Where's the clutch?

[PintoPlain]

I was 16 when I took my driving test, and back then you weren't allowed to take it in an automatic. And the toughest part of the test was that you had to stop on a steep hill, and start moving again without rolling back. A piece of cake in an automatic, not so easy in a stick shift.

I sat my test in NZ and a hill start was part of the driving test. I did that in an 87 Toyota Corolla with manual transmission. Back then if you sat your test in an auto, you were restricted to autos.

When I moved to Ireland and changed over, I was given an automatic only licence. Had to resit the test to remove the restriction. A hill start was part of the test here too.

 

[Keto]

Some of them. Has the cruise, most of the time I'm in the city so that will stay off. It does have a tattle tail camera, beeps and squaks every time you hit a bump or go around a corner.
Also has a warning buzzer that goes off every time you use a turn signal or the four ways, this is the most annoying thing ever invented! I don't believe it has the lane control warning?

And the hesitation, yea now you really need to judge distance on oncoming traffic if you make a left turn. The hesitation and going through 5-6 gears before your fully into the corner is kind of an unsettling experience.

And backing into a dock, oh my. 5mph in reverse? Slammed quite a few docks like a new guy yesterday. In reverse I tried feathering the brake with no throttle and the transmission would disengage, release the brake and back to 5mph. Talked with the mechanics when I got in about that.
So that's when they decided to show me a button on the dash you push for creep mode. Argh your kidding me?? They could have told me about that button before I left the yard!

All in the name of safety they keep telling me. WOW.

Aah yeah creep mode and most won't idle more than like 180 seconds. Nice technology , not so much, in my opinion.

 

[Rayotech]

Aah yeah creep mode and most won't idle more than like 180 seconds. Nice technology , not so much, in my opinion.

Yep!

 

[d_e]

My daughter passed her first driving test in a `96 Nissan PU with a manual transmission and no power steering. DMV person was impressed.

 

[The Knize]

I have been struck by how much increased longevity a manual transmission car has over an automatic according to Scotty Kilmer on You Tube. I can shift my own gears if it extends the life of my car by 100k miles, except you can't buy a modern car with a manual transmission.

 

[Doc4]

All the nanny systems proliferating vehicles today have not increased safety. Accidents and fatalities are up. Most of the stuff isn't that useful or safe. Wife jokes the car sounds like a moon lander when parking.

I like old-school cruise control (the kind that just sets a speed and holds it ... that's it ... not even breaking for you going down a hill) and I have become a real fan of back-up cameras. Other than that, I can't think of an actual improvement all those gadgets and gizmos have brought.

I have been struck by how much increased longevity a manual transmission car has over an automatic according to Scotty Kilmer on You Tube.

 

[Rhody]

Not a truck driver but drove manual most of my life. Switched to automatic around 2017. Just couldn't find decent vehicles with manual that were not base models.

Miss the control of the manual transmission, the connection with the vehicle, and the enjoyment of it.

Sane here. My experience is jeeps and sports cars
I had a dream recently about driving a stick and having fun at stop signs.

 

[DEgeezer]

I for one love the new smart cruise control that maintains the proper distance to the vehicle in front of you. On the freeway a while back I had the cruise control set at 65 when the cars in front slowed down to around 10 mph. And for the next couple of miles, for whatever reason we would speed up to 40 mph, then slow back down to 10, eventually going back to freeway speed. The whole time I was kept at the proper distance, never having to touch the brake or gas pedal one time!

 

[The Knize]

I pretty much like all the current electronic bells and whistles. I know that the automatic braking has come on with force to avoid me hitting a car stopped in front of me. I think it is likely that I would have stopped anyway, but I was pretty impressed. I love the warnings about cars in my blind spot. Certainly love the rear view camera, but the 360 degree camera, too. These days I am very lined up correctly in parking spots.

 

[ColtRevolver]

I am good with a clutch, carburetor, and crank down windows. The only luxuries I want is AC and a good FM radio.

 

[Hair Scraper]

If you're looking for a car with a manual transmission check out Subaru.

I bought a new '21 Crosstrek in January of this year. With the 6-speed anti-theft device you don't get all of the nanny electronics. This is the Premium edition and it comes with all of the usual safety equipment, and most of the convenience features, standard.

Because of the manual transmission (6MT) it comes with old school cruise control, hill assist start and DIY braking. Heated windshield wipers, mirrors and seats are standard. It does have one package on it that includes a feature I like, self-dimming mirrors.

For you kids that can't be totally disconnected from civilization, you can pay for a plan that turns the car into a 4G Hotspot, and Subaru's updated monitoring system, Starlink. Because this has the 6MT there are features that won't work with Starlink. (auto start, auto temperature, etc.)

I went through an Auto Club broker. The salesman at the dealer never knew the car was being delivered to the dealership, so I reserved it before it hit the pavement.

With a sticker of $25,500 it was $6000 less than a used '21 on Carvana.

 

[Rushman2112]

I learnt to drive when I was 19, passed first time, and that included a hill start in a manual. I hate automatics and will not drive one if I can avoid it. I had an automatic when I lived in Bangkok but it was a company car, and I had a driver most of the time. I did drive at weekends occasionally despite the horror stories about Bangkok traffic (it is pretty bad to be honest). I find the standard of driving here particularly bad and I feel a lot of that is due to there being almost no manuals, all automatics. The locals just jump in, stamp on the gas, stamp on the brake and repeat. They don't look further than the end of the bonnet - I was always taught to look at least 100 yards up the road. I sit in the back of a taxi, and can see the line of stationary traffic and brake lights coming on, the driver doesn't. Accelerate into a bend? Approaching a blind crest on a bridge?? Jump red lights??? 90% of the time here I take the MRT or bus.

