Maybe I'm one of the weirdos, as I actually do love shifting my own gears. I've had a couple 5 speed Toyota trucks, a 1993 and a 2004, both 2wd 4 cylinder strippers. The 1993 had a bit more low end torque, but the 2004 is faster if you rev the nuts off it. Both of those trucks, the clutch and shifter is very direct, a bit of a long throw, but holy hell, the pedals are perfectly spaced for heel/toe downshifting, you can slam shift them through the gears. Both trucks, shifted like a car, no sloppy nonsense in the gear lever.

My SC300 is a manual transmission as well, clutch is a bit heavier than those trucks oddly enough, but man you can slam shift that car even faster through the gears. Its even easier to do the heel/toe downshift in this car. And really the manual transmission is what makes the SC300 fun, as that engine(2JZ-GE) doesn't really start to cook until 3500rpm and it just sings up until its 6400rpm redline. Man its fun to just attack a fast road and let that engine hang above 4000rpm.

I know automatic transmissions(and the dual clutch) in the past 2-3 years are pretty damn good, but I'm convinced if you can't afford or don't want to buy a new car with one of these super awesome automatics/dual clutch trannies, the old school manual is a lot of fun and provides better mpg's in cars that are more than 3-4 years old.

 

Me. I miss manuals. My last one was my 2011 Tacoma. I've been thinking of going back to a Tacoma in large part because I miss my manual truck.

 

The only vehicle I've driven recently where I thought a conventional manual was truly fitting was the new Mazda Miata. The Miata (and maybe its new Fiat Spyder twin) represent what is arguably the best pure-driving experience in the American market. But the Miata's interior is so tight for tall persons (though better then it used to be) that using the clutch pedal sometimes requires a large or bulky left leg to be angled around the left side of the steering wheel.

 

drove my brother's 6 pseed manual 911 carerra 4s this week on english country roads. it was sublime.

 

I do. Which is why I went manual with my Falcon protouring build. Yes, the best of today's autos are faster and "better" than old school manual operation, but the manual is jut more fun to drive, better connection with the car if you are not going for every last 10th on the track. Reading the recent review of the v12 Aston Martin with the 7 spd manual draws me to that car, must be a great experience to drive.

 

I definitely prefer it. Aside from the emissions crap, the missing 3rd pedal is the only thing I don't like about my 335d. My next DD will almost certainly have a manual, as my previous one did.

 

If I'm driving a car for the set purpose of enjoying driving specifically on a fun road with no need to ever take a phone call, etc...then yes I prefer it.

If I'm driving any other time (which is 99.99% of the time) then no lol. Would I drive just for enjoyment more if I had a sporty fun manual car? Maybe.

 

Where's the traffic jam picture ?

 

Traffic is always the argument against the manual transmission, but truthfully once you get used to it I do not find it to be a big deal. Back in the day I used to sit in traffic an hour each way every day in my modded Integra GSR with a very heavy ACT race clutch and lightweight flywheel. It took a bit more effort than typical but was still not a big deal to me. Of course I am not someone who uses my phone while driving, eat while driving, etc., traffic or not. And now days with hands free, you can take calls over blue tooth without any physical contact with your phone. I believe manual transmission make better overall drivers, because you have to actually pay a little bit of attention to the car and what you are doing.

 

^^ I agree. Most of my cars, until recently, have been manual transmissions that I've used as commuters in heavy traffic and it wasn't ever an issue for me.

 

I love a manual because I have constant control over everything the vehicle does. Especially when towing. I really wish my truck had a manual transmission. But, unless you go up to the 3/4 tons and strip them back to bare bones, you can't get one.

With that said, for 95% of my driving, I am so glad I have the autos in all of my cars, because traffic sucks in the DFW.

 

I love the manuals! #SaveTheManuals

I question it on some of the bigger cars, like I'm somewhat okay that the next M5 will forgo the manual (I believe). But I like that Cadillac has it available on the ATS-V's and that VW offers it on the Golf R, etc.

On the exotics, i think it was a sad day when Ferrari lost the iconic gated shifter.

 

two points of view about dfw traffic.

when i was in atlanta, i had to begrudgingly sell my stick acura legend because of FOUL bumper to bumper stop start traffic for my epic 3 mile commute.

 

there's still love for manuals here and Ill be sure to teach my 1 year old and 7 year when they come of age

 

Funny, when i had to sit in DFW traffic for hours a day I never really minded it. Now that I work from home and spend very little time each year sitting in traffic, when I do it pisses me off to no end. I guess you build up a tolerance over time, I have lost that tolerance. That being said, the transmission in the car has no bearing on my hatred for traffic.