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      07-19-2019, 11:59 PM   #23
ScottyRyan2019
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      07-20-2019, 02:17 AM   #24
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Originally Posted by ScottyRyan2019 View Post
Meh. My days of wanting to row are long past. Give me an auto that is quicker than a manual that I can just put in D and pin to the floor...with the A/C on...the stereo cranked up...and my wife's head in my lap (with her seatbelt on of course).

Better being single. with someone else's wife head on your lap??
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      07-20-2019, 05:58 AM   #25
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This is why I won't be buying an 812 Superfast, 488 Pista or McLaren 720S anytime soon.....

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      07-20-2019, 06:35 AM   #26
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Better being single. with someone else's wife head on your lap??
Well you can do that too if you are married...you just either need a very understanding wife, or own a company like, say...Amazon.
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      07-20-2019, 06:36 AM   #27
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Manual transmissions used to offer superior performance compared to an automatic. Obviously, that is no longer the case with advancements in technology.

Now, manual transmissions mainly offer a physical/emotional connection to a car. A few brands like Porsche and to a lesser extent bmw have recognized this and continue to offer the choice to the "purists". However, cars in general are becoming more numb and clinical and the obsession with speed and lap times is permeating the industry whereby this takes precedence over driver enjoyment.
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      07-20-2019, 06:48 AM   #28
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Originally Posted by aftercompletion View Post
Ever try to do perfect downshifts with WOT in a car that does 3-ish 0-60?

The reality is as 60 times get better and better, you're starting to reach the limits of what a human being can reasonably keep up with throwing a clutch and shifter into the mix.

In cars like a Huracan there are VERY few people in the world that I suspect could be able to keep up with the car if they did offer a manual, so I understand why they don't.
Of course not...but that’s not the point. I would say if you asked any person who drives a stick or is looking for one they wouldn’t care about losing 3/10s on the same car just so they could have it in a Manual option
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      07-20-2019, 07:12 AM   #29
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I work with computers for a living. Why the heck would I want to drive one? This is one reason why I still have a weekend race car in my collection with a 4-speed manual, carburetor, and breaker point ignition.....
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      07-20-2019, 07:22 AM   #30
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One thing I notice in this thread, and others I have seen, is that most of the folks who say how much they love the manuals (and I am sure they do) are driving old cars. That is great BUT that means they are not buying new cars. So if a significant chunk of the enthusiast market is not purchasing new cars, and the segment itself is small, that can explain why car makers are no longer offering manuals -- not enough buyers.
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      07-20-2019, 08:39 AM   #31
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Savageenterprise View Post
I don’t see why people make such a fuss about driving stick in traffic. I mean, it’s not some crazy hard car to drive and the clutch is light. I am on the younger side at 29 so I can understand older folks who don’t want to deal with it but To me it’s the same damn thing. It sucks that the sporty sedan manual segment is pretty much non existent now. I need 4 doors (got a little baby) and the more I hear about new cars not offering manuals the more I’m saddened. Maybe I’ll buy my lease out at the end if the deal is good enough just so I can keep it.

I feel like if I’m gonna be forced to drive an automatic I want a big body sedan that’s more luxury oriented or a truck.
I'm on the old side of 50... I had total knee replacement on my left leg in 2012. I was driving 2 weeks after surgery in my manual E90 325i... an 80 mile trip on 2-lane back country roads plus northern Virginia DC traffic (i.e. lots of gear changes). Driving a 3-pedal car, like age, is a state of mind.
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      07-20-2019, 08:44 AM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by lsturbointeg View Post
I was able to hold a drink in between my legs, a sandwich in my right hand while shifting at the same time! it's not hard! I think I did this when I was racing too?!
But can you do it in reverse?
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      07-20-2019, 08:46 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Germanauto View Post
Tech: auto transmissions have superseded standard transmissions in performance (numbers-wise) and fuel economy.

Human psychology: it is human nature to crave convenience. Autos are just easier to live with especially with our increasingly metros. I can't imagine driving a manual daily here in SoCal.

Cost: when not enough people desire a stick shift then automakers can't justify spending all the extra millions on R&D and production.

Culture: the world has become increasingly technology-laden. People, especially younger generations, are far more passionate about the newest phones and social media than cars. In the past a car was your ticket to freedom, but now with smartphones kids can communicate with their friends from home. A car is no longer a necessity to have "fun." Tech is where the money is now, not driving dynamics. Just look at the latest 3-series commercials showcasing a bunch of useless technology vs. a commercial from the E90 era.
This societal lack of passion for the automobile = a lesser demand for stick shifts, communicative steering, stiff suspensions, etc. People want the "image" of a cool sporty car without the actual "sportiness."

This same logic applies to the shitty numb electric steering in modern BMWs and to a lesser degree, Porsches.
Exactly.
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      07-20-2019, 08:50 AM   #34
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveinArizona View Post
One thing I notice in this thread, and others I have seen, is that most of the folks who say how much they love the manuals (and I am sure they do) are driving old cars. That is great BUT that means they are not buying new cars. So if a significant chunk of the enthusiast market is not purchasing new cars, and the segment itself is small, that can explain why car makers are no longer offering manuals -- not enough buyers.
I'm driving an old car because the new cars don't offer a manual transmission.

