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Location: The Circle City. Sometimes NE of Bagdad.
24,466 posts, read 25,999,509 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Jan Alaska
It was a chevy umm barge, either a impala or malibu. Either way it wasn't new and had Utah. The thing did 0-60 eventually which was disappointing as the speed limits south of Denver were 75.
I seriously doubt I will ever buy another car with an automatic. The last one I had was a 1990 Plymouth Acclaim with the infamous A-604. Automatics are more trouble than they're worth..
My BMW had 183k on it's original automatic transmission with the original "lifetime fluid" in it. Never gave me a lick of problems. My 3500 diesel dually tow rig has 189k on it's original automatic with no problems whatsoever, including towing my 30 foot travel trailer over the mountains. Wanna tell my how those two automatics are "more trouble than they're worth?"
Sorry, a bunch of people on here with limited experience making stupid blanket statements again.
My BMW had 183k on it's original automatic transmission with the original "lifetime fluid" in it. Never gave me a lick of problems. My 3500 diesel dually tow rig has 189k on it's original automatic with no problems whatsoever, including towing my 30 foot travel trailer over the mountains. Wanna tell my how those two automatics are "more trouble than they're worth?"
Sorry, a bunch of people on here with limited experience making stupid blanket statements again.
Esp if you have a good build tranny with high quality semi/full synthetic. For tranny fluid that gets so damn hot it makes a big difference. When I run Dex 3 for 96 corolla 213k on org trans it slowly goes from dark red/pink to black. When I run full syn trans like Mobile 1 no black fluid at all it doesn't break down and oxidize like dino.
As much as I love CR they did a real disservice with that NYC taxi study saying running dino vs full syn made no difference. Sure that's a big block V8 that has a lot less stress on it than my 1.8 4 banger going up the rockies.
I never could figure out how to do this without it feeling awkward and thus a little bit risky in some way. I don't know if it's just my leg, the pedal/seating positioning in the car(s) I've had or some combination of both.
I use the side of my foot to "heel & toe" downshift. It's way too uncomfortable for me twist my foot like that. So I put most of my right foot on the brake and the right side of my foot just barely reaches over and can blip the throttle.
Try it that way. And of course do it on an empty road with no one around until you're comfortable with it.
I like manual transmissions, in fact I might even prefer them to automatics. However, for those who drive often, it's just easier to have an automatic. Europeans prefer manual transmissions because they are cheaper and because they don't drive as often.
I drive all the time (including heavy traffic) and I still prefer a manual.
An automatic is simpler (step on gas or step on brake), but shifting is so second nature to me now that I don't consider it extra work. I also notice that my mind seems to wander more when driving an auto. Not really a benefit when you're driving in traffic.
Europeans prefer manual transmissions because they are cheaper and because they don't drive as often.
Do you have a cite for this? Or you simply making assumptions based on something you read once?
Because I learned to drive a manual in Europe having grown up there, visit often and all of my immediate family lives there. Spain, Hungary, Scotland and England. And previously, Israel and Turkey. I've driven in all of these countries.
I can assure you, they (each separately) drive as much as any person living in the US. On congested roads, including hills, big cities and multi-lane motorways.
I have driven a semi (18 speeds, hello) and stick shifts for decades in all sorts of traffic and road conditions. When you know what you are doing, it is absolutely 100 percent no more difficult to drive a stick shift than an auto. Anyone who says it's a bother isn't a very proficient driver.
My BMW had 183k on it's original automatic transmission with the original "lifetime fluid" in it. Never gave me a lick of problems. My 3500 diesel dually tow rig has 189k on it's original automatic with no problems whatsoever, including towing my 30 foot travel trailer over the mountains. Wanna tell my how those two automatics are "more trouble than they're worth?"
Sorry, a bunch of people on here with limited experience making stupid blanket statements again.
I agree. I'm a stick-driver myself, but every car i've had an Auto in has run perfectly fine for well over 100K miles. Never had an issue at all
I've never driven a stick shift car, and I sort of refuse to. I don't want to ruin someone else's stick shift practicing. I also live in a very hilly city, so manual is not all that ideal. Only way I'd ever drive a stick shift is if I absolutely HAD TO, and I lived on flat terrain and never planned going up a hill again in my life. Plus, it just seems to be too much of a pain. You have to think about shifting all the time.
Well, when you absolutely HAVE to, you won't be able to, end of story.
Why so many people can't drive stick and have no desire to learn, I don't know. Maybe its being stubborn. If you want to travel, much of the world still has a vast majority of cars that are stick. It should be a basic skill everyone should learn, or at least know the basics. On top of that, there are plenty of advantages stick has over conventional automatic, but who wants to do that extra "work".
Estimate for people in the US that can drive stick...50% know the concept, 30% can do it well is my guess. That may also be skewed a bit since I grew up in the car community though.
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i drove a fiat 500 5 speed the other day and man that was a blast!
