OP
Around here it's downshifting for the downhills.
I Miss Shifting
- Thread starter snubbyfan
- Start date
Rastoff
US Veteran
I don't understand the downshift conundrum here. It's easier to downshift an automatic and I do it all the time.
My Toyota Tundra has a 5 speed automatic. When in D and on the freeway, it's in 5th gear. If I want to drop to 4th, I punch the O/D Off button. If I then need to shift to 3rd, I just bump the shifter to 3 and then 2 if necessary. I can't imagine the need to downshift into 1st, but I can still do that by pressing the Shift Lock on the dash.
So, yeah, downshifting is useful. Still available in an auto.
My Toyota Tundra has a 5 speed automatic. When in D and on the freeway, it's in 5th gear. If I want to drop to 4th, I punch the O/D Off button. If I then need to shift to 3rd, I just bump the shifter to 3 and then 2 if necessary. I can't imagine the need to downshift into 1st, but I can still do that by pressing the Shift Lock on the dash.
So, yeah, downshifting is useful. Still available in an auto.
hostler
Member
I learned to drive in an F100 w/3 on the tree. My first car was a 4 speed manual. I've owned mostly manuals until I got married 20 years ago and my wife couldn't drive a manual. A couple years ago it was time for a new car (our previous car was an automatic and we had nothing but problems from the transmission). I told her "its been 20 years, I'm tired of automatics, especially after this last one, it's my turn now, we're getting a manual". So with some discussion we did get a manual. She said she would never be able to drive it, I taught her to drive it. She said she would never be comfortable with it, she drives it everywhere now and doesn't even think about it.
I'm a little upset that all I needed to do for 20 years is put my foot down and I could've been driving a stick shift much sooner.
Anyway, she feels good about being able to drive a stick now because she's no longer handicapped by her fear of possibly having to drive one and not knowing how.
I'm a little upset that all I needed to do for 20 years is put my foot down and I could've been driving a stick shift much sooner.
Anyway, she feels good about being able to drive a stick now because she's no longer handicapped by her fear of possibly having to drive one and not knowing how.
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I learned to drive on a 10 year old '50 Chevy, 3 on the tree. The first car with my name on the title was a 15 year old '47 Plymouth, also 3 on the tree. I've owned at least one stick shift vehicle since 1962. I can understand why some folks prefer automatics. To someone who says that they "can't" drive a stick, I say that back in the day, you learned to drive a stick or you rode the bus.
New automatics are definitely improved, and some like the Porsche PDK are fantastic.
Older ones like the GM 4L60 in my Tahoe and other GM cars, and used up until just a few years ago, were not so great for 'spirited' driving.
Those never pre-emptively downshifted as the rpms dropped, for example when slowing for a corner. When accelerating out of the corner, or trying to pass someone, it is always in too tall a gear and very reluctant to downshift (at least in my Tahoe). It makes it feel sluggish all the time.
I keep reading of overheating issues on the track and torque converter failures with the 8 speed auto in the Corvette. Plus the active fuel management (cylinder deactivation) can't be disabled if you have an auto, while it can with the manual. If I were in the market for a new Corvette, I would choose a manual for those reasons alone.
Like I said in my first post due to a bed left knee I got my first Auto Vette. Had 6 more before this one, 3 had 4Spds and 3 were 6spds. I also had many other cars & trucks with manuals and drove CDL large trucks so I have shifted a stick a few times over the last 60 or so years.
So far no sort of problems with the slush box. I do miss rowing the boat some what, but I will live with it. Its a 8 spd auto, If the cylinder deactivation is that much of a PITA it can be eliminated in a auto, use the paddles for all your shifting and you will stay in V8 mode.
I thought the deactivation would bother me but I found it is not that bad. Driving on a interstate type road you cannot even tell if its in 8 or 4 mode. There is a display on the dash that will tell you if your in 8 or 4, most times you will not know! You step on the gas and you can take off rather well in a passing situation.
If it keeps on working fine then its no problem, but if it starts causing a lot of problems/codes that will be a different story. Yes I'm 72 but far from a slowpoke on the roads.I tend to have a lot of fun with my Vettes on the twisty mountain roads up here.
Much like...
...NYlakesider except not quite that old.
On my sixth Corvette...two with sticks, 4 with automatics...last two with paddles with the autoboxes.
Many late model vehicles (including C7 Corvettes) have adaptive automatics that will 'learn' your driving style. Have found it very useful in my Corvette.
But the main reason I now drive slushboxes is to enable one hand with a cigar, one hand holding my cellphone, and a knee on the wheel.
Be safe.
PS: Living in NYC, Boston, and DC cured me of my urge to drive sticks.
...NYlakesider except not quite that old.
On my sixth Corvette...two with sticks, 4 with automatics...last two with paddles with the autoboxes.
Many late model vehicles (including C7 Corvettes) have adaptive automatics that will 'learn' your driving style. Have found it very useful in my Corvette.
But the main reason I now drive slushboxes is to enable one hand with a cigar, one hand holding my cellphone, and a knee on the wheel.
Be safe.
PS: Living in NYC, Boston, and DC cured me of my urge to drive sticks.
LVSteve
Member
Some make it easier than others. The loaner Land Rover I'm driving makes it very easy as it has the paddles and they override the transmission controller immediately. It was the same on my XKR but oddly is NOT the way it works on my XJ. I have to engage the super-secret "get there NOW" mode to get the gearbox to obey the paddles.
GM have made it awkward to select your own gears because they now use some kind of rocker switch on the gear lever. Talk about MMI fail.
