Death of the stick shift.

[Junket]

I think averagejoe will feel me on this.

I just began to realize that car companies have all but phased out manual transmissions.

I was browsing through several car company websites whose full size trucks all lack a stick shift. I was totally taken back, because I figured trucks and sports cars would still be the vehicles to carry stick shifts.

Fortunately several small and midsize trucks still give the option for a manual tranny, but I feel like it's only a matter of time before they're phased out, too.

I'm so depressed.

[IndiReloaded]

I drive a 5-speed, Fras. Wouldn't have it any other way.

[Junket]

I drive a 5-speed, Fras. Wouldn't have it any other way.

Know what I mean, though?

They're being phased out.

Most of the guys at work don't even know how to drive stick shifts.

I feel like anymore, having a stick shift is a theft deterrent in itself!

[IndiReloaded]

Dunno Fras. They still seem very common in Canada. They are 'standard' in Urp (tho in the UK you have to shift w/your left hand).

But I'm a control freak. Any car that has a transmission that is decent enough as automatic is only better as a manual in any case.

[Lipp]

Sticks if you have stones.

I've never actually driven an automatic, but I reckon that it feels a bit weird, as if there's something missing, and also a bit like driving a car from freakin' lego-land - gas, break and steer, yay for toddlers!

[Only-virgins]

Nope. Go to Europe. Death of the Auto still there. If you talk about truck than yea but its a stupid truck. I get that in auto too. Evos only come in manual unless you get the MR.

[Yggdrasil]

We'll put in a manual transmission but that's optional and it's gona cost you

[Cbrider]

There's no reason to have stick anymore, automatic transmissions have become superior in every way.

That said, I haven't seen an automatic bike yet

[Yggdrasil]

There's no reason to have stick anymore, automatic transmissions have become superior in every way.

That said, I haven't seen an automatic bike yet

I have. It was an Aprilia (not sure which one).

[Cbrider]

I have. It was an Aprilia (not sure which one).

Was it an automatic or a centrifugal clutch? I have ridden bikes with the latter, but they function much the same.

[Only-virgins]

There's no reason to have stick anymore, automatic transmissions have become superior in every way.

Are you from Narnia or something ? I will out launch a traditional automatic any day and Manual transmissions are better at racing and the track(road racing)...oh and rally. Besides that you are right. They sure are superior in every way lol...whatever else is left...I can't think of anything I care about. The fact that the MR SST dual clutch transmission (named one of the best in AT transmissions in production out of factory after the new Skyline) in the EVO still puts down a half a second 1/4 of a mile time slower than the GSR manual evo (on average) only helps support my claim. Manual is faster when in equal hp/tq and weight cars and the MT driver knows what he is doing. There are those crazy drag A/T transmission...who the **** drives that in a everyday car? Oh and manual gets on average better gas millage to. Damn dude..you failed on an epic level with that comment lol. Americans need to stop being such pussies and learn how to drive manual. The last AT I was in took for ****ing ever to get to next gear and it hesitates every time it goes to downshift....what a piece of shit.

[Yggdrasil]

Was it an automatic or a centrifugal clutch? I have ridden bikes with the latter, but they function much the same.

I don't know. Google for the Aprilia NA 850 Mana Automatic.

[paracelsus82]

[QUOTE=Frasbee;481745]

I just began to realize that car companies have all but phased out manual transmissions.

QUOTE]

I KNOW!!! Last year I went looking a new truck (luv trucks) and found NO STICKS!! WTF???

I love a STICK I feel more incontrol! Needless to say, I ended up with Jeep Cheokee (I know, they never had sticks) got a good deal

and what is up with the..shift-tronic? or whatever gag me

[misombra]

i drove a manual shift from the time i learned to drive until a few years ago when i got my mazda.

i was so accustomed to it that one day, i was on the freeway, and my car wasn't shifting when i would've liked, so i put my left foot right down on my brake and my car slowed down very quickly and i almost caused an accident.

but now i'm used to my auto.

[Cbrider]

Are you from Narnia or something ? I will out launch a traditional automatic any day and Manual transmissions are better at racing and the track(road racing)...oh and rally. Besides that you are right. They sure are superior in every way lol...whatever else is left...I can't think of anything I care about. The fact that the MR SST dual clutch transmission (named one of the best in AT transmissions in production out of factory after the new Skyline) in the EVO still puts down a half a second 1/4 of a mile time slower than the GSR manual evo (on average) only helps support my claim. Manual is faster when in equal hp/tq and weight cars and the MT driver knows what he is doing. There are those crazy drag A/T transmission...who the **** drives that in a everyday car? Oh and manual gets on average better gas millage to. Damn dude..you failed on an epic level with that comment lol. Americans need to stop being such pussies and learn how to drive manual. The last AT I was in took for ****ing ever to get to next gear and it hesitates every time it goes to downshift....what a piece of shit.

I made that comment in reference to everyday drivers, not racers, lol. Automatics get the same mileage as manuals and have become advanced enough that they are equal for towing in AVERAGE consumer applications. You're talking about a car (if you can call it that) that develops 290 HP to the pavement and slightly higher torque out of a turbocharged 2.0 liter engine through an AWD drive train. Of course you would get faster launches, an automatic couldn't rev and slip the clutch nearly as well as a manual. I've raced a few evo's, they are faster than shit off the line. I've been racing bikes for 3 years, I could only see how well that would work as an automatic. On top of that, there's no way in hell I could wheelie on an automatic transmission

Another problem is that a mid range car is going to get a mid range automatic transmission. The transmissions I am talking about are the nicer transmission you get with a bigger price tag. Take Allison transmissions for example, great transmissions, but you only get them in Duramax diesels. That's a guaranteed 40K price tag in a normal economy.

It wasn't so much a fail comment as it was two completely different applications you and I are talking about. I should have been more specific.

Cars suck, but I haven't found snow tires for my bike yet

You seem to like rally type cars, ever watch Ken Block's videos on youtube? He's fun to watch.