How do we get manual transmissions back in the US?

[JockoT]

Originally Posted by Michael Moore

europares.com

When I saw your signature I thought you had a European connection.
Eurospares is a huge parts distribution company, here in the UK.

[t vago]

As others have pointed out, city rush hour traffic has played a big role in killing off stick shifts. I'd also say that as sticks have become more rare, opportunistic factors have crept in to help speed along the demise of the manual transmission. Do you know how hard it is, for example, to type that snarky Facebook comment and attach a picture of a cute little kitty to that post, while you're typing to drive?

Ugh. As soon as the transmissions give out on my truck and Durango, they're receiving the stick shift treatment. My Magnum got a stick transplant two years ago, and she's running very strong today.

[Fat Charlie]

Originally Posted by Michael Moore

Don't you need to distinguish what type of auto transmission you are talking about?

...only the clutching/shifting is controlled, so I don't see how it could give any less mileage than the same gear box being shifted with a foot lever and a hand clutch lever.

That's because you don't understand how to do it. I want manual control over the clutching and shifting so that I can drive the car myself. It's not the transmission's innards that can get me over 50 mpg in my 29 mpg car, it's how I use them. If you automate that, it's an automatic.

It may be a more mechanically reliable automatic, it may be a more mechanically efficient automatic, but it's still a F$@<*^G automatic and it's making me ask pretty please move the car instead of letting me drive it.

[ecocruze]

I would love to put a 5 speed in my explorer. Curious how much work it would be. I'll gander on the explorer forum. With the little modding I have done already I have been averaging over 25 mpg. If I were shifting I'm positive I could pull 30. I plan on doing a bit more aero on the front end and the rear bumper is a bit of a parachute.

[Michael Moore]

"That's because you don't understand how to do it. "

The Honda DCT can be run in full manual mode on shifting, with the ECU controlling the clutches and shift servo motor at the rider's command, just as with various high-end automobiles (and even my Mazda CX-5 which also has a "real" transmission under the automagic shifting). So just because a vehicle has an "automatic" transmission it doesn't always mean you are limited to automatic mode, and there should be no additional losses over a manual transmission (as with a CVT) when it is a "manual" transmission that is being automatically controlled. When there's a variety of automatic transmission designs with greater or lesser ability for manual override it is reasonable to specify exactly which types are being discussed.

The DCT "drive" mode is aimed at fuel economy (and delivers it).

"Eurospares is a huge parts distribution company, here in the UK."

Yes, I know, I've had their customers send me credit card info with requests for Maserati parts in the past. At one time I imported Lucas ignition and alternator components for motorcycles (mostly Brit and Euro bikes) hence my business being named "Euro Spares". I pointed out to the UK people that they might make it clearer to their customers where to send their money, but they didn't seem overly concerned about it.

cheers,
Michael

[Fat Charlie]

You read the first sentence of my post and stopped. The third sentence is the most important: I want to be able to select "no gear at all" whenever I want it.

Bragging that a new style automatic is actually a manual that you can't control shows that you've entirely missed the point of a manual. Yes, I prefer the less lossy connection of a box of gears, but what I really want is to control it. The direct connection at all times is a huge loss on its own- being able to disconnect is as important as being able to shift.

Neutral is my favorite gear. Zero is my favorite engine RPM, and the clutch is my favorite starter.

[ar5boosted]

Originally Posted by Fat Charlie

Bragging that a new style automatic is actually a manual that you can't control shows that you've entirely missed the point of a manual. Yes, I prefer the less lossy connection of a box of gears, but what I really want is to control it. The direct connection at all times is a huge loss on its own- being able to disconnect is as important as being able to shift.

Neutral is my favorite gear. Zero is my favorite engine RPM, and the clutch is my favorite starter.

I get what you're saying. I have a Manual and an Auto car.

I was testing out the new blue car I got last night with tiptronic paddle select or what ever it is an I'll be using that now as it overrides the auto mode.

New Auto cars have Start-Stop function which is pretty much the factory version of what you are talking about it. Interesting to find an ecomodder who has hacked that.

The other thing this new(MY06) V6 car has is cylinder-deactivation down to 3.

I'm just making the point that the factories seem to have had ecomodder.com/forum open when they've done their car designs lately.

It's amazing what actual tech you will find that mimic's everything you are describing to some degree in a modern Automatic.

[Hersbird]

Yet junkyard are full of good looking, good running cars that just need a new automatic transmission. They are still not worth fixing. While the dead manual cars are 3 times as old and every part on them is junk EXCEPT the manual transmission.

[ar5boosted]

Originally Posted by Hersbird

Yet junkyard are full of good looking, good running cars that just need a new automatic transmission. They are still not worth fixing. While the dead manual cars are 3 times as old and every part on them is junk EXCEPT the manual transmission.

Right ! problem solved then.

You just have to get all the young people retrained and heading to the junkyard for their first car and not the showrooms.

[If you think I am joking, actually my sons first car, a Manual, did come from such a place Now you know that you will have to retrain the whole country to do the same !. After that he got a CVT]

[oldtamiyaphile]

Originally Posted by ar5boosted

New Auto cars have Start-Stop function which is pretty much the factory version of what you are talking about it. Interesting to find an ecomodder who has hacked that.

Not the same thing at all. Stop/Start functions only at under 8km/h, EOC works at any speed. The latest VAG cars have neutral coast when in Eco mode but that's the closest thing to EOC (outside of full hybrids).

You won't find many people running 50+% over EPA without EOC or extensive mods.