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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?

#561

Post by incomingpain »

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…

One of my ideas that probably won't happen.

You goto Magna, Foxconn, tesla, and get their EV platform skateboard. With intention of manual transmission.

You goto https://www.factoryfive.com/hot-rod-truck/ for the body of the ev.

Coachbuild the inside, you can basically be rolls royce here because you're low volume.

Obviously all the knobs and switches would be built with reliability in mind.

Sound system I was thinking would just be a good bluetooth speaker system and a phone mount. Dont have to worry about android auto or carplay or sound system or gps going out of date. its just your phone.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#562

Post by benhurmarcel »

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.

I'm European and drive a manual, but it's not because I'm enlightened or motivated, just because it's cheaper.

Automatics nowadays are very good and pleasant.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#563

Post by chasd00 »

hikingsimulator wrote: post #374
mnd999 wrote: post #347

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Also, they probably care less about failing European safety standards since pickups aren’t a big market in Europe.

sadly I've seen an increasing amount of American-style SUV and pickup trucks in France since the start of covid.

I was in Paris, Normandy, and all over the south of France for two weeks and didn’t see a single pickup. I swear every car there is like a variation of the Ford Fiesta.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#564

Post by Retric »

raverbashing wrote: post #412
Retric wrote: post #247

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It’s more than just about style. As much as modern pickup trucks have become a fashion statement, many large pickup trucks are providing real utility to construction, farming, etc. And much like 18 wheelers they can’t scale down the front while maintaining utility because they need large engines and high ground clearance.

> many large pickup trucks are providing real utility to construction, farming, etc. Yes. One in 10 or maybe 20

Let me guess, you don’t live next to farmers or a lot of snow.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#565

Post by mohas »

Not as long as government owned car manufacturers have access to exclusive national wide markets and can sell simple automatic transmission systems for 10 to 15% of the car price while selling the car 500 to 1000% higher than their competitive price (situation in my current country)

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#566

Post by benhurmarcel »

domh wrote: post #466

I always found it strange how people in the UK prefer driving manual transmissions, there's always talk of liking the "feeling" and "control" when driving, this is coming from people who are not enthusiasts and don't even like driving sometimes. 90% of driving tests in the UK are done in manual transmission cars[1]. Taking your driving test in an automatic means that you are not allowed to drive a manual[2]. After li…

I think for most people in Europe it's a matter of cost. Manual cars are cheaper to buy, so that's what people get. When you look at the high-end segment you find mostly automatics. And everyone I know who tried an EV raves about the smooth driving experience, and loves that there's no clutch.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#567

Post by sokoloff »

zaarn wrote: post #559
sokoloff wrote: post #556

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> There is no RPM regime where an EV won't be able to apply maximum torque. Sure there is! Electrics have maximum torque at zero RPM. As RPM increases, their torque drops off. Some cars will have a torque limit that provides for constant torque (less than the motor would be capable of), but as RPM continued to increase, eventually the torque falls off. > You always have full power available. This is also incorrect, b…

Most EV motors are fairly flat, but as you mention, they use software to further flatten in. Reality is; the torque curve is nearly perfectly flat.

That’s contrary to electric motor theory and to the dyno test that I linked above. The power curve is much flatter than the torque curve.

https://electrek.co/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2017/02/29007...

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#568

Post by tomohawk »

tadfisher wrote: post #291
Pxtl wrote: post #240

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Okay but then why is the rolling brick wall of a modern pickup allowed?

Because they're not classified as passenger vehicles, so they don't have to meet the same standards.

Exactly. The technocrats thought they'd be clever, and they basically outlawed reasonably sized cars for very small marginal efficiency gains. People bought light truck instead. People don't want to drive around in dinky death traps.

The CAFE standards for cars are too restrictive. The fleet averages look great, but the percentage of cars as vehicles on the road is low. Cars such as station wagons don't exist any more - the only option is to go larger and get an SUV.

The current crop of technocrats thinks that regulation is like violence. If you don't get the result you want, then add more regulation. Still don't get the result you want, add more regulation. They never think about offering compelling products that people want to buy at a decent price point.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#569

Post by femto »

To me a manual is all about engine braking. You just have to use the brake pedal less. I haven't driven an electric vehicle before, but I imagine they could deliver a similar experience if the regeneration was suitably programmed? Can an EV driver comment on whether they offer a similar engine braking experience to a manual?

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#570

Post by Joeri »

kodisha wrote: post #458
jakogut wrote: post #349

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> The Mustang and Camaro were the size of a full size sedan today , if not bigger This is verifiably false with three minutes of searching, which I did on my cellphone as I sit by a campfire. As an owner of both a 1965 Mustang and a 2015 Explorer, the difference in size between these vehicles is comical. I've rented a 2020 Camry that was larger in every dimension. It got great gas mileage, but small it was not. 1967…

Someone PLEASE build a browser extension that automatically coverts those Disney numbers to normal units :)

Those browser extensions already exist.
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