You are here: Forums Sedans Toyota Corolla Why so few economy cars with manual tranny?

Why so few economy cars with manual tranny?

301 messages,  Last post on Aug 08, 2008 at 9:19 AM

You are in the Toyota Corolla Forum. Your Hosts are pat & karens

What is this discussion about? Toyota Corolla, Toyota Yaris, Toyota ECHO, Sedan

Messages Page 29 of 31 1 ... 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

#272 of 301 Re: Why so few Corollas, Yaris', and Echos with manual trannies? [Mr_Shiftr by lilengineerboy Apr 14, 2008 (3:04 pm)
Replying to: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 14, 2008 5:41 am) There no doubt about it, the difference in fuel economy between sticks and automatics is growing ever smaller. It may be that only the skilled driver knows how to get the best mpg out of a stick shift.   Oh I wasn't complaining about the mileage those cars were getting at all. I feel having a manual lets me get by with a smaller/less powerful engine than I could with a slushbox.   In other words, if you make the WRONG choices about shifting in a manual transmission, you might end with worse mileage than cars with these extra smart, extra efficient modern automatics.   I think if you drive like a grandma, the difference between a well driven manual and a sit-and-steer automatic are negligible. I think the differences show up when people drive in their more aggressive, natural way. I think driven "normally," a manual transmission returns better fuel efficiency than the auto (my '07 Accord stick gets considerably better real world mileage than my old boss's '06 Accord auto). Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 15, 2008 8:01 am)
#273 of 301 Re: Why so few Corollas, Yaris', and Echos with manual trannies? [Mr_Shiftr by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 15, 2008 (8:01 am)
Replying to: lilengineerboy (Apr 14, 2008 3:04 pm) That is very true and given everything else being equal, the stickshift driver will get better mileage---unless say the manual and automatic versions of the same car are geared differently in the transaxle, as was the case with the xA.
#274 of 301 Re: Yaris Hatch [bearcrkrd] by lhanson Apr 17, 2008 (8:40 am)
Replying to: bearcrkrd (Apr 12, 2008 11:16 am) The results for Echo are still published in Consumer Reports. They have been combined with the results for the Yaris.
#275 of 301 Re: manual tranny vs auto mileage [bearcrkrd] by mcmanus Apr 19, 2008 (2:20 am)
Replying to: bearcrkrd (Apr 14, 2008 11:17 am) I averaged 35 mpg with my 1989 Camry base 5M. Not the quickest car, but very smooth. Caught myself a number of times going 80 mph when I intended to stay at 70 (no cruise). The car cost $11k and felt very solid (not just tight like a good small car does today). Stupid me, I dumped it when it approached 120k miles and time for tune up, timing belt change, brakes, etc. The Camry's since have been too big (and too much like a Japanese Buick) for me taste. So when I looked for a replacement, the 2001 Corolla (generation 8?) only offered a 3 speed automatic, so I bought elsewhere.   If you check acceleration times between automatic and manual transmissions you'll typically find significant differences. Designers have traded mpg for acceleration. Civic for instance (according to CR) 10% better mpg in automatic than manual on the highway (5A vs. 5M) but does 10% worse overall. The automatic does 0 - 60 in 10.1 seconds versus 8.6 in the manual (a quite noticable difference). More gears that allow for higher top gear final drive ratios have allowed better fuel economy but there's still no free lunch (automatics being less efficient overall). Replies to this message: bottgers (Apr 19, 2008 8:12 am)
#276 of 301 Re: manual tranny vs auto mileage [mcmanus] by bottgers Apr 19, 2008 (8:12 am)
Replying to: mcmanus (Apr 19, 2008 2:20 am) I don't know, I think you'd hard pressed to beat the fuel economy of the auto with a manual in the Civic. Honda really did thier homework on that 5A. I'm a hardcore manual guy and I actually preferred the auto over the manual in the Civic, that's how nice it is.
#277 of 301 Why I bought a manual Matrix by circuitsmith Apr 21, 2008 (6:23 am)
I haven't read this whole thread so I don't know if this has come up. My main reason for buying a MT is theft deterrence. In my ~30 years of car ownership I've owned six manuals and two automatics. Both the autos were eventually stolen. We have a serious problem here in DC with teenagers stealing cars. Most of them don't know how to drive a stick.   My first car, a '76 Chevy Nova was totaled when the thief ran from the police. It was a dog and I didn't miss it. My next automatic was a '85 SEI Accord (the first with fuel injection.) I really didn't want an auto, but my Honda mechanic said they didn't make the SEI with a stick. One day it just disappeared from in front of my house and was never recovered. It had "the club", but I couldn't find the receipt. It was 8 years old and I only had liability insurance. Years later I spotted one for sale with a stick. Extremely rare. The spousal unit was adamant that I shouldn't buy such an old car. I was grumpy for a week.   Now I own an '88 Accord with 217K miles that I love, but the spousal unit says it's too low to the ground and smells funny, and an '06 base Matrix with the power package (I hate those body skirts.) Both are 5-speeds.   Both cars have delivered 37MPG driving on two lane highways of the Maryland Easter Shore at 55-60MPH. Replies to this message: Mr_Shiftright (Apr 21, 2008 7:12 am) irismg (Jun 03, 2008 4:36 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Jun 03, 2008 7:30 pm) circuitsmith (Apr 21, 2008 10:41 am) busiris (Apr 21, 2008 1:23 pm)
#278 of 301 Re: Why I bought a manual Matrix [circuitsmith] by Mr_Shiftright HOST Apr 21, 2008 (7:12 am)
Replying to: circuitsmith (Apr 21, 2008 6:23 am) You can save an enormous amount of gasoline driving at 55 mph instead of 70 mph, and using cruise control on flat or gently rolling terrain. I can vary my mpg a full 30% depending solely on how I drive. Replies to this message: irismg (Jun 03, 2008 4:36 pm) Mr_Shiftright (Jun 03, 2008 7:30 pm)
#279 of 301 Re: Why I bought a manual Matrix [circuitsmith] by circuitsmith Apr 21, 2008 (10:41 am)
Replying to: circuitsmith (Apr 21, 2008 6:23 am) Corrections:   Wife says the old Accord INTERIOR smells funny. And it didn't help when after I got the Matrix I loaned the Accord to a friend and he drove to the golf course smoking cigars in it.   And, that's Maryland EASTERN shore, not Easter. Replies to this message: busiris (Apr 21, 2008 1:23 pm)
#280 of 301 Re: Why I bought a manual Matrix [circuitsmith] by busiris Apr 21, 2008 (1:23 pm)
Replying to: circuitsmith (Apr 21, 2008 10:41 am) And it didn't help when after I got the Matrix I loaned the Accord to a friend and he drove to the golf course smoking cigars in it   Maybe you can return the favor by using his car to haul a load of manure for your garden this spring.   I would NEVER, EVER smoke in someone else's vehicle, even if the owner was a chain smoker...just common courtesy....
#281 of 301 Getting a Scion by dave594 May 10, 2008 (3:15 pm)
While finding a manual tranny in most econoboxes seem to be a problem as the dealers try to maximize profit, I was happy to find plenty of manual equipped car at the Scion dealer. I'll probably end up getting an xB with no options for about $15,400 including delivery. Since the Mazda dealer didn't want to deal for the Mazda 5, I'll end up saving $3k over what I would have paid for it. Only thing I'll miss is the 3rd row seats.

Messages Page 29 of 31 1 ... 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 Prev Next Last

Go To Msg # Search This Discussion

You are here: Forums Sedans Toyota Corolla Why so few economy cars with manual tranny?