Forget Self-Driving Cars. Bring Back the Stick Shift.

"404 - User No Longer Available" (toni-cipriani)
03/26/2019 at 00:22 • Filed to: save the manuals

Article from The New York Times.

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DISCUSSION (17)

Spanfeller is a twat > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 00:31

too late

wafflesnfalafel > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 00:39

D amn straight, (never gonna happen, but it’s good somebody is recognizing all the recent gizmos are not as effective as automotive marketers would like them to be.)

sn4cktimes > Spanfeller is a twat
03/26/2019 at 00:42

Agreed, and that’s more than a bit sad.

glemon > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 00:43

I old enough to wholeheartedly agree with the message and also old enough to know things move forward, not back, we few little be to drive them, but modern autoboxes are faster and get better MPGs than manuals, and most prefer to drive with one hand on their phones, leaving no appendages free for shifting.

Nauraushaun > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 00:54

Nice article

Urambo Tauro > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 01:10

But mah favorite anti-theft system!

JeepJeremy > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 03:23

Sad truth but:

Manual Transmission = Driving a car

Automatic Transmission = Operating a car

And the difference is HUGE

beardsbynelly - Rikerbeard > 404 - User No Longer Available
03/26/2019 at 03:54

clearly written by someone whose dad didn’t drive with their knees while rolling a cigarette, changing gears and putting the seatbelt on at the same time.

lscrx > glemon
03/26/2019 at 10:25

I don’t necessarily agree that modern automatics get better fuel economy, they definitely do better on the EPA tests though. I was going to go pull up a couple of examples of cars that did better on the EPA tests with an automatic, but do better in the real world with a manual...but the two I checked (Jetta 1.4t and Civic Sport) both are both rated higher with the manual. I know when I had a 2012 Focus SE (back in 2012) the 5-speed hatch had the lowest EPA rating for highway mileage, however, if you look at www.fuelly.com the 2012 Foci with the highest averages are generally 5-speed cars. My current daily is a 2017 Jetta 1.4t 5-speed, and it gets crazy good gas mileage... I have a lead foot and have never averaged lower than the EPA combined number.

lscrx > Urambo Tauro
03/26/2019 at 10:26

I snicker every time I read about a car theft being thwarted by a manual transmission.

glemon > lscrx
03/26/2019 at 10:29

They can probably tune the autos for maximum mpg in epa simulations these days

CobraJoe > glemon
03/26/2019 at 10:38

Things move forward, not back.. But “Forward” doesn’t always indicate the easiest direction.

Take cooking for an example. In the 50s and 60s, science fiction was all about the “pills are meals” or “push button-get food” methods of cooking. Today, there seems to be a resurgence in people actually cooking things for themselves . Baking and cooking shows are incredibly popular and there are multiple subscription services to deliver uncooked food to your door.

Basically, I’m saying that the easiest option isn’t always the option everyone desires.

lscrx > glemon
03/26/2019 at 11:22

That’s been my assumption since the EPA test is a known standard they can tune the automatic to perform “perfectly” in the test conditions.

I just totaled up all the 2017 Jetta 1.4t’s that have their transmission specified in Fuelly (108!) in an Excel spreadsheet. The average for 5-speed manuals is 37.1 vs 33.4 for the 6-speed DSG. Considering the EPA rates them only 1mpg apart combined... gives us one specific anecdotal piece of proof that manuals are superior :D

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > lscrx
03/26/2019 at 11:54

Cars are getting crazy good mileage these days. My old TDI basically can only return 37-38 these days. Granted, that is 100% city driving, but on road trips, I feel lucky to get 40-42. Wider tires and some carbon buildup are certainly a factor though. It used to be mid to high 40's always.

lscrx > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
03/26/2019 at 14:44

I recommend the manual 1.4t powered Jetta to anyone that wants a frugal commuter car that isn’t a chore to drive (I’m looking at you Corolla). They get diesel-like fuel economy (on regular gas!) and have diesel-like torque (peaks @1400rpm) and can cruise at 70-80mph while getting 40mpg. Before buying the Jetta, I test drove a 6-speed Corolla (also a 2017 ) and even though I like to shift...I don’t want to have to shift THAT much. The NA 1.8 in the Corolla just doesn’t have enough power for a 6-speed, you have to abuse it just to keep up with traffic.

SPAMBot - Horse Doctor > lscrx
03/26/2019 at 15:00

I’m leaning towards an EB Mustang for my next DD (probably in a year). They get pretty decent mileage for how much power they have. I don’t want/need a full blown commuter car in my current situation, but decent gas mileage is always welcomed. I’m just amazed with how much efficiency we gained in gas-non hybrids- in the last 10 years.

lscrx > SPAMBot - Horse Doctor
03/27/2019 at 09:30

I haven’t driven an EB Mustang, but I’ve always wanted a Fox-body SVO. I have three kids, so having a back seat that can fit three across if necessary is a requirement for me. My truck is a regular cab with a bench seat, but I figure that any scenario that involves our two 5-passenger cars being out of commission will be dire enough for me to toss the boys in the bed of the truck and tell them to hang on.