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Automotive News & Views The Future Of The Manual Transmission
5777 messages, Last post on Nov 07, 2009 at 8:06 AM
You are in the Automotive News & Views Forum. Your Hosts are steve_ & claires
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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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Two and a half years ago my business partner and I launched a new business, and in the name of fiscal conservatism, we shed our expensive toys, my 2002 530i 5-Speed included.  That new business has since failed (in no small part due to the down-turn in the economy) and we have some debt to pay off, however, none of that prevented the Caravan I was driving from getting older and older and older, and with the old girl on the down slope to 200,000 miles, I started shopping for a new ride a couple of months back. After driving every economical car I could think of, I'd pretty much settled on a new Rabbit 5-Speed, unfortunately MK5 Rabbits have been phased out of production and the MK6 models won't start hitting our shores until next summer or fall, and that means buying from what dealers have in stock. So? Well, after weeks and weeks of patiently waiting for my local dealers to find a 5-Speed model and saying "No thanks" every time I was asked, "Are you sure we cannot interest you in a car with an automatic", I switched to "Plan-B". Last Monday I traded the trusty old Caravan in on a new 2009 Mazda3 i Touring 5-Speed, and geez is it good to be able to stir my own gears again.  This new car is double good news as both of my kids will be getting their driving licenses in the next couple of years, and they're both itching to learn how to drive a stick. Best regards, Shipo
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Replying to: shipo (Nov 24, 2008 11:37 am) Regards, Jose |
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Replying to: shipo (Nov 24, 2008 11:37 am) I almost almost bought a 3s 5-door when I got the Matrix, but the better fuel economy and larger back seat of the Matrix swayed me. The Mazda3 was the better drive between the two though. I'm just glad both are still offered with the stick, as will the updated 2010 Mazda3.  That was a hell of a concession you made when you started your business.....don't know if I could have done the same. |
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Replying to: nippononly (Nov 24, 2008 12:18 pm) As for the new business, the goal was: BMW 530i, PP, SP, 5-Speed ==> 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8 (for no more than one year) ==> BMW M5 (and/or a nice 911). The reality turned out to be: BMW 530i, PP, SP, 5-Speed ==> 1998 Dodge Grand Caravan 3.8 (for three and a half years and some 90,000 miles) ==> 2009 Mazda3 i Touring Value Edition (for the foreseeable future). Oh well, you pays your money, you takes your chance.  Best regards, Shipo |
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Replying to: shipo (Nov 24, 2008 1:15 pm) The Honda dealer has a 5 speed Fit in stock and they let me take it home overnight. It's fun having the stick around. I did stall it out a mile from home trying to start out in 3rd from a stop sign. 
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Replying to: shipo (Nov 24, 2008 1:15 pm)
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Replying to: shipo (Nov 24, 2008 11:37 am) Congratulations! Enjoy (as if. . .). Sorry to hear of your business reversals, but I certainly envy your opportunity to enjoy your new ride on the backroads of New England, schedule permitting. Did you ever try a TSX 6-speed? I'd appreciate your opinion of its manual relative to the the you've got. I enjoy it; it's by far the slickest FWD manual I've ever driven, but I haven't driven a Mazda3.
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 24, 2008 2:33 pm) It's almost like I'm having to relearn how to drive a stick all over again, I mean, geez, this car is the lowest powered car I've bought since my 1982 Audi GT Coupe, of course it's also the car with the best fuel economy I've ever had. Best regards, Shipo |
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Replying to: boaz47 (Nov 24, 2008 3:38 pm) Given the model change-over that the Golf/Rabbit/GTI is currently in the midst of, I'm not sure that my failure to find a 5-Speed Rabbit is an indicator of anything other than the fact that the remaining manny-tranny versions have been snapped up first. Regarding the Rabbit vs. the Mazda3 comparison, believe it or not, the Rabbit easily trumps the Mazda3 in driving dynamics, however, the Mazda has much nicer creature comforts and better fuel economy to boot; so the two were pretty much a draw with the VW ever so slightly edging out the Mazda to make it to the top of my short list. Apparently my rankings aren't unique as there are at least two recent economy car comparisons that I've come across that ranked the Rabbit #1 and the Mazda3 a very close second. As for liking the M3 better, over time, I rather doubt that, however, since the Rabbit didn't find its way into my garage, I guess I'll never know.  Best regards, Shipo |
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Automotive News & Views The Future Of The Manual Transmission
