Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
- Standardshifter
- Site Admin
- Posts: 872
- Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 11:23 am
- Cars: 2005 Legacy GT, Buell
- Location: Boston, MA
- Contact:
Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
http://siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/ ... 8f1d8.html
"The reasons are obvious: manual transmission is often tricky to learn and requires extra concentration and finesse, making multi-tasking all but impossible."
I'd say that is a good thing while driving a car.
"The reasons are obvious: manual transmission is often tricky to learn and requires extra concentration and finesse, making multi-tasking all but impossible."
I'd say that is a good thing while driving a car.
-Standardshifter
Shifting the Standard of Automotive Websites
Shifting the Standard of Automotive Websites
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
The last 3 lines of the article were telling too.
And I drive a manual and can use a cell phone at the same time. These people are just making excuses...
So people realize they shouldn't multitask but do it anyway. I'm guilty of the same thing sometimes, but I try to just stick to driving and music. Occasionally a hands free phone call."Europeans prefer that connected feeling you have with your vehicle," Lanzon said. "You don't have that with an automatic."
Sales, who now drives an automatic GMC Envoy, said she prefers the physical freedom her automatic gives her over a manual transmission.
“You can't multitask,” she said, “though that is probably a good thing."
And I drive a manual and can use a cell phone at the same time. These people are just making excuses...
'15 Mazda 3 iSport Hatch 6MT
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
If we focus more on the last ten years (as opposed to the last forty years), the decline of the manual transmission doesn't seem nearly as bad. Look at the chart below and you'll see that the last 10 years haven't been horrible as far as the percentage of manual transmissions sold. 2007 wasn't a good year, but the numbers have rebounded since then.
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
I never understood that either. While not ideal, there are times when I multitask driving a manual by using a phone, stuffing a sammich or doing whatever. I spend most of the driving time in top gear anyway. People make it seem like you are always shifting when you drive a manual.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
I agree (and no, I'm not going to say anything else about that...lol), but I'll also take it a step further: After a while, driving a manual transmission car becomes almost "automatic" (for lack of a better term) and it doesn't really require any more concentration than driving any other car. It's not difficult to drive around like a mindless zombie in an automatic or a manual car. So other than the fact that you need your right hand to occasionally move the shift lever, I don't see a big difference in the ability or lack of ability to multitask.AHTOXA wrote:I never understood that either. While not ideal, there are times when I multitask driving a manual by using a phone, stuffing a sammich or doing whatever. I spend most of the driving time in top gear anyway. People make it seem like you are always shifting when you drive a manual.
- AHTOXA
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 14693
- Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
- Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
- Location: Irving, TX
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
Absolutely. I am almost inclined to think that people generating those articles don't daily drive a manual car.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
Percentages wise, they probably don't.AHTOXA wrote:Absolutely. I am almost inclined to think that people generating those articles don't daily drive a manual car.
'15 Mazda 3 iSport Hatch 6MT
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
-
- Senior Standardshifter
- Posts: 522
- Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:25 pm
- Cars: Mazda3, Matrix, R3
- Location: Coquitlam, BC
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
Haha, I manage to multitask though I really shouldn't.
Three fingers on a burger, two fingers for the gear shift.
Three fingers on a burger, two fingers for the gear shift.
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
- Location: Shakopee, MN
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
Multi-tasking is such a misnomer. In reality your brain just constantly shifts gears from one task to the next. It's not designed to do more than one thing at a time. I've heard about research where the researchers try and determine a given group's ability to multi-task and they always find that those who think they're really good at multi-tasking suck at it and have really crappy results to show for their efforts.
I have gotten to the point where I can drive one handed. Meaning one arm hangs out the window and their are periods where there are no hands on the wheel during shifting. Of course if there are corners this doesn't work. Minnesota is generally straight so it's easy to do this.
I have gotten to the point where I can drive one handed. Meaning one arm hangs out the window and their are periods where there are no hands on the wheel during shifting. Of course if there are corners this doesn't work. Minnesota is generally straight so it's easy to do this.
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
This reminds me of when I had a talk with my coworker who is looking to buy a new car soon, about considering a manual tranny. He's never (successfully) driven a manual, mind you. I told him that, in our area (Mid-Hudson Valley, ~ 2 hours north of NYC), there is no real reason for people to not drive manual, since the traffic is rarely severe enough to make shifting tiresome. I told him that, if anything, this area is designed for driving manuals. That said, it would be his decision whether or not he wants to try it out.
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
- 4onthefloor
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 1360
- Joined: Fri Feb 15, 2008 10:21 pm
- Cars: '17 WRX, '07 Impreza
- Location: London, ON for now
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
"I would only want a stick if it's a sports car, like a Mustang," Christianson said. "But for everyday driving, I want an automatic. It's just more convenient, you don't have to do anything."
Where did they find these people?"The Mustang or Focus are not an A-to-B car, they're drivers cars," Terry said. "It's about enjoying the experience, being connected with the car."
Two pedals, two feet, too easy.
Car: 2007 Impreza 2.5i Special Edition
http://www.standardshift.com/forum/view ... 32&t=13230
Car: 2007 Impreza 2.5i Special Edition
http://www.standardshift.com/forum/view ... 32&t=13230
- potownrob
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 7833
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
- Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
- Location: Dutchess County
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
maybe he meant Fiero??4onthefloor wrote:Where did they find these people?"The Mustang or Focus are not an A-to-B car, they're drivers cars," Terry said. "It's about enjoying the experience, being connected with the car."
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
- Tups
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 2229
- Joined: Sun May 03, 2009 4:37 am
- Location: Suomi Finland Perkele
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
"i have seen you multitasking and driving" :>
2007 Ford Focus ST225
1982 Ford Escort Mk3
1982 Ford Escort Mk3
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
Stopped the first 2-3 people outside the office on the street.4onthefloor wrote:"I would only want a stick if it's a sports car, like a Mustang," Christianson said. "But for everyday driving, I want an automatic. It's just more convenient, you don't have to do anything."Where did they find these people?"The Mustang or Focus are not an A-to-B car, they're drivers cars," Terry said. "It's about enjoying the experience, being connected with the car."
And the Focus isn't that bad of a car to drive, from what I've heard. I wouldn't put it in the same category with real drivers' cars... but I would put it above your average vehicle.
'15 Mazda 3 iSport Hatch 6MT
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
'11 Ford Fiesta Hatchback SE 5MT
'14 Giant Escape City 24MT
'97 Honda Civic EX 4AT - Retired @ 184,001 mi
For Pony!
-
- Master Standardshifter
- Posts: 4029
- Joined: Tue Apr 26, 2011 9:04 pm
- Cars: 17 Mazda6 To, 18 Mazda3 i
- Location: Shakopee, MN
Re: Down-shifting: Manual transmissions running out of road
They're probably the same ones that they snag for the "car insurance taste test" commercials. Ugh.Squint wrote:Stopped the first 2-3 people outside the office on the street.4onthefloor wrote:"I would only want a stick if it's a sports car, like a Mustang," Christianson said. "But for everyday driving, I want an automatic. It's just more convenient, you don't have to do anything."Where did they find these people?"The Mustang or Focus are not an A-to-B car, they're drivers cars," Terry said. "It's about enjoying the experience, being connected with the car."
And the Focus isn't that bad of a car to drive, from what I've heard. I wouldn't put it in the same category with real drivers' cars... but I would put it above your average vehicle.