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The end of the manual transmission is near?

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Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#681

Post by lucidone »

bambax wrote: post #449
marcusestes wrote: post #436

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Disagree. Because the utility is seldom fully utilized in an urban environment, they are nearly pure fashion. They serve as a signaling mechanism the same way that a pair of Gucci loafers do, just for a different culture.

They serve as a signalling mechanism all right; they signal that their owner has no taste, and doesn't care.

Some of us need the utility of a truck (hauling a trailer for camping, hauling gear bi-weekly to a racetrack, driving through poorly maintained roads during the winter).

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#682

Post by kkielhofner »

mindslight wrote: post #647
JoBrad wrote: post #617

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I live next to a few people who keep their $80,000 truck immaculate, and will never touch an unpaved field with it. The best trucks for driving in snow and mud are the trucks that actual farm hands drive, and are usually far less decked out, have mismatched paint schemes, and are covered in scratches and dirt. Completely their choice to make that purchase, obviously, but I’ve seen worse vehicle choices. However when…

A basic driving license will allow you to drive a 26,000lb GVWR box truck with an actual length of 34 feet. Is this the right call? It doesn't seem to be a problem, because very few people are buying such large trucks for daily drivers. The talk about "farm vehicle" is a red herring in this whole thread. Actual farm plates are rare. The significant distinction is cosplayer vs contractor, which happens to be independe…

What's really scary are the RV exemptions in the majority of US states[0]. As that list notes in 34 states you can drive ANYTHING regardless of size or weight as long as it's classified as a "recreational vehicle".

[0] - https://www.campanda.com/magazine/rv-special-drivers-license...

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#683

Post by chasd00 »

idatum wrote: post #97
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…

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 had a VW bug in high school that had some kind of short that would constantly drain the battery. I just got in the habit of parking on a small rise, i could put the car in neutral, roll down, pop the clutch and off i went. The fuel gauage also didn't work but i could pop the clutch then hit the brakes and turn off the engine and listen to the gas slosh to get an idea of how much gas i had. Speedometer didn't work either but didn't seem to be much of a problem. heh reverse also didn't work... not much worked on that car. it sure was fun though.

btw my little sister took-it-without-asking/stole it and crashed it when she was 14 :(

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#684

Post by kube-system »

jacquesm wrote: post #461
chinathrow wrote: post #454

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Insanity in one sentence.

Indeed, it should be the actual use that governs this. If you use it as a passenger vehicle, it's a passenger vehicle. If you use it on a farm then it's a farm vehicle.

It’s pretty difficult to require a manufacturer to design a car today based on how someone will use it in the future.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#685

Post by gpderetta »

badpun wrote: post #514
wil421 wrote: post #488

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’m doubting the person in Italy has a need for ice and snow driving. Where I am it might snow or ice once a year. However I do own an SUV that has a snow mode. It starts in second to avoid spinning the wheels and will let you manually cycle through the 8 speeds if you want.

> I’m doubting the person in Italy has a need for ice and snow driving. They have high mountains in there, including Alps, with highest peak at 2912 meters.

Mont Blanc (or Monte Bianco as we call it in Italy) is over 4800m.

But yes, plenty of snow in many many places in Italy.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#686

Post by Theodores »

lupire wrote: post #642
bregma wrote: post #546

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I understand, but a modern pickup truck comfortably seats 6 in its King Cab (and good luck finding a truck without a King Cab) and has a bed that is useless for carrying anything except maybe your gym bag or a dozen cases of empties. There is no doubt the purpose of a modern pickup truck is as a passenger vehicle and secondarily to provide an advertising medium for you political beliefs. The fact that modern American…

What's missing is that those "worksite" trucks should require a special commercial drivers license and extra testing for the professional drivers who drive them, same as big rigs. And not be allowed for non-work trips like driving to school.

This is a really good idea that I have not heard before.

It can also be introduced with new vehicle registrations so as not to bring out the pitchforks. Anyone with a truck can keep going, but next purchase, they need to do a driving test.

I can't imagine parents paying for their kids to do the extra course if it costs them a fraction of that for their kid to drive a regular sedan.

You need to do a pilot study to see if accidents can be reduced. This could be done in a Western town that has tens of miles from it to anywhere else, so you are only putting a few thousand people through the course.

This could be financially incentivised, so people get paid to do the course. If the results are good then you could make it so that people buying a truck or wanting to drive one get $500 off if they have done the course, with insurers in on it so that it just becomes easier to do the course. No freedom to be American need be jeopardised.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#687

Post by gpderetta »

amarant wrote: post #628
pjmlp wrote: post #520

Earlier quoted context omitted.

North Italy has enough ice and snow driving, including compulsory wheel chains, at least while we keep having European Winters.

GP did mention Rome though.. There's snow and ice in the Italian Alps for sure, but in Rome? Hardly likely.

Literal Rome I don't think so, but there are places you can go skiing just a couple of hours from the city.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#689

Post by Dobbs »

lupire wrote: post #646
Dobbs wrote: post #517

Earlier quoted context omitted.

We have the best or second best roads in the world (which is very noticeable when you drive into neighboring countries). Additionally we have extremely low congestion even at rush hour. Road tax depends heavily on the vehicle. I think we pay ~€1000 a year, ~€83 a month, for our Hyundai ix35.

US "road tax" is in the gasoline tax. (Plus a nominal fee for electric cars in some places) Does NL have gas tax? What's that used for?

NL has both.

* Electric Cars are exempt from both IIRC.

* Diesel is mostly front loaded in the yearly road tax. With a very low tax on fuel. So if you drive a lot it is worth getting a Diesel for this reason alone.

* Petrol has a lighter yearly tax. There is a formula someplace and it has to do with engine size, weight, age and some other things assuming I understood correctly. The yearly tax is cheaper on average than the diesel. Then there is a large tax on petrol. About €0.17 a liter or €0.642 a gallon.

Re: The end of the manual transmission is near?

#690

Post by torstein4 »

_ph_ wrote: post #483
iancmceachern wrote: post #121

Earlier quoted context omitted.

And as they say, the most environmentally friendly car is the one you already own.

While that is often true, it isn't always the case. If you are using a lot of gas (driving a lot, high consumption), replacing it with an electric car can very quickly be more environmental friendly. If you are not using a lot of gas, like only driving your car infrequently, keeping your old car running might be better though.

What would very quickly mean? Do you have some data perhaps on the breakpoints regarding this? I'm not dismissive of your statement, just want to see some data.
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