I love my Acura RSX Type-S. The 6 speed manual is a dream to drive. My very first car, the car I learned to drive on (a 1987 Toyota Camry), had a 5 speed manual. Driving empty curvy roads in my RSX is a blast. I even like the feeling of accelerating on an on-ramp to a highway. The thing I don't like is when that highway has stop-and-go traffic on it. Unfortunately, this is the case in my area during rush hour, and I have to drive in it 5 days a week. As much as I love my manual transmission, I hate the pain in the knee I get from driving it in regular heavy traffic. Clutch-gas-move 10 feet-brake-clutch-gas-move 10 feet-brake-clutch-gas-move 10 feet......rinse and repeat for the next 20 minutes.
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Is the Manual Transmission Dying Out?
- Thread starter 3506string
- Start date
Tacomas are currently available with manual transmissions, they have been for at least the last few years. Maybe they stopped offering them, and then restarted, I don't know, but they are available now.
I think manual transmissions will eventually disappear. But not for a very long time.
You might want to check out the cost of a new clutch compared to that of new brake pads!
I've heard arguments on boths sides of this, being that the transmission is strong enough for engine braking and that is the proper way to slow down a manual car. The other side (the side I usually agree with), is that engine braking causes unneeded stress to the transmission, so just use the brakes. As you say, I'd rather replace my brakes a little more often knowing that my transmission hasn't been pushed too hard very often.
Also, the OP may want to look into the Civic Si, Coupe or Sedan. Great transmission, good power, pretty cheap, very reliable.
I guess one way to consider it is to look at what racing car drivers do (giving that the integrity of the drive train is important if you are going to finish a race). They don't engine brake, they heel and toe shift to ensure that the transaction is at the proper speed when downshifting and use the brake pedal to slow the car down. In reality it probably makes very little difference for an everyday driver, but the cost of brake pads changed regulary is still a lot cheaper than replacing a clutch, so why bring yourself closer to a clutch replacement to save on brake pads?
That is changing very rapidly.
We are moving towards automatic transmissions. Due to popular demand.
Automatic transmissions improved a lot over the years.
I'm in the motorcycle business.
Honda is develloping automatic transmissions to be used in common bikes.
I drove the DN-01 (full automatic transmission) and it is really good.
Next year they are coming out with the fully automatic VFR1200.
I think they use the brakes because at higher speeds, in higher gears, the brakes will slow you down faster than downshifting will. In higher gears, the ratios are small enough that the momentum of the car has the mechanical advantage, not the engine. Basically, if you back off the gas in 1st, the cars gonna slow down, and fast, but if you back off the gas in 4th, you're just going to coast.
Now, trucks with a Jake Brake, that's something else altogether.
Bob Lee (QSC)
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I've always owned cars with manual transmissions. Overall, I enjoy driving with them more than with automatics.
I use engine braking at times, mostly to control my speed on downhills but also on some regular stops. When I got rid of my previous car (an '88 VW Golf) at >253K miles (~400K km), the original clutch itself was still working fine and had outlasted the clutch cable, the pedal assembly (a notable weak spot on MkII VWs, I learned), the driver's seat, et al. IIRC, in its lifetime the car had three front (disc, of course) brake jobs and two rear (drum) jobs. My brakes lasted about twice as long when I lived in Connecticut compared to after I moved to California, probably because around here you typically spend more time with your foot on the brake pedal than on the accelerator.
I use engine braking at times, mostly to control my speed on downhills but also on some regular stops. When I got rid of my previous car (an '88 VW Golf) at >253K miles (~400K km), the original clutch itself was still working fine and had outlasted the clutch cable, the pedal assembly (a notable weak spot on MkII VWs, I learned), the driver's seat, et al. IIRC, in its lifetime the car had three front (disc, of course) brake jobs and two rear (drum) jobs. My brakes lasted about twice as long when I lived in Connecticut compared to after I moved to California, probably because around here you typically spend more time with your foot on the brake pedal than on the accelerator.
You might want to check out the cost of a new clutch compared to that of new brake pads!
Mark, you're not the first person to suggest that. :^} However, I'm a stubborn bugger, and am pretty curious to see which wins, the brakes or the clutch. This'll be a long term experiment -- the test-victim being a cheap Echo (early Yaris). I'm certainly extremely gentle in my downshifts, and so far the clutch is just fine (110,000km) -- knock wood (my head).
pw
Plus if you want to tow, they only recommend using an automatic. My little S-10 V6 auto is rated for 5500lbs towing, but I've only done about 4500 on long distances and it was scary enough. Otherwise I would have bought a stick.
