25 things vanishing in America, the stick shift

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/04/05/25-things-vanishing-in-america-part-2-the-stick-shift/

25 things vanishing in America, part 2: The stick shift
Jennie L. Phipps
Apr 5th 2009 at 7:00AM
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Filed under: Transportation
I've always thought automatic transmissions were for wimps, but that's me driving the Dodge Dakota with an automatic tranny. Not because I can't tell the difference between a gas pedal and a clutch, but because makers of trucks -- both foreign and domestic -- have given up on the notion of sticks.

It's hard to find a manual transmission these days. In 1980, J.D. Powers and Associates estimates that more than 35% of all cars sold had a stick shift. By 2005, that number had dropped to 6%. Four years later, finding a car with a manual transmission is a big challenge -- you have to go either high end or very low end. 2008 was the last year that any manufacturer of full-size trucks offered a manual transmission. The 2008 Dodge Ram was the last to make manual an option. In 2009, the macho truck propelled by a driver with skill has gone the way of the buggy whip.
I reared three boys and I made them learn how to drive on a car with a manual transmission. I thought men ought to know how to do that. It put them behind the curve in driver's ed, but in the long run – after they finally mastered lifting the clutch and goosing the gas simultaneously -- they thanked me. When my oldest drove his manual-transmission Camaro to college, it looked like a perfect car to borrow – until the mooches figured out that it was a stick shift and knew they couldn't drive it. That got my son off the hook gracefully lots of times.

It used to be that manual transmissions were lighter, more reliable, easier on gas. Today, that's not necessarily true, according to this report from Progressive insurance, which favors automatics and says they get slightly better gas mileage than their manual cousins.

The latest thing in transmissions is the automated manual transmission with paddle shifters. In cars with paddle shifters, there are two "paddles" mounted on the back side of the steering wheel. One is for upshifting, the other, downshifting. The paddles shift the transmission electronically rather than relying on a mechanical connection like a stick shift. No clutch necessary. But drivers do get a sense of control.

Manufacturers of the finest sports cars in the world, including Porsche, offer paddle shifts and some drivers love them, including Formula One racers for whom they were first developed.

It seems funny to me that cars equipped with manual shifts should cost more, and I'm reluctant to shell out for something that doesn't seem like it should be a luxury. Still, I miss driving a manual shift. Using both your feet and your hands focuses your attention on driving. You have to concentrate and that makes the trip more interesting.

Oh well, I guess soon driving stickshift will be as archaic as using payphones, listening to tapes, using a map to go places and using CRT monitors.

Sigh.

Oh well.

Wait till we explain to our grandkids what driving a stickshift car used to be like.


THREE PEDALS!!!???!!!???

its cus fucking america is fully of lazy fucks!!

^
This man speaks truth.

Fuck i hate Americans.

djexpo wrote:

its cus fucking america is fully of lazy fucks!!

i dont understand it, but i dont see the problem with opening your windows by moving your hand in a circular motion either. unless its the back right one, then i just have to wait til im at a stoplight to open it


fuck, neither my grandpa's car nor my uncles even has power steering.

i will never buy a car equiped with an automatic transmission.*




*unless it's a luxury car.

Same here... only Auto I want is in a luxury 4 door sedan. But any other car I prefer manual. Not only is the trans less likely to break its cheaper to maintain and easier to service.

auto is fucking gay unless ur in a yukon or a luxury whip

hey guys its OK, because the cars we like to drive are a hundred years old, and they are only getting older.

its all about the luxury for daily duties. auto, heated leather, and a V8, YA

I'm the same way. I refuse to own a car that is not stick shift. The only automatic car I would consider buying is some kind of Mercedes AMG. But thats only because there is no such thing as a manual transmission in an AMG. Unless you swap it.

Nachtmensch wrote:

i will never buy a car equiped with an automatic transmission.*




*unless it's a luxury car.

That makes two of us..

three pedal cars rock

Europe is like 90% manual.
Fun place to rent tiny turbo cars.

yea and europeans are skinnier too!!

Matej wrote:

Europe is like 90% manual.
Fun place to rent tiny turbo cars.

and tiny cars period. ones without power steering and 2 cylinders.

and most are diesel engines. I was dating a girl who was from Poland and she was surprised that I had a stick. She thought that we americans only drove autos

LOL

dreimers wrote:

and most are diesel engines. I was dating a girl who was from Poland and she was surprised that I had a stick. She thought that we americans only drove autos

yeah polish girls in america expect you to drive a benzo on dubs, drive anything else and you must be a peasant

boostbaron wrote:

dreimers wrote:

and most are diesel engines. I was dating a girl who was from Poland and she was surprised that I had a stick. She thought that we americans only drove autos

yeah polish girls in america expect you to drive a benzo on dubs, drive anything else and you must be a peasant

Or a BMW... lol seems like all eastern pussy wants you to roll up in either a BMW, Mercedes, Audi or Volkswagen. Subarus are accepted but only if you live near a Polish neighborhood like belmont / central - - my area! LOL theres a wrx/sti on every corner.

I happen to be part of the few polaks that dont drive german cars, instead old ass 240!

If you want to get a license in Europe, you have to go to driving school where they also teach you how to drive a manual. And once people know how to drive a manual, no one wants an automatic.
I bet if everyone in the America knew how to drive a stick, most people would prefer manual cars, and that's what automakers would give them.

lol Its because of women that stick is going away. We have to give what the pussy wants in order to get pussy. They complain about not being able to drive our cars because they don't know how. Then when you try to teach them, they don't want to learn. They say its to hard.
Because of that, most guys buy autos just so they don't have to deal with the bitching and moaning.lol imo.
lol i know im late on this shit. i apologize.

they say its too hard = lazy. whos buying a car for their girls to drive anyways

the dudes that are getting married and having kids and the ones who are lazy.

Ive never once let a girl influence my decisions about a car. If you have then your a retard.