The "Decline of Manual Transmission"?

[tn350z]

I decided to get a 350z (red) after having "practical cars and trucks for my whole life. My wife said it must be a stick. She is sick of driving and automatic and drove a stick for most of her life also. We took the Z up the california coastline to Montery a couple of weeks ago and can't even imagine this car with an auto. The fun factor of shifting with some decent factory power and suspension would not be the same with an automatic. I'd probably want a minivan with an auto, just depends on the vehicle in the end.

[Don]

Originally posted by NewlyCarCrazy
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Unrelated Question: Is it true that manuals are less likely to be stolen? (if on an econobox or mid size)

Yes, it's true...even crooks are getting lazier.

I have to agree about the manual being better for perfomance driving, ESPECIALLY in a hot turn...do you really want an auto that could suddenly shift in the middle of a high speed turn and throw your car out of balance??

As for clutch wear, if you learn the art of "rev/rpm matching" there is very little wear on the clutch disc. My last car (a neon) was a 5 spd that I drove like a NASCAR racer. The car had 140,000 miles on the original clutch before I had a new one put in, and even then it was still good...even wear and about 1/8" of friction material left before the rivets would have been exposed.

[DSG Man]

If you enjoy going for a ride, I would say that an automatic is in order.

If you enjoy driving, a manual trans is the cat's meow.

A manual trans is more exhilerating.

[Matt97GT]

Originally posted by Don
Yes, it's true...even crooks are getting lazier.

I have to agree about the manual being better for perfomance driving, ESPECIALLY in a hot turn...do you really want an auto that could suddenly shift in the middle of a high speed turn and throw your car out of balance??

As for clutch wear, if you learn the art of "rev/rpm matching" there is very little wear on the clutch disc. My last car (a neon) was a 5 spd that I drove like a NASCAR racer. The car had 140,000 miles on the original clutch before I had a new one put in, and even then it was still good...even wear and about 1/8" of friction material left before the rivets would have been exposed.

neon's don't have the power and torque to properly destroy a clutch.

j/k


As a mustang owner....automatics should be made illegal.

[Lt1Corvette]

I really think it depends on the individual and where they live. If you look at the US, there are very few sticks. Where as in Europe, there are almost no autos. Also you have to look at what kind of driving you are doing. Do you commute a lot, or is it more of a pleasure car. I can say from experience, there is nothing worse than a stick on the 405 at 5pm (I was crying by the time I got home, no hydraulic clutch).
That said, next car I am going for a manual Trans. Ever since I learned to drive stick a few months ago, I love it. Since I am not one to eat in the car, talk on the cell phone, or listen to the radio, the stick would be a better fit with me. Then again, if the world goes the ways of the BMW SMG gearboxes, you get the best of both worlds.

[Newport Viper]

I don't think you will EVER see a Viper with an automatic.

[RamAirV1]

Originally posted by Newport Viper
I don't think you will EVER see a Viper with an automatic.

Not necessarily! Until now Dodge did not have a suitable automatic for the SRT V-10. But apparently now they do! I was at the Indianapolis Auto Show yesterday and they had a Ram SRT 10 Quad Cab with an automatic! I couldn't believe it when I looked in the cab and saw no floor shifter. I checked the sticker of the $53,000 truck and sure enough, it had an automatic.

So, you never know for sure! Now that an automatic is available that can handle 500HP, maybe they will offer it someday on a Viper.

RamAirV1

[Rick]

Adding to this, I think in comming years you'll see a lot more CVT (continuously variable tranmission) available. They are a lot more simple compared to a standard 4 speed automatic tranmission, which makes manufacturers happy because they're cheaper to build in quantity. And they also make the gap between a manual and automatic smaller as far as those fuel economy numbers. And heck, with the right design you can even eliminate the torque converter with them.