quote:

A DCT isn’t a slushbox. It combines the best features of manual and automatic transmissions.

That doesn't mean it's better. It means it's different, and likely better for certain applications. The loss of the clutch pedal is exactly that: a loss.

quote:

Add to that automatic rev matching on downshifts and it's a joy to drive.

That subtracts from the manual experience, IMO. I can't "heel-toe" well; I admire those who can. I don't want the car to do it for me.

I am not knocking anyone who likes a DCT, automatic rev-matching, or even automatic transmissions. In the scope of the conversation though, it's about appreciating a "proper" three-pedal manual experience with few "driver aids".

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
...A manual does require engagement in driving. It’s why I love it so much. You feel locked in...

That came back to me the first time I drove the Corvette. Enjoying the process, not just mindlessly along for the ride.

OK, I need to chime in.
If you were a gear-head back in the day there was the tale of the Guy who took his girlfriend to the drive-in theater.
Secretly gave her a few of the infamous SPANISH FLIES, went to the concession stand for snacks and when he returned to the car his girl was making love to the floor shifter with the big round shift knob mounted in top.

quote:

Originally posted by Pipe Smoker:

A DCT isn’t a slushbox. It combines the best features of manual and automatic transmissions.

That’s your opinion. Mine is it is still a slushbox. It will still shift for you if you let it. And it’s still one foot driving. It’s not a manual transmission, which requires a stick and a 3rd pedal. It’s still a slushbox to me and we don’t have to agree. I’ve chosen the 6MT over the DCT multiple times, test driving or riding both. DD, truck, I don’t care. Anything else, no manual transmission, no sale.

My 17 Tacoma is a 6M and a star as I know the new 2025 has a manual available.

Both my teens can drive a manual and made 1 take his DMV test in a stick and will make the other as well when she turns 16.

If I can swing it I’d like to buy a new GT mustang this year and will only buy a manual version

quote:

Originally posted by 229DAK:
The standard stick shift is a great anti-theft device. Not perfect, but pretty damn good.

In our family, a manual transmission is referred to as a “millennial anti-theft” device. I’m quite happy that both the kids have not only grown into good humans, but are also quite capable of handling manual transmissions. Our son chose a manual for his first car, and when my daughter is in town and needs to borrow a car, she much prefers my manual transmission work truck over the automatic family truck or my wife’s automatic SUV.

ETA: For real fun, stop using the clutch. About half the time in my ‘03 Taco (v6, 5 speed) work truck I just get lazy and match the revs when shifting instead of using the clutch. When using the clutch, I still match the revs, so there is little difference.

Not much slush left in the automatics anymore. Now they all shift too soon and have converter lock-up in the lower gears. They are like driving a stick shift that has been shifted too soon. They've gone through few gears and locked tight before you make it through an intersection. Some even stay locked during deceleration to keep the engine spinning with the fuel cut off to save fuel and reduce emissions.
When you can get a stick, have the automakers left it alone so you actually select the gear? At least one manufacturer used to force a 1 to 4 shift rather than 1 to 2 if you weren't driving aggressively.

I have a 2022 Mustang Mach 1 with a stick that I wasn’t planning on using as a DD, but needed a car with me in Dallas. There’s nothing comfortable about driving this car, it’s loud, I feel every bump/crack and pothole, the short throw shifter requires some deliberate man-handling but driving this car every day is fun. I have a short commute (less than 5 miles round trip) and the car is garaged on both ends so having it down here made perfect sense. Both my wife and I drove manual shift cars into our 30s. It’s sad how few cars are available these days with a manual gearbox.

A few more…
Nissan Z
Kia Forte GT
Hyundai Elantra
Jeep Wrangeler
Toyota Tacoma, Corolla, Supra, GR86 (mentioned previously)
Volkswagon Golf & Jetta

Do those of you that don't feel "engaged" with an AT also shun semi automatic firearms because you are detached from the loading mechanism?

My daily driver is my 2014 Wrangler with a manual. God willing, I will never get rid of it.

quote:

Originally posted by sonnydaze:
Although I agree with the overall sentiment, it's okay to move on...

No it's not!!!!

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Originally posted by MNSIG:
Do those of you that don't feel "engaged" with an AT also shun semi automatic firearms because you are detached from the loading mechanism?

Weak, man. Very weak.

Men that cannot drive stick and option their sports/muscle cars with autos are not men in my eyes. They are fags in denial and robbing themselves of an engaging and awesome time. Fuck that! “But it’s faster on the race track they say. These queers/lesbians have never done a track day and have no interest in doing one. It’s laziness. F that, the whole world is a race track when you’ve got a manual son!!

My daughter wants a new style VW convertible as her first car The only way that is happening is if it’s a manual. My other daughter will not let me sell my manual Integra GS-R “because that is her car and I am going to teach her how to drive it” according to her. She likes how loud it is and how it makes noise from the tires when I shift!


Save the manuals!

It sickens me to see the popularity of auto transmissions in “entheusist” cars. If I ever designed one I’d go the way of the S2000 and Viper and ONLY OFFER MANUAL because the car was not designed for losers and lazy fags. It was DESIGNED TO BE ENGAGING now STFU and learn how to drive.

Rant over.

quote:

Originally posted by 6guns:
Acura Integra

I was a huge Acura fan. I loved my Legend with the 5-speed manual.
The Acura automatic transmissions have been less than reliable.

