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Old 06-28-2008, 01:02 AM   #13 (permalink)
reformed
Did you get that thing?
 
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Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Buffalo NY
Posts: 162

Green Machine - '92 Honda Civic LX
90 day: 39.98 mpg (US)

Money pit - '97 Infiniti j30
90 day: 22.74 mpg (US)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jamesqf View Post
OK, but why do higher-priced cars (Porsche & equivalent) offer manuals? Not just offer them, but have them as standard equipment on the majority of cars - if indeed, an automatic is even offered?
This is because someone who drives a sports car wants the "feel" of a manual transmission. Much more responsive and less power loss through drivetrain than through an automatic, not to mention much lighter than an auto trans. All great reasons why to incorporate into a sports car, whose very design is to extract the most amount of power out of the package. Manuals are great for fuel economy too because they are lighter, transfer more power to the wheels (meaning you use less power to get the car moving) and allow you more control to vary your driving for FE. In my experience, autos are good for one thing only, convenience. People want/have to drink their coffee, smoke their cig and talk on the phone all at once while driving, impossible in a manual.
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