International Young Naturists Organisation
General Talk (primarily non-naturist) => The Hobby Hut => Topic started by: brandon on August 24, 2010, 03:00:24 am
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The editor of Car and Driver magazine bemoans the disappearance of the manual transmission (i.e. a stick shift with a clutch pedal) and cites this as one of the reasons only 30% of U.S. 16 year-olds bother to get a driver's license. (2008 data)
He suggests that if driving were more fun, more 15 and 16 year-olds would put aside their computer games and sign up for driver training.
Of course there are some other issues, such as environmentalism, insurance cost, parental permission, etc.
In many parts of the country, there really aren't many jobs available for 16 year-olds. Traditional jobs for teenagers such as lawn mowing and burger flipping are generally done by illegal immigrants, and the recession pushed many adults into retail jobs once filled by teenagers.
Aside from all that, can you drive a stick shift? Fortunately it is perfectly flat where I live, so it's easy enough to learn. Unfortunately, in stop and go traffic, the fun wears off pretty quickly.
As far as longevity goes, if you buy a used car with a standard transmission, it's almost a given that it will need a new clutch soon, and probably a throw-out bearing, maybe a clutch cylinder if it's hydraulic, and quite possibly some new synchros or gears in the transmission.
Although hot weather and deep water prematurely kill a lot of automatic transmissions around here, in theory, an automatic transmission should last several hundred thousand miles without problems.
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Aside from all that, can you drive a stick shift? Fortunately it is perfectly flat where I live, so it's easy enough to learn. Unfortunately, in stop and go traffic, the fun wears off pretty quickly.
I learned in a Mountain Chain (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Appalachian_Mountains) which doesn't deter anyone from sticking dangerously close to you in steep slopes.
Maybe you should have added a geographical component to your poll, in Europe (or at least in France) there is a price difference that incites people to go toward manual because it's cheaper. In North America, it's completely a personal preference issue.
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Is there a price difference just in the cost of the vehicle, or also in the annual registration fees?
Even if an automatic costs more initially, with the high price of fuel in Europe, an automatic (especially a CVT) probably makes more sense unless the vehicle will be used primarily for highway driving. In city driving, even the most expert drivers will use significantly more fuel with a manual than with a modern automatic transmission.
In highway driving on flat terrain, a standard may give better fuel economy, although for many cars, the gearing in top gear is taller in the automatic than in the manual version, so the automatic will use less fuel.
It does depend on the vehicle though. In a large pickup truck, I will get better fuel economy with a manual transmission.
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Aren't you vastly overestimating people's long term planing abilities?
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My understanding is stick shifts are much more prevalent in Europe. I've heard in some European countries it's relatively easy to get a license for autos but if you want to drive a manual you have to get a license for that too.
When I was looking for my car I looked real hard for a stick shift. None of the dealers had many sticks and most of the individual sellers did not as well. Believe me I preferred a stick at the time (still do) but just could not find a suitable one. On second thought, don't know if I'd want to drive a manual up and down Seattle's hills. And plus living in a city I'd find constantly manually shifting gears in stop and go traffic would get tiring.
I can't complain about my current car too much even though it's an auto. It gets me from point A to point B, 30+ mpg on the freeway and has great stereo sound. It's a Japanese car and only had 60k miles when I bought it about two years ago.
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The editor of Car and Driver magazine bemoans the disappearance of the manual transmission (i.e. a stick shift with a clutch pedal) and cites this as one of the reasons only 30% of U.S. 16 year-olds bother to get a driver's license. (2008 data)
I would love to see a cite for that one. Where I'm from everybody was lining up to get their DL on the day they turned 16, even if they didn't have anything but their parents' cars to drive.
Personally I learned to drive on an automatic because that was all my folks had & for years couldn't drive a stick (manual). My old roommate Maria was a car enthusiast who always drove stick-shifts taught me how to drive a stick. After totaling my car in a 4 car pileup on I-95 (not my fault) I rode around in hers for a few weeks before getting a new one. Her's was a stick and I was really getting used to it, but I was short on cash an automatic was the best deal I could find. It was rather difficult for the first week getting used to not shifting gears after I'd been doing it for almost a month in her car.
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It was rather difficult for the first week getting used to not shifting gears after I'd been doing it for almost a month in her car.
I drove for years with a manual and the old reflexes are hard to break.
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It was rather difficult for the first week getting used to not shifting gears after I'd been doing it for almost a month in her car.
