Disappearing standard transmissions!

[Dave_L]

Along the same lines of learning to drive manual, I'm seeing a lot of younger kids waiting to get their license. Driving just isn't important to kids these days like it was to me when I reached 16. It's more of a chore to them.

[davsel]

Dad taught me to drive his manual Jeep CJ when I was 12. He said I needed to know in case something happened to him while we were deep in the woods hunting or fishing.
I've had several manuals since, but do not miss them. My 8 speed Audi has the gears so close together, I have to drop 3 gears in order to notice any engine braking at all - does help with mileage though.

My biggest modern vehicle gripe is the damn turbo-lag from a stop. Nothing like flooring it to cross oncoming traffic and praying through the first few crawling seconds of lag before you launch across. I've learned to two-foot it when necessary.

All my motorcycles have been manuals.

[brutal]

BTW I assume that people who can't drive a manual are pretty much hosed if they ever want to go to a foreign country and rent a car. I don't know what it's like now but when I was in Germany in the 80's, automatics were virtually unheard of and the local rental places only rented vehicles with manuals. I rented a mini-van once (I think it was a Mitsubishi) to take a group of my buddies skiing in Garmisch - that thing had a 5-on-the-tree.

When my MP Company was deployed to Hungary in 1997 for OJG we did a liaison day with the Hungarian Highway Patrol - they were fascinated by our HMMWVs because they had automatic transmissions. Most of them had never seen one, much less driven one.

Our issued Vanagon had a stick. So did the 70's Dodge W200 mobile radio truck. :-)

I had a 1972 BMW 2000 Touring with an automatic... Loved that little car until the frame rotted away and wouldn't pass TUV and I had to get something else. Got a 2500 (with a manual) to replace it. My wife and kids can also drive stick - although she's hard on clutches.

[Great-Kazoo]

BTW I assume that people who can't drive a manual are pretty much hosed if they ever want to go to a foreign country and rent a car. I don't know what it's like now but when I was in Germany in the 80's, automatics were virtually unheard of and the local rental places only rented vehicles with manuals. I rented a mini-van once (I think it was a Mitsubishi) to take a group of my buddies skiing in Garmisch - that thing had a 5-on-the-tree.

When my MP Company was deployed to Hungary in 1997 for OJG we did a liaison day with the Hungarian Highway Patrol - they were fascinated by our HMMWVs because they had automatic transmissions. Most of them had never seen one, much less driven one.

I don't drive a stick as it's difficult with 1 leg and it's never been an issue in a foreign country. In fact CA & NY have many rental vehicles that are automatics.

Gave the spouse a refresher years after she forgot how. Her first vehicle was her dad's 63 scout

I agree there's a generation or two that couldn't drive a stick, let alone function in public without a cell phone .

OR look at a gun without going in to safe space mode.

[Aloha_Shooter]

Along the same lines of learning to drive manual, I'm seeing a lot of younger kids waiting to get their license. Driving just isn't important to kids these days like it was to me when I reached 16. It's more of a chore to them.

Yep. My 17-year-old nephew had to be coaxed into learning to drive. He's doing well and enjoys it now but he just really had no desire to drive or learn to drive. His younger brother is even worse because he realizes driving means he can't play with his Nintendo DS.

[brutal]

Yep. My 17-year-old nephew had to be coaxed into learning to drive. He's doing well and enjoys it now but he just really had no desire to drive or learn to drive. His younger brother is even worse because he realizes driving means he can't play with his Nintendo DS.

Is that what they're calling it now?

[68Charger]

Lots of good responses here... now that my wife has an automatic Diesel ('07 6.7L), I do find that I can do a more agressive 4wd launch, since I can get the turbo spooled.

But I would never want a slushbox behind my 12v... the computer controls on the newer autos have made them tougher- and the computer can bring down power if it starts to overheat... none of that was available with th 12v

[ColoradoTJ]

Very interesting replies. I guess for me it depends on application and what you personally like.

Some of mine:

02 Firehawk Trans Am was a 6MT. It was a pleasure vehicle with a stage 3 clutch and a bunch of ass under the hood. Fun car, but glad I never got into a traffic situation with that car. My left thigh would have gave out.

12' Grand Sport Corvette. That also had a 6MT and one of the smoothest transmissions I have ever owned. A couple buddies have had autos in vettes, and I wasn't a huge fan.

07 Lexus IS350. This is an auto with paddle shifters. I can't say I would want anything else. Put the car in sport mode, it downshifts hard under braking, launches well and handles the curves great for a 4 door sedan and great daily driver.

Most of my cars and trucks in HS were manual transmissions except for my 70 Chevelle. That was more of a cost thing instead of a choice.

Recently, for towing:

I had my CDL, class A, and had to drive a lot of different trucks when doing Utility work as a Lineman. Some were equipped with Allison automatics, others with 13 or 18 speed transmissions. I have to admit, the manual transmission trucks were so much more fun to drive if driven correctly. I had to work on Pikes Peak for a few months and hauled equipment and gear up every day. (Yeah, you can thank me for helping get the tollway paved all the way up) Coming down Pikes Peak, dropping a gear, hitting the front 3 cylinder jake or all 6 and that truck was in complete control. Very impressed. Can't say a 550 Cat under the hood was a slouch either. I never seen that kind of HP under the hood of the autos.

My 05 Dodge was an auto. Loved that truck for towing or pleasure driving. Only thing that sucked was coming down Vail Pass or something like it and using the service brakes more than I liked.

I then had an 02 Dodge HO truck with an NV5600, and mine sucked. Some people had great shifting ones, others had ones like mine. In traffic is blew ass and towing it really didn't give me that much control vs my auto Dodge. Same issue, brakes were used more often than I liked.

My current tow rig, 16' 3500 Duramax. I would never want a manual transmission after owning this truck. Period. 90% of the time, the Allison 1000 does all the grade braking I need. The few times I actually maybe needed the exhaust brake, the additional control and not using my service brakes is awesome. Power is strong and comes on very smooth. I only have 2464 miles of towing with it so far, but it has been all my pleasure. Today I was hauling some landscaping supplies and had to scale for payment. 10600 lbs and the truck doesn't even sweat it.

Personally, I like technology. To get a manual transmission in a HD series truck (2500-5500), they would be huge just to handle the HP/TQ ratings of today. Ram was the last ones to offer a manual transmission, but you had to take the reduced power output motor for that option so it would stay together. Hell, GM and Ford are both over 900 pound feet of torque (GM 910 and Ford 925) in 2017.

[Gman]

Hell, GM and Ford are both over 900 pound feet of torque (GM 910 and Ford 925) in 2017.

...and GM and Ford have co-developed a 10 speed automatic.

[ColoradoTJ]

...and GM and Ford have co-developed a 10 speed automatic.

Yep, for their half ton lineup, for now. Current Raptor has the 10 speed. Sounds like it is pretty bad ass from the reviews I've seen.