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Manual Transmissions...

Tck13

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...Are they going to be a thing of the past in the next several years?
 

why

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In America maybe. In Europe absolutely not. For that reason I think it will always be possible to get manual transmissions on at least Euro imports.

Sport-shifts on cars like Subarus are really nice, though I've always wondered if they can give the same power boost as a manual transmission.
 

hhenryhhh

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My first car was a 6 speed. I really miss driving it. I definitely think it's a dying art in America and it's definitely a novelty for a lot of people.

I couldn't care less about how fast and accurately these new sophisticated automatic transmissions can shift (or the improved gas mileage), it's still not as fun as driving a little ************* and running through the gears on a nice open ribbon of road.
 
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Arthur PE

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for over 30 years I've only owned a manual, 4 speed, then 5, and onto 6
probably 800k miles or so
 

whiteslashasian

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First car was a 5-sp.

I miss it and the manual gear changing immensely. I have to say that if/when I have a family and move out of NYC I probably won't have the patience to change gears with kids in the car/etc on a daily driver or family mover.

Weekend or "me" car will definitely still be a manual.
 
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lefty

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Car I learned on had "three on the tree." That was fun.

lefty
 

Arthur PE

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my wife is one of the few (or vey few) women that drive a manual

my nieces call them '3 pedal cars', lol
 

GreenFrog

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6 speed here although my next car will probably be a DCT
 

lmaligaya

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I have been driving on manual since I was 16, about 9 years ago and I won't have it any other way if I can help it. Enjoy the manual trans while you can. I have owned an Integra, S2000, Forester, and 3 series wagon in stick. My current car is a X5 in speed manual. As long as the demand in europe is there, I think manual will be around for another 10-15 years. There used to be the argument that manual was faster, lighter, and less maintenance but that is not quite the case anymore with the current crop of DCT/SMG's.
 

username79

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I currently have all manual cars and enjoy them.

It used to be the manual was the faster option. Now with the current generation of DCTs the manual is slower. If all i cared about was going fast, I'd get DCT. The reason I enjoy driving manual so much is driving slow. There's nothing quite like a nice relaxed drive while getting every single gear change and rev-matched down shift perfectly correct and smooth.
 

whiteslashasian

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I currently have all manual cars and enjoy them.
It used to be the manual was the faster option. Now with the current generation of DCTs the manual is slower. If all i cared about was going fast, I'd get DCT. The reason I enjoy driving manual so much is driving slow. There's nothing quite like a nice relaxed drive while getting every single gear change and rev-matched down shift perfectly correct and smooth.


This. There is a beauty in knowing your cars performance and working it all out in your head and eventually have it become a subconscious and effortless action.
 

zippyh

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my wife is one of the few (or vey few) women that drive a manual

my nieces call them '3 pedal cars', lol


My wife's daily drive is a BMW M-Coupe.
It was hellish teaching her many years ago but she likes it now.
 

GreenFrog

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+1

Nothing like knowing how to rev match on a manual transmission.

Blipping the throttle and hearing the engine respond with a perfectly smooth downshift :drool:
 

KurtS90

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I strongly prefer a manual and always try to find one when car shopping... Very hard to do when shopping used in America. The few times I came close to buying new, a manual had to be special ordered.
 

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