The Things You Are HAPPY About Thread.

[Kenny]

Wouldn't go back to driving a manual myself now. I know some feel that is proper driving but I only drive to get places and the simpler that is the better, not after any pleasure in driving to Leeds or wherever other than I am there in 1 piece. Also gives me more time and energy to shout at other drivers for doing exactly what I do...

 

[Alan]

A standard test entitles you to drive both manual and auto but if you take auto only you cannot drive a manual

Only driven a manual once. Let's just say the car hasn't moved much since...

 

[Lupo]

Speaking of driving and being happy about things I am going to test drive a new car in Stafford tomorrow and am looking forward to it. I get quite excited about new cars

 

[Lupo]

Only driven a manual once. Let's just say the car hasn't moved much since...

Do they have many manuals over there Al, always think of autos with American cars, do many know how to drive a manual?

 

[leedswolf]

Wouldn't go back to driving a manual myself now. I know some feel that is proper driving but I only drive to get places and the simpler that is the better, not after any pleasure in driving to Leeds or wherever other than I am there in 1 piece. Also gives me more time and energy to shout at other drivers for doing exactly what I do...

I have an auto, but I do enjoy driving the hire cars in the Channel Islands as they are predominately manual.

 

[Alan]

Do they have many manuals over there Al, always think of autos with American cars, do many know how to drive a manual?

It's very much a niche, and slowly dying. A lot of newer models quietly discourage buying a manual in a few ways:

1. The manual option doesn't get shipped to the US full-stop
2. Manual transmission is locked behind the cheapest package (oh, you want power windows? You'll have to take the automatic)
3. Clutch maintenance will be used as a negative by sales

They're still out here and a segment of car fanatics won't drive anything else. But by and large, I'd wager that most Americans of my generation and younger are like me: learned first on an automatic because that's what the parents had and didn't see much reason to "go backward" by learning stick.

For my part, I'd love to be able to drive a manual, but that first experience (RIP to that poor little Chrysler) gave me a good scare.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

Speaking of driving and being happy about things I am going to test drive a new car in Stafford tomorrow and am looking forward to it. I get quite excited about new cars

Just think that as soon as you drive it off the forecourt you'll lose several thousand pounds in depreciation.
That might temper your excitement...

 

[Lupo]

It's very much a niche, and slowly dying. A lot of newer models quietly discourage buying a manual in a few ways:

1. The manual option doesn't get shipped to the US full-stop
2. Manual transmission is locked behind the cheapest package (oh, you want power windows? You'll have to take the automatic)
3. Clutch maintenance will be used as a negative by sales

They're still out here and a segment of car fanatics won't drive anything else. But by and large, I'd wager that most Americans of my generation and younger are like me: learned first on an automatic because that's what the parents had and didn't see much reason to "go backward" by learning stick.

For my part, I'd love to be able to drive a manual, but that first experience (RIP to that poor little Chrysler) gave me a good scare.

I like a good old American car chase movie, Smokey And The Bandit, Dukes Of Hazzard, love Burt Reynolds and John Schneider tearing it up in their automobiles down in Atlanta GA! Steve McQueen is another and Clint is the daddy (though he's not particularly known for car movies)

 

[Lupo]

Just think that as soon as you drive it off the forecourt you'll lose several thousand pounds in depreciation.
That might temper your excitement...

Its not brand new, just new to me (if I have it)

 

[Kenny]

Just think that as soon as you drive it off the forecourt you'll lose several thousand pounds in depreciation.
That might temper your excitement...

Why should that bother him?

Presume he is buying to use the car until the time comes to replace it and not as an investment.

 

[EpsomWolf]

Do they have many manuals over there Al, always think of autos with American cars, do many know how to drive a manual?

Funnily enough Tim Shmee just picked up his Mustang Dark Horse edition in the states which is a manual. V8, ICE, RWD and manual in fact. As he says name another one from a mainstream manufacturer?

Definitely becoming things from the past but for those into that sort of thing it’s a certain magic that will never be bettered.

 

[Lupo]

Funnily enough Tim Shmee just picked up his Mustang Dark Horse edition in the states which is a manual. V8, ICE, RWD and manual in fact. As he says name another one from a mainstream manufacturer?

Definitely becoming things from the past but for those into that sort of thing it’s a certain magic that will never be bettered.

Do love a Mustang

 

[Alan]

Seems like a bit of a pipedream, but if someone released a DCT that used an actual stick instead of paddles, that'd probably delay me getting an EV as my next ride.

As it is, they still more or less need the AT style shifter, too, so I don't know how you'd solve that design problem.

 

[Wolf Hunting]

It's very much a niche, and slowly dying. A lot of newer models quietly discourage buying a manual in a few ways:

1. The manual option doesn't get shipped to the US full-stop
2. Manual transmission is locked behind the cheapest package (oh, you want power windows? You'll have to take the automatic)
3. Clutch maintenance will be used as a negative by sales

They're still out here and a segment of car fanatics won't drive anything else. But by and large, I'd wager that most Americans of my generation and younger are like me: learned first on an automatic because that's what the parents had and didn't see much reason to "go backward" by learning stick.

For my part, I'd love to be able to drive a manual, but that first experience (RIP to that poor little Chrysler) gave me a good scare.

When I lived in the south of France, I commuted to Ireland to work for two weeks then flew home for two weeks, repeat.
Avis gave me a great deal on repeat business and if I got into the pick up office in a morning sometimes there were Americans in front of me, expressing exasperation that (for whatever reason, late booking, I don't know) that they were being given a manual shift,.
After they'd gone I asked why did they charge these guys full whack, maximum waivers and huge excess.
They said, "Because they're driving on the wrong side of the road, they've got to think about changing gears manually and half a mile out of the gate there are two major, very busy roundabouts with traffic lights halfway round and whilst they're going around it the wrong way, they've got to consider being in the right lane or they'll end up going where they don't want to be going. About 70% of Americans or foreign nationals not used to manual gears, will be involved in some sort of a skirmish at one or the other or both those roundabouts. It's too much, too soon, too fast... They just get immediately overwhelmed"

 

[Alan]

Fuck a roundabout tbqh

 

[Wolf Hunting]

I like a good old American car chase movie, Smokey And The Bandit, Dukes Of Hazzard, love Burt Reynolds and John Schneider tearing it up in their automobiles down in Atlanta GA! Steve McQueen is another and Clint is the daddy (though he's not particularly known for car movies)

What about French Connection with Gene Hackman racing the E train through New York??

 

[Alan]

What about French Connection with Gene Hackman racing the E train through New York??

Fun fact: NYC didn't let them shut down the streets for that. They got the whole thing in one take, and all of the traffic you see in the film is real.

 

[Lupo]

What about French Connection with Gene Hackman racing the E train through New York??

Don't think I've seen that one

 

[Wolf Hunting]

Seems like a bit of a pipedream, but if someone released a DCT that used an actual stick instead of paddles, that'd probably delay me getting an EV as my next ride.

As it is, they still more or less need the AT style shifter, too, so I don't know how you'd solve that design problem.

We had a Citroen C3 Sports once upon a time, before we knew better and that was a semi automatic. You had 2 paddles on the steering wheel column, the right hand was for changing up on the left for changing down. Quite nifty. Sort of...

 

[Kenny]

Fuck a roundabout tbqh

Avoid Swindon when you get here.

That is sound advice if you don't drive as well ..