
The Last 5-Speed Manual In the US Is Gone (thedrive.com) 178
According to Automotive News (paywalled), the $17,190 base-model Nissan Versa S -- the last U.S.-market production car with a five-speed manual -- is ending production. A Nissan spokesperson told Auto News that the company is "trimming the fat" to focus on models with the strongest business performance -- and the manual Versa S didn't make the cut. The Drive reports: Looks like Nissan is trying to create as much savings as possible to handle the 25% tariff on cars imported from Mexico. [...] When you go to Nissan's site and check out the Versa, the first thing you see under its name is "Get the Nissan you want free from new tariffs." So if Nissan is going to eat the additional tariff cost for customers, it can't be manufacturing cars that won't sell well. And manuals reportedly only accounted for 5% of Versa sales in 2024.
As the manual Versa dies, it brings the five-speed manual transmission down with it. What was once a common drivetrain configuration is now a memory -- when the last stick-shift Versa leaves a Nissan lot, there won't be any new five-speed manual vehicles for sale in the United States. Only six-speed and a few seven-speed manuals will remain. [...] Killing the manual Versa won't be a big sales hit, since barely any customers wanted it, but it will end Nissan's ability to market a sub-$18,000 car.
As the manual Versa dies, it brings the five-speed manual transmission down with it. What was once a common drivetrain configuration is now a memory -- when the last stick-shift Versa leaves a Nissan lot, there won't be any new five-speed manual vehicles for sale in the United States. Only six-speed and a few seven-speed manuals will remain. [...] Killing the manual Versa won't be a big sales hit, since barely any customers wanted it, but it will end Nissan's ability to market a sub-$18,000 car.
Tacoma? (Score:2)
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The Tacoma is a 6-speed manual transmission. https://www.toyota.com/tacoma/... [toyota.com] The article only claims that the last "5-speed manual" is gone.
Mazda3... (Score:2)
The Mazda3 is available as a 6 speed manual if you are still looking for a fun manual car in general.
Funny thing though, now manuals are typically only available with premium trim levels aimed at enthusiasts, whereas before the cheapest version of a car was the version with the manual transmission.
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They found out the best way to upsell you is not to offer a base model. (And make sure the government doesn't let anyone else, either.)
You look at the lineup of a company like Ford, you can see they've abandoned the entire low-cost segment of the market - whole categories of vehicles cut, forget trim levels.
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A and B class cars were not really profitable in the USA. Marketing had this great idea that if a young person bought a new B class and liked it they'd go on to buy profitable bigger cars from the same manufacturer. Hmm, well it's a great story, but turns out it wasn't true.
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Marketing had this great idea that if a young person bought a new B class and liked it they'd go on to buy profitable bigger cars from the same manufacturer. Hmm, well it's a great story, but turns out it wasn't true.
It used to be true. People would stick with one brand for multiple purchases. What happened?
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now manuals are typically only available with premium trim levels aimed at enthusiasts
Case in point: Honda Civic Si and Civic Type R.
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Yes, I love my Civic 5-speed--with cruise control, and navigation, and sunroof, and power everything. I have no interest in a base-model car to get a manual transmission. In particular, I have to have cruise control. And surprisingly, this feature works quite well with a manual transmission! But of course, it won't down shift for you.
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Wait, Honda doesn't offer cruise as an option on base cars? Weird. My '08 Versa with a 6 speed is as base as it gets except that it has cruise control. It even has manual windows.
I guess they went back to a 5 speed because the 6 wasn't selling and it just cost them more to make, but I really enjoy the 6 with my MR18. And if this engine dies I expect to swap in a MR20. Apparently it drops in and the ECU learns it. There's no visible signs of the swap, either, so you can still smog.
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Bye Bye Cheap Cars (Score:4, Insightful)
it will end Nissan's ability to market a sub-$18,000 car.
I've got a sneaking suspicion that other factors are about to prevent them selling cars for that price in the US, so it doesn't really matter.
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Cash for clunkers took a lot of cheap cars off the road and drove up used prices. Covid didn’t help things and further drove up used prices.