I drove for years with a manual and the old reflexes are hard to break.
For sure. Me and GF both know how to drive sticks & are currently sharing an automatic as our only car. We both agree that when we get another car it's going to be a stick.
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The editor of Car and Driver magazine bemoans the disappearance of the manual transmission (i.e. a stick shift with a clutch pedal) and cites this as one of the reasons only 30% of U.S. 16 year-olds bother to get a driver's license. (2008 data)
I would love to see a cite for that one.
The decline is part of a nationwide trend. Data released Friday by the Federal Highway Administration shows 30 percent of 16-year-olds got their licenses in 2008, compared with 44 percent in 1988.
full story: http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6882164/ (http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6882164/)
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South Carolina changed their laws so you have to be 17 before you can get your full license. You can only get a learner's permit at 16. SC isn't a big state, but changes like that will effect the statistics.
SC drivers can take their driving test in any vehicle they choose, and everyone picked an automatic because it was just plain easier. Not having to worry about a clutch should make more teens drive. You don't reach the "fun" stage until you're comfortable driving at all.
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Here's an English perspective. There are 2 different full licenses available here. One just for autos and one that you can drive both. If people can't deal with a manual then they take the auto test and hence there is stigma around it 'ha you can only drive automatics!' I would say 90% of cars here are manual, not a scientific figure, just my guess. My first car was a 1.1 petrol, so up steep hills you really had to work the gears to make it to the top! Plus a manual is way more fun to drive. When you are going fast on a good winding road, there is nothing else like working your way up and down the gears to get the most from the engine. An auto box can't anticipate what you are about to do, if you want to overtake, or if there is a corner etc. So getting in the right gear can be hit or miss. Driving an auto isn't real driving, why do you think racing cars like rally cars are all manual? Yes I have driven an auto and that was fun because it was a 3.2litre turbo diesel mercedes! So if you hadn't guessed already, I wouldn't swap my manual for an auto, unless you are offering me an aston martin, then I might consider it!
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I got to drive a car without power steering once. It was an old Porsche 911. It had the best steering feel of any car I've driven. The steering was not heavy since the engine was in the rear. Not sure I'd want to drive it on a windy day though, with such a light front end.
Getting back to the fuel economy penalty of manuals:
The CVT version of the 2011 Honda CR-Z hybrid is rated at 35 miles per gallon (US) city, 39 mpg highway.
The manual gearbox version is rated at only 31 mpg city, 37 mpg highway.
In real life, manual drivers will keep the car in too low a gear much of the time in city driving, so the real world penalty for the manual will be even greater.
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Here in Austria, cars with manual transmission are standard. When you take the test with a car with automatic transmission, your driving license is limited to them. I've driven several cars since I was 16, and none of them had automatic transmission.
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Yep manual all the way for me. I can't stand the lag and unresponsiveness of the auto.
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Yep manual all the way for me. I can't stand the lag and unresponsiveness of the auto.
That wouldn't apply to a double clutch transmission.
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Speaking as someone that works on cars I can say that there are pros and cons to both. In drag a tuned auto will beat a manual hands down. For every day driving autos tend to give better fuel economy and will work. They are easier to drive, but have several drawbacks. Such as a car with an auto will cost more to buy, they cost more to maintain, assuming you dont burn the clutch on a manual, and with a car with a manual can perform better in certien types of manuvering situations if the driver knows how.
I personaly drive an auto, because for the amount that I do drive, I would rather not bother.
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Speaking as someone that works on cars I can say that there are pros and cons to both. In drag a tuned auto will beat a manual hands down. For every day driving autos tend to give better fuel economy and will work. They are easier to drive, but have several drawbacks. Such as a car with an auto will cost more to buy, they cost more to maintain, assuming you dont burn the clutch on a manual...
On the price: For a new car, a manual, if available, will generally be less expensive. However, for some cars, the manual is offered only on a stripped-down trim level which offers poor value for the money compared to a mid-level trim which provides an assortment of generally desirable goodies for not much extra money. So even though the automatic costs more, choosing it allows you to purchase a car which offers better value, assuming you want the extra features.
Although some family cars like the Honda Accord sedan or the Toyota Camry are, in theory, available with a manual transmission, most dealers do not order them. Accords and Camrys with manual transmissions are like 1-in-10,000. If you wanted one, chances are it would have to be obtained from another dealer, possibly quite far away. (There might not be a manual transmission Accord or Camry available in the entire state of Texas, for example.) You would end out paying more than the cost of an automatic because of the hassle and transportation costs involved for the dealer to obtain the manual vehicle.
