Manual Shifting, A Dying Technology

[Rick]

For many decades I have driven both auto and manual. The old autos that used simple fluidic logic were tolerable. They were repeatable enough that you could learn to fully control them with just throttle position. When I began to encounter electronically controlled autos I lost all tolerance for them. They are following their own plan and you are a mere suggestion. It's the same loathing I have for the throttle-by-wire system in my Yaris. In delicate low-traction driving situations it's a seriously irritating handicap.

Autos have their place, but that's not in my vehicles. It's a pity that the modern mindset is that we must all sink to the level of the least competent among us, even in transmission choices.

One thing an auto-trans simply can not do, while a human controlling a manual-trans can handily do, is anticipate. Sometimes that's key.

All in all, automatic transmissions are a limitation I will likely never voluntarily choose.

[Aothachos]

auto is boring to me, i would've had more fun driving my car as a manual :(, i could careless if theres traffic

[1stToyota]

I once drove my 5-speed Mustang GT through Carmel Valley. I think I would have had a little trouble with some of those turns if I would have tried to keep up in an auto. Probably not as obvious in the Yaris but I noticed that the auto xD felt pretty lame taking some of the same corners as my manual Yaris.

[Cosmonaut]

Coming from a driver whose mustang was once auto and then manual( yes, i swapped it). i have to say that manual is just soooooo much more fun to drive. im not talking about performance or anything like that but the feeling of banging gears is awesome.

[Yaris Hilton]

So is the feeling of dialing a real rotary phone!

[darkmoon87]

Originally Posted by Yaris Hilton

So is the feeling of dialing a real rotary phone!

oh boy i remember those days lol

[tomato]

^ me too. And you got a live operator at the other end, never got transferred to India or anything ;)

[tomato]

(not that I have anything against ppl in India )

[STC]

Originally Posted by tomato

^ me too. And you got a live operator at the other end, never got transferred to India or anything ;)

And you never owned the physical phone... leased through the telephone company! No RJ-11 plug...

I feel old...

[SilverBack]

Looks like there's one more reason for some of us to keep our Yarii.

And I think if they phase-out cars with manual trannies in the future, then at least aftermarket manuals should be offered at lower prices. Otherwise it might not sit too well with us serious drivers, especially those of us who are trying to move-up to track racing. Besides I'd never never wanna waste my time ever again with another automatic, or take a chance with a tip-tronic, paddle-shifting, whatever... If it doesn't have a stick on the floor (or collar) with a clutch peddle, then I don't want it. That's all I'm gonna say.

[CtrlAltDefeat]

I love my manual. Even the best designed auto saps power. On a super car like a Ferrari it's not really an issue, but on tiny cars, with tiny engines (like Yari), a manual is almost necessary. When I bought my Yaris brand new (first new car ever owned) I refused to compromise on that 1 point. Autos are no where near as fun to drive. I learned to drive a manual from my best friend and video games if you believe it. I was quite rough on my first manual, but I got a lot better, and now driving an auto feels weird. I hope I can get a manual in what ever my next car is (assuming it's gasoline engine powered, you know about Toyota reliability lol)

[IllusionX]

btw.... i drive a smart for work. That thing has a 6 speed automatic manual transmission..
ie, a real automated clutch and a real... automated manual transmission.
it doesn't feel bad to drive. it shifts when it hits past redline, so it's possible to keep it at the redline for a long time.

perhaps feels like a 40hp Ferrari. lol

[tomato]

Originally Posted by IllusionX

btw.... i drive a smart for work. That thing has a 6 speed automatic manual transmission..
ie, a real automated clutch and a real... automated manual transmission.
it doesn't feel bad to drive. it shifts when it hits past redline, so it's possible to keep it at the redline for a long time.

perhaps feels like a 40hp Ferrari. lol

I don't think so

[Rain]

I'm hoping they're still around by the time I save up for a new car.. I want my next one to be manual :D

[IllusionX]

tomato: lol it's the first model too... so turbo diesel.. i love spooling that turbine.. starting at 1800rpm :P

[IllusionX]

Originally Posted by PK198105

redline at 3300?

i think it's around 3500rpm..

off topic, but i don't know if you ever seen those double length bus (the 45 that goes from downtown to Brossard) When i was younger, i used to sit up front, watching the cluster.

that thing reved from 500 to 1200rpm and had a 2000rpm redline.

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by CtrlAltDefeat

... and now driving an auto feels weird.

It does. How many of us have reached for the non-existent stick or tried to stomp on the non-existent clutch pedal when entering an automatic?

[CtrlAltDefeat]

Originally Posted by Altitude

It does. How many of us have reached for the non-existent stick or tried to stomp on the non-existent clutch pedal when entering an automatic?

allllllll the time lol *stomp* stomp* oh wait no clutch to press when you start it...