I own 4 cars and 3 have manuals on them. Having said that I have to agree that manuals no longer make sense. Technology has advanced to the point that automatic cars are more efficient, faster and more dependable. Furthermore with electrification around the corner further development of manual transmissions makes no sense. If you love manuals get an old car and enjoy your self but don't expect manuals to continue to be available in new cars fur much longer. It is a dying technology. And to those that feel like you are not "really driving" the car unless you are choosing your own gears I would remind you at one point advance was manual, lubrication was manual, you had to hand crank the engine, windshield wipers had 1 setting on/off. Technology evolved and all those driver functions became automated. I'm sure 1920's drivers think that we are not "really driving" our cars.
we are no longer operating the manual adjustments that 1920s drivers did... and it would be a hoot to drive a model T, I never have. Yes, timing advance, hand crank starting, choke, pressurizing the fuel tank, and moving the wipers, those are were the drivers job, no motors at all... that one speed wiper came later. I've seen the hand operated "wiper" and that's all it did, wipe. My 69 Dodge has a 2 speed wiper. A lot of improvements over the decades, but eliminating the fun of a stick shift, that's not an improvement to the joy of driving. You're correct on the automatic transmission being faster, efficient, and dependable (well, maybe, maybe not. That's something I would actually ask a transmission shop about before I take anyone's word on which design is more dependable, it probably has a lot to do with who made the trans, and which model.... a two speed stick? 3? 4? 8? there's a couple hundred or more transmissions that have been made, both stick and auto) and CVTs I disagree with you on the stick making sense.... it's subjective to the driver's enjoyment of shifting. It's fun. Unless you're stuck in traffic inching along, slower than 1st gear, and not downhill where you can gravity coast in neutral. I believe a general statement would be legit that sports cars are more fun with a stick shift. And yes, I love the manual, and do have an old car, and a newish car. My Dodge is a 1969. My Hyundai commuter is a 2015. Both are sticks. Both are fun to shift. The commuter might be more fun as that has less slop in the levers that move the various transmissions gear selectors. No, I don't expect manuals to be around much longer. That's a shame in that a sports car, is fun, and deserves the option so the driver gets more than point and push the gas pedal. If we want to be disconnected, we can just have someone else drive, take a bus, or a train. I prefer to be completely engaged in driving. Dodge the pot holes, grab a lower gear and nail it for more acceleration, push the turbo to work some magic... all of it
I suspect BMW is selling so few manual cars, that it actually costs more to make them. This can happen with extremely small production runs.
Buyers are willing to pay more because 1) it proves they're "purists" and 2) they know the limited production models will be rare, collectible, and more valuable in the future.
BLASTPHEMY!!
ReplyDeleteI own 4 cars and 3 have manuals on them. Having said that I have to agree that manuals no longer make sense.
ReplyDeleteTechnology has advanced to the point that automatic cars are more efficient, faster and more dependable. Furthermore with electrification around the corner further development of manual transmissions makes no sense.
If you love manuals get an old car and enjoy your self but don't expect manuals to continue to be available in new cars fur much longer. It is a dying technology.
And to those that feel like you are not "really driving" the car unless you are choosing your own gears I would remind you at one point advance was manual, lubrication was manual, you had to hand crank the engine, windshield wipers had 1 setting on/off. Technology evolved and all those driver functions became automated. I'm sure 1920's drivers think that we are not "really driving" our cars.
we are no longer operating the manual adjustments that 1920s drivers did... and it would be a hoot to drive a model T, I never have.
DeleteYes, timing advance, hand crank starting, choke, pressurizing the fuel tank, and moving the wipers, those are were the drivers job, no motors at all... that one speed wiper came later. I've seen the hand operated "wiper" and that's all it did, wipe.
My 69 Dodge has a 2 speed wiper.
A lot of improvements over the decades, but eliminating the fun of a stick shift, that's not an improvement to the joy of driving.
You're correct on the automatic transmission being faster, efficient, and dependable (well, maybe, maybe not. That's something I would actually ask a transmission shop about before I take anyone's word on which design is more dependable, it probably has a lot to do with who made the trans, and which model.... a two speed stick? 3? 4? 8? there's a couple hundred or more transmissions that have been made, both stick and auto) and CVTs
I disagree with you on the stick making sense.... it's subjective to the driver's enjoyment of shifting. It's fun.
Unless you're stuck in traffic inching along, slower than 1st gear, and not downhill where you can gravity coast in neutral.
I believe a general statement would be legit that sports cars are more fun with a stick shift.
And yes, I love the manual, and do have an old car, and a newish car. My Dodge is a 1969. My Hyundai commuter is a 2015. Both are sticks. Both are fun to shift. The commuter might be more fun as that has less slop in the levers that move the various transmissions gear selectors.
No, I don't expect manuals to be around much longer.
That's a shame in that a sports car, is fun, and deserves the option so the driver gets more than point and push the gas pedal.
If we want to be disconnected, we can just have someone else drive, take a bus, or a train. I prefer to be completely engaged in driving. Dodge the pot holes, grab a lower gear and nail it for more acceleration, push the turbo to work some magic... all of it
even predict what other cars on the road are going to do, look for flat tires, and vanity plates. I am busy out there
DeleteI suspect BMW is selling so few manual cars, that it actually costs more to make them. This can happen with extremely small production runs.
ReplyDeleteBuyers are willing to pay more because 1) it proves they're "purists" and 2) they know the limited production models will be rare, collectible, and more valuable in the future.
That said, if I bought a sports car it would have to be a stick shift.
DeleteWOW it's an automatic!........said no man EVER!
ReplyDelete