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I view the manual transmission in my daily driver as my automotive fidget spinner. Driving is so mind numbingly boring (which is why so many people are on their radios and now phones), that shifting gears offers me a distraction. Plus, there's just something satisfying about the perfectly matched heel-toe double-clutch downshift, even if it's gratuitous.

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Originally Posted by Adrian Thompson (Post 11516471)

Her take though? 'Why would anyone actually want to do that? What's the point?' She can drive a manual, but she doesn't' see the point.

She's perfectly correct. An automatic is so much better in almost every regard. Heck, Tesla's autopilot is even better.

But I wonder if manual-transmissioned drivers are more attentive from a situational awareness perspective. Does that translate into a safer driver? Requiring both hands to drive certainly makes it harder to text or place a (non-Bluetooth) phone call while driving.

I HAD to learn manual transmission in order to get my first real job. I was an installer for Ma Bell and all of the job trucks were manual. In fact they were 3 on the tree.

I am an auto man myself, just put it in gear and drive away..

I had a new HVAC system installed last week. The technician that gave me the quote was a girl. The company car was a Mini. I told her she had quite the company car. She said it was an auto, wished it was a manual.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1636682410.jpg

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sooner or later (Post 11516807)

Did you get her to sign a release for that picture?😂

Edit: I’ve always had a manual for my “sports cars”, but my E46 M3 is an SMG, which I really liked driving at the track.

older automatics had up to 10% driveline power loss with hydraulic pumps and friction and heat
new automatics are more efficient but worse than a manual
more rotational mass more friction less horsepower to wheels
they are not as good
not the same

Aren't most auto's dual clutch robotic shifters these days? they are here in europe because they aid in achieving emission norms

An automatic increases emissions over a manual
a dual clutch decreases em

I had an interesting experience recently driving my '18 BMW 440i with the paddle shifters. Love the BMW inline six.

I am so accustomed to driving my 911's for the past 30 years, upshifts are a no brainer as are downshifts. Maybe it is familiarity, instinct, nuance/feel. I can't really explain it. Upshifting the 440 was a snap and logical. But for some reason, I did not have the feel (RPM, speed, whatever) to properly downshift. Of course no heal/toe either to match the RPM. Felt odd and unnatural with the paddles.

Guess I may be odd and unnatural:) YMMV.

Adrian,

Those are good points but I think you've got the wrong audience. If there's any place where people are going to do something like insist on the superiority of a Moss box with unsynchronized first over a Ferrari twin-clutch automated manual, it's an internet automotive enthusiast forum.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Adrian Thompson (Post 11516471)

I am so tired of the snobbery from so called car enthusiasts about manuals Vs Automatics. Sure, I was a little **** too who grew up believing the only reason to own an auto was because you lacked sufficient arms or legs to drive a 'real' car. But then I grew up in the UK where a 1.6L 90hp 4cyl was a family car, and if you tried to insure anything with more than about 150 hp at less than 25 years old they'd have laughed you out and flat out refused to even quote you. Back then old three speed auto's really were horrible with so little power and torque plus old torque convertor technology. I moved here in 94 and soon after got to drive some C4 Corvettes with both the truly hideous Doug Nash 4+3 manual, as well as the 4L60 Auto's. That instantly showed me that not only could Auto's be perfectly effective and fun to drive, but it's possible for them to be far better than manuals in some instances. The next step forward was when I got to drive an E39 540 and discovered that (by the standards of the day) 'modern' electronics and calibration made autos really nice with the ability to much better predict what gear you needed next etc. Things have really improved this century to the point where honestly for 99.9% of occasions an auto is a better alternative than a manual for most people in most situations. I will also say that with many modern high performance cars there is no way a mere mortal like myself could keep up with shifting in high performance driving. Having driven a friends new GT500 on track last year, and not being named Senna, Prost, Piquet or Mansell, there is no way I would be able to keep up with that car on corner exist if I had to shift as well.

Get over it. Auto's are just as good as manuals. IF you enjoy a manual more, bully for you, but don't piss on people who manage to enjoy the automotive experience while only using two pedals.

Amusing aside. As stated above, my fleet is now all auto (Except the C30, but that's hiding out back and not on the road), but I wanted to make sure my youngest daughter could drive a manual in case of emergencies. Having no manual I asked my Brother in law to teach her, so he took her out in his Jeep. Thirty mins later they came back, he was glowing with praise, she was already doing perfect clutchless upshift with no problem. She found it easy. Her take though? 'Why would anyone actually want to do that? What's the point?' She can drive a manual, but she doesn't' see the point.

Driving a car with a clutch isn't a mystery. It's easy to teach without destroying a car. Everyone learned in the '20's, '30's '40's & '50's or they were...uh...pedestrians. Folks that don't learn when given the opportunity are slugs, not because they can't drive with a clutch, but because they lack a modicum of curiosity.

Roofer girl made a career change

Damnit McLovin beat me to it

Quote:

Originally Posted by McLovin (Post 11517954)

Roofer girl made a career change

That’s why I asked for the model release!😂

Quote:

Originally Posted by svandamme (Post 11517370)

Not over here. There are some automated-manuals, but most of the automatics over here are still hydraulic automatics. They've been making those for years (and these days they are pretty good, not deserving of the "slushbox" moniker like a bunch of the old stuff). Most of the automated manuals over here are for sports/sporty cars.