Good article on the classic manual transmission

[frapjap]

A decent article on the decline of the manual transmission with an honorable mention to Nissan and the one thing they do right in relation to their transmission choices.





New technology will save the classic manual transmission


By John Goreham on Mon, 02/11/2013 - 12:59

The new trend in manuals is the rev-matching stick shift. Offered in some of the hottest sports cars in the world, this technology might just save the manuals.

After few changes to the manual transmission for half a century, all of a sudden there are new and significant updates to the transmission some love, some fear, and most never even think about. The big change to manuals is that they can now match revs on downshifts. To more than 95% of automobile drivers and owners this is a concept they neither understand, nor care about. However, for the remaining few who do enjoy selecting their own gears the old fashioned way, this technology might be the savior for the stick shift transmission.

Like adjusting a manual choke, properly shifting a manual takes some study, some understanding, and lots of practice. For nearly everyone, the advent of the automatic choke was a welcome relief. This is also true of the automatic transmission. Once it became available most drivers chose it, even though manufacturers charged significantly more money for it. So many people chose it, and so few chose the manual, that most new cars don’t come with the option of a manual anymore.

There are really two categories of automobiles that still offer manual transmissions. The first is economy cars that are underpowered. Although the cars are not made faster by having a stick shift, the constant rowing of gears distracts some from the fact they are driving a slow car. Some see this as fun. Most don’t.

Then there are the sporty cars, whether they be sport sedans, coupes, or roadsters. In these vehicles, manufacturers offer manual transmissions for two reasons. First, there are a small handful of buyers who are enthusiasts and they want the manual transmission, and they will indeed seek out the models with the manual and buy the car. Second, there are enthusiasts who like to think they might buy a manual transmission, and they want to try it out at the dealership on a test drive. However, after they do they realize this is also the car they will often drive to work in traffic. They buy the automatic, but manufacturers know that had they not had the possibility of a manual, that buyers might have gone elsewhere. A great example of this was the IS sports sedan offered by Lexus. The IS250 was an underpowered car that was available with a stick shift. The IS350 was a powerful and fast sports sedan with only an automatic transmission. For many years the IS250 was available with a stick shift and countless reviews by enthusiasts at car publications said that they liked the IS350, but for them being able to manually shift gears was so important they would choose the IS250. All 9 of them were telling the God’s honest truth. However, they never did buy a manual IS250, and neither did any of the customers (a high percentage of who were women that wanted the car to drive to work, not back-roads blasts).

This year, Lexus finally killed off the stick shifts due to lack of buyer interest and the company no longer offers a passenger car with a manual transmission. Now you might think this is an obscure example, but the truth is that even cars like the Porsche 911, a true driver’s car if ever there was one, sell more automatics than manuals. Many supercars, including Ferraris and other legendary brands, no longer offer manuals in their fastest cars.

There are a couple of reasons why the stick shifts are going away in fast cars. The first reason is they are slower. Porsche, BMW, Audi, and others now have dual-clutch automatics that continue to feed power to the car, and keep accelerating it, while shifts occur. That isn’t new. Automatics with older, torque converter technology could do that to a lesser degree. The big difference is the quickness of the gear change. Upshifts are now measure in milliseconds instead of half-seconds. To real enthusiasts faster is always better. The second reason, and this is key, is that automatics like dual-clutch autos can also be manually shifted. This may seem confusing, but it isn’t. The transmissions can be shifted to “drive” like any automatic, but the driver can also select a mode that lets him shift the car when he so chooses. Even better, those shifts are perfect every single time. And fast. The up shifts are much faster than a manual transmission car. The downshifts are also faster, but more importantly, they are also perfect every time. In the past, to perfectly downshift a manual, stick-shift transmission while braking, the driver had to apply the gas at the same time. That requires three feet since the brake, clutch, and gas are all being applied simultaneously. (see accompanying article). There is a trick to this that takes much skill and constant practice. It is called Heel-toe shifting. The driver uses his right foot to both brake and also provide gas, while his left is working the clutch – oh, and he is also steering with one hand and shifting with the other. Done right, there is nothing that can compare in terms of car control. Done wrong and the feeling is that of almost falling down stairs and narrowly catching one’s self.

In order to provide many of the benefits of manual shifting including a clutch, but without the issue of matching the revs while braking and cornering, Nissan introduced an automated system on the 370Z a few years back. Importantly, there is a button to over-ride the system so that a driver can decide when he wants to match revs himself. The system works well. Both Porsche and GM now have a version of this technology. Rather than seeing this a threat to the existence of the stick shift, enthusiasts should see it for what it really might be – the savoir of the stick shift.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Done wrong and the feeling is that of almost falling down stairs and narrowly catching one’s self.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

^I was thinking the same thing.
Good article.

[Jesda]

THAT was a great read. I disagree with only one sentence:

"To real enthusiasts faster is always better."

To a driving enthusiast, the joy is in the sense of control and the interaction with the machine.

[TerminalVelocity]

Good read. I rember being horrified hearing about the rev matching manual in the 370z... didnt realize it could be overridden.

[frapjap]

Good read. I rember being horrified hearing about the rev matching manual in the 370z... didnt realize it could be overridden.

