The death of the manual transmission

[Faenskap]

All non-Americans.

Not me
I don't have a driver's license (at 25 -_-), but I've been doing practise driving with my dad

Manual transmission adds a layer of multitasking with the clutch and gearing, I'm just not good at multitasking. Sure, maybe it's all a matter of getting used to it, but an automatic transmission removes the stress and makes it fun and a loooot easier to drive. Manual transmission makes me feel completely fucking useless, like I will never be able to master it and it's stressful, whereas automatic transmission is heaven

[Deleted]

Manual is the only transmission I've been driving. In driving school instructors are using cars with manual transmissions. Its the way everyone is taught to drive here.

[Annu]

And I wasn't talking about playing the piano per se, but an instrument generally. Whether you prefer piano or bongo drums it's up to you, but playing an instrument is worthwhile.

Why precisely?

Only a fractional amount of people is able to play an instrument at a level that is comparable to the original, professional artists. So why bother with learning an instrument, if you get the music on CD?

Same way, only a fractional amount of people is able to switch gears as fast as a double clutch automatic transmission, and these people are usually professional race drivers. So why bother with manual transmissions?

[Puupi]

Why precisely?

Only a fractional amount of people is able to play an instrument at a level that is comparable to the original, professional artists. So why bother with learning an instrument, if you get the music on CD?

Err....playing an instrument is a completely different thing compared to listening to music. It's like watching people run a marathon on TV or running yourself. Or watch porn or have sex yourself.

If you'd play an instrument, you'd know the difference.

Same way, only a fractional amount of people is able to switch gears as fast as a double clutch automatic transmission, and these people are usually professional race drivers. So why bother with manual transmissions?

Same way, why have democracy when only a fraction of people can handle politics like professionals. Rather have dictatorship instead, right?

[Deleted]

Out of curiosity, is spending 45-90 minutes in heavy stop and go traffic (each way) on the way to work standard in Europe? Because it certainly is in the US.

Depends on location. In Estonia maximum delay in heavy traffic would be about 15 minutes. But when I was driving in Italy I've been stuck in several hour long traffic jams.

[Spiel]

No, I don't know how to drive manual. I wouldn't object learning, but I'd rather stay focused on the road or listen to the radio than worry about something that the car can do automatically. Just seems redundant to me, but I'm sure others prefer manual so who am I to judge?

once you get used to changing, its like breathing really, it just feels natural and you do it unconciously

[Puupi]

Out of curiosity, is spending 45-90 minutes in heavy stop and go traffic (each way) on the way to work standard in Europe? Because it certainly is in the US.

Yes, it's normal in big cities everywhere in the world.

[belfpala]

Depends on location. In Estonia maximum delay in heavy traffic would be about 15 minutes. But when I was driving in Italy I've been stuck in several hour long traffic jams.

And this is why I drive an automatic. I know how to use a manual, but just prefer not doing it in my major city.

[Deleted]

And this is why I drive an automatic. I know how to use a manual, but just prefer not doing it in my major city.

That doesn't make sense.

[belfpala]

That doesn't make sense.

How?

If I'm stuck in traffic with my automatic, I just have to take my foot off the brake and it'll creep forward a few feet.

[Youn]

I drive a Jeep Wrangler. I would hate to have an automatic in that vehicle.

[Orlong]

Not true at all, you just need good power. My automatic pickup w/ a v-8 can peel out and do donuts with ease.

Thats why I said MOST

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Not me
I don't have a driver's license (at 25 -_-), but I've been doing practise driving with my dad

Manual transmission adds a layer of multitasking with the clutch and gearing, I'm just not good at multitasking. Sure, maybe it's all a matter of getting used to it, but an automatic transmission removes the stress and makes it fun and a loooot easier to drive. Manual transmission makes me feel completely fucking useless, like I will never be able to master it and it's stressful, whereas automatic transmission is heaven

I will never buy an Automatic. Manual transmissions are much more fun once you learn it. But in the US the absolute best thing about owning a manual transmission is youre likely to never have your car stolen because most people dont know how to drive it!!

