[DeTomaso] NPC: automotive journalism and manual transmissions

[Michael Cox]

When I bought my 6 speed 2011 335is the dealer only had the
dual-clutch auto on the lot for a test drive. It was actually very nice,
I can see my next sporty-ish car having something like that and
being perfectly happy.

Since I buy new vehicles every 15 years or so, I've got time to see
how it shakes out.

I was bummed when Dan Neil's writing was not available in the
LA Times any more, I do occasionally hunt out his stuff for a
good read.

   --mike


Sean Korb said:
> I might learn to live with paddle shift.  I tried one out in a
> Maserati 7 or 8 years ago and I remember thinking "I could really get
> used to this"!
>
> But the pedal makes me feel like I'm actually operating the machenery.
>  No replacement.
>
> On Sun, Feb 23, 2014 at 4:01 PM, Charles McCall <charlesmccall at gmail.com>
wrote:
> > Very good read - thanks for sharing!
> >
> > I understand that paddle shifting is faster. A clutch pedal will always
be
> > more entertaining. Sorry to see it dying out - I'll be signing up for my
> > wooden wheels and cable brakes....
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: DeTomaso [mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of Charles
> > Engles
> > Sent: domingo, 23 de febrero de 2014 20:59
> > To: detomaso at poca.com
> > Subject: [DeTomaso] NPC: automotive journalism and manual transmissions
> >
> > Dear Forum,
  <snip>
> >                         Manual transmissions are also less
fuel-efficient
> > than other cog-swappers, and rising fuel economy standards will only
> > marginalize manual transmissions further.  The percentage of new light
> > vehicles sold in the U.S. with manual transmissions is in the single
digits.
> > Meanwhile only a small and aging segment of the driving population even
> > knows how to drive a manual transmission.  Go ahead, leave the keys in
it: A
> > car with a stick shift is practically immune to theft.
-------------- next part --------------
   When I bought my 6 speed 2011 335is the dealer only had the
   dual-clutch auto on the lot for a test drive. It was actually very
   nice,
   I can see my next sporty-ish car having something like that and
   being perfectly happy.
   Since I buy new vehicles every 15 years or so, I've got time to see
   how it shakes out.
   I was bummed when Dan Neil's writing was not available in the
   LA Times any more, I do occasionally hunt out his stuff for a
   good read.
      --mike
   Sean Korb said:
   > I might learn to live with paddle shift.  I tried one out in a
   > Maserati 7 or 8 years ago and I remember thinking "I could really get
   > used to this"!
   >
   > But the pedal makes me feel like I'm actually operating the
   machenery.
   >  No replacement.
   >
   > On Sun, Feb 23, 2014 at 4:01 PM, Charles McCall
   <[1]charlesmccall at gmail.com> wrote:
   > > Very good read - thanks for sharing!
   > >
   > > I understand that paddle shifting is faster. A clutch pedal will
   always be
   > > more entertaining. Sorry to see it dying out - I'll be signing up
   for my
   > > wooden wheels and cable brakes....
   > >
   > > -----Original Message-----
   > > From: DeTomaso [mailto:[2]detomaso-bounces at poca.com] On Behalf Of
   Charles
   > > Engles
   > > Sent: domingo, 23 de febrero de 2014 20:59
   > > To: [3]detomaso at poca.com
   > > Subject: [DeTomaso] NPC: automotive journalism and manual
   transmissions
   > >
   > > Dear Forum,
     <snip>
   > >                         Manual transmissions are also less
   fuel-efficient
   > > than other cog-swappers, and rising fuel economy standards will
   only
   > > marginalize manual transmissions further.  The percentage of new
   light
   > > vehicles sold in the U.S. with manual transmissions is in the
   single digits.
   > > Meanwhile only a small and aging segment of the driving population
   even
   > > knows how to drive a manual transmission.  Go ahead, leave the keys
   in it: A
   > > car with a stick shift is practically immune to theft.

References

   1. mailto:charlesmccall at gmail.com
   2. mailto:detomaso-bounces at poca.com
   3. mailto:detomaso at poca.com