Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[dadohead]

Both of my sons drive manuals. My oldest son's car has been broken into twice in the city. They started it both times but didn't steal it.... they couldn't drive a manual!

 

[5030]

I've had that exact but slightly different issue with my Focus RS. If the wife and I go anywhere with Valet parking, the 'Valet' cannot drive it because they don't know how. Today, the younger set is mostly PRNDL.... Good theft deterrent as well because the average car thief cannot drive it either. I've taken to just leave my keys in the ignition and the doors unlocked simply because a car thief cannot move it.

Gonna make up a sign to put in the windshield that says 'This vehicle is a stick shift so just pass on it'....

 

[Too many Kubotas]

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...??

Many modern ones lock up in most gears, if not all. And some "automatics" (like Porsche's PDK) are really auto-shifted manuals without converters.

I didn't say that I like lubed-for-life things, just pointed out that they exist. Of the eight "sealed" ZF 8-speeds we have, one is coming up on 95K miles. I'll probably change the fluid in that one this summer - whether it needs it or not.

 

[5030]

I don't know squat about Porsche and candidly don't care about them other than like Beemers, they are insanely expensive to get serviced.

Far as torque converters go, they wouldn't be there if they weren't required, consequently, they are still an inefficient transmission medium and are still making heat.

We can go back and forth on the merits and drawbacks forever, not something I care to do. Bottom line is, with any fluid coupling, inherent heat of operation is always an issue and heat is what primarily degrades any lubricant. If heat wasn't a contributing factor, then why do hydrostatic tractors all have transmission oil coolers on them? The hydro is essentially a fluid coupling similar to a torque convertor but with a variable displacement pump added into the equation to achieve infinite motion control and why I don't own them as well. Hydrostats are ill suited for the farm work I do.

 

[ericm979]

Many modern ones lock up in most gears, if not all. And some "automatics" (like Porsche's PDK) are really auto-shifted manuals without converters.

Those dual clutch transmissions are really nice. We have a couple VWs with them.

I'm told that in Europe a lot of trucks have computer controlled single clutch automatics. Like a PDK or DSG except they shift slower. All the reliability and efficiency of a manual except no needs to operate the clutch.

I didn't say that I like lubed-for-life things, just pointed out that they exist. Of the eight "sealed" ZF 8-speeds we have, one is coming up on 95K miles. I'll probably change the fluid in that one this summer - whether it needs it or not.

A lot of the "sealed for life" transmissions are recommended to get fluid changes if the vehicle is under the severe duty maintenance schedule... which nearly all should be.

 

[M59]

25 years ago transmissions were better. Think about a C-6 ford or the GM TH 350-400. As long as you changed the juice every 70k+/- they would last forever.
As I type this I'm thinking about today's HP also.....
never mind, maybe.

25 years ago the manual transmissions were capable of supporting the torque output from the engines of the times BUT some had pretty stiff pedals to depress the clutch plate and you were lucky if you got 100K miles out of a friction plate. I'm thinking that's why my left knee gives me occasional pain.

I had 6 speed Toyota Camry that I added a TRD lysholme supercharger to that made 500 lb ft of torque at 2500 rpm and 10 psi boost. Friction plate got replaced about every 20K miles. Front wheel drive torque steer was massive and usually resulted in the car's front making hard pivot to the right. Tires didn't last long. Ended up moving to drag race automatic transmission with planetary drive.

The new cars and trucks, particularly the ones with higher HP and torque outputs, come only with DCT ( double clutch transmissions ) due to manual transmissions not being capable of handling the shock loads of the higher outputs and the transition from one gear to the next does not upset the car when driven hard. Imagine some kid dumping the clutch on a 600 hp Nissan GTR or a GMC diesel with 900 lb ft of torque at 1500 rpm. How long before that drive train goes belly up?

 

[M59]

Most of my manuals are not Synchromesh so to be a proficient operator you become one with the machine.

Please elaborate on your manual vehicles without synchromesh. I have several of the "pre war" cars with straight cut brass gears and cone clutches and am always interested in what else has been saved and loved.

 

[Hay Dude]

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 TDL 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.

Clutch?
Shift fork?
Output shaft?

Those all can break and leave you along the side of the road.

Automatics have come a long, long way.

 

[4570Man]

Clutch?
Shift fork?
Output shaft?

Those all can break and leave you along the side of the road.

Automatics have come a long, long way.

The hydraulic cylinder that presses the clutch on my F-750 broke and then when I was trying to pull it out of gear under load the shift fork jumped out of its slot. My other truck also lost the slave cylinder. Neither fix was all that hard but they weren’t drivable. The automatic in my Volvo which isn’t actually an automatic but an automated manual has 750,000 miles on it. The Volvo I bought before that had barely short of a million miles. The transmission on that one wasn’t shifting right and the dealer traded it for the 750k one. But I think at a million miles the transmission has earned the right to mess up.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Clutch?
Shift fork?
Output shaft?

Those all can break and leave you along the side of the road.

Automatics have come a long, long way.

I've never had to replace a clutch disc because it was worn out. I've had to replace the pressure plate and throw out bearing but I could still drive the vehicle. That was a 400 mile trip starting the 1972 Beetle in gear and shifting without a clutch.

I lost the slave cylinder on my 1998 Cummins during a hunting trip. One of my friends put the stock trailer on his truck and pulled it till I had to hook on. We found a parking lot with a slope and hooked my truck up. Start in gear and again shift without a clutch. That trip altogether was about a 1000 miles.

I've never had a shift fork break but I had a loose shifter in my hand once. It was only 10 miles in 2 gear but I made it home.

I've never had a problem with an output shaft. But automatics have left me on the side of the road twice. I agree that automatics have come a long ways but I'm not interested. The only place they really shine is in town and hooking up to trailers.

The dual clutch idea is an awesome transmission but it's really not an automatic.