What's with the manual trans hype?

[indio22]

manual is just more fun and engaging to drive. Pretty simple and hard to debate. Rowing your own gears, always choosing what RPMs you want, revmatching, heal toeing, etc etc. FUN

my daily is an 18 Camry Hybrid, auto of course, and it’s a great, comfy, fuel efficient vehicle, but my 11 STi is 1000x more fun to drive, hell even my first manual 86 Toyota pickup manual with zero horsepower was more fun than the Camry lol.

Even our gas sipper Kia (wife insisted on manual transmission) is fun. I find myself winding through the gears making the most of the little 4 banger. And manual can be nice in the mountains for holding selected gears. Not all auto vehicles allow that.

Also I've had much better luck with manuals over time. Our Ford Escort auto started slipping the 1-2 shift around 70k miles. I'm currently replacing my Jeep TJ auto trans. But our Geo manual passed 200K and with original clutch! Same with 3 other manual trans vehicles - the transmissions were rock solid. And you always know for sure what they are going to do, because you are doing all the deciding.

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[pan-y-cerveza]

No real hype for me. It's just a different experience. Being better or worse depends on conditions of course.

I just want to buy one. The Bronco may be the last ICE I buy so will likely be the last manual I buy. It's available... It's cheaper... That's about it for me.

 

[Rick Astley]

Out of the current fleet of 5 cars, only my '51 Fleetline Aerosedan is manual and it's killing me on a daily basis to drive an auto. I prefer a manual for a number of reasons to daily drive and having a manual transmission was absolutely mandatory for my next vehicle (i'm typically a "sedan guy"). As strange as this sounds, the 2021 Acura TLX was going to get my duckets until they announced it was automatic only. The next week they did the Bronco reveal (that I had essentially zero interest in), and it had a manual option paired with the very potent 2.3 engine that is in the '19 Ranger (GF's vehicle in the fleet) and I couldn't think of something more fun to drive!

Reasons to require a manual transmission on my next vehicle:
- more engaging
- more difficult to learn how to use (off-roading will be a new experience and one i'm looking forward to learning some new off-road skills with a MT!)
- forces more attentive driving, especially looking further ahead
- requires greater attention to speed/road
- less able to multi-task while driving
- drastically easier to modulate speed in heavy traffic
- vastly more difficult to steal (by modern car thieves)

Of my list above, there are a fair number of them which, while observing driving habits of the masses on public roads, manual transmissions would have an incredibly beneficial effect on society as a whole...

Unless the goal is to have mindless zombies piloting 2-3 ton pieces of heavy machinery at high speeds all over the country???? I would happily be different enough to not get grouped in with that.

 

[jtzako]

For me a manual is for track driving in a sports car. Using them anywhere else, including off-roading, just makes you work harder. Modern autos are so good they can do everything you'd ever want to do off-road and without dealing with a clutch.

 

[rjkmoto]

I want a manual because it gives ME the greatest control over the vehicle, whether in rain or snow or mud. With a manual you can use the engine as a brake, let it glide in neutral, keep it in your desired gear longer than the computer would keep it in the same gear. It allows you to have a much more connected feel to the road and it puts YOU in control vs the computers.

Driving a manual allows you to become one with the vehicle.

Unless of course you don't know how to drive one.

Onroad/track sure/maybe/ok/possibly ... off road juggling throttle/brake/tire position/speed control/line/trees & rocks - adding a third pedal can make things much more difficult.

Hydrostatic transmissions on tractors are a godsend for a reason. ?‍

... but sticks ARE fun! ?

JK

 

[Nickp]

For me a manual is for track driving in a sports car. Using them anywhere else, including off-roading, just makes you work harder. Modern autos are so good they can do everything you'd ever want to do off-road and without dealing with a clutch.

This is pretty much it. My buddy who builds crawlers and I were talking about the Bronco. (He likes it a lot btw) and he said if I ever want to be serious about off roading it seriously to ditch the manual. Said they really only cause problems when crawling. I’m still not 100% but I’m leaning more towards auto now when I was dead set in the manual camp.

 

[jtzako]

This is pretty much it. My buddy who builds crawlers and I were talking about the Bronco. (He likes it a lot btw) and he said if I ever want to be serious about off roading it seriously to ditch the manual. Said they really only cause problems when crawling. I’m still not 100% but I’m leaning more towards auto now when I was dead set in the manual camp.

The crawler gear will help a lot with the traditional problems (slipping the clutch) but you will still have to do some of that especially if you stop moving. I'm glad to see the bronco has that as an option though.

 

[blkreaper]

I've had the following offroad rigs:
79 CJ5 -- 3 spd manual
82 CJ7 -- 5 spd manual
92 YJ -- 5 spd manual
95 XJ -- 5 spd manual
02 TJ -- 5 spd manual
79 F150 -- 4 spd manual
11 Ram 1500 -- 5 spd automatic
16 Tacoma -- 6 spd Automatic.
06 KJ -- 5 spd Automatic
95 Xplorer -- 5 spd automatic

Almost never have I been driving automatic and wished I had a manual. But there's been many times, especially when rock crawling with some of my more built rigs that I've wished I was driving an auto over the stick.

What am I missing here? Modern automatics are so much easier to drive on and off road.

only thing you're missing is confusing "easier" with "fun".



And im saying this knowing im getting an automagic because it will be more of a DD.

I have 2 and soon to be 3 other cars that are manual

 

[toymaster]

I'm bored so here goes a rant. In 1998 I bought a dodge 2500HD diesel, had the 47RE. Decades old technology at the time. At the same time I had a '78 1/2 ton power wagon (318 gas), had the same damn trans in it, minus the bolt-on overdrive unit. Loved the cummins 12 valve and HATED the trans. I spent 1,000's on valve body and torque converter to make it livable. The fluid coupling and continual up-shifting just did not let the power get to the ground. It literally ruined me on auto trans for 20 years. Did not get another one till 2018.

Skip ahead 20 years and I love my Ford 6R140. Total different experience. Smart trans and totally capable of manual operation. Pulling a trailer with it is a dream. The difference is the lock-up clutch in the TQ allowing for direct drive at so many more times than just overdrive and changing to the gear you want by the touch of a button.

To put it simply the tech of the new gen of autos allows total manual control, with direct drive (much less power loss), and the option of full auto mode. Best of both worlds.

My JK has a manual trans and the 'auto' is built into my muscle memory. I have zero issue with it but it is a toy and not a highway or transportation machine. If I wanted a vic to do multiple roles getting the auto is a no-brainier. That said if you wanted the visceral off-road experience with minimal tech then, I'm glad Ford and Fiat still offer the choice.

 

[TrailDust]

Used to build Toyota based crawlers years ago in Denver, stick was about the only option for the builds due to engine power and availability as autos were rare. Paired with a Marlin t-case the stock 22RE + stock manual trans was almost unstoppable with a 35" tire. Plus just more fun and in control of steep descents. Hoping the crawler gear mimicks the Marlin gearing I was used to.

Haven't had a off road rig for quite a few years now living out here on the plains, and guess I want one to re-live some good times! (and hopefully no one will want to drive it since it's a stick!)

 

[Hoofnmouth]

 

[bobbleheadguru]

I've had the following offroad rigs:
79 CJ5 -- 3 spd manual
82 CJ7 -- 5 spd manual
92 YJ -- 5 spd manual
95 XJ -- 5 spd manual
02 TJ -- 5 spd manual
79 F150 -- 4 spd manual
11 Ram 1500 -- 5 spd automatic
16 Tacoma -- 6 spd Automatic.
06 KJ -- 5 spd Automatic
95 Xplorer -- 5 spd automatic

Almost never have I been driving automatic and wished I had a manual. But there's been many times, especially when rock crawling with some of my more built rigs that I've wished I was driving an auto over the stick.

What am I missing here? Modern automatics are so much easier to drive on and off road.

Great Question and actually related to the Sasquatch debate. Sasquatch makes it easier to drive off road, just like autos make it easier to drive on or off road. Weird that more people are not like me. I want a manual and no Sasquatch to maximize my driving ability through any situation. I want to use a winch or my shovel or my floor mats to drive over to get out of trouble with the base model. I want to brag about my driving ability, not tire size.

 

[EcobeastRyan]

I’ve had 4 manuals in the past and I miss it so badly since I got a fusion. Driving manual is a lost art

 

[dpav02]

I've had the following offroad rigs:
79 CJ5 -- 3 spd manual
82 CJ7 -- 5 spd manual
92 YJ -- 5 spd manual
95 XJ -- 5 spd manual
02 TJ -- 5 spd manual
79 F150 -- 4 spd manual
11 Ram 1500 -- 5 spd automatic
16 Tacoma -- 6 spd Automatic.
06 KJ -- 5 spd Automatic
95 Xplorer -- 5 spd automatic

Almost never have I been driving automatic and wished I had a manual. But there's been many times, especially when rock crawling with some of my more built rigs that I've wished I was driving an auto over the stick.

What am I missing here? Modern automatics are so much easier to drive on and off road.

I don't get it either. I personally think there's a lot of talk on here, but when push comes to shove they're going to check the automatic option on their build sheet.

5% of all Jeep Wranglers are manuals. 95% are autos.

I expect roughly the same for the Bronco.

 

[toymaster]

5% of all Jeep Wranglers are manuals. 95% are autos.

I expect roughly the same for the Bronco.

I'm sure you are 100% right. However, 90% of that 95% are soccer moms. That leaves about 50% of the ones that buy the jeep for off road use choosing manuals.

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