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Out of curiosity, is spending 45-90 minutes in heavy stop and go traffic (each way) on the way to work standard in Europe? Because it certainly is in the US.

Its definitely not standard in the US either unless you work in a large city. I drive 40 minutes to work every day and none of that time is spent sitting in traffic any slower than 50 MPH

[Deleted]

How?

If I'm stuck in traffic with my automatic, I just have to take my foot off the brake and it'll creep forward a few feet.

I don't have any experience driving automatic when stuck in traffic, but that doesn't seem like big advantage. Its not much different from taking foot off the clutch, while gently pressing gas.

[Youn]

I will never buy an Automatic. Manual transmissions are much more fun once you learn it. But in the US the absolute best thing about owning a manual transmission is youre likely to never have your car stolen because most people dont know how to drive it!!

Yeah, you wouldn't want to own my Jeep in Pheonix. Yes, it's a manuall transmission but Jeep are one of the most stolen vehicles in the SW US.

[Slant]

Out of curiosity, is spending 45-90 minutes in heavy stop and go traffic (each way) on the way to work standard in Europe? Because it certainly is in the US.

It can happen. But flexible working hours stretch rush hours from 6 to 9 am. Also in big cities i wager up to 50 % use the public transport system.

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That doesn't make sense.

It makes perfect sense. Automatic is the king of stop and go traffic. But then i rather seive alternate routes that get me there faster. Thank google for that.

[Sevyvia]

[URL]Who here knows how to drive a manual?

Literally everyone who isn't from the US (and knows how to drive, obviously), I'd image.

[Annoying]

I don't have any experience driving automatic when stuck in traffic, but that doesn't seem like big advantage. Its not much different from taking foot off the clutch, while gently pressing gas.

My clutch foot gets tired if it's bad enough for long enough, but on the general I don't have much of a problem in traffic. Given, I've never been stuck in something like LA traffic, just mild 10-15mph traffic.

[belfpala]

It can happen. But flexible working hours stretch rush hours from 6 to 9 am. Also in big cities i wager up to 50 % use the public transport system.

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It makes perfect sense. Automatic is the king of stop and go traffic. But then i rather seive alternate routes that get me there faster. Thank google for that.

Not always possible when a person lives in a major commercial area of a major metro area.

[Slant]

Not always possible when a person lives in a major commercial area of a major metro area.

Yeah well, perhaps there is a reason why the US favours automatic. In Europe, we are different car people. They're smaller, more efficient and our traffic had to be regulated and planned with narrow streets and chaotic city layout in mind. I think without public transport, we'd be fucked. And our organic city layouts tend to offer more than one ideal route to the place you want to get at. Heck, I know 4 possible routes to my workplace, all of which differ by 1-2 minutes without traffic.

Also, if I lived 60 minutes out from work by car, I'd definitely consider moving closer. But then, apart from London, Manchester/Liverpool and perhaps Paris, Europe doesn't know the concept of "metro area". Our cities don't sprawl half as much as yours do, mostly due to - again - not having enough space.

Funny how the little things make such a huge difference, really.

[belfpala]

Also, if I lived 60 minutes out from work by car, I'd definitely consider moving closer. But then, apart from London, Manchester/Liverpool and perhaps Paris, Europe doesn't know the concept of "metro area". Our cities don't sprawl half as much as yours do, mostly due to - again - not having enough space.

Funny how the little things make such a huge difference, really.

Right. From my City, people started moving to Suburb X. It's about a 15-25 minute commute depending on traffic. Then businesses realized the skilled workers were there, and moved themselves. Then people in Suburb X were like, "Too crowded!" and moved further out. Now, literally, a town in a different state is the new Suburb X.

That interestingly left a vacuum in my City, which led to a revitalization. Property prices dropped, entrepreneurs could afford to buy space for small businesses, people moved into houses newly affordable.

This is not a normal story though. See, Detroit.