On the repair cost issue, on a new car, if the automatic tranmission fails, it will be covered by the drivetrain warranty. If you wear out the clutch, that is a wear and tear item, not covered by warranty.
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i can if i have must, but I would rather not.
:)
Joey
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MANUAL, hands down. I learned how to drive stick when I was 16 on a '98 mustang. My first summer home from college, I bought my first manual, a ford escort zx2. Now, I have a hyundai tiburon and a chevy s10, both of which are stick. Not to mention, my motorcycle which is manual also (I don't even think they make automatic motorcycles). It sucks when you're stuck in traffic, but I don't plan on buying an automatic vehicle until my left knee starts having issues from using the clutch all the time. IMO, driving a manual makes driving fun and is more engaging.
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Not to mention, my motorcycle which is manual also (I don't even think they make automatic motorcycles).
Honda builds the DN01 with automatic transmission and the VFR1200F with dual clutch transmission, but really - who wants automatic transmission on a motorcycle?
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Not to mention, my motorcycle which is manual also (I don't even think they make automatic motorcycles).
Honda builds the DN01 with automatic transmission and the VFR1200F with dual clutch transmission, but really - who wants automatic transmission on a motorcycle?
It is true, they are not that commen but they do exist. Then again, if people can put something on wheels and make it go they will. I would mention and odd example, but there are just too many to choose from.
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I learned drive with a manual trasmission in an old farm truck that couldn't be taken on the main roads. We still have this truck we have it parked out in the "bone yard" with a lot of other old junk. Its a 59 Diamond T with 2 gear shifts and no power steering. Poor old truck would only do 40 at top speed :345678. My current truck is a F350 crewcab, its also has a manual transmission.
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I learned drive with a manual trasmission in an old farm truck
The first manual transmission I used was a medium duty truck (a flatbed, bigger than a pickup truck.) I didn't have my license yet. I wouldn't say I actually learned to drive it. My task was putting it in gear, giving it some gas, and dropping the clutch, with a chain attached to a tree stump in a lake.
The furthest I drove it was generally about 10 feet.
I got the job in the driver's seat because I was the smallest guy, and the big guys were in the water attaching the chains.
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My Peugeot 207 CC is equipped with a 5-speed manual gearbox.
I can´t drive with automatic
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I first learned to drive an automatic, but once it died, I bought a stick shift. Had to teach myself, but it was worth it in the end...much more fun to drive!
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Heh, I got a reminder yesterday on how much I have forgotten how to drive an automatic. Let's say I tried using the clutch, fortunately no-one was behind me!
(http://www.therealnicaragua.com/vb/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif)
We (manual drivers) all do this. Fortunately, it mostly happens when you try to shift from 1 to 2 so no great danger.
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Heh, I got a reminder yesterday on how much I have forgotten how to drive an automatic. Let's say I tried using the clutch, fortunately no-one was behind me!
(http://www.therealnicaragua.com/vb/forums/images/smilies/doh.gif)
We (manual drivers) all do this. Fortunately, it mostly happens when you try to shift from 1 to 2 so no great danger.
Guilty.... :P
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Guilty.... :P
The funny thing is that even if you were warned about it, you'll do it anyway.
Reflexes bypass conscious processes.
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My dad taught me to drive with a manual transmission and, given the choice, I wouldn't have an automatic. I got all the lectures & demos about ancient double-clutching vs modern synchro-mesh and I like the feeling of control that the stick gives me. It takes a little more practice at first but becomes second nature. I seldom bother with the clutch after second gear, just use the accelerator lightly and slip the stick in gently.
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Yep manual all the way for me. I can't stand the lag and unresponsiveness of the auto.
I have an IS300 and the first year they made them they were strictly Automatic.
This car is extremely responsive with it's Automatic Transmission, though it is a sports car.
And a simple Valve Body Upgrade to the Auto Tranny makes it even more responsive, especially if you decide to add a turbo =)
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Manual Manual Manual.
To be honest: I am not sure if I'll be able to start automatic (had NEVER driven one...)
I learned driving at the age of (Yes not a mistype) 35.
It was manual right from the beginning, and it goes on like this.
One thing I can't understand, why people are complaining about stop and go traffic.