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it will end Nissan's ability to market a sub-$18,000 car.
I've got a sneaking suspicion that other factors are about to prevent them selling cars for that price in the US, so it doesn't really matter.
* looks at American-made car lots overflowing with 2024 models *
* looks at foreign-made car lots overflowing with 2024 models *
I’ve got a sneaking suspicion America no longer understands what selling cars means. No one is buying plastic shitboxes of any flavor at those prices.
interesting ... (Score:2)
Do you really say "5 speed" instead of "5 gears" in the US? That sounds pretty odd ...
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>"Do you really say "5 speed" instead of "5 gears" in the US? That sounds pretty odd ..."
I have never heard a 5 speed transmission called a "5 gear" transmission in the US. And I was born here and lived my whole life year and owned a 5 speed CRX Si. So why would that be odd?
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So why would that be odd?
Because it is not proper english?
You have a gear box with 5 gears, but call the car a "5 speed", do you not think that is odd?
Re:interesting ... (Score:5, Informative)
>"You have a gear box with 5 gears, but call the car a "5 speed", do you not think that is odd?"
Yes, I do think it is somewhat odd that we say it. Sorry, I misread what you were saying :) I thought you said it would be *unusual* to hear one say "5 speed" in the US, but here it is normal. The fact we say it, though, is odd, but, technically, all transmissions have a lot more than 5 or 6 gears in them. So there is that. So it comes down to having 5 or 6 engine-to-wheel "speed ratios" or "speeds" available for selection.
Oh, it applies to bicycles, too. We say "15 speed bike", not "15 gear bike". So at least we are consistent.
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This is common in all English (he says, as a Brit).
It's called a five-speed gearbox. But you often apply that to the whole car.
Don't just trust me. Jeremy Clarkson (famed UK "car-expert") and team say it all the time on Top Gear if you want to go look.
"If you're cooking lamb, make sure it's 5-speed, preferably 6-speed"
Manual is better (Score:3)
I learned to use a manual transmission when I was 8 years old on my grandfather's Ford 8N tractor. From there it was on to the Olivers and Masseys and then the 1962 Ford farm pickup. My first car was a 1973 Gremlin beater with a three speed manual. I had to push start that thing a few times, can only do that with a manual. My adult kids think I'm some kind of wizard when I hop into a car with a manual and just drive it. Manuals are better. The require you to concentrate more when you drive. They get better gas mileage. Manual cars typically cost less too. Sad to see them going.
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Manuel shift fuel efficiency is not better than modern automatic transmissions (It’s been this way for many years). Couple citations to get you started.
https://www.edmunds.com/fuel-e... [edmunds.com]
https://www.motorbiscuit.com/w... [motorbiscuit.com]
As with many things... (Score:3)
it's not just that simple.
In a simple test, like start from a stop light, accelerate to some speed, go some measured distance, then decelerate to a stop, an automatic will certainly shift more efficiently than a human driver and a manual transmission... BUT such tests are not the real world, AND "efficiency" is NOT the only thing that matters, nor is one person's definition of the word "efficiency" a universal thing. While they're certainly not the same thing, these arguments are remarkably related to argum
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One big reason is manuals are usually restricted to 6 speeds, which is 5 plus overdrive. Automatics are coming with 8 or more gear ratios they can engage, which means they have way more gear ratios to choose from.
This results in a manual transmission where the engine is running inefficiently near the shift points because the next gear is too tall for the engine, while the current gear is too short and the engine has to rev fast.
Basically, the manual has to have 6 ratios whilst the automatic can have 8 to 10
Re: Manual is better (Score:2)
My first car was a 2001 Prius with an eCVT. Nowadays I drive an EV. I don't really have a concept of gears, much less changing them. I have rented a few traditional automatically over the years. It does feel weird to have those fixed setpoints.
I will likely never learn to drive stick, mostly because I see no need. But I doubt having the extra task of manually shifting actually makes one more attentive to the road. IMO, declines in driver attention have been caused mainly by cell phones in the late 1990s to
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No, they are not. And increasing workload for no good reason is definitely not something positive.
