You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views The Future Of The Manual Transmission

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

What is this discussion about? Transmission

Messages Page 576 of 581 1 ... 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 ... 581 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#5749 of 5809 Re: best tranny [elias] by xwesx Oct 23, 2009 (10:47 am)
Replying to: elias (Oct 23, 2009 9:50 am) Reading all this about other manuals almost makes me jealous.   Given my background in learning to shift using "work" machines, I emphasize the "connection" to the machine. I like vehicles that allow me to feel the mechanics of the vehicle I am operating. Obviously, some isolation is good, but I cannot stand the feeling that my input is not necessarily connected to the machine. In other words, I like to feel how the vehicle responds to my input.   As such, I don't mind the likely rudimentary transmissions of my '69 Chevy C20 or '98 Escort. I tell them to go into a gear, I feel them do it, and they do it with reliable consistency. What gets me is a clutch pedal that is over-boosted (isolated) or a clutch plate that is too grabby when combined with said boosting.   I'm an odd duck, though. Anyone who knows me will confirm it.
#5750 of 5809 Re: Honda's new CRX under construction... [iluvmysephia1] by xwesx Oct 23, 2009 (10:48 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Oct 23, 2009 10:45 am) I like the overall body shape, but that front end reminds me of an anteater. Honda and Toyota seem to take pride in their hideous front ends, though, so I'm sure they are very pleased with this one.
#5751 of 5809 Re: Honda's new CRX under construction... [iluvmysephia1] by british_rover Oct 23, 2009 (11:01 am)
Replying to: iluvmysephia1 (Oct 23, 2009 10:45 am) You could get bot the original two door insight and the older Civic Hybrids with a manual. Replies to this message: nippononly (Oct 23, 2009 8:01 pm)
#5752 of 5809 Re: best tranny [rcarr7] by ateixeira Oct 23, 2009 (11:06 am)
Replying to: rcarr7 (Oct 23, 2009 9:30 am) You said notchy and reminded me of my wife's Mitsubishi Mirage, 1998 model IIRC.   That thing would clunk-clunk into gear. It was light, easy, but the noise and feel was not good. You never missed a shift but it felt loose, imprecise.   I'm not saying the S2k is like that, because it's pretty much the opposite.
#5753 of 5809 Best manual tranny by mariobgoode Oct 23, 2009 (11:19 am)
I vote for Audi. I'm not a mechanic or engineer. My wife and I only drive sticks. Our two daughters will not drive automatics after they learned how to drive a stick. Your experience may not be similar to mine. Enjoy what you drive. I don't mind waiting for cars I ordered to my specs.   Over the last 31 years, I have owned Japanese cars and German cars: a Toyota Corolla, Datsun 310, (before Nissan), 4 Audi's (5000S, 90, 2.7T, A4), Nissan Pathfinder SE, BMW 330xi, 2 VW Jetta's. I like the smooth-as-silk shift of the Audi which is consistent across the entire model lines, don't like my bimmer shifter which is a bit stiff, VW is fine. Replies to this message: steve_ (Oct 23, 2009 12:14 pm)
#5754 of 5809 Re: Best manual tranny [mariobgoode] by steve_ HOST Oct 23, 2009 (12:14 pm)
Replying to: mariobgoode (Oct 23, 2009 11:19 am) Fun thread. I don't have all that much experience. The worst was the '57 Chevy I learned on. VWs Bugs were fun, and iirc, were rather snick-snicky (more enjoyable than a clank, but I've never driven one that clanked).   My '82 Tercel was smooth, and half the time I would skip using the clutch. I can't really complain about the older Miata, the Fit Sport, Mazda3 hatch, Elantra Touring or Versa I've driven in the last six months. I was more attuned to the torque than the shifting on those cars. The Miata was the best, followed by the Elantra in that group.   The one that stood out for me was the Matrix. It was connected to a peppy 2.4l and while the position of the shifter looks odd, it was very comfortable and responsive and fun to shift through the gears.
#5755 of 5809 best to worst by qbrozen Oct 23, 2009 (12:37 pm)
Hmmm... out of those I've owned:   1. 350Z 2. '87 4-cyl 4runner 3. '85 300Z 4. '86 Alfa Spider 5. '06 Accord 6-speed sedan 6. '93 B2200 7. '79 CJ7 3-speed   I believe that's all the manuals.
#5756 of 5809 My turn by srs_49 Oct 23, 2009 (1:23 pm)
In order of acquisition:   1. '69 Camaro Z-28 2. '62 Rambler, 3spd on the column 3. '73 Fiat 128 SL 4. '74 Datsun 260Z 5. '82 Mazda 626 6. '92 Sentra SE-R 7. '87 BMW 325 8. '09 G37S 6MT   I really don't remember the earlier vehicles. I still have, and drive, the last three. I'm just getting used to the G37s so this opinion may be a bit premature, but the clutch feels a bit heavy and I'm having trouble adjusting to the friction point.   The BMW has almost 200K miles on it, and the clutch and tranny are still fine. Though between it and the SE-R, the SE-R's clutch is lighter and has a nicer feel to it, IMO
#5757 of 5809 Re: best tranny [shipo] by plekto Oct 23, 2009 (1:43 pm)
Replying to: shipo (Oct 23, 2009 6:12 am) I guess what constitutes the best tranny is subjective as I very much disagree with your list. I used to work for Mercedes-Benz and drove any number of their offerings, I've owned BMWs, Audis, VWs, and Mazdas, and have driven any number of Porsches, and so far at least, the tranny in the 1985 RX-7 was in a class by itself.   I did say that they were all in a group by themselves. Of course, there is subjectivity to take into account as well. Like how I just don't like how the VW gearboxes feel and work personally but the ARE very nicely made.   The best, though, was my old 1967 Mercedes. It had an odd setup where the clutch was basically an armature on a spring and at each end of the system were solenoids that engaged the system. Mind of like a SMT manual feel but with the pedal still in the mix. Even though it had an odd shifter on the column,(only 4 speed plus reverse like that I know of, as well) you could shift it with one finger. A nice push *click*(solenoid engaging) *tap* release motion. Needless to say I never had to replace the clutch while I owned it as it lasted as long as a typical SMT's clutch.   As an aside - that's my #1 gripe with the Smart Car as well. They have all the setup for this system already in place and yet have removed the gear selector from the setup(paddles work like the semi-automatic clutch if it has them), which defeats the entire purpose and fun of it all. It's got all of the bad issues of a manual and all of the bad issues of an automatic all in one nasty package. Replies to this message: rayainsw (Oct 25, 2009 5:52 am) oregonboy (Oct 25, 2009 7:18 am) andys120 (Oct 25, 2009 11:22 am)
#5758 of 5809 british rover... by iluvmysephia1 Oct 23, 2009 (6:48 pm)
You could get both the original two door insight and the older Civic Hybrids with a manual.   Huh, you mean the car website I sniped that Hon-Duh info. from is incorrect in their stating that the new Hon-Duh CRX under development is the first Hon-Duh hybrid with a manual tranny? I must admit in my scope of research or no research that Hon-Duh is not one of my favorites, baby.   In fact, they're way down the carmaker list for my faves. I do like that new CRX front end look. I don't like the back of it. Looks a tad too much hybrid Insight-looking.

Messages Page 576 of 581 1 ... 573 574 575 576 577 578 579 ... 581 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Automotive News & Views The Future Of The Manual Transmission