In my area with not so few slopes the traffic jams are constant and I feel driving manual through them like fun.
The only thing that actually annoys me is that I am getting late for all kinds of my appointments. :65
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Living in the UK, I can't understand why anyone would take a test which limits them to driving an automatic car (disabilities aside) - surely it's not worth limiting yourself to just automatics?
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We also have the open license and restricted automatic in Australia, and yes anyone with an auto only license is subject to ridicule at the pub.
I've always had manuals. The one auto I've owned I found frustratingly clumsy - never knowing what gear it should be in. Just because I floored the throttle, doesn't mean I want you to select first gear at 60kph and light the tyres! It was a late 90's model car, and a friend noted that modern ones would have eliminated the idiot automatic syndrome, but a few weeks ago I drove the current year model of the same car, and it was equally unable to determine what gear I wanted.
Clutches don't die that often and I can change one myself if needed. However if you blow your auto, it costs a mint to rebuild it and I would never attempt it myself.
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I learned to drive on a Manual and to this day would rather drive one. I like having control in the corners, take offs and down shifting. Automatic is boring in my book.
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As has been said already, it's just the norm to learn in and drive a manual car in the UK. I love it, i live in a rural area so the roads are generally long and clear and being able to flick through my car's six gears makes me feel a bit like a rally driver :)
But, having said that, when i get close to a traffic jam, I do start to wish i had an auto, it just makes it that much easier!
I enjoy driving the autos when I visit the US, but it does make it fun when I get back in a manual car at home!
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My vote goes for CVT . I just love the way cars/bikes with CVT accelerate . DCT too seems to be better than manual though not as good as CVT . But the worst type of transmission is definitely conventional automatic transmission . I find manual way better than conventional automatics .
A demo of CVT can be seen here
(http://static.howstuffworks.com/flash/cvt-compare-animation.swf) . CVT emerges as a clear winner .
Aadil
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Automatic for me. The advantages are that you can concentrate on your driving without fumbling with the clutch and gears and stuff. The one disadvantage which is lack of engine braking on downhill sections can be overcome by applying the brakes.
My scooter is also automatic.
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Automatic for me. The advantages are that you can concentrate on your driving without fumbling with the clutch and gears and stuff. The one disadvantage which is lack of engine braking on downhill sections can be overcome by applying the brakes.
My scooter is also automatic.
If you shift your automatic down from overdrive to drive, it will engine brake too. I'll take manual whenever possible. With experience, there is NO fumbling or distraction, but better control. With good technique mileage is better as one can shift sooner.
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I learned how to drive in a manual and all of the vehicles i had access to were manuals (my truck, my parents cars and my grandfather's truck). My driving instructor spent the entire first session telling me to take my hand off of the shift lever (it was an automatic) he almost didn't believe me when i told him that it was the first time i had ever driven an automatic.
I would love to drive a manual full time right now... but it is just not practical, driving in traffic really sucks and the wife still hasn't learned how to drive it. I do still have my manual truck to drive on the weekend though
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Automatic for me. The advantages are that you can concentrate on your driving without fumbling with the clutch and gears and stuff. The one disadvantage which is lack of engine braking on downhill sections can be overcome by applying the brakes.
My scooter is also automatic.
If you shift your automatic down from overdrive to drive, it will engine brake too. I'll take manual whenever possible. With experience, there is NO fumbling or distraction, but better control. With good technique mileage is better as one can shift sooner.
Right on all points. I was wondering how cc71 could be "fumbling with the clutch and gears" -- if you drive enough and it becomes muscle memory -- I haven't missed a gear since my second driving lesson. And if you want to be greener you drive stick, unless you go the all-electric route.
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Right now, I'm very glad for automatic. I can drive with a stick just fine but I'm using a car sharing service (way cheaper than owning and so much more convenient) and I don't want the other drivers to break the car while learning to drive manual.
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We reciently got a 1983 Peterbilt with a very strange transmission setup. It has 2 gear shifts. A 13 speed for one shifter and a 4 speed for the other. Lets say its been realy interesting leaning this setup. Fun part is each tranmission has an over drive gear so between the 2 gives double over drive. I have only been in double overdrive 3 times. Last time i backed out when my gps said it was going 93 mph and still was not at the engines governed speed :234567.
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I've only ever driven an auto once and that was an Infiniti FX35 in California. The car I normally drive, the one I also passed my driving test in a few months ago, is a manual. I honestly prefer it, there's a lot less of a delay and you can adapt your gear changes to your driving style a lot better.
