Preserve the Manuals: a Plea for Sanity

"E. Julius" (soonerfrommi) 02/21/2015 at 17:15 • Filed to: save the manuals

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Modern technology is a wonderful thing. It allows more people to drive motorcars in an easier, safer, and more efficient way than ever before. Cursing the march of progress would be silly, since without it we'd still have the family horse and buggy. But in this advancement something wonderful has been lost: connection. The modern motorist has lost that sublime interaction that was once all but necessary to operate our fantastic machines.

To drive in the modern fashion isn't driving at all. As motoring enthusiasts, we can all agree that there is something special about slotting that little lever on the wheel into the right notch, hearing and feeling the car agree with your choice. That bond between man and machine is something that these modern 'distributors' cannot replicate.

Please, join me in spreading the word, in teaching the next generation the joys of adjusting your own ignition timing. The wonderful feeling of connectedness that comes with being so involved in the operation or your motorcar. Save the manuals, lest our children and our children's children grow up without being able to recognize this:

Conan > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 17:41

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I've given out three manual lessons this year to students during my tutoring hours. I figure it's a valuable life skill.

E. Julius > Conan 02/21/2015 at 17:42

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Have you taught them to adjust the ignition timing on their Model T?

Conan > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 18:00

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Truth is, they seem to find it a little rebellious and think it gets them entry into the prestigious cult of the Mustang. Everybody knows that an automatic Mustang isn't proper.

primarypoint > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 18:27

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I'd like an intake cam advance knob as well—"set intake advance to 40 degrees, then press the VTEC button!"

E. Julius > primarypoint 02/21/2015 at 18:28

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Manual VTEC. Awesome.

CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 18:31

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friend bought a E36 M3, and I gave him a lesson on driving stick before I got my permit.

E. Julius > CCC (formerly CyclistCarCoexist) 02/21/2015 at 18:33

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Cool story, although I think you missed the point of the post.

Vzwolf > E. Julius 02/21/2015 at 23:02

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Maybe we can make a case for manuals preventing excessive speeding. Forget about being one with the car or anything else, it just gives us something to do. For me, peace on American roads is a manual car that sounds really good.

Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig > E. Julius 02/22/2015 at 00:50

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Because it's a bit of a silly analogy. The spark advance died out because there's nothing enjoyable about it. Nobody misses crank starters because they're not about the experience of driving. They're more of an obstacle to it. The manual is not an obstacle to the driving experience. It enhances it.

The manual has survived for the past 60 years because it's enjoyable, not because it's technologically superior. Remove a manual choke and no one will notice. Remove a manual transmission and you've sapped away half of what it means to drive. Since I learned to drive manual I have gotten into literally zero automatics without thinking, "Well, I've got to make the best of this." A brand new 3 series or a '63 Galaxie, the thought has never been, "I'm going to have so much more fun driving this because I don't have to shift."

Modern automatics are faster, more advanced, and easier (for the people who get themselves stuck in traffic and then whine about it). But do they add anything to the experience? Is it ever more exciting to climb into a car with a PRNDL staring back at you? Manuals are just more fun.

E. Julius > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 02/22/2015 at 06:20

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It wasn't an analogy, I know oppo doesn't need another "hurr durr manuals are better" post, that's just preaching to the choir. The idea was that people read it starting to think "here we go again", and then realize I'm talking about something completely different. To be honest I don't know how many people got it, but I guess subtlety never works well on the internet. I should have filed it "THIS IS A JOKE".

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Andy Sheehan, StreetsideStig 02/22/2015 at 06:40

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While I agree it enhances the experience for many (I would never buy an auto) actually a lot of the reason manual survives is cost. Here in the UK the average econobox costs about £1-£2k to add an auto to, on an £8k 1 litre hatchback this makes no sense. My stepdad for example stated he would drive an auto if he could get a decent one for a good price.

That's not to say there aren't people who stand by their manuals, my girlfriend and grandad have both said they hate auto, but it's not just enjoyment that helps them survive.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > E. Julius 02/22/2015 at 06:41

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Manuals are serious business on oppo apparently...

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > E. Julius 02/22/2015 at 07:17

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I'm 7 beers in and I saw it for the humour it was. 5/10

E. Julius > beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard 02/22/2015 at 08:16

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That's all I'm asking for haha

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > E. Julius 02/22/2015 at 08:51

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I think maybe it's cause I'm a wee bit older (30ish) than Oppo's gen pop in that I've actually had to adjust the timing and know what of a shit job it is.

Jiminini > E. Julius 02/22/2015 at 12:00

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It's like setting ignition timing by ear, (timing light broke) or your carb air/fuel mix. Then take it out for a drive and see how it runs. There is a "sweet spot" or "pretty blue light", where the car performs absolutely perfectly. Tweak and tune.