A non-story really. (Score:2)
Knowing there are six and seven-speed stick shifts still being made and sold makes this a non-story. Five-speeds should have died off with the concept of overdrive. Nissan was merely being cheap and not wanting to spend a single dime on putting in another gear for the last couple of decades (six-speeds are easily that old. I had one).
Sure hope next week we don’t find out someone is still making three-speed autos.
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My fifth speed is an overdrive.
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My fifth speed is an overdrive.
Top gears usually are, but I guess the question is would it have benefited far more from a sixth by now?
Always Dunnit-disway, is sometimes greeted by Long Overdoo with a slap to to face, because of that bitch Stubborn Ness.
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Five-speeds should have died off with the concept of overdrive.
Five speed transmissions were mostly giving you more than four speeds specifically in order to give you an overdrive. So, very much no.
Manual Transmisstion is still not uncommon (Score:2)
..and will be for years
In the rest of the world what is replacing manual cars are EV's not Automatics
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In the rest of the world what is replacing manual cars are EV's not Automatics
Automatics have been outselling manuals in Europe for years now.
Nobody wants cheap things. (Score:2)
Everyone keeps complaining that everything is too expensive, but almost no one is buying the low cost options anymore.
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>"Nobody is shopping for a Nissan anyway."
I just bought a 2025 Nissan Ariya a few weeks ago. Nissan is quite popular from what I see. They make quite nice vehicles- both in styling and function. I think their recent issues have been mostly financial mis-management. I hope they can get back on track (no pun intended).
Re:And the enshittification continues (Score:5, Informative)
Uh it’s just the last 5 speed manual. 6 speed manual cars are still available in usa.
Re:And the enshittification continues (Score:5, Funny)
SSHHH! You're ruining the drama...
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If I understand it correctly the six-speed transmission cars as others have pointed out tend to be higher trim levels on fancy cars for enthusiast types. This is literally a Nissan
Re:And the enshittification continues (Score:5, Insightful)
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About the inverse of the percentage of people who realise that your post is whataboutism.
Re:And the enshittification continues (Score:4, Funny)
That $17000 Versa is an anomoly, its the only sub $20k car. I couldn't find a 1994 MSRP list, but I did find a 1991 http://web.archive.org/web/202... [archive.org]
1991 median household income: $30,128
ratio in ( )
1991 Yugo $4825 (6.2)
Suzuki Samuri $5999 (5.0)
Subaru Justy $5999 (5.0)
Plymouth Colt $5949 (5.1)
Hundai Excel $6275 (4.8)
Fun fact, the same model year also saw the Hyundai Word, Hyundai PowerPoint and Hyundai Access. Also a Lotus Notes.
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I would think that from the standpoint of a car buyer there's a large difference between a 5-speed and a 6-speed.
And you would be wrong. 6-speed manuals only came about because more people spent more time cruising on motorways/highways and in that situation being in a higher gear uses slightly less fuel. Back in the day when 4-speed gearboxes were the norm a common optional extra was a fifth gear activated by a solenoid - called an 'overdrive' - and over time 5-speed gearboxes became more common. The 6-speed gearbox is merely a continuation of that trend.
Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:2)
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Isn't the 6th speed in a 6-speed gearbox the reverse?
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Isn't the 6th speed in a 6-speed gearbox the reverse?
From a marketing perspective, no.
And I don’t believe the parent has ever driven a manual transmission before either. I can drag mine off the line in 2nd and redline it to 6th to improve on a 1-3-6 pattern and prove nothing other than I too don’t understand how to operate it properly.
Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:4, Funny)
8 gears!! You know the logical thing would be go to 7, stay with pack mentality. But No , fuck it, we're going to 8!
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Not exactly what you were talking about but I found this - the new price of cars and median full time pay, in the USA
2024 Camry $27555 median full time pay $43222 a base Camry cost 64% of your annual pay
1991 Camry $11588 median full time pay $15076 a base Camry cost 77% of your annual pay
Needless to say the spec of a 2024 Camry is rather less frugal than the 1991 one.
F150
$12760 in 91 to $37065 last year
It's gone from 110% to 86% of median pay.
Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:2)
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I think it's still matters. I would think that from the standpoint of a car buyer there's a large difference between a 5-speed and a 6-speed.
There isn't. The difference is 1.
If I understand it correctly the six-speed transmission cars as others have pointed out tend to be higher trim levels on fancy cars for enthusiast types. This is literally a Nissan versa, I don't think you can get more bottom of the barrel than that.
I drive a 2008 Versa. It has a six speed.
And it's not like a versa is really all that much nicer than something like a cheap Geo Metro. I guess you are fractionally less likely to be killed
Versas have top crash ratings except for rollover (prior generation) or side impact (current generation).
Could you please leave the car stuff to the car guys?
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Versas have top crash ratings except for rollover (prior generation) or side impact (current generation)
Then as a car guy you should know that crash ratings only compare vehicles within that same class of vehicle. That is to say, a "top crash rating" for a sub-compact car simply means it is safe compared to other sub-compact cars...all of which are extremely dangerous on a road full of huge SUVs.
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That is to say, a "top crash rating" for a sub-compact car simply means it is safe compared to other sub-compact cars...all of which are extremely dangerous on a road full of huge SUVs.
The assertion I was speaking to, and it helps if you actually read the thread, claimed that you were only fractionally safer in a Versa than a Metro. That's what I was responding to, which is obvious. But again, only if you read the thread.
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I'm not trying to imply this doesn't matter at all. What I am doing is mocking some one being massively over dramatic about loosing something that they like. It's a bummer, sure but to imply it's indicative of the intentional inshtification of the entire world is just absurd.
No one is intentionally ruining a thing for the person above, their tastes are just outdated and very few others still have them in this case. If this was something lots of people wanted there wouldn't be only one being made and it woul
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Uh it’s just the last 5 speed manual. 6 speed manual cars are still available in usa.
Remember when four on the floor was normal and a five-speed was new and cool?
And remembering the other direction, a friend of my brother let me drive his car with three on the tree. That was and experience.
I'm glad I know how to drive a standard transmission. I personally don't miss it. My daughter asked me a while ago to teach her how but maybe that window has closed.
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Feeling old of having started driving on a 4 speed manual...
Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:2)
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Uh itâ(TM)s just the last 5 speed manual. 6 speed manual cars are still available in usa.
The list of 6 speed manual cars sold in the USA is very, very short. If you drop the ones sold by Porsche you cut that list in half. If you then drop the ones from VW (yes I know Porsche is a part of the VW corporate empire but we'll acknowledge them separately here) after that you end up with about 3 vehicles, and you find that even those only offer manual transmissions in very specific configurations.
The bigger news is that this isn't really news, as the manual transmission has been dying a gradual
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Uh it’s just the last 5 speed manual. 6 speed manual cars are still available in usa.
To be fair, the 6 speed MT was always better. The only reason you used a 5sp was either to save money or because the engine wasn't powerful enough for a 6sp. A 2L non turbo has had enough torque to drive a 6sp for 20 odd years now. Just looked it up, a new Hyundai I20 has a 6sp MT on the 1.4L inline 4 engine.... with it's whopping 130 Nm of torque (to the uninitiated, that's not a lot).
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There's nothing "fun" about driving a manual transmission on the roads around here. Maybe if I lived in the country, or only drove in the dead of night.
I assume the people who want "fun" are now buying those 3-wheelers I see everywhere. Whereas people who want "transportation" will opt for something with an automatic transmission and air conditioning.
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And comparison to 3 wheelers is obnoxious. Wanting serious transportation doesn't mean you can't get any enjoyment out of it whatsoever. Like saying any
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>"I always thought it was fun. It becomes such routine muscle memory that even traffic jams don't really bother you. I drove one for 4 years in Miami; lots of traffic. "
I learned on stick shift and my first two cars were stick shift. So much more control and being "connected" to the car. And more fun. Until I moved to a mega traffic area. Then it was just a nightmare of put in gear, creep forward 10 or 20 feet, then hold a heavy clutch forever or knock into neutral, rinse and repeat for a hundred tim
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Sure the traffic jams annoy you, but not because of the physical action of switching your foot between gas and brake.
