I agree with many of your points and thanks for the research. However, I am getting the two door and the 2.3 motor is more then enough power to hit the road and trails. Thanks again..
Yup that sums it up ?. At least I'll be able to take it on Robert Moses beach for some surf casting.
I drove an old C50 this past fall with a 5 speed and a splitter. It was "fun" to learn but not exactly fun to drive all day. I was more than happy to get back into my un-manly auto after work.There, I fixed that for you. I can think of plenty of manual vehicles I have driven that added no fun to the experience. The worst was probably that U-Haul that I drove inter-state. Others, off the top of my head: a GMC pickup. A three-on-the-tree van. A Geo Metro.
On the other hand, I can't think of a sports car that wasn't fun with a manual. A few off the top of my head: an Opel GT. A Mustang. A Dodge Charger 392. A Ferrari F355 Challenge. The latter with such a stiff clutch that my left thigh grew visibly larger than my right thigh in just a few hours' use!
If it's just about the right arm-left leg coordinated movement, you can always pretend.
But a manual sports car is always fun in open road back country driving, where as an automatic Camry is a Camry regardless of where it is being driven.There, I fixed that for you. I can think of plenty of manual vehicles I have driven that added no fun to the experience. The worst was probably that U-Haul that I drove inter-state. Others, off the top of my head: a GMC pickup. A three-on-the-tree van. A Geo Metro.
On the other hand, I can't think of a sports car that wasn't fun with a manual. A few off the top of my head: an Opel GT. A Mustang. A Dodge Charger 392. A Ferrari F355 Challenge. The latter with such a stiff clutch that my left thigh grew visibly larger than my right thigh in just a few hours' use!
If it's just about the right arm-left leg coordinated movement, you can always pretend.
I drive Route 66 from Gainesville, Virginia, to Centerville, Virginia. 13 years now. Manual '06 325i. Oh, and I drive an hour an 5 minutes JUST to get to the traffic. It's not the clutch that is annoying, it's the traffic that is annoying.
Excellent point. I'm on the fence but if I dont get the manual now, maybe I wont be able to in the future. My other concern is that the I4 is going to feel like a honda civic and have no balls if I put 33's on my Big Bend. Thoughts guys? I know nothing about gearing...
I have an F150 with 35’s, 4.56 gears and a 4.6 V8 that only pushes 280 hp and 320 tq and it is quick accelerating and drives perfect. The turbo 2.3L will be just fine because of gearIng and plenty of hp/tq for those 33’s
Great point.
Modern cars with manuals and computer throttle control are very easy to drive in heavy traffic. Hydraulic operated clutch mechanisms are far easier to modulate, and are unaffected by wear. Most clutches are used in conjunction with dual-mass flywheels, and clutches are self adjusting.
I’ll have to take your word on this. My cars and trucks have all been at the lower end of the purchase price scale. Cable or mechanical linkage standard transmissions, cable or mechanical linkage clutches and cable or mechanical linkage throttle controls. Never had a drive by wire vehicle. Sounds like they have come a long way even in the past 15 years. My 05 Escape is still a manual shift and throttle. The only throttle modulation is my right foot and left foot for the clutch. Sounds like no excuse then for those that need to drive in stop and go traffic.Modern cars with manuals and computer throttle control are very easy to drive in heavy traffic. Hydraulic operated clutch mechanisms are far easier to modulate, and are unaffected by wear. Most clutches are used in conjunction with dual-mass flywheels, and clutches are self adjusting.
Additionally, the ECU does everything it can to not stall the engine once it is in gear, so when in heavy stop and go traffic, one can launch in 1st and basically keep their foot off the accelerator and let the computer control throttle input. The biggest issue is asswipes (automatic transmission drivers) that jump in front of you when you are trying to keep space between your car and the one in front of you to allow for a cushion of space to operate in without declutching.
If more people drove manual, traffic would be better since more attention is required to control the vehicle in slow, heavy traffic.
This from a die-hard that believes the automatic transmission is the downfall of civilization...
+10000 ^ this.Modern cars with manuals and computer throttle control are very easy to drive in heavy traffic. Hydraulic operated clutch mechanisms are far easier to modulate, and are unaffected by wear. Most clutches are used in conjunction with dual-mass flywheels, and clutches are self adjusting.
Additionally, the ECU does everything it can to not stall the engine once it is in gear, so when in heavy stop and go traffic, one can launch in 1st and basically keep their foot off the accelerator and let the computer control throttle input. The biggest issue is asswipes (automatic transmission drivers) that jump in front of you when you are trying to keep space between your car and the one in front of you to allow for a cushion of space to operate in without declutching.
If more people drove manual, traffic would be better since more attention is required to control the vehicle in slow, heavy traffic.
This from a die-hard that believes the automatic transmission is the downfall of civilization...
