replace a couple of worn gears. But replacement mega-matics with a dozen computers and so on in it are a golden goose to the manufacturers at $4000+ a pop. Porsche had the same problem for a while, though. They tried to swap it all for their tiptronic and it failed. But some person in a Camry or Accord? Get rid of the option and 99% of the people who fit the demographic to buy one will shrug their shoulders and get over it.
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 09, 2008 10:08 am) There I pretty much agree. Add to that the green factor and you see what the manual is up against. Automatics can be programed and people can't. Just about everyone that drives a manual loves to shift late to hear and feel the engine. I am sure there are a few exceptions but not many. So it is a combination of consumer preference, apathy, and government intervention that will make manuals a niche transmission at best. To put numbers to my prediction much like Nippon did his I think manuals will not be standard in any car in 25 years and will be offered as an option only. Sports cars will more than likely use that option more than any other type of car with the exception of real 4X4s. |
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 09, 2008 10:08 am) My understanding is that the serious rock-climber 4X4s are almost alll A/Ts because the slip provided by the torque converter comes in very handy when crawling over uneven terrain at weird angles.
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Replying to: andys120 (Nov 09, 2008 2:13 pm) Depends if we are talking serious or pro. If you are doing a lot of rock crawling and are using a second gear reduction system often a manual will work quite well. If you look at some of the pictures on my Carspace site you will see several rock buggies that have manuals. The goal is to be able to crawl by just using the brake and gas pedal and not touch the clutch. Most rock crawlers can run at a walking pace in the first two gears. Many serious rock crawlers like to be able to make repairs on the road and so they opt for a manual. But Pumpers have their place as well and rock crawlers are more interested in getting up the trail than what transmission you did it with. A great place to learn about rock crawling is Pirate4X4 message board. But be warned they are not the easiest people on newbes.
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Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 09, 2008 3:31 pm) I did run across an article this weekend, though, that mentioned that manuals were showing a rise since they do get better economy(and I'll add are a lot less to initially buy and eventually replace) and people are moving to smaller cars.
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 10, 2008 8:09 am) But I am not going to hold my breath for a large resurgence of manuals even in small cars. People simply can't drive them so they don't test them, in my area, and they aren't stocked. Even Isellhondas mentioned that fact. I told a story about going to a car wash early this year before I sold the PT and Focus. At the end of the line a young girl jumps into my PT and after about two minutes jumps out and goes running for an older hispanic guy who walks over and moves it to the drying area. Of all the people working at the car wash only two could drive a stick. To add insult to injury we spent the weekend at a big historic hotel in Riverside. When we went to check out we had to wait for the one valet who could drive a stick. But to be fair between the SUVs, BMWs, and Chrysler 300s they didn't have to drive too many manuals while we were standing there. |
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