MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Bird on May 22, 2014, 08:04:52 PM
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Interesting while wasting sometime yesterday to pickup some stuff for work, I walked through the Yota, Mitz and Nissan yards.
I was almost shocked to see that there's nearly no cars that come in a manual anymore. I don't mean 4wds, I mean daily drivers.. Out of ~100 cars in the yard at Yota dealer (getting ready for a big sale this weekend) there was 1 manual. A used RX8!
What's up with that? I can understand Auto off road, but ... I still like a manual for daily...
Must be why Commodores sell so well, I don't think Falcons come in a manual?
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Lazy, easy, what ever.
It's why they even have classes on your licence, e.i manual or auto licence. There are people out there that don't even know how to drive a manual.
I'm with you, I am a manual person, but being in my ute in traffic everyday, drive 10 mtr stop at lights, drive 100m stop at lights, I can see the merit in an auto and am even thinking my next work ute will be an auto.
My 2 c
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People are getting lazy :)
Funny you brought this up I was thinking the same thing the other day. Suppose it's got a lot to do with the stop start Traffic these days. Pretty sure you can option the FPV's in Manuel? Might be wrong.
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My boss in my old job had to order her Falcon in manual. They looked at her funny when she said she would wait the 6 weeks for the manual. This would have been about 5 years ago. Apparently it was unusual back then?
Pardon the ignorance but why are autos better for wheeling?
I know we are going with auto trucks at work coz people can't drive manuals anymore. Certainly not crash boxes but synchros as well. Got 1 driver about to have the second clutch fitted this year.
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A lot of cars have the ability to drive as a Manuel but without a clutch.
My lancer has paddle shifts to go up and down the gears or can be switched just to auto.
Technology is doing away with clutches.
Personally I used to enjoy the manual v8 I had when I had hair. ;D
Mark
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Sorry , but paddle shifts or whatever have no relation or a manual gearbox.
Can only hope the manual continues.
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One thing I was told, is all Gov cars are now auto, cause they are easier for the drones to drive... That's crap!
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Auto for me every time, especially now with 6 speeds being so common.
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One thing I was told, is all Gov cars are now auto, cause they are easier for the drones to drive... That's crap!
What, that they are easier to drive or that all govt workers are drones? ;D ;D
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Pardon the ignorance but why are autos better for wheeling?
Debatable issue but each to their own. I've had both and I prefer a Manuel although there can be some situations where autos are an advantage offroad :cheers:
BD
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Debatable issue but each to their own. I've had both and I prefer a Manuel although there can be some situations where autos are an advantage offroad :cheers:
BD
Never had a crack at an auto off road so can't comment but I thought being able to pick a gear and ride down on the engine would be better? Just need an engine brake on the DMax and would be great for riding down hills! What do you do in an auto? Wouldn't it just want to run on like it was in neutral?
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One thing I was told, is all Gov cars are now auto, cause they are easier for the drones to drive... That's crap!
In Qld govt we were told all cars need to be auto because you can't discriminate against employees/applicants who have auto licences.
They must not be policing it though as we have a manual 4wd on order. Maybe it will arrive as an auto?
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Manuals no longer have better fuel efficiency in the same vehicle (some do but not many anymore).
Not sure what possible advantage a manual would have, apart from usually being a bit cheaper.
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But fun to drive.
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Never had a crack at an auto off road so can't comment but I thought being able to pick a gear and ride down on the engine would be better? Just need an engine brake on the DMax and would be great for riding down hills! What do you do in an auto? Wouldn't it just want to run on like it was in neutral?
Depends on the vehicle, engine, gearing and how many electronics it has ;D My 80 is an Auto and first gear low is great although I have heard some aren't so good :cheers:
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Never had a crack at an auto off road so can't comment but I thought being able to pick a gear and ride down on the engine would be better? Just need an engine brake on the DMax and would be great for riding down hills! What do you do in an auto? Wouldn't it just want to run on like it was in neutral?
I agree with BB, but situations off road where auto is good, beach driving it has an advantage, till it overheats lol, slow low range driving, like creek runs or steep inclines it is also an advantage, sometimes. It comes down to the driver a lot also. Each to there own. I like my manual, but my wife not so.
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I've had both and I'd prefer the auto but only because they spend most of their time on bitumen.
As soon as you hit the dirt I prefer a manual.
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I used to love manuals, but now prefer autos.
At work (when needed) you would wring the last bit out of the V8. About 10 years ago the autos weren't as equal. and now I don't think I could get a manual to work as well. I still change the auto down to keep it where I want it.
At work we went to autos, a combination so anyone can drive, and too many clutches and diffs.
I don't think manual have any advantage on road.
The only manual I drive now is the wife's Hyundai. I struggle with it
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When buying our 4wd could not buy a manual in stock in Sydney metro area, had to go to a "regional" dealership who had 4 sitting in the yard.
Funny how 40mins drive changes the entire buying / selling demographic.
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For "toys" - fun vehicles. I am a big fan of the manual.
My Troll is a manual and I wouldn't want it any other way.
But.... Some of mates in their auto Patrol use far less fuel on the highway and have reduction gears to compensate for downhill engine breaking.
