Manual/Auto

[370Z/28]

I know we have this discussion a lot, but I just wanted to tell y'all how strange it is out there looking for cars now. It is really hard to find a manual transmission car! I have been looking at lots of Vettes, and I think only one of them was a manual. You can't even get a manual in an IS Lexus. I know that stealerships always have to tell you that your trade is something that nobody wants, but he wouldn't offer me much for the Z because he said manual transmission cars have really gotten hard to sell.



Whatever happened to driving?? Is everybody just too busy texting and talking on the phone to enjoy shifting a car?

Also...what is the deal with nobody making a coupe anymore?

[djimakplon]

As my good friend who enjoys driving once told me....You don't drive an automatic, you steer it. My first car was a stick and has every car I have purchased since it.

[SVTCOBRA]

30+ years of driving a stick....my G35 coupe is my FIRST automatic.
Trust me, I DRIVE my automatic thru the twisties....your friend is WRONG, or perhaps he does steer autos....whatever....opinions...
Almost as many years playing bball and TKD, my left knee will get sore now about every other week and when it does I really like having the AUTO!!!
When I really get to missing a manual, I"ll go test drive something that is manual!!!
What I REALLY needs is another FUN car!!! Something with 450+HP that handles!!!
But, don't think I'll get that approved by management...

[audtatious]

As my good friend who enjoys driving once told me....You don't drive an automatic, you steer it.

Your friend should try something better than a Toyota or Honda

[cjs37xs]

Only one thing to say about that...



My G37x is the only car (other than the family truckster) that has been an auto, and if they made the AWD version in a stick, we would've gotten it.

[djimakplon]

Wow, tough crowd. Let's beat up on the new guy . Seriously though, I think the point is that MT makes the driver feel more connected and at one with the car and for me is an enhancement to the driving experience (unless I am stuck in stop and go rush hour traffic).

[SVTCOBRA]

Didn't mean to beat up on ya!!!
Just get tired of of hearing folks say that if you don't get a manual transmission, you might as well just get a camry or some other grandpa type floaty car.
And, yes I agree, a manual does make you feel more connected to the car.
And, yes, I would like to have another cause they are more fun to drive!!
But, I do have a great time driving my auto thru some back roads!!!

I also remember when I had my 69 Mach 1 and saying I would NEVER have anything with less than 8 cylinders!!! And I would NEVER have anything with more that 2 doors!!!......And I would NEVER have an automatic!!!
then I had babies and then came the Taurus STATION WAGON!!!!
So, my perspective is from an old guy!!!
So, you can discount what I'm saying by saying he is just getting old!!!

[djimakplon]

No worries SVT, I didn't take offense. I am no spring chicken myself; but having no wife or kids, I still get to be impractical . I understand what your saying, just had our annual all day opening day outing with the fellas (Woot! Rangers won!). The ones married with kids had to save up their hall passes.

[audtatious]

I just need to beat up on my wife for not allowing me to get a 6mt....because she may have to drive it from time to time

Oh well, it does pretty good.

[jmann]

I'm in the same boat here, my wife wouldn't let me consider a manual car, as she might have to drive it. But I do agree that G's are fun cars to drive whether manual or auto, it's more about the power and handling. Anyone who says cars aren't fun unless they are manuals are probably driving a car that I wouldn't consider fun with either transmission. My first 2 cars were manuals, and I had fun with them. At the time though, automatics were seriously lacking - 3 or 4 speeds usually. Now the technology is much better, a good automatic is technologically superior to manuals. They are quite often faster, achieve better gas mileage, are less prone to breaking and frequently have a manual mode if you want to do it yourself. I remember in the last manual I had talking on the phone while driving was just pretty much impossible. Now with bluetooth that argument is nil, but at the time it made me want an auto after having an automatic rental and reveling on how much better having a phone conversation while driving was. The car buying public wants automatics, at least 94% of us do, and as a result manuals are dying a slow death.

[joe603]

For my SRT8, I had to get an AUTO because even though my wife can drive stick, she didn't want to deal with it...thing is that she has driven it a total of 2 times! She's still pissed that I traded in my G37 Sedan for a sports car.

[djimakplon]

I hope manuals don't go the way of the dodo's and I think there is hope with the Yolo crowd and their Fast and Furious movies perpetuating demand. I didn't mean to imply all AT's are not fun or technically inferior. I agree with what you said jmann, but I have to say that imperfection in the driver's shifting can be an enhancement to the driving experience.

[SVTCOBRA]

When I met my wife, she was driving a stick Bimmer.....black 318I.
So, eventually we had a 98 GT convert AT (HERS) and a 97 SVT Cobra 5MT (MINE) in the driveway.
I needed to take hers in for warranty....she calls me up and says 'why does your car goes sideways when turning onto HW 21.....'
She actually is a good driver! I think she was just trying to collect on my insurance by giving me a heart attack!!!
I've already warned her that if Ford finally gets away from the retro crap and redesigns the Mustang with an up to date interior.....along with that 5.0.....I might have to pull the trigger on one!!!! Will think hard about getting a manual as well!!!

[370Z/28]

...she calls me up and says 'why does your car goes sideways when turning onto HW 21.....'

[audtatious]

My wife probably does not know what the VDC button is for in either car so I don't have to worry about her going too crazy in either G.

[kmckis1029]

yep i highly debated a manual transmission when i got my first G, but i wanted AWD more than i wanted a manual, then the "manual mode" didnt interfer with shifting on the G, as in you can redline a gear and it wont upshift for you like in other cars, so that sold me on getting a auto G.

Now my second G has 7 auto gears (e.g. better gas milage than the 6 speed manual), paddle shifters, and still doesnt upshift for you at redline when you in manual mode, i probably wont go back to a manual transmission.

Most all "super cars" are automatics or automated manuals... that a rookie driver can shift faster than your best guy in with a manual transmission. I just accept that auto trannys are now better than manual trannys now. (but that didnt used to be the case)

[370Z/28]

I don't really think skill or performance had as much to do with the reason I love a manual so much, I think it is the connection to the car. So much more control over it. I always loved to rest my hand on the shifter when I was buzzing through a Sonic (which is a lot) and feeling the torque of the engine moving it from side to side. Oh well....I have an old lady car now.

[Fezzik]

That or when you are boosted you will want manual so you dont tear up the gears in the auto

[370Z/28]

[ddemier7]

I love my manual automatic! Best of both worlds!!! Shifting gets old in the city.

[KyuubisBlade]

It really is getting tough out there to find an MT. Back in November when I was searching for a new ride, the only decent ones I could find were some base model FWD Audi A4s, two 100,000 Mazda RX-8s with brand new motors, a 350z and a '04 G35 sedan. Ended up with the G because I wanted the room for passengers/dogs, plus I can blow the pants off the damn ricers without getting eyed by the cops! Oh and weirdly enough the clutch issues I had a couple months ago cleared up, it doesn't slip anymore... Which I won't complain 'cuz I couldn't afford to fix it.

[LuckyLuke]

If you live in California, you don't want to drive stick. You will get tire shifting gears in traffic...