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mydeafcat
·Audi Fox was not a Rabbit. It was a Dasher(Passat)with rings. Longitudinal vs transverse.
Stick Shift & Mechanical Watches
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JwRosenthal
·Up until 2019 you could get a peppy Honda Accord Sport with a stick:
But the manual option has since disappeared, quietly 🙁
When I bought my ‘06 Audi in ‘10 I was originally wanting a BMW wagon (as I was a die hard Bimmer lover). But they had nothing recent I wanted. The A3 had gotten a facelift by that time and tech updates- it seemed the end of the era for the simpler tech was ‘07… which seemed to be across the industry.
Researching for my mini last year I discovered that ‘19 was the last year of the 6-speed for the CM, and the facelift of ‘21 got rid of the analog instruments and “simpler” tech it had, so my window was ‘17-‘19 for this model. I didn’t “need” another car, but my Audi is getting long in the tooth and I didn’t want to find myself in a position where I “needed” to buy a car so figured it was a good time to find the one I wanted that was still first owner and just out of warranty with the packages I wanted.
When this one dies I’m not sure what’s left for me- but I’ll probably keep tracking down the specific model years of the cars I want in the best shape I can find- it’s what I do.
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Charlemagne1333
·Un-synchronised first gear was common to almost all cars sold in UK in 1950s to 1970s, so to get into 1st while moving the technique was essential to learn. Came in handy when using completely non-syncho 'boxes on motorcycles or cars with Hewland gearboxes. That practise meant I can drive (a manual) without a functioning clutch -- handy when the left knee gives way.....
Can’t imagine doing that, these days.
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mydeafcat
·Does anyone here remember Chevrolet's Torque Drive transmission? My first car was a granny-driven 1969 2-door Nova; nothing fancy, no mags or kitted out anything. The old bird had the thing from new and my dad bought it for $700 in 1980 when I turned 18.
Rather than a D for Drive, the steering column had a '1st' to start in, then you manually popped it into H1. At red lights, if a fancy-schmancy Camaro or Chevelle or 'stang pulled up and laughed at my boring Nova, I'd spank them off the line. This lasted for perhaps 20 feet; while enjoyable, the smugness was fleeting. As you can read in the link, Torque Drive was a cheeseball version of the Powerglide. As goofy as it was, I wish I had the car today.
Rather than a D for Drive, the steering column had a '1st' to start in, then you manually popped it into H1. At red lights, if a fancy-schmancy Camaro or Chevelle or 'stang pulled up and laughed at my boring Nova, I'd spank them off the line. This lasted for perhaps 20 feet; while enjoyable, the smugness was fleeting. As you can read in the link, Torque Drive was a cheeseball version of the Powerglide. As goofy as it was, I wish I had the car today.
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kohster
·Also in Chicagoland, but I rarely have to drive in rush hour. Have had some kind of manual car since I started driving. 1989 Honda Civic Station Wagon, 1995 Nissan Sentra GXE, 2008 Honda Civic Si. That might be the end of the road (hah!) for stick shifts for us since probably next car(s) will be EV or hybrid....
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kohster
·My kid was ogling the Civic SI … only comes in manual.
As God intended. 😀
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josiahg52
·Un-synchronised first gear was common to almost all cars sold in UK in 1950s to 1970s, so to get into 1st while moving the technique was essential to learn. Came in handy when using completely non-syncho 'boxes on motorcycles or cars with Hewland gearboxes. That practise meant I can drive (a manual) without a functioning clutch -- handy when the left knee gives way.....
I forgot that I have a 1978 Dodge Power Wagon back home with a 4-speed NP435 wide-ratio so with a 6.68:1 (unsynchronized) first gear.
Most days I can downshift my Ram without the clutch very easily. Upshifting is slightly harder Couple that with a pretty effective on-turbo exhaust brake and I don't think it's too bad of a drive. Definitely can be tiring towing or hauling in traffic.
Thinking back, except for two Tahoe's (1996 and 2001) and the X5, all of my cars have been manuals. 1977 280Z, 1984 and 1990 300ZX, 1985 944, 1988 944 Turbo S, 1993 RX7, two 2001 M5. Really wish I still had the 944T. I could use a good two-door sports car. Or maybe a 928 or BMW 8-series. Maybe another Z car . . .
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timjohn
·Old school.
Double de-clutching down on a non-synchro box on a steep hill in traffic can be a challenge… on the other hand, the manual accelerator was a brave stab at early cruise control, and no problem searching for the keys - she starts fine with a screwdriver.
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X350 XJR
··Vintage Omega AficionadoGrew up on sticks, took my drivers test in my brothers 2002 tii but commuting in LA traffic is not fun even on the best days.
I’ve had my 240Z for 39 years and anticipate going to my grave with it, just couldn’t drive it every day here.
I’ve had my 240Z for 39 years and anticipate going to my grave with it, just couldn’t drive it every day here.
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Duracuir1
··Never Used A KodakGrew up on sticks, took my drivers test in my brothers 2002 tii but commuting in LA traffic is not fun even on the best days.
I’ve had my 240Z for 39 years and anticipate going to my grave with it, just couldn’t drive it every day here.
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mydeafcat
·Grew up on sticks, took my drivers test in my brothers 2002 tii but commuting in LA traffic is not fun even on the best days.
