Learning to drive in the US
Oct 10th 2013, 3:15 pm
#91
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
Oct 10th 2013, 3:15 pm
#92
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
I had one with 6 gears (about 35yrs ago)... then I got one with an engine.
Gears didn't seem quite as important at that time.
Gears didn't seem quite as important at that time.
Oct 10th 2013, 3:16 pm
#93
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
Oct 10th 2013, 3:47 pm
#96
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
As I suspected. 
Regards, JEff
Regards, JEff
That would make for a lot of clutching, I wonder how many drivers would use them all, all of the time?
Oct 10th 2013, 4:00 pm
#98
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
Even before all the electronics, I suspect the EPA was giving too high of mpg for stick shift and assumed that most people use them relatively correctly. With my 6 forward gears on my BMW, I sometimes find myself leaving it in a high gear when going up a hill and then traffic slows and then I try to take off and there is no power. Also if I shift down after realizing the mistake, the car momentarily slows. The same sometimes occurs on freeways that congest.
I hate it when I do that since I got this powerful BMW and some low powered car is behind me is wondering when I'm going to take off.
Also sometimes I find myself leaving it in 5th gear on the freeway for miles before I realize that I should be in the 6th gear. That may be partially due to my poor hearing and I don't realize that the engine is making more noise than it should until I look at the tac. Maybe old people shouldn't driver stick shifts.
I hate it when I do that since I got this powerful BMW and some low powered car is behind me is wondering when I'm going to take off.
Also sometimes I find myself leaving it in 5th gear on the freeway for miles before I realize that I should be in the 6th gear. That may be partially due to my poor hearing and I don't realize that the engine is making more noise than it should until I look at the tac. Maybe old people shouldn't driver stick shifts.
Last edited by Michael; Oct 10th 2013 at 4:04 pm.
Oct 10th 2013, 4:06 pm
#99
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: Learning to drive in the US
Yup!
To be sure, your truck has a manual transmission? And you use all of those gears, consistently choosing the correct one for the speed and conditions of the moment, moment to moment?
I expect you do, and I expect that you've got at least some company, but it'sl clear that the manual transmission has lost its edge under normal driving conditions.
Regards, JEff
To be sure, your truck has a manual transmission? And you use all of those gears, consistently choosing the correct one for the speed and conditions of the moment, moment to moment?
I expect you do, and I expect that you've got at least some company, but it'sl clear that the manual transmission has lost its edge under normal driving conditions.
Regards, JEff
Oct 10th 2013, 4:08 pm
#100
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Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 14,049
Re: Learning to drive in the US
Refreshing - an honest driver!
Regards, JEff
Regards, JEff
With my 6 forward gears on my BMW, I sometimes find myself leaving it in a high gear when going up a hill and then traffic slows and then I try to take off and there is no power. Also if I shift down after realizing the mistake, the car momentarily slows. The same sometimes occurs on freeways that congest.
Also sometimes I find myself leaving it in 5th gear on the freeway for miles before I realize that I should be in the 6th gear.
Also sometimes I find myself leaving it in 5th gear on the freeway for miles before I realize that I should be in the 6th gear.
Oct 10th 2013, 4:12 pm
#101
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Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
With computer controlled automatic transmission - no question, there is little or no advantage for manual anymore. I suspect most people will choose it because they are used to it, or because they feel it's more enjoyable though, than for MPG.
Oct 10th 2013, 4:12 pm
#102
Joined: Dec 2001
Location: Dixie, ex UK
Posts: 52,448
Re: Learning to drive in the US
When sitting in the front left seat, I don't eat, read, or text. I use my phone sparingly, and occasionally sip on a drink, because I am busy driving
.... I expect you do, and I expect that you've got at least some company, but it's clear that the manual transmission has lost its edge under normal driving conditions.
Regards, JEff
Regards, JEff
The last time I looked, Ford no longer offers an F250 with a manual transmission. 
.... Even when I bought it, it was extraordinarily rare. Needless to say the local dealer didn't have one, and so the dealer searched inventory in VA and six neighboring states, and still drew a blank! 
Mine was custom ordered and shipped direct from Kansas light truck plant.FWIW I have three vehicles, none are automatic!
Last edited by Pulaski; Oct 10th 2013 at 4:17 pm.
Oct 10th 2013, 4:18 pm
#103
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Re: Learning to drive in the US
Call me old fashioned, but isn't that what driving is? When sitting in the front left seat, I don't eat, read, text, use my phone sparingly, and occasionally sip on a drink, because I am busy driving
"Lost it's edge"! The last time I looked, Ford no longer offers an F250 with a manual transmission. .... Even when I bought it, it was extraordinarily rare. Needless to say the local dealer didn't have one, and so the dealer searched inventory in VA and six neighboring states, and still drew a blank! Mine was custom ordered and shipped direct from Kansas light truck plant.
FWIW I have three vehicles, none are automatic!
When sitting in the front left seat, I don't eat, read, text, use my phone sparingly, and occasionally sip on a drink, because I am busy driving "Lost it's edge"!
The last time I looked, Ford no longer offers an F250 with a manual transmission. .... Even when I bought it, it was extraordinarily rare. Needless to say the local dealer didn't have one, and so the dealer searched inventory in VA and six neighboring states, and still drew a blank! Mine was custom ordered and shipped direct from Kansas light truck plant.FWIW I have three vehicles, none are automatic!
Oct 10th 2013, 4:24 pm
#104
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Location: Monterey, CA
Posts: 2,554
Re: Learning to drive in the US
Who cares about efficiency. I drive a manual because they are more fun! I want to control the car, I don't want the car to control me! Only 5 gears in my mazda though, which feels a little weird after being used to 6 gears back in the UK.
Oct 10th 2013, 4:36 pm
#105
I have a comma problem
Joined: Feb 2009
Location: Fox Lake, IL (from Carrickfergus NI)
Posts: 49,598
Re: Learning to drive in the US
My wallet does. Sorry about the correction, my brain won't let me not do it. I hope you understand ...
I went through this argument with myself eight years ago when I started driving here in an automatic. A manual gearbox is great fun on winding country back-roads with a 60 mph speed limit, lots of challenging corners, no stop lights and few traffic cops.
We don't have those where I live. The roads that do carry a 55+ limit are either big dual carriageways, interstates or otherwise relatively straight semi-rural roads where in a manual gearbox all I'd be doing was getting into 5th and leaving it there until I got to a red light or my exit. Any other driving I do is on in-town (slow) roads or a lot of stop/start driving. It just doesn't seem worth going after a manual gearbox anymore since I'd not get the chance to really enjoy it.
We don't have those where I live. The roads that do carry a 55+ limit are either big dual carriageways, interstates or otherwise relatively straight semi-rural roads where in a manual gearbox all I'd be doing was getting into 5th and leaving it there until I got to a red light or my exit. Any other driving I do is on in-town (slow) roads or a lot of stop/start driving. It just doesn't seem worth going after a manual gearbox anymore since I'd not get the chance to really enjoy it.