Weird, but last night I dreamed I was driving some 3 on the floor old monster. No idea what it was, or was supposed to be, but winding out in second was so wicked sounding that I just kept looking for places to downshift so I would wind it out again.

Maybe I'm psychic and knew this would be the COTD.

Yeah, maybe. But if I'm psychic, where the eff are my winning Lotto numbers then?

Hmmm. Maybe that was "psycho."

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If you can't handle a small multifunction process like shifting, you have no place being behind the much busier multifunction environment of the wheel.

In my experience, manuals last longer, break less, and break less expensively when they do break. If it means you have to leave your coffee in the cupholder that much longer, then so be it - you're not in the car for a latte, you're trying to get somewhere.

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2.)Automatics (whether hydraulic, DSG, or whatever) have specific places where they are appropriate. Even preferred. My last classic '60s Buick is a great example, as has been mentioned. They are good for intermediate towing too, in an F250 or whatever.

3.) Automated manuals (which are really automatics) can't do the same things as a true manual with a driver operated clutch. There are things I can do with that that a DSG simply cannot do. Making the fastest time to 60MPH actually is the least important of the special advantages of a manual transmission.

4.) Choice is a factor in being able to sell anything, cars or shoes. Deciding NOT to market this choice is a constraint on sales. If it is indeed true that the primary reason for this is over-regulation, then the industry should seek redress in the legislative process. They easily could do this, and the political climate for re-examining the bureaucratic obstacles to more streamlined safety screening seems to be at its height. So if I were a manufacturer, I would take my case to John Q. Public directly, and retry that Euro safety reciprocity thing tht was done a while back. It might just work this time around.

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Haven't you ever had an old American luxobarge? WOJZILLA! You have a fucking Continental! Where the hell are you to speak up on this?

These cars cannot have a manual transmission. Cannot, because they have a big bench seat, and having to shift gears would cause the problem of having to move the hand that is supposed to be wrapped around (and "accidentally" resting on the cleavage of) that good-looking girl you talked into parking her Sunfire and coming for a ride.

Do I have to teach you people everything? GOD. Kids these days.

There are many vehicles I would never want a manual transmission in. Sports cars, race cars, most economy cars yes. My truck, daily driven comfort car, no.

Automatics have gotten to the point of being more reliable than a traditional stick and clutch setup and nowadays can even match the fuel mileage.

Only pure fanboyism would ignore the fact that in most cases, an automatic can now do a better job than a manual.

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So when you all start talking about "sweet 'snik-snik' double-clutch downshift right into the torque range at the apex of the corner", I fell like a porn-loving eunich. He watches..and knows, with an awful certainty, they're having LOTS of fun, but he...just...can't.

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I thought long and hard when I ordered it. Three pedals were available (and cheaper!) but 90% of my driving is either in SF Bay Area traffic or on strait interstates at constant speed. I occasionally use the manual mode (steep hills mostly) but I find it frustrating as the shift occurs about half a second after I push or pull the lever...

Oddly enough I've started missing driving a stick since I started ridding my bicycle more: it's only a three speed but changing gears is fun!

I've never tried a DSG though, maybe it is a happy compromise.

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With so many two-pedal cars on the road

and so few with a clutch now being sold

The day will come, more soon than you know

when no one knows how, the gears they should row

Not even those who are very very old

So when the zombie horde descends on us come revelation

And only an old Chevy stake-bed will be the salvation

But at the last minute, a call emanates out of the crowd

Can anyone drive stick? Don't be shy, don't be proud

Your skill will bring us joy and elation

We need a clutch master

To end this disaster

But sadly that skill has

Gone the way of the Mercury Topaz

And so they'll be eaten, all the faster

But you will escape

Having your brains made like steak

Because you can row gears

Just like ol' Rick Mears

having learned how to do so from books-on-tape

And Darwin will prove right

As the zombies own the night

eating auto-trans users

and sedan-driving losers

While they attempt a gear-crunching flight

So make haste to gain knowledge

Maybe a night class at college

To learn how to operate

A manual transmission before it's too late

Because it's better to live to a ripe old age

If not, zombies just might

come out this all-hollows night

And seek out your gray matter

and your blood they will splatter

But if you can drive a stick, you'll end up alright

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Now I've been doing the 7-4 thing for 2+ years and it has improved MANY elements of my life...almost all of it traced back to the pain of a heavy, hydraulic clutch. :D

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