I’ve had my 240Z for 39 years and anticipate going to my grave with it, just couldn’t drive it every day here.
Ahh...the 2002. I do a double-take and smile when I make an increasingly rare sighting. I pine for my older brother's two tii's; like little go-carts, they were, and that 70's Bimmer cabin smell....
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Aroxx
·Grew up on sticks, took my drivers test in my brothers 2002 tii but commuting in LA traffic is not fun even on the best days.
I’ve had my 240Z for 39 years and anticipate going to my grave with it, just couldn’t drive it every day here.
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kkt
·Was just at the dealer. My kid was ogling the Civic SI … only comes in manual. It’s a stunner.
Yeah, I'm happy to say I own one of the 2018 Accord 6 speed manuals. The basic car is terrific, the transmission is a joy, the engine is great and it's been reliable so far. Decent amount of legroom for the back seat passengers. But damn the electronic nannies and some of the design features get annoying. Am I the only person who'd just as soon have a key instead of a fob that when stuck in my pocket accidentally rolls all the windows down and opens the sunroof, even though I am inside the house? Or opens the trunk? And needs its batteries changed always at the least convenient time? Anyway, I hope the car lasts 20 years.
I did look at the Si... but the boy racer styling was kind of alienating. I am a grown up, not speed racer. I just want a manual gearbox.
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JwRosenthal
·I’ve had my 240Z for 39 years and anticipate going to my grave with it, just couldn’t drive it every day here.
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janice&fred
·I always had stick shift cars, and used to think a clutch and manual shifting was kinda cool until I was the driver of a touring drag race team. Once we moved up class-wise to 7 second heads-up racing we had to use Lenco batch-o-levers 4 speed manual shift transmissions which require the clutch only at the starting line. Once launched, the 3 gear changes are made simply by yanking the 3 separate shift levers, no stepping on the clutch. So now, unlike the confident, seasoned contender I was with 1 gear change in the automatic 2 speed 9 second car we ran for many years, I had to mat the gas, dump the clutch, then start yanking those levers at the appropriate rpm while watching for the 1000ft mark in the track, at which time I had to reach and pull the parachute lever, then stuff in the clutch and kill the ignition, all within around 7.2 seconds as the finish line flashes by. Then the chute pops open, and one's eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out of their sockets with the hard slam of deceleration. The worst part of all this was the 3 gear changes, and after 4 seasons of driving this coffin on wheels I handed over that chore to a more qualified (or crazier) fellow and contented myself with working on the car along with the crew. I developed an aversion to anything manually shifted, and still can't stand it. I also hate speed. Never see over 75 mph since I gave up the competition driving.
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josiahg52
·Have owned a stick since my first car- 1985 Toyota Landcrusier (which still had locking hubs- tons of fun when stuck in knee deep mud).
Current stick shifts:
1993 BMW M5
2017 Mini Countryman-S (only made in stick until 2019, this one took me several months of hunting to find).
Man, the E34 M5 has such a serious look about it. I always loved the way the hood opens, too. I love my E39 M5, especially the motor. My buddy has an E28 M5 and that was a real treat to drive.
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JwRosenthal
·Man, the E34 M5 has such a serious look about it. I always loved the way the hood opens, too. I love my E39 M5, especially the motor. My buddy has an E28 M5 and that was a real treat to drive.
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JwRosenthal
·I always had stick shift cars, and used to think a clutch and manual shifting was kinda cool until I was the driver of a touring drag race team. Once we moved up class-wise to 7 second heads-up racing we had to use Lenco batch-o-levers 4 speed manual shift transmissions which require the clutch only at the starting line. Once launched, the 3 gear changes are made simply by yanking the 3 separate shift levers, no stepping on the clutch. So now, unlike the confident, seasoned contender I was with 1 gear change in the automatic 2 speed 9 second car we ran for many years, I had to mat the gas, dump the clutch, then start yanking those levers at the appropriate rpm while watching for the 1000ft mark in the track, at which time I had to reach and pull the parachute lever, then stuff in the clutch and kill the ignition, all within around 7.2 seconds as the finish line flashes by. Then the chute pops open, and one's eyeballs feel like they are going to pop out of their sockets with the hard slam of deceleration. The worst part of all this was the 3 gear changes, and after 4 seasons of driving this coffin on wheels I handed over that chore to a more qualified (or crazier) fellow and contented myself with working on the car along with the crew. I developed an aversion to anything manually shifted, and still can't stand it. I also hate speed. Never see over 75 mph since I gave up the competition driving.
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Larry S
··Color Commentator for the Hyperbole.Yeah, I'm happy to say I own one of the 2018 Accord 6 speed manuals. The basic car is terrific, the transmission is a joy, the engine is great and it's been reliable so far. Decent amount of legroom for the back seat passengers. But damn the electronic nannies and some of the design features get annoying. Am I the only person who'd just as soon have a key instead of a fob that when stuck in my pocket accidentally rolls all the windows down and opens the sunroof, even though I am inside the house? Or opens the trunk? And needs its batteries changed always at the least convenient time? Anyway, I hope the car lasts 20 years.
I did look at the Si... but the boy racer styling was kind of alienating. I am a grown up, not speed racer. I just want a manual gearbox.