TBH, if I'm in no hurry to get somewhere and kick my Bolt into one pedal mode, traffic actually does seem less annoying without the gas/brake dance. I think the other part of making traffic slightly less irritating is that there's no constant revving of the engine.
Plus, regenerative braking and negligible wind resistance means traffic jams = winning at the hypermiling game.
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If I had to choose between a 5 speed manual and a 6 speed, I'd go for the 6 speed.
If my priority was a manual transmission, a Nissan Versa wouldn't even make it on the list.
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a Nissan Versa wouldn't even make it on the list.
I guess that is only because they did not call it a Nissan Viper?
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If my priority was a manual transmission, a Nissan Versa wouldn't even make it on the list.
If your priority is reliability, you wouldn't buy a Versa with a CVT. And the alternative to the stick and the CVT is a 4-speed slush box, which is not enough gears given that the Versa is gutless. I have a 2008 Versa with a 6 speed and it is actually enormously good to drive. It's too bad the shifter isn't better, but that is probably due to worn bushings on the cable.
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You know what could "make up for the dreadful driving of a majority of people"? The US having driving tests that were at least vaguely rigorous. By European standards, the test is a joke. In the UK, for example, the driving test comprises theory and practical. The theory is hard, and the practical includes:
- Reading a number plate from a distance of 20 metres
- 2 vehicle safety questions known as the ‘show me, tell me’ questions
- Your general driving ability. You’ll drive in various road an
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Turns out humans are pretty good at split-second timing.
Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:5, Insightful)
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First car? MG-B. Second car? Triumph Spitfire. Third? VW Bus (manual). Fourth car...
Never mind. Point remains that I've been there, done that, I and I know that a part of your attention is monitoring engine speed/noise, engaging/disengaging the clutch, shifting, etc., etc..
And that's a part of your attention that's not focused elsewhere.
Besides, I'm way past the point of thinking I'm a badass driver just because I can stomp my foot and make a car go vroom-vroom... ;)
Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:4, Informative)
First car? MG-B. Second car? Triumph Spitfire. Third? VW Bus (manual). Fourth car...
Never mind. Point remains that I've been there, done that, I and I know that a part of your attention is monitoring engine speed/noise, engaging/disengaging the clutch, shifting, etc., etc..
And that's a part of your attention that's not focused elsewhere.
Besides, I'm way past the point of thinking I'm a badass driver just because I can stomp my foot and make a car go vroom-vroom... ;)
Actually it's the opposite. Because part of your attention is not focused on what the car is doing, it's often focused on something completely unrelated to driving.
If you've really driven a manual know it's not actually taking your attention away from the road (as I've said, it's the opposite, it engages you in the act of driving) because it's almost autonomic... either that or you're a terrible driver.
Modern cars are designed to insulate the steering wheel attendant from everything to do with driving, the automatic transmission is just the start, noise isolation, soft suspension, it's gotten so bad that they've had to mandate various beeps, buzzers and warbles to warn the steering wheel attendant when something goes amiss... Not to mention tech to brake for them. So much of the drivers attention is taken away from the act of driving these days that you can't call them drivers any more... also because they're not engaged in the act, they're finding other things to do like messing about on their phone.
My first car was a manual Honda Civic, my current car is a manual Merc SLK... because I don't have kids and I'm not completely devoid of joy and fun.
My best car was a Nissan 200sx though (manual of course, the auto was terrible), loved that car. It had a big F*ck off blow off valve (the thing that makes a WRX do that ST-tutututu noise) and one of my favourite things to do was shift gear next to the drivers window of a MOP (Moron On Phone) so the release of compressed air would scare them into droping their phone (Motorcyclists may know this game as "drop the MOP").
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once FSD cars are being made en masse
I take a lot of comfort in the fact that this will be a long time from now. FSD cars (in 2025) are about the same as flying cars: sure they exist, and they're a novelty, but the edge cases are just so so bad that they'll be in regulatory hell forever. And thank god for that, because have you seen how bad the average piece of software is? imagine betting your life on it every day. FSD software is incredibly complex, and people in general are not good at writing complex software.
