Because the newest computer-controlled automatics can shift more quickly than any human can, engineers see the manual transmission as outdated. We disagree. Shifting a manual transmission is not only more engaging and fun than flicking some dainty little paddles, it also requires more skill and makes the driver a better one.
"It's an unimportant skill but as you practice it you will get better at it." Well, yeah.
My fun weekend car has a stick, and that's not such a bad thing, but there's no denying stick shift on passenger cars exists solely for entertainment value or vanity at this point.
Well, that and cost and simplicity. A manual transmission will always be cheaper to manufacture and repair, and can actually be worked on by mere mortals.
I have rebuilt one manual transmission and one automatic transmission, and I have recurring nightmares about only one of those two. (fuck you, E40D...)
> A manual transmission will always be cheaper to manufacture and repair, and can actually be worked on by mere mortals.
On the other hand, in these modern times an automatic transmission might very well last the (long) life of the car with nothing but ATF added. A manual is guaranteed to need some work, since the clutch is a wear item.
That said, some of these newer transmissions haven't really proven their longevity yet, and they're attached to some really overpowered engines in some cases nowadays... interesting times.
I've driven 4wd manual, as well as front- and rear-wheel drive manuals and automatics in ice and snow. I have no idea why anyone would find an automatic more difficult to deal with in the snow?
> Rocking an automatic is a lot harder than rocking a manual
You're not the first person I've heard say this, and maybe there's something to it, but I just don't know what's hard about doing it with an automatic, or what control people feel like they're being robbed of in this context. I've been doing it all my life with both types of transmissions. I'm visualizing it (on this sunny spring day) and it seems like one of the many things that's just a little bit easier with an automatic. (I'd defer to anyone who lives further North than I do in a conversation like this about snow driving technique, but the only guy I know who lives in Alaska drives a Chevy Cruze, of all things, with an automatic)
Recently I've seen people have a lot of trouble when they don't know how to turn off their traction control, but that's not really an automatic transmission thing.
Very strange....I haven't driven in snow for years, but when I did it was undoubtedly easier to rock a standard car than an automatic, like no comparison whatsoever. I appreciate imagining how it wouldn't be different, but in practice, totally. Hmm.
"It's an unimportant skill but as you practice it you will get better at it." Well, yeah.
My fun weekend car has a stick, and that's not such a bad thing, but there's no denying stick shift on passenger cars exists solely for entertainment value or vanity at this point.