My first auto was a BMW 2002 in 1973. It was a four speed. My next car was an MGTF which, of course, was a four speed. I bought a 320i in 1982 which was a five speed. Every car I've had since that time, from Porsches to VWs were five speeds. I can feel the control one has driving a manual shift car, downshifting when necessary and popping the clutch on a cold day when the battery won't start. Repairs are rare with the occasional clutch and no automatic transmission foibles. The simpler a car is, the better. I see that many manufacturers are supplying sticks as the only option in their high performance cars. For instance, Mustangs have sticks, as do the very highest end Turbo 911, the Toyota and Nissan R models. Surprisingly, in Europe there is still a prevalence of manual transmissions. Paddle shifters and electronic dual clutches are for the birds and, I believe, are part of the mechanics' pension plan.
How many of you still drive a manual?
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Where did you go for racing school? I went to Jim Russell in the 70s in the Laurentians.
Early 90's. Spenard - David racing school in Shannonville Ontario.
He had 2 courses their.
One course was for F2000 cars and the other was for Camaro racing cars.
I bought the 3 day course for the F2000 cars.
It was fun and learned alot.
The Jim Russell course comprised three days of classroom and driving in brand new Van Diemen RF74 Formula Ford cars. Le Circuit course in Mt Tremblant was a great training ground with its long straights and sharp curves among the hills and valleys. I still heel and toe and double declutch downshifts. Unfortunately, a month after the course, I downshifted my 2002 too quickly and crunched second gear. Fortunately, $180 later, I was back on the road. I was always disappointed that we could not drive faster as the course progressed. I surmised that our top speed was about 60-70 miles per hour. I found out later that our speed was well over 110 miles per hour in the stretches. It did not seem that fast when everyone was moving in the same direction and the cars would stick to the pavement. For example, a Corvette in the 70's had a cornering coefficient of .83. The Van Diemen's capable was 1.4.
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Unfortunately sold my European manual transmission car I had and got myself a RAM truck out of convenience and now I have an automatic as my daily drive. First time in my life.
Luckily I still own an old Fiat I can drive in the summer and enjoy shifting gears.
Growing up in Italy 99.9% of cars were manual and everyone that got a license learned how to drive like that.
Luckily I still own an old Fiat I can drive in the summer and enjoy shifting gears.
Growing up in Italy 99.9% of cars were manual and everyone that got a license learned how to drive like that.
I often drive a manual when I'm in England, because I'm usually renting last minute and the automatics are all gone. Drove a manual for years here in Toronto, but the traffic just makes it a pain in the ass.
As far as fuel economy, automatics are just as good as manuals, sometimes better. A manual is theoretically better, but only if it's driven abolutely perfectly, shifting at exactly the right time, etc. Few people do that.
I've been driving since 1969, all sorts of vehicles, and I'm getting tired of it. If one comes out before I die, a totally autonomous car would be great. Just sit back and look at the scenery, take some photos or video, read about what to do at the destination, cruise TERB for liaisons...
As far as fuel economy, automatics are just as good as manuals, sometimes better. A manual is theoretically better, but only if it's driven abolutely perfectly, shifting at exactly the right time, etc. Few people do that.
I've been driving since 1969, all sorts of vehicles, and I'm getting tired of it. If one comes out before I die, a totally autonomous car would be great. Just sit back and look at the scenery, take some photos or video, read about what to do at the destination, cruise TERB for liaisons...
Buy a TeslaI often drive a manual when I'm in England, because I'm usually renting last minute and the automatics are all gone. Drove a manual for years here in Toronto, but the traffic just makes it a pain in the ass.
As far as fuel economy, automatics are just as good as manuals, sometimes better. A manual is theoretically better, but only if it's driven abolutely perfectly, shifting at exactly the right time, etc. Few people do that.
I've been driving since 1969, all sorts of vehicles, and I'm getting tired of it. If one comes out before I die, a totally autonomous car would be great. Just sit back and look at the scenery, take some photos or video, read about what to do at the destination, cruise TERB for liaisons...
I have a Porsche, it is awesome to drive but I never drive in the city, can’t get past third gear
About the only advantage to driving a manual in Toronto these days is you can be secure in the knowledge it won't be stolen by a millenial.
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Hate to break it to you but a large majority of the people that are stealing cars in Toronto aren't from north America..
Outside north america manual/standard is still quite common...
I just got a 2020 Tacoma TRD with a manual and immediately had an immobilizer installed..
I think a lot of the supercars have done the same thing. I know Audi R8 discontinued with the manual transmission starting with the second generation models in 2015.
Learned to drive on a manual. My last one was a 2003 bmw 325. Found the stop and go commuting in Toronto a real pain driving a manual.
I did miss the fun rowing the gears until I got a p car with PDK. It’s more fun than a manual and it auto revs the engine to match the gear downshifting to get the exhaust to bark.
I did miss the fun rowing the gears until I got a p car with PDK. It’s more fun than a manual and it auto revs the engine to match the gear downshifting to get the exhaust to bark.
Ontario has never differentiated between manual and automatic transmission on driver’s licenses.
I always chuckle at these restrictions on driving wrt manual vs automatic. If you don’t know how to drive a manual transmission, the car ain’t going anywhere!