(and a non-turbo in-line 6 cylinder engine).
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      07-20-2019, 08:54 AM   #35
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Quote:
Originally Posted by vreihen16 View Post
I work with computers for a living. Why the heck would I want to drive one? This is one reason why I still have a weekend race car in my collection with a 4-speed manual, carburetor, and breaker point ignition.....

We used to just call them... "cars"
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A manual transmission can be set to "comfort", "sport", and "track" modes simply by the technique and speed at which you shift it; it doesn't need "modes", modes are for manumatics that try to behave like a real 3-pedal manual transmission. If you can money-shift it, it's a manual transmission. "Yeah, but NO ONE puts an automatic trans shift knob on a manual transmission."
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      07-20-2019, 09:08 AM   #36
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Good points from many of course. To add to it, I just don't think parents have been teaching their kids to drive manuals. When I was 15, my dad forced me to learn to drive on a manual first. Gave me the whole "if you're ever in an emergency and all that's available is a stick" story. I haven't looked back since, learning to drive on a manual they are the only types of cars I've owned over 28 years of driving. I hate all autos with a passion.

It's pretty eye opening how many younger people have no idea how to drive a manual. When I valet my car at various places, it's almost guaranteed the valets have to search for one of their own who can drive a manual. To me that's insane, how can you be a valet and not drive a manual?!? How could you possibly be OK'd for that job if you're unable to drive one? To me, that's a very clear indication on just how rare manuals are becoming.

If BMW ceases to make manuals, the M4 will be my last one. If everybody ditches them I'll either wind up driving older cars until my time's up, or perhaps capitulate and get a Corvette C8 without a stick (but even that would be an extremely hard sell for me, hopefully they'll make a stick in the coming years for the C8!).
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      07-20-2019, 09:25 AM   #37
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveinArizona View Post
One thing I notice in this thread, and others I have seen, is that most of the folks who say how much they love the manuals (and I am sure they do) are driving old cars. That is great BUT that means they are not buying new cars. So if a significant chunk of the enthusiast market is not purchasing new cars, and the segment itself is small, that can explain why car makers are no longer offering manuals -- not enough buyers.
Sports cars in this price range/class should be 6 gears

Yes I noticed it too, they keep the KungFu grip on old classy cars because a good amount of them are old farts with cash! and have a mix (car collection) and some newer daily's I'm shopping for a car cover debating is the best worth a couple hundred more?!? $300-$500 some on here are installing custom hydraulic lifts to change the oil because it's FUN,

Most car guys buy a mix of latest and classic, they don't just have 1

I was about to spend $50k on a mint 02 M3 after wifey laughs I just got the M2 to me it's a new old m3 if that makes sense? happy with my choice and I got warranty!

Sorry to all the old farts, my apologies in advance! now get ready for dinner @ IHOP 4pm
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      07-20-2019, 09:43 AM   #38
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Sooner or later the beloved manual will only be found in the museums.

The EPA has been setting fuel and emission standards and the path of the manufactures are using computers. With the computers in full control of the engine performance and the trans shifting when THEY feel it should, MPG's have improved to their liking. The invention of the flippers on the steering is their best attempt to manual shifting.

I'm knocking the age of 70 and have had one hell of a time traveling this world.

But soon, the world of driving will be over. Fully computerized cars, (no manual anything) and .. IF .. you are lucky, you MIGHT be able to own a car that will let YOU physically drive .. sometime .. or a small portion of the trip, but that too will end.
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      07-20-2019, 09:43 AM   #39
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Originally Posted by NEfan508 View Post
Sorry to all the old farts, my apologies in advance! now get ready for dinner @ IHOP 4pm
The senior citizen discount doesn't start until 5 you whipper snapper!
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      07-20-2019, 10:37 AM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SteveinArizona View Post
One thing I notice in this thread, and others I have seen, is that most of the folks who say how much they love the manuals (and I am sure they do) are driving old cars. That is great BUT that means they are not buying new cars.
Mopar discontinued the G56 6-speed manual option on the HD Ram/Cummins pickups starting in model year 2019, and that was supposedly the last big pickup with a manual transmission. I might have considered dropping the equivalent of another house mortgage to upgrade my current Ram/Cummins in a few years, but a slushbox is a deal-breaker to me.....
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      07-20-2019, 10:59 AM   #41
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I used to prefer manual as well, and have had manual in most of my cars. But now modern autos (like the ZF in the BMWs) have gotten so good, that they shift almost perfectly even during active driving, and if you insist on doing it yourself the paddle shifters work perfectly fine too.

So 99% of the time, a good auto is just ..better.
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      07-20-2019, 11:39 AM   #42
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Efthreeoh View Post
But can you do it in reverse?
YES!
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      07-20-2019, 11:56 AM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by AnOldBiker View Post
But soon, the world of driving will be over. Fully computerized cars, (no manual anything) and .. IF .. you are lucky, you MIGHT be able to own a car that will let YOU physically drive .. sometime .. or a small portion of the trip, but that too will end.
Nah, the self driving car stuff is decades away if ever. I'd be amazed if we saw it adopted on a large scale in any of our lifetimes. It's doable in cities with well defined grids and low speed limits, but they're light years away from going 100% autonomous everywhere.
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      07-20-2019, 01:59 PM   #44
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These are how people drive nowadays, they're not gonna even try to add operating a manual to the mix

https://www.reddit.com/r/IdiotsInCars
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