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I learned to drive a manual transmission. I like doing it.
Sadly, knee issues forced me to get rid of my manual transmission diesel truck. I traded it for an automatic. The truck is great, the transmission is awful. At 45 to 55 MPH it doesn't know what gear it wants or needs to be in, so it hunts; upshift, downshift, all the way through the 50 MPH stretch of highway. The overdrive lockout doesn't work, I don't know why.
One "expert" forum said to add a ground wire from the TCM to the battery, and the problem will be solved. No, it won't!
My 6 speed manual Jeep doesn't have any such a problem. the computer that controls the shifting (that resides between my ears) won't let it hunt for gears. The clutch is very different from that in the diesel truck; doesn't bother my knee at all.
In my daily driver, I have an automatic. In my little hot rod roadster, I have a manual, only transmission available that year. If I could have any transmission I wanted, I’d have a paddle shifted DSG of some sort.
I don't really care either way, but manuals are the default here so you might have to search a bit more if you want an auto version.
Until fairly recently manuals were generally more fuel efficient so most people went for them for that reason. It isn't such an issue though with modern automatics.
I think automatics are more expensive to fix if they go wrong as there's more technology in there so again that might put some people off. Also small engine cars are popular here and I think autos can be quite jerky with small engines, though again that might have improved as automatic transmission tech has developed.
When I had a manual, it was a lot of fun mentally, being in control, going to lower gear and hearing the sound of the engine get louder and noticing that a lower gear helped slow my car down so I won't have to brake so hard.
Then we sold it and never bought another manual. I have a long commute stuck in traffic and I don't want to do the foot/hand work all the dang time. And I have children now and am past the "mental freedom of my youth" stage of my life. I have other things to pay attention to (like taking care of my children and cleaning my house!) than driving a manual. I don't miss it one bit.
This entire thread makes me missing driving a stick my next car will definitely be a stick now I just have to decide if I want another Subaru or another Mazda.
When I owned cars with manual transmissions - VW Jettas, a Honda CRX, a VW Rabbit - it was simply fun to manually shift while driving. As least to me, anyway.
This entire thread makes me missing driving a stick my next car will definitely be a stick now I just have to decide if I want another Subaru or another Mazda.
I wish every day that I had kept my 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang hardtop. V-8 I believe, 4 on the floor. First car I ever purchased with my own money. Dark Green, white vinyl interior. OMG Was parked next to a white one in Asheville the other day, definitely a cream puff. I had to fondle the fenders. Since then, have had an Austin Healy, an MGB and all Hondas. I'm just a gal who loves cars. My 2005 Honda V6 EX is loaded and mint condition. Wouldn't I love to go back to a '65 Mustang, any color.
I wish every day that I had kept my 1964-1/2 Ford Mustang hardtop. V-8 I believe, 4 on the floor. First car I ever purchased with my own money. Dark Green, white vinyl interior. OMG Was parked next to a white one in Asheville the other day, definitely a cream puff. I had to fondle the fenders. Since then, have had an Austin Healy, an MGB and all Hondas. I'm just a gal who loves cars. My 2005 Honda V6 EX is loaded and mint condition. Wouldn't I love to go back to a '65 Mustang, any color.
I’ve always wanted a Miata but they make a better 3rd car then a second, even more so with the winter here in the mountains. A nice Mazda Protege 5 with a manual gearbox it’s like a FWD Miata it’s clean and the price is right, been eyeing it for a while now. Other choice is a Subaru Legacy hatchback I can carry all my hiking gear and have the AWD. I can carry my gear with The Protege too.
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