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Say you can't drive stick without saying you can't drive stick.
I think the joke goes "You can't say 'I can't drive a manual' without saying 'I can't drive'".
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And fun in this context usually means clinging to the fantasy that mastering an outdated gearbox somehow makes you a better driver.
Here in my part of North America manual transmissions are not part of any road test and a large majority of people don't know how to drive stick. Purely anecdotally speaking (but I suspect I this observation is widely shared), people who can drive stick here tend to be in the more competent range of drivers. That may indeed differ in other parts of the world where they have better base driving standards to begin with.
Also, if you are having fun at least it means you are probably paying attention. I'm
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In Germany we used to have separated driving tests and licenses for automatic and manual.
That meant: with a standard driving license, which is manual, you could not drive automatic cars.
Now - as far as I know - a few hours automatic are mandatory, and there are still "exceptional driving licenses" for people who learn fully on automatic cars.
Is any German here who can update on the current status?
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Re: And the enshittification continues (Score:2)
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>" It is my opinion that having to pay attention to the actual physical act of driving keeps you paying attention to driving."
I agree with you.
It is the same problem I have with non-traditional cruise control. I need to be monitoring speed changes in cruise control, if not, something in my brain switches off and it seems more dangerous. So I have to turn it off every time I start the car. Which is something I really hate- why the F can't we set the default of many of these features in modern vehicles?
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A few miles after finishing "driving school", manually switching including clutch does not distract any driver.
You have a completely silly idea about driving a car. On the other hand I only once drove an automatic motorcycle (never an automatic car): it was a nightmare in the hilly area where I rented it. NEVER again a full automatic.
Here where I live they have some kind of "semi automatic" (no idea how it is called) where you switch gears "manually" but do not need a clutch, and you can stop the bike while
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"Here where I live they have some kind of "semi automatic" (no idea how it is called) where you switch gears "manually" but do not need a clutch,"
It's called a CVT.
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>"It's called a CVT."
No, he was talking about a motorcycle. No motorcycle I have ever seen has a CVT. A few motorcycles have clutchless manuals. And I think of those as abominations. Some have "quick shifter" assistance, making them easier to not use the clutch.
When you know what you are doing, you don't even need the clutch for most up shifts, anyway, even without a "quick shifter." I rarely use the clutch for upshifting into 2nd and above. Downshifting clutchless is a lot more challenging.
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No motorcycle I have ever seen has a CVT.
I think many people take a manual transmission to be a part of the definition of a motorcycle. Pretty much every moped/scooter (Honda PCX, Vespa, etc.) runs a CVT.
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Good point/observation.
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In the UK we pretty much all drive manual, little old Grandma Ethel will have a manual transmission Kia box car.
I'm not really into cars but I've always driven a manual because pretty much if you want a cheap car around €2000, it's guaranteed to be a manual transmission.
Automatics used to be garbage in the 1980's / 1990's but now everyone I know who is into their luxury cars will buy an auto - my dad who likes his jags says "Automatic is the only way to drive" - but these people I know are more into t
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"Don't make people think or force them to pay attention..."
Right. Because heaven forbid we let drivers actually focus on the road. You know? Looking out for other cars? Bikes? Pedestrians?
Much better to distract them micromanaging gears and focusing on split-second timing and clutch control.
Sorry. I’m far more inclined to believe that stick-shift drivers today pay attention a hell of a lot more than those who abuse digital addiction behind the wheel while assuming lane assist means watch a longer YouTube video. You're forced to pay attention more when you’re actually driving the fucking car instead of just pretending to.
And I’m willing to bet insurance statistics confirm that.
The cars are fine. It’s the selfish incapable ones behind the wheel that is more the problem
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"In the winter, "sticks" are better because you can start out in 2nd gear..."
True. And could come in handy the five days in the year I might need it.... as opposed to the other 360.
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I'll add that you can push-start vehicles w/manuals, and I've done so several times, in several vehicles, over the years, several times before cell phones and when simply calling for road service wasn't a thing.
