If the US made the standard, standard

[Tesla]

In the good old days,
Manuals were more efficient and more reliable.
In these new days manuals are still the same, but automatics have come a long way in their efficiency and reliability, while manuals are pretty much as they were.
The fact that they are still a little more reliable is a moot point, because of all the electronics that have been thrown at the engine it will likely let you down before either the auto or manual does.
I am old school manual, so I still think they are better, but it is getting much harder to argue the point these days, and besides that, in the near future there may not even be an argument as more and more models are coming out without the manual option at all.

[cfg83]

Tesla -

Originally Posted by Tesla

...
I am old school manual, so I still think they are better, but it is getting much harder to argue the point these days, and besides that, in the near future there may not even be an argument as more and more models are coming out without the manual option at all.

100% agreement. In the hands of an Ecomodder the manual can win almost every time. But if you don't want to make the effort, a modern thrifty auto makes life easier.

Historically manuals have also had a repair cost advantage. However, with fewer cars offering them, that cost advantage may also erode, .

CarloSW2

[Frank Lee]

People care about the cost of repairing things? I thought it just all went to the landfill after a short period of functionality.

If people really cared about the repairablility of cars, cars would be simpler, not loaded down with "luxuries" a.k.a. stuff, parts would be cheap, readily available anywhere, and easy to install at home... like they used to be. I don't think people care about that anymore. They just run to the repair shop to hire a mechanic to get their wiper arms changed. If consumers gave manufacturers a strong... very strong signal they valued durability and value above fashion and planned obsolescence, vehicles today would be very different from what they are.

[shovel]

We definitely live in a world dominated by desire and if we can buy freedom from care, we will. We don't want a car that promises longer reliability, we expect every car to last until our lifestyle changes - and we expect our lifestyle to change every 3-7 years. The pressure becomes greater if you have some reason, or believe you have some reason to benefit from the judgment of others. I drove an old Tempo around for a few years, and it was tremendously economical - but its disintegration made a statement of poverty about me rather than a statement of thrift. I replaced it with a decidedly unthrifty luxury SUV, whose dual-zone climate control system is broken (and the by-the-book repair? 12.5 hours labor plus $368 parts) ... I was pretty happy with the A/C in the Tempo, it worked rather well. To offset the fuel cost, I bike to work whenever possible. This sends a message of thrift rather than poverty for some reason... well, OK - neat, and maybe i get a less droopy ass out of the deal or something

[Frank Lee]

From CNG Tempo to SUV... what a sad day.

[shovel]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

From CNG Tempo to SUV... what a sad day.

On a bigger-picture scale, this is "From a 16mpg multifuel SUV + a 25mpg multifuel car, to a 18mpg multifuel SUV + a bicycle" - All of which are/were greater than 8 years old and remain maintained & in service. The tempo was sold to a neighbor who's now using that commute instead of her K5, and the other SUV (the blazer in my signature) is going on ebay tonight.

In my eyes, this should result in a net reduction in my already not-embarrassing ecologic impact, in spite of appearances.

Oh.. and I kinda wish my bicycle had an automatic transmission

[Frank Lee]

OK, the additional context does help some... me, I feel stupid riding around in such things and I often ask myself "Doesn't that guy (in x SUV, PU, Hummer, open pipe chopper, etc.) feel like the biggest douche on the planet?"

[cleanspeed1]

And speaking of CNG, found a place not too far from me that sells it for $1.50/gge. Might throw a system on my Cadillac so I keep the look of success while not going broke

Or something like that

[cleanspeed1]

Originally Posted by Frank Lee

OK, the additional context does help some... me, I feel stupid riding around in such things and I often ask myself "Doesn't that guy (in x SUV, PU, Hummer, open pipe chopper, etc.) feel like the biggest douche on the planet?"

Of course not. Douches have no feelings. That's why they're douches

[Frank Lee]

Lol!