manual transmissions losing a benefit over autos

[03mustangdude]

Any transmission will last forever if its taken care of. Oh and the new sealed 8 speed infiniti trannies are ftw.

[ceyko]

Still some nice advantages to manual transmissions. i.e. lugging out in 2nd/3rd in ice/snow ...etc. However, around here, DD? Auto.

[Slowhand]

Dual clutches, 8 speeds, paddle shifters, generally more durable, new fuel economy regs, ect..., ect...

There are more and more reasons the automatic will kill the manual. In fact, BMW engineers bemoaned the need to make a manual tranny for the new M5. They said they only do it because the US market demands it.

Right now the most gears you can get in a manual is 7 and that is on the 2012 911. Does anyone really want to manually shift 7 or 8 gears in DFW traffic?

I think the stick will require some sort significant technological advance in order to survive the future.

The 7th gear in the 911 is nothing more than a hyper-overdrive; it doesn't add to the number of gears you have to shift through in traffic in any way, shape or form.

I still don't get those that complain about traffic. I drove from Coppell to Oak Lawn-ish and back eat rush hour both ways every day this summer; it just wasn't that bad at all. I'll be starting that commute again in January indefinitely and I'm not at all concerned about it. Sure, an auto would be easier, but it's not exactly a burden on me, physically or mentally.

[46Tbird]

Some day (soon) they will have computer-assisted throttle for sitting in traffic, so you can really read the paper or text instead of pay any attention to the road. Things will be really super great then!

I've had a few autos, but I would never have a 'performance' car with one. That's pretty ridiculous actually. There's a synergy with clutch, throttle, steering, shifting, and braking that makes the overall experience more satisfying. Sorry, an auto just is NOT fun to drive. Even if you're banging away at the little paddles, lmfao.

[whitetrash]

in an ecobox a manual in traffic isnt that bad. however the day i bought my cobra i decided it would be the last manual dd i ever own. by the time i got home my left leg was so sore and twitching it was rediculous

[Bassics]

The select shift is a great compromise, it lets you steer with your legs and still leaves hands free for a cig and a beer.

[ozzeran]

I've driven a manual tranny since I started driving.

I however am looking for an auto in my next car. It's hard to pass up with today's technology, especially when I drove the GTI with the dual clutch auto, man that was nice.

But the lack of control MIGHT get to me at some point, so I'm carefully deciding.

[red95gts]

I've had a few autos, but I would never have a 'performance' car with one. That's pretty ridiculous actually. There's a synergy with clutch, throttle, steering, shifting, and braking that makes the overall experience more satisfying. Sorry, an auto just is NOT fun to drive. Even if you're banging away at the little paddles, lmfao.

This. I've owned one automatic Mustang in the last 18 years and despite being a 306 with a turbo, it was boring as hell to drive.

[mustang_marc]

Automatics are faster...so what? How often does anyone find themselves needing that extra two-tenths of second? A stick is a bazillion times more entertaining and involving for the 99% of the time that I'm not driving as fast as I can in a straight fucking line.

I'm on my 5th stang now. First 3 were manuals. Picked up a 12 GT with Auto, thinking with a tune, it'd be fast as hell and fun to drive. I didn't even make it to the tune and barely made it to a month before trading it in on a 12 GT with Manual. That auto was nice and smooth, but really rather boring.

[CJ-95GT]

I wish the new 5.0 came with paddle shifters.

[GhostTX]

I'm just wondering if having a manual would be considered an anti-theft device...?

[thesource]

My daily cruiser is an auto but I do enjoy rowing gears in a high performance type platform.

[IHaveAMustang]

Driving a manual for a DD isn't so bad in traffic if you do it smart. These 'tards that like to run 100 mph up to someone's bumper then slam on the brakes are what jam traffic up.

Me, I like to stick it in 2nd (or if traffic is moving decently enough) 3rd and just give a big buffer zone of 10 or 15 feet. Don't really care if someone flys around me and takes up the dead space in front of me, I'll just increase the zone by his car length. I used to drive Coppell to I20 in GP. I shifted maybe 20 or so times.

And I also notice that usually the lane I am "regulating" just cruises on by stacks of people jammed up and stopped.

[bobs94formula]

My 03 Dodge truck, my 91 4cyl fox, and my 92 5.0 are all manuals. I had to get a 4l60e rebuilt once, I hate spending that kind of money, could not imagine what a newer 5+ speed auto would cost to fix!

[Baba Ganoush]

I found semi-trucks to be a good person to follow in traffic. Most of those guys work a clutch and like to keep rolling. I too would just try an roll a good pace. People would fill the 10'-20' gap in front of me, then decide not to ride a semi-trailer, and move again. I just stayed a good distance behind the big fella.

I'm just wondering if having a manual would be considered an anti-theft device...?

damn straight.