Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[4570Man]

I still have a stick a ZF6 Ford 7.3 but I like driving my automatic truck better.

 

[hube2]

I still drive a stick and will do so as long as I am capable. Besides fuel economy I feel they are safer. You need to be more aware of what you are doing. I drive my car, it does not drive me, and when I'm driving that is really all that I am doing.

 

[Oaktree]

Viscosity of trans oil made all the difference with non Synchromesh.

A guy brought his Model A to me saying he couldn't drive it without grinding the gears.

Someone put light gear oil instead of 600w.

The 600w added just the right amount of drag needed.

600W??!??
That must be fun to shift in cold weather!

 

[hodge]

I do, and I'll keep doing it until I can't find parts for them. 04 F350/6 speed, 85 CJ7/5 speed, 87 Ford F350 dump truck/4 speed, 2 manual transmission tractors and 1 backhoe. I love manual transmissions.

 

[pmsmechanic]

So presently my wife and I both drive manuals. We both prefer them. My wife would not even concider an automatic when looking for a replacement car. She's 67 by the way.

2 of my 3 men drive manuals. I've taught a few ladies how to drive manuals. A dodge Cummins works great for teaching as you don't have to be concerned with the throttle. Just learn to manage the clutch and the throttle operation comes naturally.

Some fun notes. I've converted several vehicle to manuals. Mostly because a manual has never left me stuck on the side of the road. I've always been able to get home. My 2001 TDI gained about 10 mpg with the manual and a lot more fun to drive. My 1990 Cummins gained about 6 mpg and a pile more reliability when swapped. At one time this winter we had 8 Jetta's, a Polo, a Rabbit and an Audi on the yard. Out of the 11 only 2 were automatics.

I suppose at some point in time we will own an automatic transmission vehicle but right now at 68 I don't feel like I'm old enough.

 

[5030]

Not everyone can own or handle ford rs. You’re one of the rare few @5030 thankfully you rarely talk about owning one.

Manual transmissions are second nature to me, always have been, both in my farm tractors, my vehicles as well as my big truck. I will always prefer them for their lack of complexity and more efficient transmission of power with minimal parasitic power loss. Fluid coupled torque convertors are all inefficient in the transmission of energy. Always have been, always will be and one of the primary reasons why regularly scheduled fluid changes and filter changes are required as the production of heat in the fluid coupling degrades the fluid over time and degraded fluid equates to a failed transmission eventually.

 

[5030]

Nothing worse than a slush box puking it's guts out at an inopportune time because the owner was lax when it comes to fluid and filter changes, a mandatory and necessary evil to owning a slush-o-matic.

When they puke, the repair bill is also a wallet buster and the more complex the slush box is, the higher the repair bill is as well.

Slush boxes are entirely dependent on timely fluid and filter changes to live a long and trouble free life and something that most owners seem to not remember. Once the additives in the fluid are depleted from the heat-cool cycles and the fluid is contaminated by various wearing components inside the tranny, it's only a matter of time before it fails.

Why you never want to 'flush' a slush box, simply because 'flushing', while less expensive to perform, agitates any and all wearing components that have deposited stuff inside the tranny and flushing causes those deposits to break loose and can cause havoc with internal valving in the valve body. Something I'd never do. Always more prudent and safe to do a complete drain (including the torque convertor) and filter change and installing new, virgin fluid on the manufacturer's specified change interval which is exactly what I just did with my wife's suburban at 80K as specified in her owners manual and I had that done at the local GM dealer where she purchased the vehicle in the first place.

It's my observation the most people change their engine oil regularly but totally ignore the shush box until it fails.

 

[ultrarunner]

I miss the days where $300 would bench build a mustang C4 transmission.

I restored several 1965-68 Mustangs from ring and valve to body and paint and upholstery...

I pulled the transmission and had a local shop bench build...

I hear 10k transmissions are not unheard of.

 

[Too many Kubotas]

Fluid coupled torque convertors are all inefficient in the transmission of energy. Always have been, always will be and one of the primary reasons why regularly scheduled fluid changes and filter changes are required as the production of heat in the fluid coupling degrades the fluid over time and degraded fluid equates to a failed transmission eventually.

Slush boxes are entirely dependent on timely fluid and filter changes to live a long and trouble free life and something that most owners seem to not remember.

It seems like almost all modern autos have lock-up converters, so in that sense there should be no loss of efficiency.

Also, some late model autos are supposedly filled for life. There's n easy way to change the fluid, and the manufacturer feels it's not necessary.

 

[5030]

It seems like almost all modern autos have lock-up converters, so in that sense there should be no loss of efficiency.

Also, some late model autos are supposedly filled for life. There's n easy way to change the fluid, and the manufacturer feels it's not necessary.

Life can mean anything a manufacturer wants it to be and far as lock up torque convertors, they only lock up in top gear. Until then the fluid coupling is still an inefficient loss of efficiency and a producer of heat. Stellantis is one of the companies good for a sealed for life slush box. Again, what is life and how does it equate to longevity? If you have that answer please tell me...??