Pedal-operated parking brakes might influence the low demand for manual transmission?
The parking brake, or e-brake as some folks still mention it, might eventually also influence on how efficiently someone drives a different vehicle. Now that many newer cars actually have an electric push-button parking brake it became more common to see hill-start control on cars with manual transmission, while others keep the lever-operated which is particularly useful for me while starting uphill. Driving a vehicle with manual transmission and pedal-operated parking brake on the other hand is a PITA because it doesn't allow a progressive release, which often leads some folks to not match the clutch and throttle in the most efficient way.
|
I think phone in one hand and coffee in the other is more likely the cause of low demand.
|
I blame traffic jams. Inching forwards in traffic for an hour is too hard on the clutch foot.
|
Quote:
|
I dream of a diesel-electric hybrid future. Five-speed manual and stop-start.
I'm weak on the details of how that would work. Maybe a thumb-button on top of the shifter? |
The handbrake takes up valuable cupholder real estate- and the transmission itself takes up (apparently) valuable mental real estate, forcing people to pay attention to the vehicle they're allegedly operating, plan more than half a second ahead and other non-Facebooky type things.
|
I've never used the brake to assist with hills. Even large hills, I'll roll back no more than a few centimeters. Just rev the engine and quickly let out the clutch to the point that at least the car isn't rolling backwards.
It seems crazy that automatic transmission cars have hill hold feature, or that people would care about that. The thing I miss most about the absence of the hand brake is E-brake turns. |
There are still vehicles with pedal-operated parking brakes? I think everything I've driven since the '60s is either a lever between the seats, or a handle under the dash.
|
Quote:
|
Our '14 Prius has a small, hanging, pedal...like european 'small' manual tranny pedals.
|
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fr...studebaker.jpg
My first car was a 1950 Studebaker. It had a hill holder: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hill-holder |
Those bullet-nose Studebakers seem to be far more advanced than I thought they were. Hill holders are becoming widespread in my country only recently.
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Quote:
|
Another thing the 1950 Studebaker had. That, and a deeply recessed dash — like a Tucker. They were competing with Nash, and it's reclining seats, for the drive-in movie-goers. ;)
Note also the suicide rear doors on the four-door. |
My parents had a 1951 four door which they bought while in Panama. It was a made-in-Canada 6-cylinder model with 3-speed column shifter...and NO heater. When we moved from Panama back to the USA and settled in San Francisco, CA, Dad and I had to order and install the Studebaker "heater kit" which sat right under the front passenger seat, blowing air forward and backward into cabin areas.
Both my Dad and I referred to it as 'Old Bullet Nose.' |
Mine said 'Snake Pit' right on the rear fender.
My grandmother had a 1951 2-door sedan; she traded it for a Ford Falcon without giving me a shot at it. I was driving a 1953 Plymouth convertible at the time. |
IIRC my dad learned how to drive on a Brazilian Chevrolet C-10 with that local 2-door double-cab and 3-on-the-tree. Similar to this blue one, but that was white, issued to my grandpa by the governmental agency where he worked. IIRC those were fitted from the factory with an under-dash parking brake lever.
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HfKJ3PG29A.../Photo1651.jpg Subsequent square-bodied Chevy trucks turned to the pedal-controlled parking brake, which IMO are a PITA when fitted to a vehicle with manual transmission for anyone who can't do the punta-tacco (or heel-toe). Dad currently owns a Nissan XTerra fitted with a locally-sourced Diesel engine and a 5-speed manual transmission, and sometimes it does become a PITA to start uphill. Sometimes I actually consider converting its parking brake from pedal-controlled to hand-controlled. |
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. |
Quote:
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. |
Quote:
|
I thought it was just automatic transmissions.
|
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. Quote:
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. |
Quote:
|
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.
|
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. |
What is it you have against hyphenated-word-speak? :)
Quote:
https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-KWH3JNKfG...48355298_o.jpg 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. :( |
Quote:
Quote:
Quote:
|
All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:23 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO 3.5.2
All content copyright EcoModder.com