I started driving my father's 1968 Jeep Commander.
I'm trying to recall in approximate order the manual transmission cars and trucks I've owned over the years but I know I'm forgetting some.

1971 Fiat 124 Spider
Renault Le Car
Volvo 245GL
1985 CRX Si
Ford Fiesta
1989 Chevy Nova (really a Corolla)
Accord
Taurus SHO
1997 Wrangler
1995 T100
2004 Tundra
2015 Wrangler
2019 Corolla (still have)
2014 Wrangler Rubicon (gone to my son)

2026 Civic Si is on order.

No way I can remember all the motorcycles I've owned however all but 3 1/2 were manual. Three DCT and the Trail 125 with manual transmission but automatic clutch I counted as 1/2.

While DCT is technically a manual and it can be paddle shifted manually, I feel it's more of an automatic since you don't control the clutch.

When tutoring young people now how to ride motorcycles usually the biggest problem they have is not knowing how to use a clutch to start off because they've never used a clutch in anything before. I think it's more challenging to learn how to operate a clutch on a motorcycle than a car. The few who have driven manual transmission vehicles have no problems with motorcycle clutches though.

quote:

Originally posted by MNSIG:
Do those of you that don't feel "engaged" with an AT also shun semi automatic firearms because you are detached from the loading mechanism?

I’ve had some very high performance cars that were manuals as well as paddle shift 8 & 10 gear transmissions and can say without question they are nowhere near as fun. The only exception I have felt was my brother’s Ferrari 488 spyder, but I have only been a passenger in that car.

As to your terrible analogy on semiautomatic guns and shunning them, you’ve obviously never shot a well tuned Marlin or Winchester lever gun at speed. You actually do feel more connected to the rifle and it does require a little more skill to run fast.

I miss driving a stick shift. I drove one for many years. I couldn’t believe it when Ferrari switched to DMCs for its entire model line up. A Ferrari without a real manual shifter? We live in sad times.

Trying to remember my manual cars/trucks...

78 Ford Bronco
86 VW Jetta
84 Toyota PU
86 Toyota PU
86 Nissan PU
92 Toyota PU
66 Porsche 912
94 VW Jetta
95 Ford F150
98 VW Jetta

Not in the order of when I owned them.

Everyone should learn to drive a manual…no exceptions!!

Here’s my list of manual cars that I’ve had in order

Fiat 850 Spyder (how I fell in love with mid engine cars (had a whopping 55 HP)).
Fiat 124
Fiat X/19 (three strikes against the POS Fiat and I was out!)
Mazda GLC
Mazda B2000 ( my first new vehicle. Paid $4900 out the door)

Then about a 10 year hiatus

Porsche Boxster S
Porsche 944S2 (my first track car)
Porsche GT3
Porsche Cup car ( crazy expensive to maintain)
Porsche Spyder (my fun car that I still have)

I own 5 vehicles. One is a manual, a 2016 VW GTI, completely stock. Absolutely love this car. I’ll own it until I can no longer drive a manual.

I learned to drive in a ‘78 Toyota pickup that my Dad had bought me for my first vehicle. Thank you, Dad, for your foresight! I later owned a 1984 Mercury Lynx wagon with a diesel engine; it got great mileage but wouldn’t get out of its own way. I think it had 52 HP? Later on my new bride and I bought a 1988 Honda Accord with a 5-speed, and she already had a 1980 VW Rabbit 4-speed. Both excellent cars. When we got stationed in Germany we bought a used BMW 316 with a 4-speed, and then a 1992 VW Passat wagon with a 5-speed -- oh my gosh I loved that car! Sadly, that was the last car with a stick we’ve had. I had a 1998 Kawasaki Vulcan 1500 Classic motorcycle which I sold in 2014 (I miss that one, too).

In 1984 I tried teaching my girlfriend at the time how to drive stick in my 1984 Mercury Lynx wagon -— that ordeal lasted about 20 minutes with me frustrated and her in tears. I don’t know if she ever learned how to drive a stick, but it was not from me! (I was much less patient then than I am now )

In 1999 when my unit was deployed to an Italian air base in Cervia, Italy, for ALLIED FORCE, neither of the postal troops they deployed with us could drive the manual rental van to make the bi-weekly runs up to Aviano AB to pick up our mail. The A1C was from NYC and didn’t know how to drive at all, and the SSgt couldn’t drive a stick. It worked out well actually, because all of us who could drive a stick rotated driving duty and got to go up to Aviano on a regular basis for the BX and Commissary.

I wish I had owned a car with a manual transmission when it came time to teach my daughters how to drive, but it wasn’t so. They learned in a Honda Odyssey instead. Sorry, Girls…

Both of my kids learned to drive in a 2006 Honda CRV with a manual transmission. Both of them drove my 2010 Acura TSX with a manual in turn after that. When they got their first "personal" cars the son got a 2016 Mustang V6 with a manual and my daughter a 2022 Mazda 3 hatchback with a manual when she finally ran the Acura into the ground. She really enjoys the cred among her young friends of being able to drive a manual. Both of my kids prefer the manuals.

Right now I own the Mazda 3 and a 2024 Mustang GT convertible with a manual transmission, so I've got 2.

The clutch on the Mazda is so light and easy that I don't think it would be too much bother to commute with, but I don't commute any more. I take it for errands or trips if I don't need the room of my F150. The Mustang is mostly a fun car for short blasts in the country when the weather is nice. I much prefer driving a manual and enjoy being able to control the gears and revs, not looking to set records on a track or drag strip with the latest automatic.