Over here, it's very rare you'll find someone with an automatic only license, partly because autos are a lot more thin on the ground in terms of used car availability, but also because manual transmissions are just kind of engrained in us. It's tricky at first but second nature after a little bit of practice.
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I'm still working on my license, so far I only drive automatic transmission, but I'm planning on learning stick shift pretty soon.
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Right now I'm driving automatic transmission car, I like it more than stick shift, but it uses more fuel :/
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I am able to drive a manual but as the poll asks, not very well. I know that a manual is the way to go if you like driving but it just seems to much for me..cosidering I drive in traffic for close to 2 hours a day!
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...just to add to my dislike of auto transmissions: I was servicing the family car last weekend (auto - due to the Mrs being unable to multi-task) when I discovered that the transmission filter is somehow located deep in the guts, and not accessible at all and obviously requiring significant disassembly. So after a bit of swearing and complaining, I returned the filter to the store.
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i :e4444 manual cars
although the mercedes ML 500 as automatic was amazing!!!!
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I learnt on a manual, as it qualifies you for automatic as well. So it gives you more possibilities, and I think it's less hassle for maintenance too.
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I learnt on a manual, as it qualifies you for automatic as well. So it gives you more possibilities, and I think it's less hassle for maintenance too.
Manuals tend to require a bit more maintenance, but the big difference is that when autos do require maintenance, it's a really big (expensive) job. I've rebuilt manuals and changed many clutches, but I'd never attempt to rebuild an auto myself
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A little known fact is that many automatics need to be 'flushed' (not just have the ATF changed) every once in a while, usually yearly. That's an expensive service and your warranty can be void if it isn't done.
We're manual-only. My wife's dad absolutely insisted she learn on a stick and her first vehicle be stick. I have an old Land Cruiser, and it's so much easier to move it on the starter than push when something breaks.
We're expecting to need a new car within the next two years, and we plan to buy new. The one non-negotiable feature is a manual transmission.
When we were visiting family for Christmas I drove my mom's Subaru around. I found myself sitting 6" higher in the seat because I was pushing so hard on the dead pedal!
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Im all about manual cars, (mine a skyline powered nissan Sileight (180sx with Silvia front end) rear wheel drive sideways smoke machine :-)
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Manuals are way more fun to drive, and really easy. Glad when I first learnt to drive I did it in a five speed.
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all I need to say is I'm German
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although i own a manual I LOVE automatic! They arent so popular in Europe though, always wonder why?!
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i prefer automatic
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It was rather difficult for the first week getting used to not shifting gears after I'd been doing it for almost a month in her car.
I drove for years with a manual and the old reflexes are hard to break.
Amen to that one! I can't tell you how many times I've went for the clutch in an automatic and hit the break instead...those were rather abrupt stops :879
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It was rather difficult for the first week getting used to not shifting gears after I'd been doing it for almost a month in her car.
I drove for years with a manual and the old reflexes are hard to break.
Amen to that one! I can't tell you how many times I've went for the clutch in an automatic and hit the break instead...those were rather abrupt stops :879
I could imagine.....Hopefully there was no one behind you..
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for my job i drive in maybe 5 to 6 different cars every evening(sometimes even more) from Audi's(A3,A4,S8,Q7) to bentleys and even cars like old Opel Corsa's and in my opinion manual cars are more fun. Automatic cars are nice because they're all the same so i don't need to get used to every car, just foot on the gas and go.
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I prefer manual all the way. I know some will state that a double clutch system changes gears faster, but I feel that I have more control when it is manual.
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Automatic is the way to go. Makes multitasking while driving so much easier :)
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I'm sure automatic is easier (it's all I know) but I really want to learn how to drive a manual, in case I someday decide to buy a nice mid-life crisis sports car...
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Automatic is the way to go. Makes multitasking while driving so much easier :)
And that is part of the problem! Driving is an intense activity and needs to have most if not ALL our attention. A manual shifted transmission helps keep the attention of the driver, but really drivers need to take responsibility and not multi-task while driving. In my job I see WAY too many accidents.
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This week, i drove an automatic car for the first time. It was more difficult than i was thinking!
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I know! I don't have to come up with nearly as many inventive curse words in a manual!
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I've always been a manual fan until I drove a VW with the DSG bog. A change may be in order . .
