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Joined: May 2000
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Originally posted by Fmr12B:
If you hadn't noticed the majority of Americans live in big cities and commuting sucks in stop & go traffic with a heavy clutch.
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Actually I don't believe that many people do live in big cities in the US, a lot more people live in suburbs and the never-ending sprawl. Large "old" cities in the US like Boston and NYC you don't even need a car really.
Most europeans prefer manuals (I forget what the exact number is but I thought someting like 75%) despite all the cities and traffic. Same thing with the Japanese.
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With a 5spd Auto standard in most cars now-a-days you get the same fuel economy as a manual trans as well.
The fuel economy might be close but it still cost more to purchase initially.
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And anyonje who has driven a great Automatic like that in the Lightning or 92-95 SHO understand autos can kick down and hold to redline just fine............. Just imagine how good the auto-trans are in high end luxury sports cars. BMW's SMG comes in mind.
I have never driven a lightning but the Automatic in the 2nd gen SHO is not nearly as good as the manual, especially in reliability. Even the better modern automatics still aren't that great, IMO. My mother has a 2003 BMW 530i slushbox and even in manual mode or sport mode it doesn't shift fast enough for my tastes.
I guess it boils down to Americans being fat and lazy... 
"Bros before Hoes" <-- More men need this mentality.
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Joined: Feb 2003
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Quote:
Most europeans prefer manuals (I forget what the exact number is but I thought someting like 75%) despite all the cities and traffic. Same thing with the Japanese.
ATXs are roughly the same percentage of the market in Japan as they are in the US. And in Europe, the ATX market has doubleed in the last 10 years to over 1/4 of all cars sold and is expected to grow as rapidly as Japan consumption of automatics did in the late 70's/early 80's.
2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX
Webpage
2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX
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Joined: Apr 2003
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Originally posted by Christian:
I personally have a tendency to stick in 2nd most of the time, and usually only occaisionally shift to 3rd. I know it's bad, but being lazy I skip 1st often on
yup, me too. quoth another ceg'er "i don't even know how to drive an automatic anymore." the work truck, a small truck fully loaded pulling a small trailer, as well as my tour and the beater pickup outside are all manuals. i drive the work truck in 13 miles(out of a 28 mile total drive) of traffic which often times is bumper to bumper and i don't mind one little bit. i don't care how good the auto is i just don't like them, which is not to say that they are not nice just not for me. i completely agree with you christian.
00 black/tan svt, #2052 of 2150, born 2/1/00
formerly known as my csvt
"Nothing in the world is more dangerous than a sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity." -Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Joined: Dec 2002
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I disagree that Manuals are "dying", and there are several 200+ HP choices with 4 doors and a manual transmission. In fact, DaimlerChrysler is rolling out stardard 6 speed manuals on its trucks and SUVs. http://www.popularmechanics.com/automotive/auto_technology/1266936.htmlIt is a shame that most Americans are fat and lazy and too unskilled of drivers to handle a manual transmission properly. 
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Quote:
I disagree that Manuals are "dying", and there are several 200+ HP choices with 4 doors and a manual transmission. In fact, DaimlerChrysler is rolling out stardard 6 speed manuals on its trucks and SUVs.
Yet it is not including Manuals on any of it's decent cars. Neither the 300C, the Magnum, nor the upcoming Charger are offered with a Manual. I believe the only cars Dodge offers a stick on are the Neon and the Stratus R/T.
A shame considering the Benz parts bin they have to pull from.
2003 Mazda6s 3.0L MTX
Webpage
2004 Mazda3s 2.3L ATX
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Joined: Dec 2001
Posts: 777
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Acura TL with V6 offers a stick. So does the TSX. The WRX-ish models still offer sticks: Legacy GT, Saab 9-3, etc. Lexus IS300 still offers a stick. On up the line are VW/Audi and Volvo still offering sticks.
/me shrugs... Still stuff to choose from.
>--------------<
--Chemguru
99 CSVT
Frost /Mid. Blue
00 Suzuki SV650
Red, Naked
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I think there are more/better options than ever. When shopping for a new car almost every car I considered has a stick option. I didn't bother looking at domestics. None of them are sporty enough. Not only are there more options but manufacturers are putting more engineering into creating better transmissions. Its amazing how much performance is available when you combine a stick with a nice powerful v6 sedan not to mention the coupes.
05 Legacy GT Turbo 5speed
99 SVT GRN/TAN (sold)
06 Ford Explorer EBv8
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Originally posted by Christian:
Must admit I never really had much of a problem with traffic ... either in the UK (London & other cities) or here in Canada (Ottawa). I guess it's one of those things you live with and it improves with experience. I personally have a tendency to stick in 2nd most of the time, and usually only occaisionally shift to 3rd. I know it's bad, but being lazy I skip 1st often on
I simply can't see how I could get around NYC w/o redlining in 1st... 
that said, I consider MTX a toy. it has no practical purpose and so 90% of the population can't see how it can make their 4-wheel appliance any more or less "fun".
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there's are hardly any American cars with V6s and manuals, but look at Japanese and European cars and the choices become more abundant.
off the top of my head, here are some cars on the used market that can be found with manuals: (some are four cyl, but have plenty of power and/or turbo)
Mercedes C-class
BMW 3 series
BMW 5 series
BMW 7 series
Subaru Impreza WRX
Saab 93 sedan, 93 hatch, 900
Saab 95, 9000
Nissan Maxima
Nissan Altima
Acura TL
Acura TSX
Acura RSX/Integra
Mazda 6
Jaguar X Type
For Sale:
- Sony PSP with a Baseball 2k6 and the movie Crash. $100
- 1973 Karmann Ghia Convertible w/ Auto-Stick. Needs Restoration. $1200 OBO
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BMW 7 series with a manual? Where can I get one?  The sky's not falling, at least not rapidly. I didn't know about the explosion of slushboxes in Europe over the past ten years. Damn... --T.J.
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