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The end of the manual transmission is near?

popularmechanics.com

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Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#131

Post by deepdmistry »

PheonixPharts wrote: post #78
recursivedoubts wrote: post #7

I reiterate my compromise proposal: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32397975 I will give up my manual transmission, if you will bring back pull-knobs, twist knobs and other tactile switches for the main controls of my vehicle, with the appropriate tactile feedback at set points so I can set them without looking. After thinking on it, I am going to raise my demands, however: you also need to produce cars that are…

If it's in your budget I highly recommend test driving the Porsche Macan. It has a screen but as far as I can tell it's not required for anything that doesn't implicitly require a screen (i.e. GPS). Overall the car is amazingly well designed. The tactile experience is there, you can feel your way around everything without moving your eyes from the road/immediate dash area. It still has an analog clock. I also feel li…

I second this, Macan owner since 6 years and have not been more satisfied going 0-60 in 6 seconds in a car that i have loaded with close to 50 gravel bags from Home Depot :) oh and going back to original post, two main reasons i chose the car was 1. Way it drives and 2. Tactile buttons

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#132

Post by dreamcompiler »

rjzzleep wrote: post #73
santoshalper wrote: post #64

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The real issue isn't the demise of manual transmissions. It's the upcoming demise of transmissions entirely as electrification continues it's march towards ubiquity.

You need a lot more mining and environmental destruction to get enough batteries for replacing all cars with electric vehicles. Kind of wondering if maybe one day we could have safe micro reactors that can power vehicles.

A similar amount of mining would be required for the steel, aluminum, and plastic needed to build brand new ICE cars. And ICE cars require constant mining of petroleum just to use the car. The key difference with electric cars is that mining is not necessary to use the car (as long as you charge it with renewable electricity).

The environmental damage from the use phase of ICE vehicles dwarfs the environmental damage from their construction, because use is continuous and ongoing while construction only happens once. Getting rid of the continuous pollution of ICE cars is a major win.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#133

Post by mrcartmeneses »

yostrovs wrote: post #128
melony wrote: post #109

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here's a better compromise, a semi-automatic: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_transmission You choose when to change the gears but the computer deals with the clutch, best of both worlds.

But anyone that drives a manual will let you know it's mostly about the clutch and how you use it, rather than choosing what gear you're in. Using a clutch just right can produce amazing amount of torque just when you need it. Automatic clutch can be incredibly efficient, but it simply can't know what you want to do.

Yeah. And the car is just second guessing you in general. I can blip the throttle in my automatic and the car acts like nothing happened at all. Or I’ll put my foot to the floor, nothing happens, then a few seconds later it downshifts and jerks forward. But it’s easy on long journeys and the road is not a racetrack so I can’t complain.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#134

Post by z2 »

iancmceachern wrote: post #129

I bet they'll eventually make electric cars with manual gearboxes and gearing to simulate this experience in an EV. You can already do this on your own with things like thr Ford EV crate motor that you can just bolt in any old car.

Along these lines, they already virtual gearboxes in China for license exams as fleets got electrified but the rules require passing with a manual transmission for a full license. Gear shifts and crucially, stalling all simulated with software. The electric motor, with its infinite torque, doesn't need real hardware gearboxes.

https://jalopnik.com/this-chinese-electric-car-designed-for-...

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#135

Post by hedora »

Honestly, I don't understand why manufacturers are spending any money at all designing new ICE power trains. I can sort of see the argument for hybrids, but charging networks will make them obsolete very soon.

On the other hand, I also expect politicians to pull in the 2035 mandatory phase outs of gas vehicles.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#136

Post by AmericanChopper »

legitster wrote: post #42

I wouldn't jump to this conclusion just yet! Porsche, Ferrari, etc all commanded huge premiums this year for their manual versions. Specifically among younger buyers and first time buyers! You even see this effect downmarket - Toyota promised to never make a manual version of their Supra, then just this last year they put together a cobbled transmission to save their car. Manuals are also an order of magnitude less c…

They’re remarkably popular in developing economies, even with their emerging middle classes. The manual model of a typical family sedan is usually at least a couple thousand USD cheaper, which is enough to make manual the most popular option in a lot of places.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#137

Post by mrcartmeneses »

iancmceachern wrote: post #119
idatum wrote: post #97

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My VW GTI with 6 gear manual is such a joy. And what I fail to convey to my GenZ kids is the simplicity of it. Once I started the engine on a hill by engaging clutch. Kids were puzzled, but not so impressed. Oh well.

I love push/roll starting a manual car. One of my fondest memories is push starting my Dad's (lower end) Ferrari in the liquor store parking lot.

Lovely example of downplaying one’s class ;P

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#138

Post by Aeolun »

rad_gruchalski wrote: post #48

> it’s not something you master overnight. I’m not ashamed to mention that it took me a few sessions in a parking lot to get the fundamentals down This kind of line always confuses me. I mean, I remember my first driving lesson in the UK. Guy arrived in a BMW 116, manual. He said to me: what is there to explain, you get in and drive. So I got in and drove. Did my first hour, took 5 minutes to get comfortable with the…

Maybe we just have better cars? I kind of had the same experience. Remembering to shift at the right time is one thing (but happily the car starts whining if you forget), but starting to drive is as simple as releasing the clutch and pressing the gas.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#139

Post by hinkley »

falcolas wrote: post #45
taneq wrote: post #27

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Are we rolling back all off the safety, efficiency and emissions regulations created since ‘65 too?

Entirely unnecessary to meet the parents “demands”.

Car shapes are substantially about pedestrian fatalities. You can't have those shapes back without murdering people who aren't even driving a vehicle.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#140

Post by galangalalgol »

melony wrote: post #109
recursivedoubts wrote: post #7

I reiterate my compromise proposal: https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=32397975 I will give up my manual transmission, if you will bring back pull-knobs, twist knobs and other tactile switches for the main controls of my vehicle, with the appropriate tactile feedback at set points so I can set them without looking. After thinking on it, I am going to raise my demands, however: you also need to produce cars that are…

Here's a better compromise, a semi-automatic: https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Semi-automatic_transmission You choose when to change the gears but the computer deals with the clutch, best of both worlds.

I find the clutch is actually what gives me the feeling of control. Also, I skip gears a lot.
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