Blog Post | Today: Manual Transmission Myths Debunked | Car Talk

Almost all of those myth busters only apply to very expensive cars.

Having well over 2,500,000 miles in a semi, not counting the cars of my youth. If I never drive a standard shift transmission vehicle again, I'm good.. disclaimer; muscle cars excluded, I'd like to beat my 70, Z28 like a rented mule a few more times

I grew up farming. It's what you do. I'm not sure there's anything I can't drive from a standard on the column piece of junk ford pickup to a backhoe.

 

And we had an automatic oldsmobile, yet my dad made me take my test in a standard.

When I saw this thread had 60+ posts I assumed lawildcat posted and stirred some things up.

Learned to drive on a stick and have driven one forever.

 

Traffic doesn't bother me. Start on stop on hills, no worries. I've been caught in major jams in the smokies on the way uphill, just another drive.

 

I have always thought that a manual forced me to pay a little more attention while driving.

 

Great to contol the torque and "shifting down" to save on the brakes is fun.

 

Myths it seems:

Few new cars (non sport, truck models) are now "stick". Thus they aren't cheaper anymore. A dealer will want to make you pay for the "luxury" of having a stick, like picking a certain color.

 

You don't save on mileage anymore. I'm as efficient with a clutch as anyone, but the automatic's are way more efficient than they used to be.

 

Resale value of "stick" cars takes a hit. A decent portion of potential buyers can't even drive them. Dealers don't want them because who is looking to buy a used "stick".

 

A clutch is cheaper to replace than a transmission, and a clutch can go for 100k or so. But, transmission's are built at a much better level now than ever before. Not sure this is a big deal anymore.

 

just my thoughts from a guy that could land a washing machine if they put it in space (paraphrase from a decent movie).

Great to contol the torque and "shifting down" to save on the brakes is fun.

 

Just a tip...a race car driver was asked about this technique and whether he applied it to his everyday driving. His reply was: "brake parts are cheaper than engine parts".

Back in the mid 80s a family I used to carpool to school with was kind enough to sacrifice the clutch of their Toyota Celica :lol2:.... actually it went very well. Until I fell into a great deal on an automatic Toyota Tercel at age 23, my first two vehicles were standard shifts.

My first car out of college was a Toyota Celica with a stick shift. Loved that car!

2 years later I got into a sales position and was required to drive a company leased Ford Taurus. Could not afford to keep the Celica and pay the Taurus lease so had to sell it.

Sad day. :(

So today while stuck on 275 for over an hour and a half the fun was lost in driving a stick.

:laugh:

College days had a VW bug with very large hole in floor board at drivers seat. Also had to push-start the thing every once in awhile.

Truly a Flinstone mobile.

 

A lot of mostly great memories involving that car. Fun to drive. Wouldn't want to drive a stick on a daily basis now though.