Comment of the Week

I believe that the manual shifter is quickly becoming a footnote in automotive history. Not only because of all the new variants in transmissions, but that they interfere with the new cornucopia of gadgets and tasks we can’t seem to leave alone while driving. Texting, answering/screening our phone calls, even with blue tooth, checking “urgent” e-mails on our Blackberry’s, messing with Ipods…It’s getting frightening enough knowing that all this clandestine multi-tasking is going on…and you want to throw in shifting on top of it all? Don’t be surprised if our safety conscious govt. bans stick shifts completely, knowing people will not give up their newly found “necessities” of life.

Hawaiian Don, I hope you’re wrong in prediction, but alas I fear you may be on to something. I myself have never owned an automatic save my very first car, and never care to go back to an automatic transmission. I feel that manually shifting my vehicles keeps me more in tune with the task at hand and connects me to the vehicle. I am also not one of the individuals that messes with all the gadgets possible while driving.

Aaron,

I would like to get your take on this $25 billion bailout of Detroit in reference to the growing opinion that the big 3 are out of touch with what Americans want.

Personally I feel that the above comment is just another example of how Ford, GM, and Chrysler continue to produce sub-quality vehicles in price points and options that are undesirable and then wonder why they need federal help to stay in business. I would gladly pay an extra 1K or 2K for a vehicle if I was sure it would keep running longer than 3 years. I do that now, considering I purchase Japanese cars (built in the US, or course), while these so-called “American” cars are built in Mexico with lax quality control using parts supplied by the lowest bidder.

I appreciate your comments and opinions on this. Do you think the big 3 are capable of repairing their tarnished quality image and building innovative vehicles that look good, feel solid and polished, and perform well?

Aloha Don and you are right for a change

I really don’t want to shift gears unless I’m driving a Porsche or Corvette. I think I’m in the majority of folks who feel that way and I doubt Detroit’s going to alter their production runs to satisfy a few people who might feel a need to shift gears. I understand the feeling a driver gets from shifting and I agree it keeps a driver more in tune or in touch with his/her car, but it’s such a low priority for most of us.

DFI- I have to disagree with you. I think many American cars are built well, feel solid but fall short in the looks column. Most American cars run longer than 3 years, BTW. That’s just a gross exaggeration.

So, if they build it, will they come? I think the answer is yes but not in quantities to warrant the trouble. And the thought of my son or daughter driving a stick and texting at the same time scares the crapola out of me.

C

I second Dfi’s question. American automakers have been competing with the same automakers for years and slowly losing in all areas save for big vehicles. And even starting to lose out a bit there too. Just what future were they planning for? How could the rest of the world have a clue but them not? Please explain the behind the scenes goings on in the typical R & D dept of the American automaker 3 or 4 years ago. What were they expecting for the next ten to twenty years?
I find the Hawaiian’s comments interesting and fear there maybe something to them. It is so the way the majority of our country thinks, (if it’s too much or hard for me, it’s too much or hard for anybody so lets make a law). Sad.
I’ve had a few sticks and I’m seriously considering going back. Not for the sport value so much as for the conservation value. I’d like to get the best possible gas mileage and in any kind of stop and go traffic, that’s not going to happen with an automatic. One of the cars that was on the top of my list was the new Yaris Hatchback. And guess what, it’s only avaliable with a stick in the lowest trim. A loaded car is automatic only. Alas, I just don’t know. A Fit for me it just maybe.

I have never bought an automatic for personal use in 43 yrs of car purchasing, and hope I am never forced to by infirmity, or mandate, or lack of marketing choice. I required my children to learn on a manual so they would have the flexibility to drive whatever was available, or their personal choice upon adulthood. Free marketing should be honored by continued offerings of both tranny types and at the manufacturer’s discretion. However, there is room to offer a carrot; in an age where incredibly expensive engineering hoops and incentives are being offered to entice higher mpg options, the gov’t might want to consider offering a $500 credit for purchase of a manual over an auto option when that choice would result in >2mpg improvement. This would be an incentive for the buyer, and the manufacturer dould point to higher corporate CAFE #s. Some might learn that driver involvement is more fun (and safer) that texting.

My current car is an automatic. My wife is only 4′10 and really can not drive a manual transmission car.
With DSG and CVT I too think the days of the crash box are probably over. Heck even F1 cars don’t use a foot clutch anymore.
Just as the hand crank and the kick start are things of the past so will the traditional manual gear box. I too will miss them but technology moves on.

I have owned MANY cars, domestic and foreign, auto and standard. The worst of which were the American cars with automatics. My Dodge Caravan went through 5 transmissions in 150k. My Honda’s have gone 250k without a clutch replacement, ‘nuf said.

Re: Manuals: I don’t think the manual transmission will ever go away. While there are self-shifting transmissions that do the job better than a manual, there’s simply no substitute for a good old fashioned clutch pedal. I’ve yet to drive an automatic (or CVT or DSG or SMT) that gives the driver that same connection with the car.

Okay, on to what DFI said: The fact is that domestic automakers have to work twice as hard to get half the recognition. Remember, the typical product development cycle is 3 to 5 years. No one is pointing to the all-new 2009 Honda Pilot or 2009 BMW X6 or 2008 Toyota Sequoia or 2009 Mercedes SL63AMG and saying “Look at how out-of-touch they are with American buyers!” The domestics — GM in particular — have a bunch of innovative products coming out, including the 2009 Chevrolet Traverse (another Theta-platform crossover like the Acadia; best exploitation of the crossover format since the original Honda CR-V), hybrid pickups (20 MPG city from a 6-liter V8), Cadillac CTS-V (0-60 in under 4 seconds for $60k), and the Pontiac Vibe (one of the few small cars to offer standard ESC; the Toyota version, the Matrix, doesn’t). As for quality — the Chevrolet Malibu is #1 on the JD Power Initial Quality Survey, and GM folks tell me their warranty costs continue to drop year after year. The problem? They are weak on small cars — but not all Americans are ready for a Honda Fit. That’s my take. — Aaron

I have always driven a stick; my Mother made every kid learn on a stick (she did and was able to drive trucks, etc when she had to; she is now 85 and still drives a stick; the salesperson we spoke to when I went with her to buy a stick Civic could not when she was 82 almost fainted.

Chuck, I’ve been right all along, it’s just that you’re finally coming around to my way of thinking! (just kidding)

As to Bob in Ind., having been a car salesman for years, I think the salesman(and me too) almost fainted thinking that his family was sharing the road with a very, very old lady!I’ve been managing retirement homes lately and I’ve seen my residents’ parking lot moves…in a word: frightening!!!