Et tu, BMW?

[pawngal]

In 50+ years of driving I have almost always had a manual shift vehicle. Current fun toy is a 2009 Mini Cooper S convertible, 6 speed. I will own & drive it until I can no longer get in and out of it.
Talk is that Mini is also dumping the manual shift option. That will be a sad day for the little 4 wheel rocket.

 

[lihpster]

Talk is that Mini is also dumping the manual shift option. That will be a sad day for the little 4 wheel rocket.

Makes sense. They are owned by BMW.

 

[pawngal]

Makes sense. They are owned by BMW.

Yes, I am aware of that.

 

[Dave_n]

As mentioned by Pawngirl above. The Mini Cooper in its original form was literally a "Pocket Rocket". I remember a race at the Aintree (Liverpool) racetrack (inside the Grand National Course) between mini-coopers, Ford Galaxies and Corvettes (roughly early 1960s). On the straights, both US cars led, in the chicanes, the Coopers rocketed past the others. Winner, Mini Coopers and some red-faced Corvette owners. The only outward mark of a Mini Cooper if the "labels were removed" was the 2" diameter exhaust pike versus the 1.25" regular mini. Those were the days!!! Dave_n

 

[fiasconva]

We had a Volvo with standard transmission back when both my kids were learning to drive. My truck had an automatic transmission but I made sure they learned to drive the standard transmission before I would let them drive the automatic. They are thankful for that to this day.

 

[Golddollar]

We had a Volvo with standard transmission back when both my kids were learning to drive. My truck had an automatic transmission but I made sure they learned to drive the standard transmission before I would let them drive the automatic. They are thankful for that to this day.

Back in the olden days I took Driver's Ed in summer school. I learned how to drive with a "3 on the tree." Knowing how to drive a vehicle with a stick shift was a big help in my first job.

 

[Sam D]

Like most I grew up with manual transmissions.


Now days I appreciate the pleasure of driving an automatic. Especially driving around town.

 

[sjmjax]

For a commuter vehicle and driving in heavy traffic, an automatic is fine.

However for my pleasure- sports cars, only a manual gear box. For me it's not about maximum performance. It's about driving pleasure. Automatics are joyless appliances to me.

 

[venomballistics]

Im 49 years old and have NEVER driven a manual transmission vehicle

No need, no desire.

In fact, I don't belive I know anyone... friends, relatives, etc that has a manual.

You should add it to your bucket list.
You're just one of the other two kinds of people.
You love a stick shift, you just don't know it yet

 

[31FordA]

The demise of the manual transmission would have really annoyed my Dad. He refused to buy a truck with an automatic transmission. As a kid I loved watching Dad drive, he could steer, shift, drink coffee and eat a Tastykake pie all at the same time. Dad like to demonstrate that if you knew what you were doing you could shift without using the clutch by RPM alone. He loathed automatic transmissions as lazy and boring.

My Dad made it very clear that I would learn to drive a manual before I could get my license. Looking back Dad was right, learning to drive a stick made me a better driver. After demonstrating that I could drive his '76 F-100 to his satisfaction I didn't drive another manual until I bought my '31 Model A. I currently have two manual trans cars in my collection, the Model A and a '67 Rambler. I'm on the lookout for a '34 Fordor, so it looks like my next car will be a stick too.

 

[Beemerguy53]

We had a Volvo with standard transmission back when both my kids were learning to drive. My truck had an automatic transmission but I made sure they learned to drive the standard transmission before I would let them drive the automatic. They are thankful for that to this day.

Like their father, my two sons are serious car enthusiasts. (And I love that we have that in common!) Each of them owns two cars, all with standard transmissions. My elder son drives a Ford Focus ST and a Mustang GT. My younger son has a Subaru WRX and a Honda S2000.

 

[Beemerguy53]

I bought my 1971 2002 BMW in Germany. Drove it over there for four years and brought it home. Loved it and loved driving it (4 speed). Wonderful machine. Got orders for Florida and discovered that Florida and a non air conditioned auto were not compatible. Sold it in 1985 for more than I paid for it. Miss it to this day.

You would be shocked at what that 2002 would be worth today!

 

[Beemerguy53]

Oh YEAH! Stand on the brakes approaching a turn, heel/toe, downshift, unwind the wheel and stand on the gas as you exit, upshift, all the while setting up the next turn.

Exhilarating! SPIRITUAL!

Exactly. Anybody can stomp on a gas pedal and accelerate (while depending on traction-control to keep you on the road and out of the weeds)...it takes no driving skill at all to do that.

If you really want to impress me with your driving skills, show me how you can hit an apex on a winding mountain road (in your lane, of course) while up-or-down shifting smoothly...

The most driving (and motorcycling) fun I've ever had has been on the Blue Ridge Parkway and Skyline Drive, rowing through the gearbox and savoring the whole experience...nothing like it!

 

[PALADIN85020]

This was my last stick - vintage of 1965. I do still maintain the muscle memory to drive one and keep my left leg free just in case I need to.

John

 

[fiasconva]

I always did like running through the gears on my manual transmissions. I miss doing that from time to time.

 

[soFlaNative]

learning to drive a stick made me a better driver.

I could not agree more for more reasons than I could list, main one being having to think a few steps ahead.
A disappearing art.

 

[nicky4968]

The tank shift and treadle clutch on my '49 Hydra Glide were fairly easy and stress-free.

 

[WR Moore]

Oh YEAH! Stand on the brakes approaching a turn, heel/toe, downshift, unwind the wheel and stand on the gas as you exit, upshift, all the while setting up the next turn.

Exhilarating! SPIRITUAL!

Having grown up with bias ply tires, I also learned that system along with the power slide and 4 wheel drift. Alas, radial tires and other things (like using the brakes to "rotate" the vehicle in turns-as Sir Jackie Stewart says"it's how you release the brakes that really matters, they're really not for slowing the car down.") the actual manual can't hack in the highest levels of competition anymore. That's if you can afford a car with the pedals really meant for H&T shifting.

If you wanna play around as Speed Racer, have at it.

I really don't have a bucket list, but if I ever decide to throw some money at one of those driving schools in Vegas (WAY cheaper than a Kodiak bear hunt!), it'll be in a Porsche with a PDK. Too much to learn to bother with banging gears. And doing so in a 911 won't transfer to the daily drive anyway.

 

[Gamecock]

For a commuter vehicle and driving in heavy traffic, an automatic is fine.

People say such, but . . . sitting in traffic, I have NEVER thought, "Gee, I wish I had an automatic transmission."