Manumatics can be good

"CB" (jrcb) 01/26/2018 at 21:55 • Filed to: Opinions are like Assholes

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We woke up to this this morning. My work vehicle doesn’t have winter tires. Getting to moving is a problem in the winter, to say nothing of stopping (I’m expecting some complaints from the public on Monday). But you know what helps the little Sonic? The manumatic.

Like this.

Now, hear me out. It’s not a sports car. All I do is hit a little button on the shifter to go up or down a gear (and only if the car thinks that’s a good idea). It’s not going to make me Speed Racer. But you know what I can do? Get my car to accelerate from a standstill in third gear. You know how nice it is to not have to deal with wheelspin when trying to move? A gentle application of the gas pedal in third is worlds different from the same move when just in drive. I spent most of my day solely in third gear today, and it was pretty great.

And less helpfully, but engine braking is nice and reassuring, rather than constantly slamming on the brakes. It probably doesn’t do much, but it makes me feel more confident, which helps.

Is it perfect? Hell no. While it would stay in third sometimes, occasionally it would just flip back into first, which led to wheelspin and looking like an asshole. So, some kinks can be worked out. But overall, I’m pretty happy I have it. I’m all for manumatics now.

OPPOsaurus WRX > CB 01/26/2018 at 22:21

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that is the saving grace for my Focus. It keeps me same in traffic, occupying my mind, and when that jackassshitnugget goes 28 in a 45 you can hold the gear and all 12hp can roar past them

Chariotoflove > CB 01/26/2018 at 23:12

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I think history should record this as the first written logical argument for a manumatic transmission.

CB > Chariotoflove 01/26/2018 at 23:19

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And most likely the last!

AestheticsInMotion > CB 01/26/2018 at 23:50

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My manumatic won’t let me start above 2nd gear :/

HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie > CB 01/27/2018 at 01:17

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The paddle shifters in my Fit are a great utility feature, really. The car has very little acceleration to begin with, so any little bit you can squeeze out of it helps a lot. (Also the engine note sounds surprisingly good (must be that VTEC, yo) in the upper rev range, which you’d never know if you stuck in auto mode.)

HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie > HPoz - I like Honda Fits and I cannot lie 01/27/2018 at 01:19

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I’ve never tried pulling out in a higher gear though. Depending on whether Honda’s software lets me, it could be useful in the snow.

gogmorgo - rowing gears in a Grand Cherokee > CB 01/27/2018 at 02:05

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I’m surprised it lets you go into third at a standstill. Most systems just seem to use it to limit the upper end of the gear range.

You might want to watch with the engine braking. It works okay, but two points against it are that it doesn’t illuminate your brake lights, and it’s much less quick to disengage than the pedal is if you find your wheels are decelerating more quickly than you have traction. I once had a very interesting moment coming down the Kicking Horse pass. My passengers were less than impressed with me...