Off road if I was building a dedicated rock crawler I would want an auto... Otherwise I am a control freak :) and want to have a manual.
My Challenger is an auto- drive it for work.. Stops/starts.. Take calls etc (hands free) and it's far more practical for what I want to use it for. Although the paddle shift option in it works just fine for downhill engine breaking.
So I guess it's horses for courses. Auto's are not what they were. I think they are probably better than manuals now. (Especially if you get a decent cooler/ reduction gears) than manuals.
But that doesn't mean I would want one. ;)
How's that for fence sitting? :)
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How's that for fence sitting? :)
One beer and you will fall off ;D :cheers:
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For me its manual all the way... there just a feeling when you are snapping through first, second, third & fourth in the Torrie at 5000rpm that is special :)
Swannie
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I much prefer the driving in a manual car, but that's when I'm actually controlling the car, not just trying to get from a to b without any hassle. My wife's car is an auto, she always preferred a manual, but now with that little distractions in the back an auto box means one less thing to worry about when driving.
Auto boxes are way better than they used to be, just as fuel efficient, can choose your own gear most of the time, no clutch to burn out, 5-6 speed is pretty standard, much easier in traffic.
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Seriosuly Lost or what ever you are calling yourself these days
Go live in Sydney traffic for 4 years and i bet you will trade your manual in after a 1 week
Auto boxes these days are that smart and will drive better than some old timers drive by feel opinion any day of the week
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Seriosuly Lost or what ever you are calling yourself these days
Go live in Sydney traffic for 4 years and i bet you will trade your manual in after a 1 week
I drove trucks around Sydney for 8 yrs when I lived there, never a problem...
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The last auto truck I picked up from Mack at Laverton was wen the western car park was still being widened and traffic was attrocious. It was an automated manual truck, and I found myself putting it in manual mode because I got sick of it changing gears all the time when all it needed to do was hold 1 gear. But apart from that loved the auto shift.
Think the moral is, you'll never get 1 thing to suit all situations.
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I drove trucks around Sydney for 8 yrs when I lived there, never a problem...
When was that 1955 ;D
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When was that 1955 ;D
~88-around 96/8 but did country runs for few years too after that..
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For me, each to their own and what ever suits a need is fine.
BUT
I always know an Auto driver is behind me in traffic, they are the ones who tail gate me when I am slowing.
Thinking that is ridiculous are we?
Well, in the Troopy, and on the hwy in 110 k zone, I can slow down, take the off ramp near my place, go Down the off ramp to the lights after a final sharp bend and the last 30 meters is where I use the brakes.
Auto drivers are always up my clacka thinking I got no brake lights.
Sometime, if I see kids etc in the car behind, I will flash the brake lights so they know I am slowing down.
Drive an auto, not knowing how to drive a manual, OK, fine, but these folk who don't have the license for Auto need to be at least told how a Manual works.
By the way, not that I give a Rats when in the troopy, but the inconvenience of someones car wrapped around the back end and then they say his lights don't work is not what I want. I see my lights every time I back into the drive at home.
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Interesting while wasting sometime yesterday to pickup some stuff for work, I walked through the Yota, Mitz and Nissan yards.
I was almost shocked to see that there's nearly no cars that come in a manual anymore. I don't mean 4wds, I mean daily drivers.. Out of ~100 cars in the yard at Yota dealer (getting ready for a big sale this weekend) there was 1 manual. A used RX8!
What's up with that? I can understand Auto off road, but ... I still like a manual for daily...
Must be why Commodores sell so well, I don't think Falcons come in a manual?
Bought an XR6 Falcon last year in Auto, Manual was a no cost option but towing capacity was much lower on the manual so bought the auto.
Always preferred driving manuals but with the 6 speed auto do not have the performance issues that slush boxes suffered from, also getting great fuel economy and the manual shifter in the box works great.
Just the way things are going
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Enquired about a manual Pajero oiler yesterday ,, can be had but its a special order could take a month or so . Woth the wait IMHO :cheers:
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Enquired about a manual Pajero oiler yesterday ,, can be had but its a special order could take a month or so . Woth the wait IMHO :cheers:
So a new bus may be coming your way Jamie??
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At least you have something to do in start stop traffic if you have a manual, less boring :P.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
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'Lazy' drivers are only one reason most cars are auto these days. Of course there are also many many variations on what is defined as 'automatic'.
Modern engines need to be much more efficient. Electronic control only goes so far, so the transmissions need to help with that economy by keeping the engine in a much narrower rev range.
Transmissions are electronically mated to engines these days so neither operates in isolation. Add electronic stabilty control, electronic braking, cruise control and other electronic chassis systems, and it's easy to see why you need an auto box for full integration with the vehicle as a unit.
Power outputs have increased significantly and manual gearboxes struggle to stay in one piece compared to an auto. All it takes is a 'snatchy' take off, or a thonged foot sidestepping the clutch and BANG! That's why most auto sedans have a higher tow rating than the equivalent manual model. You can build a strong manual box, but it will be very heavy, usually clunky, and result in significantly slower acceleration in general use.
Plenty of modern transmissions are worth more than the engines they are mated to because there is so much tech in a transmisssion these days.