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As more people choose hybrid electric vehicles, and battery electric vehicles, the nostalgia for push starting a car will be lost to more and more people. With that will likely go other tropes people will recall from days gone by, like a jump start. Well, people might have some analog to this with a V2V charger cable. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
I can remember roll starting tractors and the little motorbike we had on the farm when I was growing up. My brother had a light SUV with a manual transmiss
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and electric hybrids take their place.
You can get manual hybrids. Not in the US, but they certainly exist.
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You've just made me realise that I haven't seen anybody walking their car for many years or stopped to help them push start it. Manuals still make up the majority of the cars on the road here in the UK, so maybe it's just a function of my lifestyle or perhaps people just wait for a jump start these days? It could be that push starting is just a nightmare on busy the roads of London?
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Push-starting is much less necessary because starters and batteries are a lot more reliable than they were even 30 years ago.
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In the winter, "sticks" are better because you can start out in 2nd gear and not spin the tires as much, and you can downshift.
Pro tip: Many automatic transmissions also start out in 2nd gear if you put the shifter in 2nd. They downshift to the selected gear as well.
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I haven't driven an automatic since 1983. Every vehicle I've own has been a manual. Still driving a 2011 Mustang with a manual.
Same. Never owned an automatic, just manuals. Current vehicles: 2001 Honda Civic EX and 2002 Honda CR-V EX (both 5); before that 1987 Honda Prelude Si (5); before that a very used 1969 VW Beetle (4) and Suzuki 380GT motorcycle (5, I think); before that, as a teenager, parent's pick-up (4) and Kawasaki 100cc dirt bike (5 with hi/low lever -> so basically 10). My wife Sue also only ever owned cars w/manual transmissions.
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The headline specifies that the last *5-speed manual* is gone. The other models you speak of, are 6-speed manuals.
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The automatic transmission as it is today kills most any reason to have a manual transmission
No, it doesn't. Sure, a lot of us drive manuals for nostalgia. But if you know how to drive a manual, you also know that automatics--even the best of them--aren't as good at knowing when to shift, as a human. They're just "good enough" for most people.
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There are automatic transmissions that allow for manually downshifting, some are more convenient and/or intuitive than others. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/... [wikipedia.org]
I used to downshift routinely when driving in hilly places, not sure why I stopped doing that. I guess I figured it was "good enough" to let the computer do it for me. It's not like I had fancy automatic transmissions, I just learned where the overdrive defeat button was, and that shifting an automatic transmission while in motion was an option.
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Manual transmissions and traffic (Score:5, Interesting)
One of my vehicles has an automatic transmission, and the other, a manual. The car with the automatic transmission has about twice the horsepower of the manual, but drives as if it's twice as heavy.
What I've noticed is that when driving the manual in heavy traffic, I use the brakes much less than with the automatic; one pedal both brakes and accelerates. Because I can keep the engine in its power band when crawling along in traffic, I get instant acceleration when traffic speeds up again. But with the automatic, the "delay, downshift, overaccelerate" conniption fit of the automatic transmission often allows other drivers the space to cut in front of me.
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The automatic transmission as it is today kills most any reason to have a manual transmission
No, it doesn't. Sure, a lot of us drive manuals for nostalgia. But if you know how to drive a manual, you also know that automatics--even the best of them--aren't as good at knowing when to shift, as a human. They're just "good enough" for most people.
I've driven manuals all my life and still love them but many modern autos/DCTs/manumatics whatever in manual mode are really, really good. I can heel and toe just fine but the automatic rev matching with the paddles is sweet, and that's good cause there are more gears to shift through being spaced closer together (this is what I would miss most going back to 6 speeds). They also shift crazy fast so less boost loss if you have a turbo(s). And it makes left foot braking more practical, should you feel so
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If you want to shift an automatic then you get an automatic with a manual mode, and you decide when it happens.
Automatics can also shift under power and you cannot do that with a stick, period.
I have fun driving my 6 speed Versa, and the alternatives are a trash CVT or a traditional 4 speed auto which also isn't very good, so for this car this is the only real choice. But a good automatic is actually a joy to drive with. I'm super glad our bus has an Allison and not a Spicer.