Standard or Automatic?

[james t kirk]

The newer cars have a hyd. clutch. Like the Dodge Viper, it takes a very strong clutch to hold all that power but the clutch pedal is soft enough for a lady to drive it. That is because like brakes today, its "power" by the engine or an electric motor, depending on the car.

Hydraulic clutches have been around forever.

A 1965 Triumph had a hydraulic clutch.

No need to ever adjust your clutch cable.

 

[frankcastle]

All of my three manual tansmission cars had cruise control. They are also on many cars in Europe, at least the ones I rented there six and nine years ago. My experience with cruise control and manual transmission is that there is better control of the speed with the clutch instead of a torque converter.

Wow I didn't know that! Guess it has to do with how few standard cars I see these days.

 

[frankcastle]

I don't get your long road trip point? On the highway you'll mostly be in 6th, or 5th if that's all you have, so there's not a lot of difference. The difference to me is in traffic, where I like the acceleration control of a stick. As others have said, cruise is available, but can be less effective on steep hills where a downshift is required.

Tha resale point is valid though, anytime you narrow your market you can lose.

Yeah under ideal conditions you shouldn't have to shift gears much but that's not always the case. I guess I'm most accustomed to GTA driving where chances to cruise for long distances can sometimes be limited.

 

[shakenbake]

My stick car has cruise control. A stick car is fine for driving to Florida, you just put it in 5th and set the cruise, the only difference is that you must manually downshift for hills and passing, but if there is not too much traffic, it is fine.

My wife had a CVT car, it was strange to drive. When you floor it, the tach jumps up to about 4,500 rpm, and just stays there, you get faster and faster, but the engine note stays the same.

Hey C Dick, what is your wife driving with a CVT? We absolutely love our Ford Freestyle. BTW, shortly after we got it, we went to Myrtle Beach with it and were amazed at the fuel economy for a 3.0 Litre engine.

 

[shakenbake]

Yeah under ideal conditions you shouldn't have to shift gears much but that's not always the case. I guess I'm most accustomed to GTA driving where chances to cruise for long distances can sometimes be limited.

It can still be fun puttering around the city with a stick. But, you are correct in that there is little opportunity to cruise in the GTA. Especially in 401 rush hour traffic. I hated driving between Durham Region and Peel Region for almost 7 years. The one good thing about it was that my left leg got some working out.

 

[shakenbake]

Hydraulic clutches have been around forever.

A 1965 Triumph had a hydraulic clutch.

No need to ever adjust your clutch cable.

Thank the automotive gods! Also, a clutch lining replacement is very rare nowadays, maybe because of the hydraulic clutch and the newer clutch linings.