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We reciently got a 1983 Peterbilt with a very strange transmission setup. It has 2 gear shifts. A 13 speed for one shifter and a 4 speed for the other. Lets say its been realy interesting leaning this setup. Fun part is each tranmission has an over drive gear so between the 2 gives double over drive. I have only been in double overdrive 3 times. Last time i backed out when my gps said it was going 93 mph and still was not at the engines governed speed :234567.
I've never driven one but I've heard horror stories - all ours are 13s or 18s with plunger and splitter and one impossible to shift 10 spd body job.
As for old habits dying hard in my F350 the shifter is on the steering wheel so whenever I get into my Tacoma the first thing I do is spray the damn windshield.
And yes I prefer manuals except the Tacoma is only available trimmed down in manual so I made an exception.
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Serve me up a Jeep Wrangler in manual with a mild lift and 33 inch tires. I will be happy every weekend in the summer!
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driving fun means stirring the gearbox ;)
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I found out one reason manual transmission cars often use more fuel in the US EPA tests than the same car with an automatic: In the test, the manual shifts are done at pre-determined vehicle speeds, irrespective of the gearing or engine torque available. Since the shift points in the test have to be high enough to ensure no car will stall, this means that the testers often run the engine RPMs far higher than a normal driver would. This would be particularly unfavorable to vehicles with large displacement (high torque) V6 and V8 engines, as well as most diesel engines.
It also means that in city driving, a manual transmission with fewer gears might do better than one with more gears, because second gear in a 3-speed manual transmission (if cars still had them) would be much taller than second gear in a 6-speed manual transmission.
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I like the best of both worlds I drive CVT (Continuous Variable Transmission) Mitsu Lancer Sportback GT :) Regarding the decline of Manual transmission Top Gear also mentioned when test driving the Ferrari 599 that the complex electronics have taken some of the fun out of driving because it feels like the car is doing all the work.
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I learned to drive a stick before I ever got behind the wheel of an automatic. Where I am, if one can't drive a standard, there isn't many jobs for them, and they will find it really hard to drive in the winter. I prefer manual transmissions. I've never found myself out of control on the ice with a standard, because if I lose traction, I have options to regain it. With an automatic, the only way to slow down the wheels is to do the one thing you don't ever do on ice, and that's apply your brakes.
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To be fair, if you engine brake in a 2wd vehicle it's actually worse than careful application of the brakes. Brakes always work all 4 wheels, not just two.
In my Land Cruiser I have a proportioning valve to control the brake bias front to rear. I have it set so the rear brakes are much stronger in the summer and weaker in the winter, since short wheelbase vehicles go out of control very quickly when the rear loses traction first.
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The only time I have trouble is if the country uses left-hand driving! I find it very difficult to change gears with my left hand, being right-handed.
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Im in the auto industry so am driving different cars every single day.
On the weekend I was in a left hand drive car on the left side of the road.
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I am only familiar with driving stick (manual) cars, only ever driven one automatic and that was for about 2 hours!
Very common here, although the automatic is slowly creeping in in newer cars.
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Just to add to my original post over a year ago;
I recently got a new car. Finances have improved and I needed something safer for every day driving and for some film projects I'm doing around the country in the next year, so I bought a 9 year old BMW. I was deliberately seeking a manual, which were fairly thin on the ground honestly for a car pitched at mid-level corporate executives, which I am not :P
I tested a couple of automatics and they were grand, just a bit off-putting in the sense that I really enjoy driving and an auto does take away from that I find.
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Yay for sticks!!!
I find out those who drive auto transmission too much have difficulties going back to the good ol' stick.
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Sounds to me like the editor is just viewing the situation through his own preference. Kids today don't rush to get driver's license for a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with transmission type. There is the cost of fuel nowdays that keep a lot of kids from owning cars. Most kids in the USA drink or use some form of drug and the laws are so severe now that no one wants to get caught and getting pullled over greatly increases the likelihood of that happening.
Then you have a chunk of kids that view cars as environmental nightmares and don't want to contribute to the carbon footprint. Also more and more kids live in large cities where there is public transportation and not only don't have a need for car but would find owning one a detriment. I know that in Chicago parking is hard to come by people often choose housing based not on the living space but on available parking that comes with it.
As mentioned before the economy sucks big time and even here in this small town that I live in you never see a kid mowing a lawn. It's all adults trying to make it on what was once teen jobs. If you notice even fast food places the average employee is now over 20.
