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Picture of your car (2011)
- Thread starter r.j.s
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It really doesn't. I have the mirrors adjusted accordingly and the side rear windows make it not a problem.
Probably not too high of a percentage compared with Europe.
8.6% of cars sold in the States in 2009 had manuals according to Ward's Auto:
http://wot.motortrend.com/supplier-...-manual-transmissions-but-not-in-us-7663.html
Almost exclusively. Bear in mind that, like fuel, cars are incredibly cheap here (along with their options) compared with other industrialized nations. Our licensing requirements are also ridiculously low compared with European countries.
Three cars here, all manuals - two weren't offered with anything else, one took five months to find with a manual (1300mi/2100km away from me).
For our market. The opposite is predicted globally due to emerging markets (per the link above).
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You also have to take into consideration the fact that a lot of cars just straight-up don't offer manuals (standards).
For example, I certainly wouldn't mind driving a manual; and when looking for a car, the transmission meant very little to me. I ended up settling on a year-old, 2006 Grand Prix. They only come with automatics.
My next car, hopefully a 5th gen Camaro, will certainly be a manual. My gf drives a manual (2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V), and my sister is looking to get a Jeep with a manual; but most the cars my mom would ever consider buying only come with autos.
For example, I certainly wouldn't mind driving a manual; and when looking for a car, the transmission meant very little to me. I ended up settling on a year-old, 2006 Grand Prix. They only come with automatics.
My next car, hopefully a 5th gen Camaro, will certainly be a manual. My gf drives a manual (2003 Nissan Sentra SE-R Spec-V), and my sister is looking to get a Jeep with a manual; but most the cars my mom would ever consider buying only come with autos.
That article doesn't counter what I said. I predict within 10 years or less, torque converting autos will be a thing of the past, and replaced by semi-automatic double-clutch gearboxes. Americans will be able to drive them in fully-automatic mode and be none the wiser. They are smoother, more efficient, and better performing than the current automatic transmissions
I don't care if DSGs replace autos, but I don't want them to ever replace manuals. I drove a VW GTI with a DSG, and yes, while it's certainly better than any automatic I've driven, and probably faster than an average joe like me in a manual, I still find my manual GTI to be more fun to drive.
I want DSGs to replace automatics so on the occasional instances I have to rent a car, the car will be slightly less crappy than they are now
I want DSGs to replace automatics so on the occasional instances I have to rent a car, the car will be slightly less crappy than they are now
It will be much cheaper for auto manufacturers to settle on a single gearbox. Even performance cars (Ferrari, BMW, Porsche, Audi, etc) are moving quickly towards double-clutch gearboxes. Racing series have also been moving towards semi-automatic gearboxes with paddle shifting. There will be a day when manuals are only found in the lowest cost cars. Everything else will be double-clutch.I don't care if DSGs replace autos, but I don't want them to ever replace manuals. I drove a VW GTI with a DSG, and yes, while it's certainly better than any automatic I've driven, and probably faster than an average joe like me in a manual, I still find my manual GTI to be more fun to drive.
I want DSGs to replace automatics so on the occasional instances I have to rent a car, the car will be slightly less crappy than they are now
But that's just my opinion.
Geez - get bent out of shape much?Geez - defensive much?
It clarifies it.
Sorry, It looked to me like you were refuting my prior comments about DCT, so yes, I was defending/clarifying my position.
Again, if you adjust your mirrors properly, the left, rear, and right mirrors cover the field of view up to your peripheral vision. You should see motorcycles just fine. If you are tuning your head around to see, then you take your eyes off your vehicle's path of motion, and that's dangerous.
I never have to turn my head to look over my shoulder. I can see everything behind me that I need to see in my three mirrors. Until you try the proper mirror adjustment and drive with it for a while, don't knock it.
I don't care if DSGs replace autos, but I don't want them to ever replace manuals. I drove a VW GTI with a DSG, and yes, while it's certainly better than any automatic I've driven, and probably faster than an average joe like me in a manual, I still find my manual GTI to be more fun to drive.
I want DSGs to replace automatics so on the occasional instances I have to rent a car, the car will be slightly less crappy than they are now
DSG's are the scourge of the earth. Being a VW/Audi tech, I hate having to take them apart for any reason.....Not a user friendly serviceable unit by any means.....and yes they are reliable but damn they are expensive when they do break.
I am actually with you on having properly adjusted mirrors. But looking right just a tad over to each side would most likely save a few lives. Its all about practice. Most people don't even check their mirrors until the need/in the process of changing a lane. So they wont notice the motorcycle coming up from behind until its too late even with properly adjusted mirrors. For the mass majority of people the one quick glance, we are not talking about full head turns here, will create a habit to save not only motorcycles but people on bikes too. I agree properly adjusted mirrors will solve the problem but people have to use them regularly first. Signaling helps too.
I agree. Sadly, most people don't pay any attention to driving and have minimal control of their vehicle.
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