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I've had a three speed manual on the column. (Three on the tree)
A four speed manual on the column. (old Mercedes 190 Gas)
A four speed semi-automatic/manual on the column (old Dodge or DeSoto can't remember which)
A four speed on the floor with and without electric OverDrives. (bunch of Austin-Healeys, one and two venter Porsches, Triumphs, MGs, Opels, VWs, etc
A five speed on the floor. (Hondas, Civics and Accords)
A six speed on the floor. (Z06s)
A bunch of automatics, from 2 speed Powerglides (you old geezers will remember those Chevys) to 10 speeds.
Never took more than a minute or two to feel comfy with any of them. Once you've traveled the first learning curve they are all similar.
LOL, I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for EVs to go away, let alone a return to manual transmissions - that market really dried up over the past 30 years.
The 30 year historical table at the bottom is for cars only, as it would be much lower for SUVs. It shows production percentage for manuals and for CVTs.
Somewhere around 2010 on average the manual fuel economy was dropping lower than non-manual fuel economy, so the manufacturers are paying a small CAFE penalty. The electronic driver assists either don't work with manual, or it is not cost effective to make them work with manual transmissions.
For example Subaru still has manual transmission in a group of related vehicles.
The 2.0 liter 152 hp naturally aspirated engine shows a huge drop in fuel economy if you switch from CVT to manual.
The 2.4 liter 271 hp turbocharged engine in the WRX sports sedan has a slightly better fuel economy for manual vs CVT.
mpg liters # Cyl Transmission Division Carline
31.55 2.0 4 Auto(AV-S7) Subaru IMPREZA 4-Door (CVT is a $1300 option)
26.27 2.0 4 Manual(M5) Subaru IMPREZA 4-Door
.
31.13 2.0 4 Auto(AV-S7) Subaru IMPREZA 5-Door (CVT is a $1300 option)
26.41 2.0 4 Manual(M5) Subaru IMPREZA 5-Door
.
30.25 2.0 4 Auto(AV-S7) Subaru IMPREZA SPORT 5-Door (CVT is a $1100 option)
25.27 2.0 4 Manual(M5) Subaru IMPREZA SPORT 5-Door
.
29.93 2.0 4 Auto(AV-S8) Subaru CROSSTREK AWD (CVT is a $1350 option)
24.94 2.0 4 Manual(M6) Subaru CROSSTREK AWD
.
21.12 2.4 4 Auto(AV-S8) Subaru WRX turbocharged (CVT is a $1900 option for higher level trims only)
21.84 2.4 4 Manual(M6) Subaru WRX turbocharged
I don't know if some of that is by design or lack of engineering effort. Obviously the people buying manual transmission Imprezas and Crosstreks are few and far between, while the consumers buying WRX sports sedans with manual transmission may actually be the majority.
My neighbor bought a manual transmission Subaru Crosstrek, and he had to wait almost a year. He claims he can't drive an automatic.
Man% year CVT%
2.9% 2020 54.2%
3.7% 2019 41.9%
3.5% 2018 33.6%
4.4% 2017 34.8%
4.1% 2016 29.9%
4.6% 2015 31.6%
4.7% 2014 27.5%
5.6% 2013 18.9%
5.6% 2012 15.2%
5.4% 2011 12.7%
5.7% 2010 14.8%
6.8% 2009 10.8%
8.0% 2008 11.5%
8.5% 2007 10.4%
9.4% 2006 2.4%
9.3% 2005 2.6%
10.2% 2004 1.4%
11.2% 2003 0.9%
11.2% 2002 0.4%
11.4% 2001 0.2%
11.2% 2000 0.0%
10.9% 1999 0.0%
12.3% 1998 0.1%
13.5% 1997 0.1%
14.9% 1996 0.0%
16.3% 1995 0.0%
16.7% 1994 0.0%
17.8% 1993 0.0%
17.4% 1992 0.0%
20.5% 1991 0.0%
Last edited by PacoMartin; 01-30-2022 at 01:08 PM..
to these new people everything is hard when they need to multi task lol but this youth tell you they are great at multi tasking lol. i had volvo 940 in europe my first car when i start to drive(if anybody wants to drive manual) get your foot of clutch if you not shifting it is not good for engine. but back to story always me and my friend wotld drive 5 speed car i would sometimes gor from 2- to 5th gear. then had old car 4 speeder how no problem there lol
How did people used to drive cars with a manual transmission? Often, not well at all. And it was amazing how few cars with manual transmissions had tachometers. I even keep a close watch on the tachometer of the cars I have had with automatic transmissions, in order to achieve better gas mileage.
Really? No experienced driver has to look at the tachometer. You use your ears to judge your shift points. You can feel where you are on the torque curve by the pressure on the car seat. I look at the road, not my instrument cluster. I’ve driven lots of cars without tachometers. They’re unnecessary.
Try snow driving. You’re not going to look at the instruments at all. I had a jillion miles winter driving manual transmission RWD cars with summer tires long before ABS brakes. Everything is by feel with audio feedback.
Needing a tach to get good fuel economy. Ridiculous.
I have a 6-cylinder Subaru Outback with Nokians. It’s a good snow car but I’d have a lot more control winter driving with a manual transmission and a switch to disable the ABS. Deep snow downhill braking distance with ABS is awful. I remember my first ABS car rolling through a steep downhill T intersection in deep snow. It was like the brakes had failed. You couldn’t lock the brakes and use the snow pile in front of the wheels to stop the car. My Subaru at least has faux paddle shifters on the CVT to do engine braking. It’s not as precise as with a manual transmission but better than nothing. I’ve had rental cars with no way to control the CVT at all.
It’s not fun to drive a stick shift in bumper to bumper traffic, but otherwise, once you master it, you won’t even think about it. I was nervous about learning, but I really really wanted my little Cabrio convertible, so I just told myself that a lot stupider people than me could drive a stick shift and so could I.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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I actually just bought a 1974 Nova with a 3 speed stick shift. For me the difficulty will be in driving a 3 speed while used to 4 or 5 speeds, with a different shift pattern, but eventually I'll get used to it. I learned to drive a manual on a 1964 Chrysler wagon with a 3 speed, but that was in 1968. With a manual transmission you are really driving. With automatics and the recent technical advancements such as adaptive cruise control, lane centering assistance and the rest, driving has become more of a boring chore, than the fun experience it used to be, and still is for some of us.
Location: We_tside PNW (Columbia Gorge) / CO / SA TX / Thailand
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gentlearts
It’s not fun to drive a stick shift in bumper to bumper traffic, ...
Heavy traffic is fine if you have enough gears (I usually have 10 - 18 gears)
When I drive for my neighbor, I have my choice of 40 gears. 10spd with a 4peed aux box.
Even my 1951 has a creeper' gear (slower than walking).
After the EV nonsense is dropped, I expect carmakers will be pushed back to manual in most vehicles, for more mpg and making simpler products. The fewer people who can drive stick will match less fuel available.
I may be priced out of driving then, but while I'm still a suburbanite I decided I might as well buy something with a stick and start learning.
Once EV is dropped, we go back to the horse.
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(I usually have 10 - 18 gears)