If you haven't had the opportunity to drive one and use the system yet, head over to a dealer. The system works FLAWLESSLY. I was amazed at how well the auto blip worked on down shifting. Quite honestly, if I were just tooling around town, I'd leave it engaged until I came up on my favorite turns.

[gwoods]

THAT was a great read. I disagree with only one sentence:

"To real enthusiasts faster is always better."

To a driving enthusiast, the joy is in the sense of control and the interaction with the machine.

I disagree, driving a stick is fun but if the automatic is faster and can hold gears and rev match its the same to me. After all but abandoning my search for a M roadster or Boxster I find myself looking ahead. In 2-3 year I could be looking for a 4th toy car. Perhaps I will be in a position to have a gently used convertable 911. The 1999-2002's are between 15-30k depending on miles and options. I don't like the pod style headlights and cheaper looking interiors so I am looking at 2005+ then I realized that I would rather wait until the 2009+ with the PDK automatic are available for cheap so 2019-2022 I will find a 2009 911 vert with 80k miles on it for around 20k?

[Jesda]

I disagree, driving a stick is fun but if the automatic is faster and can hold gears and rev match its the same to me.

I don't care how fast I'm going as long as I'm using my feet and hands and getting physically involved.

The Miata, Boxster, and S2000 are, to me, ideal.

[Razi]

I disagree, driving a stick is fun but if the automatic is faster and can hold gears and rev match its the same to me.

I don't care how fast I'm going as long as I'm using my feet and hands and getting physically involved.

The Miata, Boxster, and S2000 are, to me, ideal.

[Bubba1]

I disagree, driving a stick is fun but if the automatic is faster and can hold gears and rev match its the same to me.

I don't care how fast I'm going as long as I'm using my feet and hands and getting physically involved.

The Miata, Boxster, and S2000 are, to me, ideal.

This^ There's more to the driving experience than shaving a second or two off with the car's technology doing the shifting for you.

Two big problems with the flappy paddle dual clutch automatics.

1. The reduced personal connection. For those of us that invested the time/effort to learn the art of heel/toe and (for us older guys) double clutching, the flappy paddles take away part of the fun.

2. No one wants to think about post warranty repair costs of flappy paddle trannies until they see that first bill. Then they poop their pants.

[gwoods]

I guess THIS is why I secretly enjoy the dragstrip more then the race track. I LOVE the speed and if its faster I want it.

[MinisterofDOOM]

I don't care how fast I'm going as long as I'm using my feet and hands and getting physically involved.

Agreed. Speed only matters if you're getting paid to win.

[hannibal]

Good article!

There are really two categories of automobiles that still offer manual transmissions. The first is economy cars that are underpowered. Although the cars are not made faster by having a stick shift, the constant rowing of gears distracts some from the fact they are driving a slow car. Some see this as fun. Most don’t.

Most of the time, a manual econocar is faster than its automatic counterpart. And even if it wasnt, I'd still prefer the manual. I don't think the manual distracts from an otherwise boring experience. It just makes that boring experience marginally better.

Commuting is often mentioned as a reason people avoid manuals. I can think of maybe 3 or 4 times that I actually thought "I wish I was driving an auto". Not bad considering the amount of time spent sitting in traffic. And thats a trade off I willing to accept.

[MinisterofDOOM]

Commuting is often mentioned as a reason people avoid manuals. I can think of maybe 3 or 4 times that I actually thought "I wish I was driving an auto".

This is exactly my thought as well. Compare that to the THOUSANDS of times I've thought "I wish I was driving a manual" (i.e. every time I get in my car!) and I don't see how the commuting excuse holds any water.

[Bubba1]

I guess THIS is why I secretly enjoy the dragstrip more then the race track. I LOVE the speed and if its faster I want it.

There's nothing wrong with that, and for that application (12 second bursts)I can see the appeal of flappy paddles.

[PapaSmurf2k3]

Agreed. Speed only matters if you're getting paid to win.

I've never quite been able to explain my love of manuals so eloquently as you have right here. Well done.

Regardless of how much faster a dual clutch auto/flappy paddle gearbox might be, if my left foot isn't involved, I'm not having as much fun, and THAT is what it is really all about 99% of the time for us "non-paid" drivers.

I feel as though I need to buy everyone involved in this thread a beer. Most will be at Carlisle. I suggest the rest of you show up

[Jmoore124]

Agreed. Speed only matters if you're getting paid to win.

I've never quite been able to explain my love of manuals so eloquently as you have right here. Well done.

Regardless of how much faster a dual clutch auto/flappy paddle gearbox might be, if my left foot isn't involved, I'm not having as much fun, and THAT is what it is really all about 99% of the time for us "non-paid" drivers.

I feel as though I need to buy everyone involved in this thread a beer. Most will be at Carlisle. I suggest the rest of you show up

Nailed it.

I wont call myself a 'true enthusiast' or anything like that. But I enjoy shifting regardless of how fast I am going. There is a connection and control the third pedal gives you that is not attainable with an automatic.

[300ZXttZMAN]

Very good read indeed.

[dre1507]

I drove an automatic for about a year, and wished I had a manual every day I drove it. With the rsx, even in stop-and-go traffic I never once wished I was driving an automatic. As Jesda said, it's the physical involvement that makes a manual transmission fun and what people who appreciate them like most. Sure faster is better than slower, but if I have to take an automatic to be faster, I'll pass.