Where are all the stick shift cars?
A dying breed: Manual Transmission cars. Many car people I know enjoy the ability to shift gears in a car and feel the power of your ride transmit from the engine to transmission, to the wheels is an experience like no other. There are few experiences that can emulate the transmission of horsepower and torque to feeling of being plastered to your seat as you transcend into a place where the meaning of time is decimated by your supercharged methanol breathing beast of a ride. That is an experience that almost drives some of the car community. To believe there was a time where Manual transmission cars reigned King.
With the persistence of technology and research, many manufactures have shifted to Automatic Transmission cars. (Where’s the fun in that? Anyone can fumble around in a 2 pedal cruiser) There is something almost artistic to a driver balancing the clutch, gas and brake- through a turn and then grab the shifter throw in to gear without missing a moment. I hate the saying that “All good things, must come to an end” but, could this be true for manual transmission cars?
…could this be true for manual transmission cars?
Since the beginning of cars, many of them came as a manual Transmission car as standard. If fact Automatic transmission cars only became popular in the late 70’s with the rise in Americans cursing the USA, traveling, exploring their country and of course visiting the many drive in options that were became a Icon of early car culture.
Though there are cities that still offer Drive in Movies. (and they are a must if you’ve never experienced one) Even with the rise of automatic transmission cars, the transmissions offered then couldn’t shift a gear to the ones offered today. Automatic transmission cars would jerk, shudder, malfunction and were more expensive to repair. They were even more expensive to get in the car new off the lot. With them being more expensive and less reliable, they were not as common.
With a manual transmission car (stick shift) there is a third pedal. The clutch pedals. Having two feet and three pedals takes some skill. It takes finesse, and possibly some understanding of the way your vehicle functions and how the engine and transmission communicate. This takes a precise balancing act. When done correctly you are rewarded with buttery smooth gear changes. When done improperly… Your backside, ears, and wallet will be devastated with the aggressive stalls as your vehicle gasp for breath and fuel. Your wallet may feel the brunt if there is damage caused to the clutch of the transmission itself from grinding gears.
Ahhh.. The third pedal.
Driving a automatic car is not only easier, it’s boring…(at times and I stress at times). Unless Im in a 1,000 hp+ car where Im worried about every 100th of second. In that instance many of those automatics that can handle that power are more efficient and quicker than their manual transmission counter part. Let’s face it, the computer can shift quicker that me.
On my daily day to day driving experience of 460hp, Nothing is more fun than having a clutch and Manual transmission car. There is no automatic out there that could pry my 6-speed manual transmission car from my clutches. Not even the Lightning quick shifts of a PDK transmission in a Porsche could change my mind( I mean unless were talking like a Porsche 911 GT3RS, but they come Manual as well)
The experience of balancing a clutch to properly shift through gears can be a positive one. I’ve driven 4,5, and 6-speed cars. All of them put a smile on my face, even though I wasn’t setting a new lap record at the Nürburgring. There is just something “Fun” about the mechanical feel of a manual transmission car. Many car people would agree. I’ve actually never owned an automatic. I’ve driven them. To me an automatic transmission car almost feels soul-less. It feels like more of a machine to me than the manual version.
Yes, driving a manual transmission car takes more work, and time to master. I believe mastering this skill leads to those rewarding experiences. When I get in a car, I look forward to the act of driving it. Weather it be to work, getting the kids to and from school(There’s a reason they pick to ride with me over Mom…I’m just saying) or even to take to the track for a local auto-cross event. There is something purely fun about having more control. I would even argue safer as I’m not frequently checking my phone while driving a manual trans. I’ve got a job to do, I need my hands for pulling that gear shifter and controlling this ride.
Alas, as time progresses, and the effects of climate change and pollution take effect into our current would it seems a kind of car is on the precipice of growth. The E.V. car. Yes, some of these battery operated cars have some impressive 0-60 times. They even have less moving parts, and require less maintenance. I feel that a integral piece of our car culture is absent from the mix. The use of Manual transmissions. As more and more manufactures mention going to all elective vehicles in near future (Audi, Volkswagen, Honda to name a few), I feel that the use of Manual transmissions will disappear with the Internal combustion engine.
Even if this is decades from now, I feel that we have seen the peak and are currently on the decline side of the mountain. It’s just a gut wrenching thought that one day soon, I will purchase my last Manual trans Internal combustion engine car. I hope with the progress of the future the car community can stand up together and some one put some sort of manual trans counter part in and electric car. Even if it doesn’t make sense. For it would be done just for the Fun of it. For me that’s what driving is all about, Fun.
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