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End of the manual transmission?
High Gear Media via Foxnews ^ | May 02, 2012 | By Thomas Bey

Posted on 06/01/2012 7:23:21 AM PDT by US Navy Vet

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To: US Navy Vet

I’ve always preferred manual transmissions whenever I could get one. I still am not a fan of automatics because they eventually develop and overdrive/converter/switch problem.

My last two Hondas, 2005 and 2009 were both 5 speed manuals. If they had had one on the lot like I wanted, my 2010 F-150 would have one.


61 posted on 06/01/2012 7:46:53 AM PDT by Gaffer
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To: US Navy Vet

I’m going to Dresden in a couple of weeks. Reserving a car on Avis, you have to go upscale to get automatic transmission- default is stick. I can’t wait, it will bring back nice memories.


62 posted on 06/01/2012 7:47:02 AM PDT by jimmygrace
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To: US Navy Vet

Learned on an old Mack quad box. Two sticks...two hands. never forgot.

http://vodpod.com/watch/3023018-quad-box-shifting


63 posted on 06/01/2012 7:48:09 AM PDT by SpeakLittle_ThinkMuch (A newspaper is a device for making the ignorant more ignorant and the crazy crazier.)
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To: US Navy Vet

Ruh-Roh. Just bought a manual yesterday.’05 Corolla supposed to get 41 highway.

Not good for resale, but we drive our cars into the ground.

First manual in ten years. It came back to me pretty quick.

Downside for me is that it’s much harder to eat and drive, although I usually do that on the highway.


64 posted on 06/01/2012 7:48:24 AM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas (Viva Christo Rey!)
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To: US Navy Vet

Yup. Can’t get Mrs. Colonel or the fledglings (both girls) into it, though...


65 posted on 06/01/2012 7:49:46 AM PDT by jagusafr ("Write in Palin and prepare for war...")
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To: US Navy Vet

I learned to drive on both manual and automatic, but I prefer a manual. You are much more aware of your driving when you drive a manual.


66 posted on 06/01/2012 7:50:09 AM PDT by Army Air Corps (Four Fried Chickens and a Coke)
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To: Celtic Conservative
Learned to drive stick on a '85 renault with a 5 speed getrag transmission. After you got past first, it was very easy to shift. First gear in that thing was a stone b#+ch.

Sounds like my older borther's '59 Opel. Learning first gear in that one was tough.

My first car, a '61 Impala, was an automatic (283 engine with the old 2-speed, IIRC, powerglide). After that it was all sticks until 2010 when I went for my fourth Honda.

Decided to go with the automatic-equipped Civic EX (I don't think Honda even makes an EX with a stick any more--certainly none on the local lots). The Civic Si model was stick-only (6-speed), but it was a little spendier than I wanted; plus, I was spending a lot of time in stop-n-go traffic in those days.

67 posted on 06/01/2012 7:51:24 AM PDT by Erasmus (BHO: New supreme leader of the homey rollin' empire.)
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To: US Navy Vet

It’s likely because I’m so used to a manual but there is no comparison on mountainous, winding roads. Also, I do get better mileage with a manual. Now trying to teach a daughter to drive a stick, that I could have done without.


68 posted on 06/01/2012 7:51:59 AM PDT by JimSEA
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To: US Navy Vet

If you work on your own car, you will quickly realize:

new clutch = $200
new automatic transmission = $1,500

I drive a stick because I’m cheap.


69 posted on 06/01/2012 7:51:59 AM PDT by lacrew (Mr. Soetoro, we regret to inform you that your race card is over the credit limit.)
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To: US Navy Vet
How many here can drive a "Stick"?

Back in the early 80s, the US Army realized that a small percentage of new recruits could drive stick, and that it was a waste of valuable time to train them.

At that point they made all new vehicle procurements with automatics.

And that was 30 yrs ago....

70 posted on 06/01/2012 7:52:19 AM PDT by nascarnation
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To: US Navy Vet

They can have my Dodge 4X4 6 speed when they remove my cold dead foot from their bloodied “clutch”.


71 posted on 06/01/2012 7:52:40 AM PDT by IMR 4350
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To: St_Thomas_Aquinas
That is the nice thing about the 240Z with that strong straight 6 and a serious clutch... You can take off in 2nd and keep it there until about 55-60. Well, back when I was young and stupid, anyway.

It's performance is wasted on me today. I learned that I, too, can die ugly. ;)

/johnny

72 posted on 06/01/2012 7:53:09 AM PDT by JRandomFreeper (Gone Galt)
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To: US Navy Vet

I just bought a Kia with a six speed manual tranny. I had forgotten how much fun they can be.


73 posted on 06/01/2012 7:53:13 AM PDT by buffaloguy (uab.)
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To: Lonesome in Massachussets
I took my chauffeur’s license test with a highway patrolman in a new 72 passenger school bus. It was a very large '66 International with a five speed/2 speed rear. he took me down alleys and a series of tight turns. I didn't scrape anything...
74 posted on 06/01/2012 7:54:09 AM PDT by Eric in the Ozarks
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To: jimmygrace

Driving a Mini in England was interesting. Right hand drive with a stick...That took some practice...


75 posted on 06/01/2012 7:54:09 AM PDT by AngelesCrestHighway
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To: Age of Reason

-—says that auto transmissions are superior for off roading, because they can respond faster to changing conditions than a human can shift a manual transmission.——

Yeah. I drove my manual Wrangler with a foot-long shifter down a Maine logging road. I could barely stay in the seat, nevermind find a gear.


76 posted on 06/01/2012 7:55:06 AM PDT by St_Thomas_Aquinas (Viva Christo Rey!)
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To: Age of Reason

I don’t know about that. I’m in mud heaven here and we have a saying....stick it in low and go!


77 posted on 06/01/2012 7:55:21 AM PDT by liberalh8ter (If Barack has a memory like a steel trap, why can't he remember what the Constitution says?)
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To: US Navy Vet

I not only can drive a stick, I prefer to


78 posted on 06/01/2012 7:55:38 AM PDT by Mom MD (The country needs Obamacare like Nancy Pelosi needs a Halloween mask)
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To: US Navy Vet

Years ago, when my best friend and I both drove 1970-vintage 240Z’s, I observed that girls drove mostly automatics. He showed me plenty of counterexamples to this, which I guess was easy because we belonged to a sports car club.

Anyway, after that time, I saw a lot of stick-driving chicks.

I guess it depends on one’s perceptions, which are not uncommonly refuted by statistics.


79 posted on 06/01/2012 7:56:35 AM PDT by Erasmus (BHO: New supreme leader of the homey rollin' empire.)
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To: US Navy Vet

AND I (the good farm boy that I am) can drive a “Straight Truck” w/ a “High/Low Axle Transmission too(I can “move” an 18 wheeler if I have to).


80 posted on 06/01/2012 7:56:54 AM PDT by US Navy Vet (Go Packers! Go Rockies! Go Boston Bruins! See, I'm "Diverse"!)
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