Also this editor has no idea of the impact of social media. Kids would literally perfer to interact in most cases online then getting off the computer and doing it in person. Even when you go to a bar you will see a group sitting together :564 drinking a beer and all be on their smart phones with only an occasional word to those they are with.
Ah....ok that turned into quite a rant..... :322
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All cars I have driven were manual. Guess it's because of their price. Automatic transmissions cost 1000-3000 € more than manuals and you have to drive a manual car in driving school to get a fully license otherwise you won't be allowed to drive a manual car afterward - at least in Austria.
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My sister posted on Facebook recently that she hates it when people make her feel like a criminal for never learning stick.
Tough cookies! :909
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its so much fun to drive manual cars, you can play much more with the engine and you get more challenged.
automatic is like driving in cruise mode, you can laid back and get relax but i would never change the manual for it.
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i prefer auto but can drive both
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Driving a stick is a dying art... with these DSG transmissions etc.
Give me the right car on the right road, and you'd never go auto again!
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Sounds to me like the editor is just viewing the situation through his own preference. Kids today don't rush to get driver's license for a lot of reasons that have nothing to do with transmission type. There is the cost of fuel nowdays that keep a lot of kids from owning cars. Most kids in the USA drink or use some form of drug and the laws are so severe now that no one wants to get caught and getting pullled over greatly increases the likelihood of that happening.
I think that insurance is a big one, epically in these tough economic times. When I turned 16 (back in 1996) insurance was through the roof because I was a 16-24 year old male and that classified me as high risk.
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The editor of Car and Driver magazine bemoans the disappearance of the manual transmission
One of the biggest reason we see manuals going the way of the Model A is because the auto makers have found a way to make the automatics more fuel efficient. There used to be a 5% roughly difference in fuel mileage (stick being better gas mileage), and automatics cost more. Now with computer technology, automatics are much more fuel efficient.
I learned quickly how to drive stick. I always had automatics, and part of my job as a yardman was switching trailers out. So I did learn - on a 18 speed cab over Volvo that couldn't get out of its own way.
I do enjoy driving stick now, and prefer it simply because I can control my speed better than with an automatic.
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my first truck was a manual, really liked it and thought I would never go to an automatic.
after enough problems ( "American" truck assembled in mexico) I ended up going with a chevy where the only option was automatic.
after having my current truck long enough I really do like the automatic a lot. for a sports car i wouldn't go anything but manual but for towing daily and getting a trailer in and out of tight spaces the automatic is nice, just one less thing to worry about when inches matter
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i would never buy an automatic car. manual transmissions are just more fun to drive.
I have learned to drive a stick shift when i bough my first car, a 1991 honda civic hatchback. the seller gave me the keys and just said goodbye. so i had to drive home. after a couple stalls, i made it home.
Now i drive a 2002 impreza. manual too :)
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i prefer automatic especially if you are driving in the city or in heavy traffic.
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My truck is a manual and I wouldn't have it any other way. I get way better MPG with a manual than i would with an automatic.
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I have never driven cars nor trucks with automatic transmission. I have seen them and heard about them in some movies/tv-series and from the mouth my driving instructor. But never seen them in real life. And I really don't have any urge to try it either. I think it is very rare on cars on finnish roads.
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i would never buy an automatic car. manual transmissions are just more fun to drive.
I totally agree. In the Us nearly 99% are automatic cars. If you want a rental car you even don't get a manual one :D
As a good german... I have a german car with manual transmission.
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I love driving cars with manual transmission, not automatic, because the feeling is not the same... In addition, I have not learned to drive an automatic car.
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Like many people in the UK, I drive a manual car. I don't think I'd feel in control of the car if it was an automatic.
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I truly enjoy driving a stick over an automatic.
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I much prefer manuel over automatic. Was a time u had to pay extra for automatic and now u have to pay extra for manue and that even assumes you can even order manuel.
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i've never used a stick in a car, but I have in a truck. i've always wanted to try it out, but a friend of mine told me "if you drive your car the same way you drive that truck you're going to rip the transmission apart"
I asked what she meant but she said she can't explain it. but i've been able to gather that I can't float in a car, and that's one big difference
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i've never used a stick in a car, but I have in a truck. i've always wanted to try it out, but a friend of mine told me "if you drive your car the same way you drive that truck you're going to rip the transmission apart"
I asked what she meant but she said she can't explain it. but i've been able to gather that I can't float in a car, and that's one big difference
Maybe she thought you would be habitually trying to double clutch and not realise you can double clutch a car even with synchronised gear boxes without causing damage
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Maybe she thought you would be habitually trying to double clutch and not realise you can double clutch a car even with synchronised gear boxes without causing damage
You can double-clutch, it is even good for the car to match RPM before engaging the gear. What you should not do unless necessary is to not clutch at all. It is not impossible to do it safely, but it is easier to mess up and damages the transmission if you do.
