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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: elias (Nov 06, 2009 9:30 am) Automatic is 16/21, btw - it's all about that 6th tall gear for highway cruising, evidently. The Camaro is basically the same type of engine/transmission combo and it gets better MPG because they've de-tuned it to 300HP vs 350 or 400.(which is still way more then enough to be honest) All three are awesome cars to drive, though. I mentioned the GTO and the CTS because you can find mint condition ones still around for half the price of a Camaro.
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Replying to: plekto (Nov 06, 2009 2:48 pm) The new EPA ratings estimate the GTO mileage more realistically - you can go to fueleconomy.gov to see that. And yes you are spot-on about the tall 6th gear for the highway mpg - the M6 gto/monaros get far better highway mpg than the A4 cars (A4s were officially "gas guzzlers"). And the GTO is fantastic to drive, no doubt. A pal of mine just bought a used 05 M6 with low miles and is driving it Boston to Denver currently. Your comments about the Camaro V6 seem rather misinformed. You say the camaro V6 detuned from 350hp or 400hp to 300hp? That's wrong on more levels than I can count, man! We aren't talking PorscheV6 motors here. The camaro V6 hp was actually *increased* compared to previous GM V6s with same block - such as G8 v6 - this was thanks to enhancing theV6 to have Direct-Injection or some sort of more-modern fuel-injection. cheers and happy Holden motoring to ya - and did ya know that Many of us GTO dudes remove some or all the GM markings from their GTOs and install authentic down-under Holden badging/panels/bumpers/marker-lights?  Also, I must agree with your comment about 400 hp being more than enough. I often run mine on 87 octane just to take away a few percent of the crazy power & torque. Many other GTO modify their LS2s/LS1s to get >400 hp at the rear wheels too! I'm not sure if 350 hp is more than enough, actually, but am considering the 300 hp stickshift V6 Camaro nonetheless !
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Replying to: elias (Nov 07, 2009 6:42 am) Evidently the big deal with all three as far as MPG goes is driving style, since they all three get horrible city ratings. So stomping on it off the line can easily drop the city rating to 10-12 mpg. And these cars without a doubt encourage heavy-footed driving.  Yes, I've seen the re-badged versions and they do look better. As does removing that silly rear wing piece they tacked on. My money, though, personally, goes for the CTS because it's a bit smaller and more agile and the 3.6 is a fantastic engine that gets good MPG and performance. It's not nearly as powerful as the V8s in torque, but there is no lag or peak to it either thanks to it having VVT. It pulls like a diesel engine through all rpms and is very predictable to drive as a result. It may only have ~250HP, but it uses it as efficiently as a typical Honda or BMW engine. Go test drive one as well - there should be plenty of 2006-2007 certified models for around $20K. (original sticker for it said 17/26/20, and it does get slightly better mpg overall than the GTO from what people report(or that I could find online quickly - heh)) Other than those three, well, there's pretty much nothing other than stuff like the Mustang, which is a fine machine until you get in a corner. Or sit in it - it's a hideous interior to be honest. Oh, and the rear seat will make you lose friends quickly. And good luck seeing out the back...  *edit* my only gripe with the Camaro is this as well - bad rear visibility compared to the GTO(with the rear wing piece removed, it's good) or CTS(which is merely OK). I think it's because they did too good of a job replicating the original Camaro's look and feel. You do sit very low in the car. |
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2011 Buick Regal To Come With Manual Transmission (Straightline) Not a joke. Really. I think.... 
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 19, 2009 2:11 pm) I don't know about an Opel, but a typical GM is about as sedate of a drive as there gets.
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Replying to: xwesx (Nov 19, 2009 3:02 pm) 
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Replying to: xwesx (Nov 19, 2009 3:02 pm) Exactly what you don't want if you desire a sporty vehicle. The power to weight ratio, the lack of off-the-line torque, turbo-lag, and front wheel drive... Ick. A cheap Camaro is by far a better vehicle in that case. Or even a used CTS. 3400lbs+ and a little 2.0 turbo engine isn't going to be very good unless you flog the bolts off of it. http://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/car/09q1/2010_saturn_aura_2010_pontiac_g6_20- 09_opel_insignia-mini_test_road_test **quote** The weight shows in the car’s performance—even the 2.0-liter turbo engine is only adequately quick and not outstanding **** Auto review translator reads: Slow as a dog but we can't actually say that we loathed it. It's a detuned version(why?) of the engine put into the Cobalt SS. Just with 500 pounds added weight.  Due to that extra weight, it gets the same MPG as the Cobalt SS, but is almost 3 seconds slower in actual 0-60 tests(not manufacturer "estimate" but stomp on it at a drag strip type test) A Buick GNX revision this isn't... |
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"If all sticks were this good, everyone would drive one." Manual Shifters Everyone Would Drive (Edmunds Daily)
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good choices. I have owned and driven a lot of different sticks, and I am pretty flexible with the shifter itself (never really had a bad one, other than the deisel International ryder truck. That was like a broom handle in a buck of rocks and oatmeal, with a completely fried clutch). The ones I disliked, however, were due to the clutch. The 1992 Subaru Legacy (FWD) wagon? Shited OK, but the clutch was way too stiff. 1 hour in traffic, and my left leg quivered. The 1991 626? All day stop and go, no problem. My current accord is like that too. I do like some of the RWD (and better FWD) linkages though. My Miata really was like a rifle bolt or toggle switch almost, but the clutch was kinda stiff, but not an issue since I never sat in traffic with it. A couple of the Volvos I tried over the years (S60) had pretty lousy clutches too. More like an on/off switch without much feel. |
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Replying to: steve_ (Nov 20, 2009 7:53 am) 
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