Stick Shifts

[LowRyter]

You seldom see cars with sticks anymore.

And I can understand why no one in congested cities would ever want one.  But I am watching the new Beemer 3 series commercials where they show all the cars over the last 40 years and they are shifting each car in progression until they get to the newest model.

I bought a new car in August and I wanted a Sports Sedan with a stick.  I went to Beemer store, they didn't have a single stick shift model in stock ($35K+++++).  Of course, they could "find one". 

Anyway, I did get a '14 Accord EX.  Stick and sunroof with lots of extras.  And Honda offers sticks in most 4 cyl models, LX, Sport and EX.  Even more stick models in Coupes even with V6s.  (The secret is that Honda dealers will almost give away stick models just to get them off the lot.)  So, you can get a helluva deal on a stick Honda (less than $22k for a top line EX 4 cyl).

And I won't go into FWD vs RWD.  I can go into all that if you really want.   I like RWD in my V8 Z/28 that has enough torque to steer it with the throttle.  But FWD is great for a light weight sports sedan with 185 HP and 30 mpg.

Anyway the Beemer guys have a great image.  I am on down the road with one of the best cars in the world IMHO.  I really love it. 

[AJ Huff]

Miata come standard as standard. Automatic is a $6000 option I believe. My Jetta TDI is stick. Love it!

-AJ

[atavar]

the reason is that modern multi-speed automatics actually get better gas mileage and shift faster than their manual counterparts.  This is a big change from back in the day when a stick was 25% better mileage than an auto.

You think that is bad, there are many cars now that don't have keyholes in the doors or trunk.  A lot of teenagers have never opened a car door with a key.

[LowRyter]

I don't care.  I like driving a stick.

[atavar]

You should try one of the new auto's with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. They really are the bees knees. In manual mode with the paddle shifters you really have the best of both worlds.
It might just change your mind.

[NCAmother]

Service cars like my base tacoma 2006 come with sticks.  I like sticks, it helps me concentrate on driving

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

Shifting with a paddle will never be as satisfying as an actual real floor (or column) shifter operating a manual transmission for me. I don't want any electronics between my hand and the transmission or for that matter, between my foot and the throttle.

[NCAmother]

Shifting with a paddle will never be as satisfying as an actual real floor (or column) shifter operating a manual transmission for me. I don't want any electronics between my hand and the transmission or for that matter, between my foot and the throttle.

+1

[rocker59]

Miata come standard as standard. Automatic is a $6000 option I believe. My Jetta TDI is stick. Love it!

-AJ

Jetta TDI Sportwagon.  Oh, Hell yeah!

[Hymes Inc.]

If it wasn't for my wife, every vehicle I own would be a manual. My main ride is a 1996 geo metro 3cyl 5 speed. Even in a car that defines slow the manual makes it feel fast. 

[atavar]

Shifting with a paddle will never be as satisfying as an actual real floor (or column) shifter operating a manual transmission for me. I don't want any electronics between my hand and the transmission or for that matter, between my foot and the throttle.

You better look closer, pretty much everything you drive these days (including your motorcycle) is drive by wire.  TPS has replaced the throttle linkage, because it is more efficient and cheaper to produce.  Gone are the days of mechanical throttle and accelerator pumps.

[Two Checks]

You wont find cars at the Beemer store. You will find motorcycles. You need togo to the Bimmer store.
I find the hydraulic clutches of today void of all feel.

[Vasco DG]

No autos in our family. My daughter hates them! Jude hates them. I believe they have their place, if you have to drive in the city. Personally whenever I have to go to a big city I prefer public transport. (shrug?).

Perversely, I love automatic motorbikes. Go figure......

Pete

[Guido Valvole]

Hey, all of my bikes have throttle "by wire". Buncha wires wound into a cable or two. The BSA even has brake by wire… V50 II did, kinda, for the front until I tossed that and delinked the brakes and added braided steel lines for the front. Much better that way.
cr

[Vasco DG]

You better look closer, pretty much everything you drive these days (including your motorcycle) is drive by wire.  TPS has replaced the throttle linkage, because it is more efficient and cheaper to produce.  Gone are the days of mechanical throttle and accelerator pumps.

Pretty much everything? Your Norge isn't RBW???

Pete

[Sasquatch Jim]

I haven't touched a throttle with my foot in four years, and my truck does not have fly by wire.
 I am thinking my next motorcycle will be electric, with reverse for sidecar convienience.

[tris]

No autos in our family. My daughter hates them! Jude hates them. I believe they have their place, if you have to drive in the city. Personally whenever I have to go to a big city I prefer public transport. (shrug?).

Perversely, I love automatic motorbikes. Go figure......

Pete

Same at ours
My wife hates them. So much so that the only auto (E30  BMW) I've ever owned she crashed twice and on the second attempt drove into the back of another car and wrote it off 

Manual cars are still popular over here IMO - I wonder if its a Brit/evolved Brit (ie Ausie) thing 

[Aaron D.]

I've had the DSG/paddles and I now have a 6 speed manual in my car. They are not equivalent-outright acceleration is better with paddles but fuel economy and overall feel is better with a stick.

But us geezers have to get used to it-Grassroots Motorsports showed that a Jaguar E-type and Porsche 356 are humiliated in an autocross by a Honda Odyssey minivan.

