Does anybody else on this forum actually prefer a manual transmission??
03-30-17, 07:03 AM
#31
Lexus Fanatic
I have a co-worker who has only driven manuals all his life. He's turning 50 next year. So yesterday, he traded in his manual 2003 Tacoma for a brand new 4-Runner from Longo. He is so happy with the whole thing, including the change to automatics. When I dive deeper into the topic with him, he's basically tired of the added cost of fixing manuals over the life of the car. The Tacoma had been bullet-proof, except for the ongoing wear and tear of the transmission. So, I suppose that can be added to the negative list. Then again, manual cars are usually cheaper to purchase than automatic ones, so perhaps it's a wash depending on how long the vehicle is kept.
Personally, I'm happy manually shifting my automatic. Similar control, without the potential clutch issues.
By the way, in the time he was there making the deal at Longo, he had four interested parties for his Tacoma trade. Talk about resale!
Personally, I'm happy manually shifting my automatic. Similar control, without the potential clutch issues.
By the way, in the time he was there making the deal at Longo, he had four interested parties for his Tacoma trade. Talk about resale!
03-30-17, 09:48 AM
#32
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
surprisingly easy, mainly because the pedals are still in the same order. 
because i'm then sitting on the right side of the car, and driving in the left lane, i 'aim' to have the right side of the car near the center line, just as i would the other way in the u.s. (and most places). this worked just fine even though i didn't have much awareness of how close my left side was to the curb / hedges / walls / sheep etc.
good story. yeah driving in london sucks no matter what the car... best to walk, uber, taxi, bus, tube.
he must be hard on manuals. i've never had to fix a manual ever!
because i'm then sitting on the right side of the car, and driving in the left lane, i 'aim' to have the right side of the car near the center line, just as i would the other way in the u.s. (and most places). this worked just fine even though i didn't have much awareness of how close my left side was to the curb / hedges / walls / sheep etc.I visited England and Wales with a friend some years back, and decided to travel around by car. I was somewhat anxious about driving RHD cars so insisted that we rent ones with automatic transmissions.
From Manchester, we were able to rent an automatic Ford Mondeo but at Heathrow, all they had was a manual Ford Focus. It was actually easier than I thought it would be -- even the manual Focus. I was still anxious about parallel parking, though (something we don't do much of in North America anymore), not just because I am driving on the wrong side of the car, rowing my own gears with my left hand instead of my right, but also reversing into a spot on the wrong side of the road. So I avoided it or had my friend (from Singapore) do the parallel parking.
I would be willing to try it again -- but not in London (we did not drive into London that time). I would have to do all the driving though, since my wife never learned to drive stick and has never driven (intentionally) on the wrong side of the road.
From Manchester, we were able to rent an automatic Ford Mondeo but at Heathrow, all they had was a manual Ford Focus. It was actually easier than I thought it would be -- even the manual Focus. I was still anxious about parallel parking, though (something we don't do much of in North America anymore), not just because I am driving on the wrong side of the car, rowing my own gears with my left hand instead of my right, but also reversing into a spot on the wrong side of the road. So I avoided it or had my friend (from Singapore) do the parallel parking.
I would be willing to try it again -- but not in London (we did not drive into London that time). I would have to do all the driving though, since my wife never learned to drive stick and has never driven (intentionally) on the wrong side of the road.
he must be hard on manuals. i've never had to fix a manual ever!
haha yes! I will be that dad lol
03-31-17, 10:16 AM
#37
Pole Position
Up until early last year, my two previous daily drivers were manual 5 speed Honda Civics. The '92 SC is automatic and the now daily hand-me-down from the wife is an LS430. I have to say that commute time, bumper to bumper traffic is a lot easier to endure then with the two prior Hondas (both of which had smooth trannies and soft pedals).
When I do retire (real soon) a manual will be back on the list for a lot reasons mentioned above (fun to drive, control, mileage, etc).....
When I do retire (real soon) a manual will be back on the list for a lot reasons mentioned above (fun to drive, control, mileage, etc).....
04-01-17, 08:39 PM
#41
Pole Position
Definitely a fan. Have 6 speed manual in my 3rd car- Audi S5 (wouldn't have bought an automatic in this car). Disappointed that more cars (especially sedans) aren't offered in stick anymore. A lot of it depends on how "easy" the stick is to drive, especially in stop and go traffic. My S5 has a pretty short 1st gear, so in heavy traffic I tend to start in 2nd gear to save myself some shifting. Drove a buddy's brand new M3 6 speed manual today and it was a beast - felt faster than my S5 and was also easier to drive in traffic.
There are certain cars that shouldn't be produced without a manual IMO. I have my S5 for sale but have been thinking about saving it as I personally view it as the most classic S5 design and (my) preferred engine (4.2 V8)- and as autonomous cars take over the world, it would be cool to have something like this in the garage for my kids to occasionally enjoy or make fun of in the future. I also own a 460L and 570 and enjoy the extreme difference in driving experience between all vehicles. I personally prefer the Lexus experience, but occasionally a ride in the S5 initiates a grin on my face that can't be duplicated by anything else. The nostalgia of running through gears, albeit at a much faster pace now, is special to me.
There are certain cars that shouldn't be produced without a manual IMO. I have my S5 for sale but have been thinking about saving it as I personally view it as the most classic S5 design and (my) preferred engine (4.2 V8)- and as autonomous cars take over the world, it would be cool to have something like this in the garage for my kids to occasionally enjoy or make fun of in the future. I also own a 460L and 570 and enjoy the extreme difference in driving experience between all vehicles. I personally prefer the Lexus experience, but occasionally a ride in the S5 initiates a grin on my face that can't be duplicated by anything else. The nostalgia of running through gears, albeit at a much faster pace now, is special to me.
04-01-17, 08:42 PM
#42
I do but my commute is 50 miles one way in traffic so it just won't do
04-02-17, 08:16 AM
#43
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
04-02-17, 11:06 AM
#44
