Manual Transmissions - A Rant - I Vent

Your car?

 

I can only dream. I drive a 1990 535i/5.

 

Figured I would ask before I asked you to give her a hug for me!

 

My buddy mike has an e9 with a csl front lip. I can give it a hug next time i see it .
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I couldn't agree more with the original poster. Unfortunately I think that the domestic companies will be the last to offer 3 pedal cars (which isn't a bad thing considering the new Shelby GT500 does 200).

Automatic transmissions make perfect sense...for a Lincoln Town Car or a church bus.

 

Amen.

 

I kindly disagree. I don't think I have ever had more fun driving a car than I do in my fathers manual F430. Just something about being low to the ground, engine in the back, 6 speed manual in the middle is just exhilarating. I've driven some other fast and exciting cars and my DD is a S4 with the double clutch gearbox. The dual clutch is fantastic but honestly you just cannot beat a manual. Period.

 

If you drive one of the more recent Porsches with a manual gearbox, you'll find it much smoother. Even the older 996 cars I've driven have been intuitive and precise. You can change gears more quickly after a very short time in the seat.

Honda manual gearboxes are also especially good, although I wouldn't call their cars exhilarating.

Ferrari used what seems like the same damn gearbox in the 308-348 run, and then upgraded it once to six speeds. From what I can tell, the company then kind of left the manual box alone and invested in the paddle shift systems continuously.

I think we tend to forgive a lot of subpar engineering in the old gated shifters simply because the cars are loud and fun, and there's a lot of ceremony to it.

 

I agree and so well said

Lee

 

God I love that. Low beltline, nice greenhouse and thin pillars. Completely opposite of what is sold today.

 

So very true.

 

Which IMO, defeats the purpose of the OP wanting a new Porsche with a manual.

 

I respectfully disagree. That is the purpose i.e. to enjoy yhe car you are driving
No right or wrong

He is correct in my view the newer Turbo cars are so fast they need the fancy automatic transmission to fully utlize the power. The manual is just not quick enough,

Lee

 

I think many car manufacturers have acknowledged that the demise of the manual transmission has been chiefly driven by vehicle emissions legislation around the world. This and safety legislation has such a huge influence on car development now. When you can systemise/automate it, then you can regulate and control it. You can't really do that with the driver (no matter how hard they try!).

Like many Fchatters, with the right car and road conditions, I love the satisfaction of using a manual gearbox, particularly when it's the open gate of a Ferrari. It's still part of the 'thrill of driving'. Maybe it's also something where I can delude myself that it's a skill many others don't have.

'Run of the mill' cars in Europe still have a significant sales bias towards the traditional manual, but it seems the writing is on the wall longer term. However, I am still relatively optimistic. Both the current and previous BMW M5 for the USA market are encouraging examples. We don't even get the manual version in Germany, where the car is produced!

In a few years I'm sure I'll be considered a Luddite!

 

I do not see how the difference between the two effect emissions?

 

It ssed to be that the manual cars had the advantage, offered with more gears, and with less frictional losses.

The new DSG boxes offer fast shifts, and they can build them with more gears, without having to make a driver friendly shift level for a twelve speed gearbox. More gears, allows more of the engine's work to be done in a narrower more fuel efficient region. Having more gear options to be in, allows you to keep the engine RPM lower. In my 5 speed 944, 30MPH is an awkward speed, I can run low RPM in 4th on a gentle down hill, or run higher RPM than I'd like to cruise at in 3rd. Given a 10 speed gearbox, I'd have a gear that fits 30MPH better.

 

The right foot imho has alot to do with it also.

 

Automated manual trannies / DCT have pre-programmed economy modes, which give good CO2 emissions in statutory tests. Shift points and engine rev ranges are optimised for minimised CO2.

 

It certainly does!

 

The next step
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But the wheel is on the wrong side

 

This thread makes me want to do a 360Trev esque project, but with a scuderia. dry carbon scuderia exterior panels and GT2 doors, manual gearbox, wring extra powers from the engine and go 458 hunting .

 

It's on the right...er...correct side!

 

Looks like something you would see on pimp my ride!