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Never owned a automatic, but have driven plenty. Like manual though, nice to have that control.
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I drive both. As a trucker I've driven all kinds of crazy transmissions. But even in the world of trucking manuals are getting scarce. I wish they were the norm across the board.
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So I got my license not too long ago and because my family's car is an auto that's what I learned to drive with.
Rn I'm using a friend's car to slowly learn how to use a manual. Takes some time to get the hang of but I think its worth it. It's a skill that definitely should be practiced more. Besides all the classic sports cars I like use manual. I think the first car I buy will be a manual.
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So I got my license not too long ago and because my family's car is an auto that's what I learned to drive with.
Rn I'm using a friend's car to slowly learn how to use a manual. Takes some time to get the hang of but I think its worth it. It's a skill that definitely should be practiced more. Besides all the classic sports cars I like use manual. I think the first car I buy will be a manual.
Big ups
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So I got my license not too long ago and because my family's car is an auto that's what I learned to drive with.
Rn I'm using a friend's car to slowly learn how to use a manual. Takes some time to get the hang of but I think its worth it. It's a skill that definitely should be practiced more. Besides all the classic sports cars I like use manual. I think the first car I buy will be a manual.
I think over here you have to learn and pass your test on a manual to be able to drive both. If you do it using an auto then you aren’t allowed to drive manual
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I think over here you have to learn and pass your test on a manual to be able to drive both. If you do it using an auto then you aren’t allowed to drive manual
In the good ole US, you dont need to worry about any of that. If you can drive an auto, you're allowed to drive any car.
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I've never seen a manual transmission car before and I don't see any point in wanting one
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I think over here you have to learn and pass your test on a manual to be able to drive both. If you do it using an auto then you aren’t allowed to drive manual
In the good ole US, you dont need to worry about any of that. If you can drive an auto, you're allowed to drive any car.
I think you guys can drive at a younger age than us too. Think it’s 17 here.. well it was when I was 17 lol
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I think you guys can drive at a younger age than us too. Think it’s 17 here.. well it was when I was 17 lol
Depends on the state. Some places you can drive as young as 14. Other places you gotta wait til 16 or 17.
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I've never seen a manual transmission car before and I don't see any point in wanting one
:thinking: Murica huh
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Have owned both, learned in a manual car (also had no power steering so 3 point turns were great craic). I think manual is preferred here for the most part because our roads are quite small, so most people would gravitate towards something smaller. Lower powered engines typically don't do too tell with automatic or CVT setups.
Of the cars I've owned, 10 have been manual, 1 automatic. My preference would be for an automatic purely for traffic, honestly, but they're a bit thin on the ground here as I said unless you want a luxury or executive car.
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I have my learners and we have both auto and manual and I drive both
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My own car has a manual gearbox and my parents' has an automatic gearbox. I can operate both types of cars
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My daily driver
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I can drive both
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My personal vehicle is automatic. But I first learned to drive with a stick shift. That learning does come in handy with one of the work vehicles I drive, especially for a lot of uphill that gets involved.
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Bruh if you can drive a manual you can drive an auto. Like, there has never been a person that knows manuals that got in an auto and said "i give up, this is too hard"
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As far as longevity goes, if you buy a used car with a standard transmission, it's almost a given that it will need a new clutch soon, and probably a throw-out bearing, maybe a clutch cylinder if it's hydraulic, and quite possibly some new synchros or gears in the transmission.
Although hot weather and deep water prematurely kill a lot of automatic transmissions around here, in theory, an automatic transmission should last several hundred thousand miles without problems.
It's the complete opposite here in Lithuania. People know how to drive stick and don't abuse it that much, probably because automatic is still sort of a luxury. And with automatic all you have to do is press both pedals at once.
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my dad had a stick shift when i was little that i was starting to learn to drive but we moved to the city and he got rid of it becouse we did not need a gas swallowing 4 wheel drive and i have not had the opportunity to drive one since