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I like manuals because..... - READ ONLY

39 messages,  Last post on Jan 08, 2013 at 7:35 PM

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Messages Page 1 of 4

#1 of 39 I like manuals because..... by KarenS HOST

Jan 27, 2011 (10:49 am)

...(fill in the blank.)

#2 of 39 Re: I like manuals because..... [KarenS] by ray80

Jan 27, 2011 (12:14 pm)

Replying to: KarenS (Jan 27, 2011 10:49 am)
Because it can add to the overall driving experiance if I chose it to. (also feel more comfortable in winter events, not that we have many here in the northeast)

#3 of 39 Re: I like manuals because..... [KarenS] by roadburner

Jan 28, 2011 (8:56 pm)

Replying to: KarenS (Jan 27, 2011 10:49 am)
I can select the gear I want when I want to- and I need not worry about whether a microprocessor is going to second-guess me.

#4 of 39 because they give you the ultimate control that no auto on earth can match by gimmestdtranny

Jan 28, 2011 (9:49 pm)

As Roadburner and Ray have mentioned, who better to be in charge of the right gear than the driver who can SEE, that all of a sudden traffic has slowed to a stop right as you were about to accelerate your auto hard to merge but then conditions changed? But guess what? Conditions changed again right away and you see your spot/lane where you can get into and leave the crumby mess of incompetence in your wake. In most new autos, you'd be left in no-go limbo for anywhere from a fraction of, to a few crucial seconds while the processor in the new auto tries to figure out "just what is it for sure do you want me to do?"
These processing delays are more evident in the newest autos because of the never-ending search of fuel mileage that can compete with fending off the parasitic losses that only an auto can exploit. Just a few of which involves torque converters that communicate (albeit slowly at times and aggressively at poor times) with shutting off fuel injectors and a host of many other engine and ESC computers, and often the worst decisions made at the worst possible times. All of that electronic intervention, can all be so easily avoided with a manual transmission. It gives you the type of control that is directly linked to your eyes/brain/feet/arm/hand etc. All actions that only an auto could dream of being truly in charge of with the predictable results that a manual in the right hands takes for granted only a few hundred or thousand times a day depending on the length and type of your commute.
 
So all that said, is there a place in the world for autos? Of course there most certainly is. Someone who has poor use of their left leg would be an ideal candidate. As would someone who drives 70% of all their miles in literal stop-and-go congested traffic. And certain other unique but rarer situations.
 
But with a manual, I like:
 
- I like the control of the car. Ultimate, unencumbered control of getting the engine torque to the road...and in all the different driving conditions and varied road surfaces...imagine the concept.
- I like how it forces interactivity with your vehicle that an auto, any auto, cannot begin to match.
- I like the less complexity than an auto. And lest you pooh pooh the complexity, consider the lack of sensors that can go bad, the lack of wiring connections that are prone to corrosion. Consider for a moment, how universally safer a manual is if you are in a car that has the infamous apparent SUA? For anyone questioning this, please cite even ONE example, (worldwide if you like) of SUA, with a manual transmission.
- I like the longevity potential in most well designed manuals.
- I like the lower cost to repair if and when it ever does become necessary.
- I like the lower cost of admission to purchase the car.
- I like the ability to provide more efficient fuel economy in the vast majority of the right hands and driving a manual properly than any auto.
- I like the lower weight of a manual.
- I like the fact that if another road user is using a manual, then they are in all likelihood a far safer driver to be sharing the road with, because, assuming they are not a manual and clutch-abusing user, actually get the relationship of friction to the road and what all is actually entailed by the engine and tranny to apply that forward or retarded motion of the vehicle.
- I like that with a manual, parasitic loss of torque pales in comparison to an auto.
- I like that i can bump or push-start the car with low battery gone bad.
- I like that I don't have to have the cost, weight or complexity of tranny oil cooling lines that tap off my radiator.
- did I mention ultimate CONTROL of the vehicle?
- at ALL times?
 
There are bound to be a few likes I might be forgetting, but I'm sure you must get the idea by now.
 
Open-minded converts invited.

#5 of 39 yeah, what he said! ;-) by nippononly

Jan 29, 2011 (12:28 am)

#6 of 39 Re: yeah, what he said! ;-) [nippononly] by steve_ HOST

Jan 29, 2011 (6:50 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 29, 2011 12:28 am)
Don't forget the one about the built in anti-theft deterrent since most crooks won't know how to shift a manual.

#7 of 39 Re: yeah, what he said! ;-) [nippononly] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 29, 2011 (7:52 am)

Replying to: nippononly (Jan 29, 2011 12:28 am)
I did forget to mention a prop for an auto but I guess I was covered when I said certain other rarer situations. But it occurred to me this morning that I didn't mention that special autos have been desired for certain types of racing. Mostly drag. But while I don't follow drags much, I wouldn't be surprised if even that use has been replaced with dual clutch type trannys, altho as quick as their shifting is, not sure if it is quite as fast as an auto. I know they do use air solenoid shifters at times (very common in bikes) but I'm not sure if longevity/$ becomes an issue with those on the really super high hp applications.

#8 of 39 Re: yeah, what he said! ;-) [steve_] by gimmestdtranny

Jan 29, 2011 (7:54 am)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 29, 2011 6:50 am)
Yes! Good one! I had forgotten about that one.

#9 of 39 Re: yeah, what he said! ;-) [steve_] by roadburner

Jan 29, 2011 (2:01 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 29, 2011 6:50 am)
Don't forget the one about the built in anti-theft deterrent since most crooks won't know how to shift a manual.
 
I remember reading about a case where 3 punks drove into a subdivision and decided to burglarize a house. When the police showed up they caught the driver but the other two kids got away. They were found a few minutes later sitting in the "getaway" car. It was a manual- and it turned out that neither doofus could drive a stick.

#10 of 39 Re: yeah, what he said! ;-) [steve_] by tallman1

Jan 29, 2011 (8:43 pm)

Replying to: steve_ (Jan 29, 2011 6:50 am)
I wish I had saved those stories I've read about where thieves couldn't figure out how to drive a stick. Too funny.
 
Of course, I agree with gimme's list a few posts ago. For me, the advantages of a manual outweigh autos by so much I can't believe that no one wants to buy them any longer.
 
If nothing else, when I test drove an I4 Accord back in 2006, I humored the salesman and took an auto out for a spin, then drove the stick. I couldn't believe the difference in quickness and response... especially after hearing about how "peppy" the auto was.

Messages Page 1 of 4

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