 

[StillShaving]

Given the prices of new cars I keep hoping some manufacturer would produce a simple vehicle with a manual transmissions. I would like a basic 4 cylinder model like a late 80's or early 90's Toyota Pickup or Corolla. Just bring it up to modern safety standards. Don't need so many creature comforts for the daily commute or trip to the grocery store.

Manual transmissions are more fun to drive and I suspect they are slightly safer as they encourage the driver to pay more attention to the traffic flow to avoid extra shifting. Unless I buy a hybrid, I am going to try and find a manual non-sports car for my next purchase.

 

[galopede]

I'm 70 now and, being in the UK, have driven manual all my life. I have type 2 diabetes and have lost a lot of feeling in my feet. This was causing me problems with the clutch on my previous Volvo and I wasn't feeling the biting point and stalling frequently.

I bought an auto Renault Captur just over a year ago and haven't looked back! No clutch to bugger up! Last auto I drove was a Renault 5 about 40 years ago. Belonged to the wife. It was horrible! This modern Renault auto is a revelation!

Just about over pushing the non existing clutch and trying to change gear!

Never thought I'd say it but autos do have their uses occasionally. Now both my car and bike, a little 125 Honda PCX are auto!

Gareth

 

[oc_in_fw]

If you're looking for a car with a manual transmission check out Subaru.

I bought a new '21 Crosstrek in January of this year. With the 6-speed anti-theft device you don't get all of the nanny electronics. This is the Premium edition and it comes with all of the usual safety equipment, and most of the convenience features, standard.

Because of the manual transmission (6MT) it comes with old school cruise control, hill assist start and DIY braking. Heated windshield wipers, mirrors and seats are standard. It does have one package on it that includes a feature I like, self-dimming mirrors.

For you kids that can't be totally disconnected from civilization, you can pay for a plan that turns the car into a 4G Hotspot, and Subaru's updated monitoring system, Starlink. Because this has the 6MT there are features that won't work with Starlink. (auto start, auto temperature, etc.)

I went through an Auto Club broker. The salesman at the dealer never knew the car was being delivered to the dealership, so I reserved it before it hit the pavement.

With a sticker of $25,500 it was $6000 less than a used '21 on Carvana.

The latest iteration of the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) look pretty sweet. I’ve seriously considered a retractable hard top.

 

[RookieGuy]

When I drove a truck, it was an old Peterbilt with that big Caterpillar engine. Most fun job I had since I left the Army. I can't imagine trying to drive one that's an automatic. I can't imagine a scenario where I wouldn't want to be in control of anything.

My first car was an 88.5 Ford Escort hatchback (it looked like a foxbody Mustang) with a little 5 speed 4 banger. I was one of 10 people at my high school that could drive a stick 9 were car guys, and one girl whose dad bought her a Jeep. Between 1996 and 2016 every car I had was a manual transmission. When I got my Charger and it's an auto, my first. It took like 3 months of slapping the shift column to stop trying to downshift. I'll still stomp where the clutch should be in hard braking. Sadly, tye last standard transmission vehicle I'll own is my motorcycle.

A few years ago, friends invited us to stay at her beach house. We went out on jet skis. She's behind me on this aquatic liter bike as I'm having a blast carving around. After a bit, she lands forward and asks what I'm doing. Why am I stomping my left foot and flexing my left hand every time I gun it or slow down? Downshifting, obviously!

 

[ColtRevolver]

My first car was an 88.5 Ford Escort hatchback (it looked like a foxbody Mustang) with a little 5 speed 4 banger.

My first brand new car was a 1986 Ford Escort GT. It was a 1.9 HO with a 5 speed. I really liked that car. My next new car was a 1990 Foxbody with a 5.0 and 5 speed. I guess I like it. It's been with me 32 years...lol.

 

[demaro]

I drive a truck for a living , my last manual truck was a Freightliner ten speed , after that I drove a Freightliner with an automatic transmission, I now drive a brand new Volvo vnl 860 that mu bosses got for me , I have gotten used to driving an automatic, but there are certain things I miss with the manual , especially low reverse, also , I could always accelerate faster with a manual.but the reason everyone is switching to autos is because the fuel economy is so much better, it always shifts at ideal rpms, it is actually a manual transmission, but the computer does the shifting.

 

[demaro]

Sorry for the multiple photos, I tried to edit and remove all but one, but was not able to do so .

 

[Rayotech]

I drive a truck for a living , my last manual truck was a Freightliner ten speed , after that I drove a Freightliner with an automatic transmission, I now drive a brand new Volvo vnl 860 that mu bosses got for me , I have gotten used to driving an automatic, but there are certain things I miss with the manual , especially low reverse, also , I could always accelerate faster with a manual.but the reason everyone is switching to autos is because the fuel economy is so much better, it always shifts at ideal rpms, it is actually a manual transmission, but the computer does the shifting.View attachment 1548466View attachment 1548466View attachment 1548466

Nice looking rig there!
Well I'm starting to get the hang of the auto somewhat. The creep mode seems to only work backing up a real steep incline.
The part that's driving me crazy is the take off, 5 gears in 50ft is slow! Got to watch the intersections for enough time to get across.
Winter will be fun!