I still enjoy driving a manual trans....I currently have a 2010 Toyota FJ Cruiser with a MT and prior to that a 1985 Toyota 4Runner with a MT (pics of both below). The FJ is full-time 4-wheel drive.
Both vehicles have served me well as hunting/camping and just fun to drive vehicles.
Don
Both vehicles have served me well as hunting/camping and just fun to drive vehicles.
Don
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That is a real plus.......
That is a real plus and I used to use it for slowing down, going up and down hills, downshifting for quicker acceleration. I have to say that now my auto tranny is sophisticated enough to handle it and I also have a little control over it if needed. No matter where you go around here you get up to speed and a few seconds later you are stopping to avoid something that isn't supposed to be there. When I was driving a manual, I was younger and the traffic wasn't as bad. Heck, driving was even FUN once you got out of town a bit. Now I'm an old fudd and it ain't fun no more.
That is a real plus and I used to use it for slowing down, going up and down hills, downshifting for quicker acceleration. I have to say that now my auto tranny is sophisticated enough to handle it and I also have a little control over it if needed. No matter where you go around here you get up to speed and a few seconds later you are stopping to avoid something that isn't supposed to be there. When I was driving a manual, I was younger and the traffic wasn't as bad. Heck, driving was even FUN once you got out of town a bit. Now I'm an old fudd and it ain't fun no more.
Even a Fudd...
Shifting is really fun on the small cars, in my experience; for one thing the clutches generally aren't so stiff.
Andy[/QUOTE]
Yeah, a sports car is different if you can get it out in the open or at least 'broken field running'. Nowadays, I can't get in and out of a small one so something built more for old fudds would suit be better now.
Shifting is really fun on the small cars, in my experience; for one thing the clutches generally aren't so stiff.
Andy[/QUOTE]
Yeah, a sports car is different if you can get it out in the open or at least 'broken field running'. Nowadays, I can't get in and out of a small one so something built more for old fudds would suit be better now.
Even though I am a stick shifter all the way, I will have to disagree.
"REAL MEN" do what they like, and don't care about what others have to say.
I grew up on stick shifts on my grandfather's farm. Trucks, tractors, motorcycles, they were all manual trannys.
My first car was a 1970 Maverick bought in 1979 with a 200 cid I-6 and a 3 speed auto and I hated it.
My second car was a 72 Nova bought in 1981 with an I-6 and 3 speed auto, and it was no better.
My third was a 69 Olds 442 bought in 1982 with the 400 cid V8 and the dealer option auto - that one was fun despite being a slush-box.
From then on it was all stick shifts. I didn't buy another automatic until around 1998 when I bought a mini van for my wife.
My first daily driver after the 442 that wasn't a manual was a 92 Jeep Cherokee I bought in 2001. Pretty much been driving autos ever since. I still own 3 stick shifts, but a couple are projects and the other one is my 1986 Ford F250 diesel pickup that doesn't get driven much.
Anymore I'm too old & lazy for a stick shift due to traffic.
My first car was a 1970 Maverick bought in 1979 with a 200 cid I-6 and a 3 speed auto and I hated it.
My second car was a 72 Nova bought in 1981 with an I-6 and 3 speed auto, and it was no better.
My third was a 69 Olds 442 bought in 1982 with the 400 cid V8 and the dealer option auto - that one was fun despite being a slush-box.
From then on it was all stick shifts. I didn't buy another automatic until around 1998 when I bought a mini van for my wife.
My first daily driver after the 442 that wasn't a manual was a 92 Jeep Cherokee I bought in 2001. Pretty much been driving autos ever since. I still own 3 stick shifts, but a couple are projects and the other one is my 1986 Ford F250 diesel pickup that doesn't get driven much.
Anymore I'm too old & lazy for a stick shift due to traffic.
Even though I am a stick shifter all the way, I will have to disagree.
"REAL MEN" do what they like, and don't care about what others have to say.
Multiple likes to you for this'n!! I don't like Bud Lite, I don't buy products with sports star name on them, and I don't pay over 25 bux for a pair of sun glasses. I'll pay extra for quality but I don't pay extra for a name or buy because that is what advertisement says that it makes you cool. If you are not cool the beer you drink and the sports stuff you buy won't help you. If you are cool then you don't need them anyway. I'm just not a "me too" kinda guy I reckon.
As far as the stick shift thing My first car was a '36 Ford Coupe with 3 on the tree. I moved on up over the years but never had an automatic transmission until my 2002 Ford Ranger. I figured that after over 40 years of shifting I had shifted enough and surely had well documented my manhood. If not well then someone tell me where to turn in my man card.
One side benefit to having manual transmissions all those years is I never had to share my car/truck with my wife or daughter. That turned out to be a really good deal for me.
But technology has caught up with me. My current vehicle is a 2017 GMC Terrain Denali. All the bells and whistles. Remote start, GPS nav, back up camera, Blue tooth for the phone, On Star, 2-way power sun roof and I don't know what all. I don't miss shiftin' all that much.
Then someone tell me where to turn in my man card.
Not gonna turn in my man card either.
I reckon they'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.
Not gonna turn in my man card either.
I reckon they'll have to pry it from my cold dead hands.
Yep! They can take that when they take my guns!
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OP
Yeah you can downshift an automatic but you just don't get the same compression brake benefit like ya do with a manual.
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"Real men"?
I can no longer drive. Where does that place me?
Count your blessings. This is me:
I can no longer drive. Where does that place me?
Count your blessings. This is me:
