The death of the stick shift is almost here.

[GsimsUSE]

My wife has had her 84 Alpha Romeo since 1995. Our Bronco is a manual, and I daily a 2014 Focus ST. The only auto we have currently is my wife’s 2017 Allroad she bought new, that now has over 200k on it.

Here is my son at 15 ripping on my 85 GT and cruising in the Alpha . He is 18 now and drives a fiesta ST. He is the only one in his group of friends that can drive a manual.

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[DrewBronc21]

learned to drive manual on an old Toyota 22re pick up and have been buying only manuals for over 30 years.…mostly JDM, Honda, Toyo Subaru STi, even in NYC traffic, I will still choose the experiential drive vs. transportation. Still have 3 manual vehicles. Have had my 21 2Dr 7mt Badlands since new.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Here is my son at 15 ripping on my 85 GT and cruising in the Alpha . He is 18 now and drives a fiesta ST. He is the only one in his group of friends that can drive a manual.

And in one more generation or two, he’ll be the only middle-aged guy among his peers who has ever touched a stick, and the remaining new cars with manuals will be Porsches and Ferraris. Maybe.

PS: nice Alpha.

 

[zyglyrox]

Did my part to #SaveTheManuals and got a 2 door 7MT at the elderly age of 26 took three months to get here, but worth the wait!

We’re keeping the manual alive for at least a few more years

 

[GsimsUSE]

Thanks!

And in one more generation or two, he’ll be the only middle-aged guy among his peers who has ever touched a stick, and the remaining new cars with manuals will be Porsches and Ferraris. Maybe.

PS: nice Alpha.

Thanks! It’s a fun little car that doesn’t get driven enough. When we do take it out, hardly anyone knows what it is. Wrigley loves it.

Funny observation-Both my kids were still fairly young when I brought the Mustang home. On the first ride I realized neither of them had ever seen a car with roll-up windows. My daughter was not impressed.

 

[GsimsUSE]

Interesting new tech from Ferrari-

https://www.motor1.com/news/800497/how-does-ferraris-manual-transmission-work/

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Interesting new tech from Ferrari-

https://www.motor1.com/news/800497/how-does-ferraris-manual-transmission-work/

On one hand I think that's ridiculously stupid, on the other hand I'm completely not surprised.

Part of me wonders if that interface with a fake CLUTCH pedal/switch/whatever, could fix the problems with the DP6S focus transmission.

I'm not an expert with how they work, just with the symptoms. But I believe part of the issue is that as the clutch material wears, the computer can't compensate and act accordingly. So if you allowed the user to control clutch engagement, maybe that would make it work right.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Interesting new tech from Ferrari-

https://www.motor1.com/news/800497/how-does-ferraris-manual-transmission-work/

Very interesting. That’s the future — a simulated full manual experience for enthusiasts where you can also switch into auto when preferred. I’m sure Porsche will follow (if this works!).

 

[VirginiaHeritage]

Oh, no.

No, no, no, no, no.

Et tu, Ferrari?

 

[UncleBrad]

Not sure what that line in the article is saying...

"Ford CEO Jim Farley reassured journalists during a visit for the Australian Formula 1 Grand Prix earlier this year that he has no plans to make the Mustang automatic-only.

"Out of our cold, dead hands will we not have a manual Mustang," Farley said.

The Mustang is among the two dozen or so new-vehicle models still available with a stick shift.""

THE problem is not necessary Ford's issue, dealers don't order/stock manuals for their vehicles, on the lot, yes they're are a few and far between dealers that have ONE.

Exactly. It's one of the reasons why we only see white and black (or some shade of grey) vehicles on dealer lots.

 

[UncleBrad]

Very interesting. That’s the future — a simulated full manual experience for enthusiasts where you can also switch into auto when preferred. I’m sure Porsche will follow (if this works!).

It is truly innovative - and very cool - but one of the big reasons why the authentic manual transmission is so good is because of its simplicity. To layer on top of any form of automatic the software and hardware to simulate the manual experience isn't what a seasoned manual driver is looking for. These manufacturers just don't get it.

 

[GoHawks63]

Thanks!



Funny observation-Both my kids were still fairly young when I brought the Mustang home. On the first ride I realized neither of them had ever seen a car with roll-up windows. My daughter was not impressed.

My mom used to have an old Toyota Corolla that my brother gave to her. On one of our visits I had to run to the store, so I took her car and brought my youngest son with me. He couldn't have been older than 8 or 9.

When he got in the car, you should of seen the mixture of wonder and confusion on his face when he saw the window crank. When he turned the crank and the window rolled down, he said, "Woah! That is so cool!!!"

Which is what I would've said when I was a kid and first saw power windows.

On one hand I think that's ridiculously stupid, on the other hand I'm completely not surprised.

Part of me wonders if that interface with a fake CLUTCH pedal/switch/whatever, could fix the problems with the DP6S focus transmission.

I'm not an expert with how they work, just with the symptoms. But I believe part of the issue is that as the clutch material wears, the computer can't compensate and act accordingly. So if you allowed the user to control clutch engagement, maybe that would make it work right.

It is truly innovative - and very cool - but one of the big reasons why the authentic manual transmission is so good is because of its simplicity. To layer on top of any form of automatic the software and hardware to simulate the manual experience isn't what a seasoned manual driver is looking for. These manufacturers just don't get it.

Sounds cool, but it's the epitome of over engineering.

Reminds me of an old meme.

 

[Q1svt]

Exactly. It's one of the reasons why we only see white and black (or some shade of grey) vehicles on dealer lots.

SoCal is a little different grey is tops [cause people are tried of white]

Here is a 2 door listed as MANUAL but is an automatic..

 

[Marc L]

many dealerships online sales of ‘vehicles’ show Broncos w/manuals … well until you check that Bronco’s window sticker … that shows it an automatic. Why would they do that if no one wants one ? Why are they doing a bait and switch?

Since we were looking for a manual Isuzu Rodeo(Fayetteville, NC) back in 2003 we've noticed how many mislabeled automatics exist. I always check the interior pictures. In 2003 we insisted the dealer email us interior pictures and the same in 2012 for our Nissan XTerra(Tulsa, OK). Neither time were we gong to fly there without proof.
Now on autotempest I filter for manual and then have to go through the interior pictures.
Each time I talk to a dealership I ask WHY?!? You've eliminated 95% of your audience by labeling a manual and pi**ed off the other 5% by your false assertion.

 

[GI_Jo_Nathan]

Since we were looking for a manual Isuzu Rodeo(Fayetteville, NC) back in 2003 we've noticed how many mislabeled automatics exist. I always check the interior pictures. In 2003 we insisted the dealer email us interior pictures and the same in 2012 for our Nissan XTerra(Tulsa, OK). Neither time were we gong to fly there without proof.
Now on autotempest I filter for manual and then have to go through the interior pictures.
Each time I talk to a dealership I ask WHY?!? You've eliminated 95% of your audience by labeling a manual and pi**ed off the other 5% by your false assertion.

Exactly! I've gone through this so many times and it's infuriating. Worst is the MK3/3.5 Focus. They tell them that the automatic has a clutch and you can shift it yourself and it makes the problem even worse.

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