Manual Transmissions are Nearly Gone (Page 1/1)
Dennis LaGrua MAY 08, 09:18 AM
I certainly appreciate the ingenuity, creativity and engineering ability of the folks on this forum but find it puzzling why we see so much work and discussion being devoted to manual transmissions that today is a dying technology. No insult intended but outside of a few trucks the vast majority of automotive brands no longer offer manuals. You can't even have one on in a Corvette. I use to be a stick man but that was before technology took over and automatic transmissions shifted faster, included more speeds and slippage was eliminated. While the intention is to not start a debate; my curiosity about the stick and its fading longevity is something that might make for good discussion, When all the 5 and 6 speeds in junkyards have been scrapped in a few years then where do we go?

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82-T/A [At Work] MAY 08, 09:33 AM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:

I certainly appreciate the ingenuity, creativity and engineering ability of the folks on this forum but find it puzzling why we see so much work and discussion being devoted to manual transmissions that today is a dying technology. No insult intended but outside of a few trucks the vast majority of automotive brands no longer offer manuals. You can't even have one on in a Corvette. I use to be a stick man but that was before technology took over and automatic transmissions shifted faster, included more speeds and slippage was eliminated. While the intention is to not start a debate; my curiosity about the stick and its fading longevity is something that might make for good discussion, When all the 5 and 6 speeds in junkyards have been scrapped in a few years then where do we go?




I was thinking about this the other day too. A lot of parts have been reproduced after the fact by new start-up Chinese, Taiwanese, and other companies. If there's even remotely enough demand for a simple run, I suspect they'll remake some of the more important parts. For example... I was able to buy replacement injectors for my 84 Corvette from some Chinese company (earlier in the year) when no one else was making them, except rebuilding them. It was some company that's really big in the aftermarket now that has a red and black box... I can't remember the name.

But for those purists, you can also remake things, and I think to an extent, you'll probably see a lot more CNC work being done for things like synchros and stuff which you can't really get anymore. All that said, it seems that automatic to manual swaps are more common, so there are more manual Fieros out there probably than there are automatic Fieros now (still on the road).


As for the why... I know that a 4T60 can be a great swap in a Fiero... but for me, having a stick shift in it embodies everything that makes a car fun to drive. One of the biggest issues people have with modern cars today, is that with the pervasiveness of CARB and CAFE standards... you barely hear and feel cars today. Even comparing my 1984 Corvette to my neighbor's 1989 Corvette... both of them are the exact same color, and even look the same. But I was letting my car idle last weekend, and my neighbor said... "How come your Corvette sounds so much nicer than mine?"

... we both have stock exhaust systems, but at some point between 1984 and 1989, they implemented new rules for how much sound an engine or exhaust could make. When you even listen to the sound of my daughter's 1985 Fiero 2m4 SE 5-Speed... it has the stock exhaust, the completely stock intake (air cleaner, water separator ducting, ThermAC, etc... all installed). The only difference is an aftermarket catalytic converter. And her exhaust sounds louder too. But of course, we're talking about manuals... all these things add up to what made cars fun to drive back then. I could get into a 2-door Honda Civic that would be way faster and handle better than my Fiero... but it doesn't feel exciting at all. Becuase in the Fiero... or an older car, you're really using all of your senses...


This is a good video that really explains what I mean:
fieroguru MAY 08, 10:09 AM
This is one of my favorite shirts. It helps that it has the same shift pattern as the F40.


For me it is about the driving experience.
You are more connected with the car and you are in control.

This is also why I drive a Fiero... I like the driving experience.
Brian A MAY 08, 10:29 AM

quote
Originally posted by Dennis LaGrua:
I use to be a stick man but that was before technology took over and automatic transmissions shifted faster, included more speeds and slippage was eliminated. While the intention is to not start a debate; my curiosity about the stick and its fading longevity is something that might make for good discussion, When all the 5 and 6 speeds in junkyards have been scrapped in a few years then where do we go?




To me, it's kind of a "if I have to explain it you won't understand" kinda thing. Operating a manual transmission car feels like operating a machine. There is a visceral mechanical connection. Either you get it, or you don't.

Regarding the future for manual shift fans, we'll all have to drift toward vintage cars. They will always be available as long as they are prized. You will always be able to get your Porsche or Corvette fixed. The less loved cars -- and Fieros might be in that category -- might fade away but you will always be able to get something.

Old people complain now that "kids" don't know how to drive manual shift cars. My observation is that a lot of "kids" don't even know what a manual shift car is!