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New cars shift away from manual transmissions - Chicago Tribune

 

There is (was) ,no better feeling than, "popping the clutch", or down shifting into a curve.

 

Another great idea. Just like no spare tire.

 

Real Sports Cars have scoops, that work.
That is a truer statement I think.

 

I have two new 2017 Subaru Outback Touring 3.6R's with paddle shifters. Awesome cars and lots of fun.

 

I am going to miss my Roadster with a stick next year at the Dragon.


Met a customer last week for some consulting work and was told to stay at her house in NC. So my wife and I did. She drives a Mercedes 600s Beautiful car, but we found a 2014 Corvette in her garage. IT HAS A STICK SHIFT!


I had no idea one even existed. Better yet,,,She doesn't know how to drive it.


SOoooooooooooooooooo. We are invited back in January for a week to show her.


Maybe I can trade her for an SRT coupe.

 

Pretty amazing to see all the new autos out there. Who would have thought there would be 8 speed autos, some autos with no speeds at all (Nissan). I was a pioneer in my days of the early '70's running a B&M auto manual shift tranny while others were still gear jammin'. I had a 5500 stall converter as well. I would launch just like dumping the clutch. Made fun of at the time. I didn't care. I could shift with the best of them. Still can, but what's the point if you can be faster with an auto. Today, with trans brakes, drag racing isn't like that anymore. They're all autos to some point. Now paddle shifters for the road courses. Pretty crazy stuff. But I get it. I still shift everyday at work and would never drive an automatic tractor/trailer...lol.

 

"I still shift everyday at work and would never drive an automatic tractor/trailer...lol."
That will change someday too Doc.
Paddle shifters on a big rig>>>>> they're coming.

 

As we talk about manual Transmission, the industry is building "Self Driving Cars"


90,000 professional driver positions are at risk, along with us Neanderthals who insist on rowing our own gears.

 

I can see it now, you phone for a taxi, it arrives and when you go outside you wonder where the driver has disappeared to.

 

Been around for a long time, CVT was in the early '60s (Daf Daffodil), same time I noticed European racing drivers preferred automatics in DDs.


Lockups and 5-6-7-8-9 speeds made inevitable. Mix in that warranty claims for automagics are fare lower than sticks, particularly with high HP.


Final straw was the transbrake.


That said half my cars have sticks, I just like them but my tow car has a five speed lockup. Much easier to drive.

 

Well, Uber is already working on that very concept.

 

And You have a truly blessed New Year Dave.

 

Michigan just signed law to allow autonomous cars.... Google is in MI testing them.