[John A]

My wife wanted an'05 Rav 4, found a nice one with low miles that the guy couldn't sell cause it was a manual transmission. All the autos were either sold already or they wanted too much. So we bought it,beautiful litte car. If the engine ever dynamites itself, I'm going to stuff in a six cylinder which was an option but very few in the states. '06 had 'em but they are bigger cars than the'05's. I am led to believe with a six it is a hot rod

[Antietam Classic Cycle]

You better look closer, pretty much everything you drive these days (including your motorcycle) is drive by wire.  TPS has replaced the throttle linkage, because it is more efficient and cheaper to produce.  Gone are the days of mechanical throttle and accelerator pumps.

You better look closer at the list of motorcycles in my signature line!  And, neither of my "cages" ('93 VW Eurovan, '79 Mercedes 300CD) has "drive by wire" unless you count a throttle cable. 

I'm planning on buying a Dodge Sprinter next year - lots of electronics between the drive and engine/transmission. 

[AJ Huff]

I tried that paddle shift thing once in a Mazda. My wife's Subaru has an auto-shift mode too. Neither feel right without a clutch peddle. Just can't do it.

-AJ

[LowRyter]

You should try one of the new auto's with the paddle shifters on the steering wheel. They really are the bees knees. In manual mode with the paddle shifters you really have the best of both worlds.
It might just change your mind.

I've tried them. 

You should drive an Accord stick.

[LowRyter]

OK, I'll confess: my Duramax truck is an Allison auto.  But that wasn't the point of my thread.

Anyone else see that Beemer (Bimmer) commercial?

[lrutt]

stop and go urban crawl is PITA with an stick. Auto wins there.

Pulling a boat out, Auto sure is nice but can easily be done with stick.

Otherwise I like a stick.

[PJPR01]

PDK and paddle shifters are flat out boring on any car, be it a Mustang, Porsche or other and even though they may be more efficient, faster shifting and provide better MPG...it just takes all the fun out of driving, and frankly I like to shift when turning the steering wheel, and with paddle shifters you have to reach awkwardly for the paddle shifter if the wheel is twisted.

I remember 10 years ago renting a 911 for a day with an automatic and absolutely hated it.  While the new ones do all the rev matching while downshifting, that takes all of the fun out of heel and toe driving and rev matching for fun.  I've loved both of my 911 Carrera's with stick shift and wouldn't buy a sports car w/o one, that's the whole point of driving...actually driving it and being engaged, being a participant rather than a spectator.

Now stop and go traffic is a major PITA with a stick, in a car or on a moto...in that case the automatic is much easier.

[Mark West]

I enjoy driving a stick but the more I drive my boss's Tesla the more I enjoy it. Max torque all the time...any speed. it's a total blast.

[NCAmother]

Hell, I even look forward to San Francisco trips, where the hills are so steep at the stop sign, you can't even see the road ahead!  One of my favorite stories, I lived in a nice house in SF with three female room mates.  One of the girls reluctantly gives the ok to a guy from San Luis Obispo for dinner.  To make a long story short, she 'forgot' and went to the clubs.  So I thought I'd show this guy the town, he was freaking out because of his new mitsubishi 3000 (i think thats what it was called)  I met some kids while showing him chestnut st., and shared a joint with them.  My driving partner wanted to take a hit and I advised him not too, you never know how strong the stuff is.   It turned out to be dirt weed mixed with dirtier weed, it didn't do anything to me.  We get in the car and I want to show him japantown for dinner.  The car was parked in an incline, I had to guide him to get out.  First, put the E brake on, turn the wheel towards the road, and when you feel the clutch grabbing good, let go of the e brake.  Well I'll be damned, the kid had a nervous breakdown, at one point the engine was going in 5,000 rpm in neutral for a minute or two, every time he let go of the break we'd slip inches towards a mercedes. This must have been a real 10 minute event.  I was sober and felt no effects, pushed him out to drive.  He didn't like that.  I told him his car would be towed in an hour if we didn't move, keys were automatically in my hand, the cockpit is filled with that distinct stank of burnt clutch, but I got him out of there and to our destination.  He was so freaked, I drove his baby the rest of the night.  lesson:  some people need to stick to automatics

[PJPR01]

Hell, I even look forward to San Francisco trips, where the hills are so steep at the stop sign, you can't even see the road ahead!

  Good one...interestingly enough, even the modern day stickshift vehicles some have a built in "hill control" so you don't slide backwards...at least in the 911, not sure about other cars so that excitement of jumping off the brake to the gas pedal and simultaneously releasing the hand brake is all a thing of the past.  :)

[NCAmother]

I enjoy driving a stick but the more I drive my boss's Tesla the more I enjoy it. Max torque all the time...any speed. it's a total blast.

Mark, do you work at a winery?  The owner of Ravenswood drove a Tesla, it was sweet.  However I can't remember which city Ravenswood is located

[Mark West]

Mark, do you work at a winery?  The owner of Ravenswood drove a Tesla, it was sweet.  However I can't remember which city Ravenswood is located

No winery for me....not since 81 anyway. My wife is a winemaker though. For me it's been semiconductor manufacturing equipment since 82.

Tesla's are as common as dirt in Silicon Valley. Seriously you don't go more than a couple minutes on the freeway without seeing one. my boss has a P85+, which has now been replaced by the 600+ HP P85D.