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Of course it does. Shifting makes you involve yourself in the driving experience, which in turn makes you more aware of everything. It's like a musician saying he or she is more aware when playing a song live than just listening to a digital recording of it.
BS
Sorry, I've driven the same cars back to back on the track and on the road, with both manuals and automatics, for decades, and can tell you that shifting has zero bearing on whether I'm aware of traffic around me, pedestrians, obstacles, etc. On the track, my awareness of the racing line informs my shifting, not the other way around. And whether I'm driving an automatic or a manual, I'm still aware of the racing line in exactly the same way.
If you think that shifting is the sum total of driving, put a shifter on your la-z-boy at home and see how far down the road you get. And see how much fun you have. Remember, that's the argument: shifting is the only part of driving that's fun and the only part that makes you a driver. So pushing a clutch pedal and shifting a shift lever attached to your easy chair should give you all the fun and ability of driving. If it doesn't then ask yourself why not.
Of course it does. Shifting makes you involve yourself in the driving experience, which in turn makes you more aware of everything. It's like a musician saying he or she is more aware when playing a song live than just listening to a digital recording of it.
This is either perception or represents your lack of capacity to be involved and aware of what is around you. It's not universal, or even general.
IMO, I think if carmakers would start making manual gearbox’s an option we would see more on the road.
Automatic gearbox’s used to be an option like a trim package it costs more money to get one. Go spec out a car that has an option to get an automatic and see the price go up. These days they just add it to the cost of buying a car, more money for the carmakers.
AT&T used to order all their trucks without air conditioning until (Ford, International) started charging them MORE to exclude it. (Thanks, Ford! I'm nice and cool now!)
This is either perception or represents your lack of capacity to be involved and aware of what is around you. It's not universal, or even general.
I see both sides of it. You are physically less able to text or rummage or futz around. That said I don't think it requires the level of attentiveness and mindfulness that some stickshift advocates claim.
My old driver's ed teacher said "it's going to make it harder to talk on a cell phone or eat or dig for your CD's (early 2000's), but it's more likely that you're going to make like Michael Schumacher and push the car." That was in reference to teenagers specifically but I think its true.
Location: Formerly Pleasanton Ca, now in Marietta Ga
10,353 posts, read 8,581,497 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by reed067
IMO, I think if carmakers would start making manual gearbox’s an option we would see more on the road.
Automatic gearbox’s used to be an option like a trim package it costs more money to get one. Go spec out a car that has an option to get an automatic and see the price go up. These days they just add it to the cost of buying a car, more money for the carmakers.
Doubtful. It would cost auto mfg even more if they had to produce both manual and auto.
If they are in so much demand, the mfg would make them.
Location: Formerly Pleasanton Ca, now in Marietta Ga
10,353 posts, read 8,581,497 times
Reputation: 16698
Quote:
Originally Posted by nicholas_n
Of course it does. Shifting makes you involve yourself in the driving experience, which in turn makes you more aware of everything. It's like a musician saying he or she is more aware when playing a song live than just listening to a digital recording of it.
No , if anything it's one more thing to think about and do which distracts you from driving. You know like watching traffic, being aware of your surroundings. Or on a race course watching the other cars, picking your line.
Maybe you should tell all the big companies like Ferrari, Mclaren , lamborghini, porsche to put sticks in their race cars. I'm sure they would jump at this advice to make their drivers more aware and faster.
I see both sides of it. You are physically less able to text or rummage or futz around. That said I don't think it requires the level of attentiveness and mindfulness that some stickshift advocates claim.
My old driver's ed teacher said "it's going to make it harder to talk on a cell phone or eat or dig for your CD's (early 2000's), but it's more likely that you're going to make like Michael Schumacher and push the car." That was in reference to teenagers specifically but I think its true.
Why are people automatically assuming that automatic drivers are all texting or fooling around in the car? We are focusing on the road like everyone else.
Remember that manuals have been decreasing for decades including the time before texting.
I see both sides of it. You are physically less able to text or rummage or futz around. That said I don't think it requires the level of attentiveness and mindfulness that some stickshift advocates claim.
My old driver's ed teacher said "it's going to make it harder to talk on a cell phone or eat or dig for your CD's (early 2000's), but it's more likely that you're going to make like Michael Schumacher and push the car." That was in reference to teenagers specifically but I think its true.
Your texting, rummaging, and futzing around driving is a behavior that you have to curb and is unrelated to what car you're driving. You're being reckless and that's on you.
Automatics have gotten so much better over the years and bumper to bumper traffic has gotten worse. That makes getting an automatic a no-brainer for me. My last 2 cars had auto and got over 300,000 miles on each.
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