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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?

#301

Post by SuperQue »

doliveira wrote: post #115
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…

Do you really think your experience is representative and that most people take a few minutes to learn how to drive? Honestly, it even sounds like a humble brag (mostly because I'm a little jealous)

No, it really is pretty easy. I learned on a '85 VW Jetta manual. Took a couple tries to figure out, then it wasn't an issue.

There are some cars that have very touchy clutches, but most are just fine.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#302

Post by luxuryballs »

abdullahkhalids wrote: post #180
fortran77 wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'll never own an electric car?

It will be interesting exercise to design a "manual gearbox" for an electric car so manual transmission drivers can have their enjoyment.

Toyota has a patent in for one of these I think.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#303

Post by masklinn »

vlan0 wrote: post #298
masklinn wrote: post #274

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I got older, and now automatic transmissions are so much more efficient than manual transmissions * for ordinary people *. It’s not just ordinary people. The opposite, if anything. F1 and rally cars haven’t been manual for decades. I don’t think any modern super is manual. Though with the ev-ification the point is moot as save for a few rare exceptions they’re single-gear.

While true, the motivating factors for F1 and mass production vehicles are not the same. F1 is pure min/max. Which of course means manual is gone. But min/max on my GTI means I lose connection with the vehicle and my ability to drive matters less. For what? .4 faster 0-60 or 1/4? Eh

The comment I replied to was a statement of efficiency.

Not a statement of the pleasure you derive from transmission vinyl.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#304

Post by taxyz »

NonNefarious wrote: post #282
eric4smith wrote: post #113

Manual transmissions are dead. I grew up learning to drive a manual transmission car. Awesome. I loved the feeling of driving and shifting gears up the hilly, mountainous, twisty horrible roads in Jamaica. Exhilarating! But cars got better. I got older, and now automatic transmissions are so much more efficient than manual transmissions * for ordinary people *. We're not talking about people who love driving here. We…

Quoted post unavailable.

Sixt rental cars in France hasn’t been doing manual transmission cars for years - automatics get better gas mileage and are actually better on overall emissions (you’ll notice modern manual cars keep the revs up even when you let off the throttle). Germany has followed, I believe. But you’re right, it’s probably those dumb Americans’ fault.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#305

Post by bsilvereagle »

vanshg wrote: post #206
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…

That's exactly what Olympian Motors is doing. They're a YC company. It's beautifully styled imo and has only physical controls inside https://www.ycombinator.com/companies/olympian-motors https://olympianmotors.com/

> Olympian believes in reducing the number of buttons and switches to simplify the cockpit. We take a voice-first approach to control infotainment, HVAC, seats, doors, and lighting systems.

This sounds like the opposite of OP's request for physical controls.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#306

Post by Klonoar »

pier25 wrote: post #164

> As sad as it may be, manual vehicles make up a miniscule percentage of the current market share. Is the author talking about the world or the US? AFAIK the vast majority of vehicles sold in Europe are manual. Not sure about the rest of the world. I'm from Spain and I've never seen an AT car there. I'm sure they exist though, probably. I now live in Mexico where AT is very common and I've gotten used to it. I think…

>AFAIK the vast majority of vehicles sold in Europe are manual.

This is a common talking point but has actually swung hard in the opposite direction in recent years.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#307

Post by billfruit »

Also to be noted is the popularity of the AMT systems or the Automated Manual Transmission, where a manual gear box is mated with a computer which shifts gears for you. As of now Auto-enthusiasts look down upon these systems, but they have improved a lot in recent years, and seems mechanically much more reliable systems than CVTs and DCTs which have a lot more moving parts. Also with improvement in software they could become better over time. They seem cheaper also.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#308

Post by Klonoar »

abdullahkhalids wrote: post #180
fortran77 wrote: post #174

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You'll never own an electric car?

It will be interesting exercise to design a "manual gearbox" for an electric car so manual transmission drivers can have their enjoyment.

Ford actually demo'd a 6-speed EV Mustang years ago that went nowhere. It could be done, it's mostly just a "why bother".

https://www.theverge.com/2019/11/5/20950148/ford-electric-mu...

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#310

Post by shrimp_emoji »

NonNefarious wrote: post #282
eric4smith wrote: post #113

Manual transmissions are dead. I grew up learning to drive a manual transmission car. Awesome. I loved the feeling of driving and shifting gears up the hilly, mountainous, twisty horrible roads in Jamaica. Exhilarating! But cars got better. I got older, and now automatic transmissions are so much more efficient than manual transmissions * for ordinary people *. We're not talking about people who love driving here. We…

Quoted post unavailable.

Or the Europeans are too ignorant and lazy to update to new stuff like AC (and auto transmission). ;p
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