However now that I'm married to someone who never learned to drive a stick, it's only autos for us. Besides driving something big enough to hold 3 kids and their crap saps all the fun out of it, stick or not.
On the other hand, we have a Honda Odyssey, which was compared favorably to '60s sports cars in this amusing article: http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/articles/soccer-moms-revenge/ ... so it's not all bad.
As a counterpoint, I have a minivan with 60k miles and an SUV with 100k miles on their original brakes, both autos of course, and heavy vehicles, primarily driven by someone (not me) who brakes hard and brakes late (and scares the crap out of me). And yes I check the pads and rotors regularly, they just keep going. It's all in the brake system design and build quality. And I guess the driving.
I use engine braking and my 1992 Civic Si still has the original clutch at 218k miles. On maybe my third or fourth set of pads.
My wife and I both prefer manuals. Her DD is a 6 speed Mini Cooper S, mine are 5 speeds; 2000 BMW Z3 Coupe, 99 Miata. Our Element is an automatic, the performance is fine. If I were going to buy a new car (which I can't see happening anytime soon) it would likely be a manual. I prefer used cars.
My sister found a nice deal on a very clean 2002 5 series BMW with manual. My Z3 Coupe has been largely trouble free in three years of ownership. With the info available on internet forums, it's pretty easy to troubleshoot most problems.
My wife and I both prefer manuals. Her DD is a 6 speed Mini Cooper S, mine are 5 speeds; 2000 BMW Z3 Coupe, 99 Miata. Our Element is an automatic, the performance is fine. If I were going to buy a new car (which I can't see happening anytime soon) it would likely be a manual. I prefer used cars.
My sister found a nice deal on a very clean 2002 5 series BMW with manual. My Z3 Coupe has been largely trouble free in three years of ownership. With the info available on internet forums, it's pretty easy to troubleshoot most problems.
The vast majority of people my age (that I know of) don't know how to drive a stick, or if they do it's because their parents drive one. The only reason I can see anyone getting a manual right now is that if it is a high-end fun car.
You might notice in this thread that all sorts of folks here enjoy their stickshifts in all manner and all level of vehicle. (Mine's the cheapest Toyota puddle-jumper sold here.)
But then, we're bass players, so we're already weird. ;^>
pw
but...but...you can't text, drive AND shift your car at the same time, that'd be dangerous.
Seriously tho, I loves me a manual shift vehicle. I haven't had one in a few years, but the next one will be...I miss it dearly.
Seriously tho, I loves me a manual shift vehicle. I haven't had one in a few years, but the next one will be...I miss it dearly.
I drive a stick.
I just like it better than an automatic.
I find I have more control over the car. and its good to be able to shift up on ice, or snow so the wheel don't spin as easy.
I just like it better than an automatic.
I find I have more control over the car. and its good to be able to shift up on ice, or snow so the wheel don't spin as easy.
My first car was a Mazda RX7. 5-speed stick. It was a blast to drive most of the time. Not super fast, but excellent cornering, good brakes. I had it for about 10 years before it finally went kaput. Just gave it to my mechanic one day.
Driving around town with no traffic, or on winding country roads - great fun. However, driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic on freeways constantly doing the clutch/handbrake dance when you are on the upside of the overpasses... hmmm - the fun factor goes out the window. All depends on the type of driving you have to do.
I certainly would not mind having another stick sportscar to tool around in for fun, but not as a commuter car.
OP: good luck in your hunt. Somebody mentioned CarMax. I did not use their email feature, but did purchase a couple cars from CarMax - usually good values, and you can purchase a long-term warranty to hedge against problems. That seemed to work out well for me.
Driving around town with no traffic, or on winding country roads - great fun. However, driving in bumper-to-bumper traffic on freeways constantly doing the clutch/handbrake dance when you are on the upside of the overpasses... hmmm - the fun factor goes out the window. All depends on the type of driving you have to do.
I certainly would not mind having another stick sportscar to tool around in for fun, but not as a commuter car.
OP: good luck in your hunt. Somebody mentioned CarMax. I did not use their email feature, but did purchase a couple cars from CarMax - usually good values, and you can purchase a long-term warranty to hedge against problems. That seemed to work out well for me.
Everybody warned me about that when I was about to buy my little manual shifter. But luckily I haven't found bumper-to-bumper to be too tedious. Maybe it's cuz my little car and its gear ratios were designed for the city?
2nd gear covers most of it; I'm hardly conscious of it when I flick back to Neutral or 1st for the worst gridlock. I guess it really helps if your car has a light clutch though.
I used to be scared of inclines in traffic; now I get satisfaction out of being in control of it. The parking brake's there if you need it, but once you get some experience, you discover you don't need it much.
-pw
