Pedal-operated parking brakes might influence the low demand for manual transmission?

[Xist]

I do not like column shifters, I shift extra-carefully and often seem to still shift into the wrong gear.

I stopped trying to coast in neutral, with reverse in the next spot.

The other night a teacher told me she could not multitask shifting and driving. As I drove home I realized I did not even think about shifting.

[jamesqf]

Originally Posted by Xist

I stopped trying to coast in neutral, with reverse in the next spot.

I was told (long ago, so maybe designs have changed) that it wasn't good for the transmission to coast in neutral, or tow the car with the drive wheels on the ground.

PS: Yes, I'm assuming automatic transmission here, from neutral/reverse being next to each other. I know there were once manual transmissions with column-mounted shift levers (family had one when I was a kid), but I don't recall ever having driven one.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by jamesqf

I was told (long ago, so maybe designs have changed) that it wasn't good for the transmission to coast in neutral, or tow the car with the drive wheels on the ground.

Unsuitability for flat-towing become more frequent in newer cars. Older ones with manual transmission were safer for flat-towing.

[Xist]

I thought it was just automatic transmissions.

[gumby79]

Personal definitions
Foot Brake : normal service brakes.
Emergency Brake: hand operated
Parking Brake :foot operated
A hand brake is easyer and safer to use to stop with during a brake failure. Back in 1999 Ihad a master cylinder fail on the off ramp @70mph, with a blocked intersection at the bottom. I tryed the parking brake it locked immediately, and the detent held it locked. Rear lockups are no fun @70. So drop into 2nd gear(auto)pop the park brake ,bending the lever over (prevent further problems trying ro modulate apply presure turning it into an emergency brake). Wile turning to correct for the slide. Long story short
No crash. t-case newly formed emergency brake and auto trans saved the day, I don't think I'd have been as lucky with a manual trans 4pedles ,3 in use 2 simultaneously modulating more than my ankles can move.

It seems crazy that automatic transmission cars have hill hold feature, or that people would care about that.

Its a manual feacher.
My 06 Subaru Forrester XT (big body WRX) had it loved it till i was going down hill on a dirt road ~30-50° slope 1st and rideing the brakes was too fast , hit the cluch and lost the ability to modulate brake presure causing a 4wheel slide @ .25 mph had to release the clutch to release the foot brake. As with all things there aer +and -.

Flat tow /drive wheel down
All depends if there is spmething on the output shaft to move lube. Some manuals are not safe , almost all autos are not if in question call U-Haul. We had a book for hook up compatibility tell them you are planning on towing behund an RV . Many rigs have kits that add a pump to the trans or disconnect the driveline/shaft.
The big push for police to abandon Chrysler vehicles was burning out the transmission following a persuit. Cause -no or low fluid cooling in Park the transmission needed to be in Neutral or a drive gear to activate the pump for cooling.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Xist

I thought it was just automatic transmissions.

Newer manuals are also not suitable for towing, but I don't know why. It does surprise me that for some manufacturers a 5-speed manual is OK for flat-towing while a 6-speed one is not.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Just recently found out that Hyundai has offered both options for a pedal-activated and lever-controlled parking brake for the second generation of the Tucson, according to the markets and transmission type. Though I never actually saw one with manual transmission, which in Europe were fitted with a parking brake lever, the local ones with automatic transmission have the pedal. Still better than the electric parking brake fitted to the current generation.

[Natalya]

Cars aren't desirable or sexy anymore, driving isn't a mystical freedom-giving experience, no one likes being on the road, everyone is stuck in traffic because they work the same hours and drive at the same time, insurance is too expensive, car payments are too high.

Also most modern cars are ugly and boring utilitarian ****boxes with no soul.

"But I need 7 cupholders and 7 USB chargers and 7 seats so my family can play Nintendo games on their iPad while yelling at eachother about Kim Kardashian." No wonder everyone hates driving and cars.

Honestly I don't even know why cars exist anymore since in the collective psyche they're such a downer. And they break all the time.

P.S.:
Did you know "eachother" isn't a word? It should be. I don't ever say each-other. I say it more like ee-chother and I'm sure most of you do too.

[freebeard]

What is it you have against hyphenated-word-speak?

Honestly I don't even know why cars exist anymore since in the collective psyche they're such a downer. And they break all the time.

I'd put it the other way around: Cars were more fun when they broke all the time. One of my favorite sights when I was growing up:


http://justacarguy.blogspot.com/2017/11/once-upon-time-far-far-away-junk-yards.html

Look! an Willys_Americar! I will take it home and make it great again.

Lady Bird Johnston made them put up fences.

[cRiPpLe_rOoStEr]

Originally Posted by Natalya

Cars aren't desirable or sexy anymore, driving isn't a mystical freedom-giving experience, no one likes being on the road, everyone is stuck in traffic because they work the same hours and drive at the same time, insurance is too expensive, car payments are too high.

No wonder many people are turning to either motorcycles or Uber. Anyway, for most of what I do I don't actually need a car, and could do some of the longer haul comfortably with a scooter or a small tricycle.

Also most modern cars are ugly and boring utilitarian ****boxes with no soul.

Most modern cars are ugly and boring appliance-cars because they're the only ones most people can afford, especially considering many folks keep a car for shorter than it used to be common decades ago. You know, they need to get a newer one more frequently, so they might fool their neighbors into thinking they're comfortable on money.

"But I need 7 cupholders and 7 USB chargers and 7 seats so my family can play Nintendo games on their iPad while yelling at eachother about Kim Kardashian."

And how many of those 7-seaters you see roaming around nearly empty?