[DeTomaso] NPC: Commentary on the state of manual transmissions

Charles Engles cengles at cox.net
Mon May 28 17:06:33 EDT 2018


Dear Forum,

 

 

               FYI:  An excerpt from the May 26th Wall Street Journal
article, "Stick with What Works", by Jonathan Welsh

 

"There is still something transcendental about manually shifting your way
through a car's gear box-pulling it into fourth, throwing it into fifth as
you control a rumbling machine.  

 

This mighty high has flouted the odds.  Over time, many other antiquated
auto features have been ruthlessly abandoned-hand-crank starters and
windows, carburetors and cassette decks.  But stick-shifting has defiantly
stuck around, joining ax throwing, rock climbing and ultramarathons as an
activity people stubbornly enjoy despite its needless difficulty.  Drivers
choose to shift because it is an ever-rarer skill that is a challenge to
learn and ---face it---fun to show-off.

 

While many car owners would love to kick back with a good book while the
family minivan whisks their brood down the interstate, driving stick appeals
to those who seek tangible experiences in an era of digital assistants and
apps for just about everything.  These die-hards fear that the car, long a
symbol of freedom and spontaneity, is becoming just another numbing
high-tech appliance.  Meanwhile, vehicles that still offer stick shifts
telegraph an image of high performance, toughness, nostalgia and fun---all
factors that can seduce new customers..."

 

"...But many people still buy stick shift cars for 'emotional reasons.' Mr.
Plucinsky said.  'They enjoy the mechanical feedback, which is part of the
fun of driving even if they are just commuting to work.'

 

There certainly is joy in changing gears in rhythm with the car.  Some
people get a tingle from the sound of the engine revving as they slide down
into a lower gear while threading winding roads..."

 

 

              Maybe there is hope for a future with manual transmissions.
In any event, we still have the Panteras and the ZFs.

 

 

                                Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles

 

-------------- next part --------------
   Dear Forum,



                  FYI:  An excerpt from the May 26th Wall Street Journal
   article, "Stick with What Works", by Jonathan Welsh


   "There is still something transcendental about manually shifting your
   way through a car's gear box--pulling it into fourth, throwing it into
   fifth as you control a rumbling machine.


   This mighty high has flouted the odds.  Over time, many other
   antiquated auto features have been ruthlessly abandoned--hand-crank
   starters and windows, carburetors and cassette decks.  But
   stick-shifting has defiantly stuck around, joining ax throwing, rock
   climbing and ultramarathons as an activity people stubbornly enjoy
   despite its needless difficulty.  Drivers choose to shift because it is
   an ever-rarer skill that is a challenge to learn and ---face it---fun
   to show-off.


   While many car owners would love to kick back with a good book while
   the family minivan whisks their brood down the interstate, driving
   stick appeals to those who seek tangible experiences in an era of
   digital assistants and apps for just about everything.  These die-hards
   fear that the car, long a symbol of freedom and spontaneity, is
   becoming just another numbing high-tech appliance.  Meanwhile, vehicles
   that still offer stick shifts telegraph an image of high performance,
   toughness, nostalgia and fun---all factors that can seduce new
   customers......."


   ".....But many people still buy stick shift cars for `emotional
   reasons.' Mr. Plucinsky said.  `They enjoy the mechanical feedback,
   which is part of the fun of driving even if they are just commuting to
   work.'


   There certainly is joy in changing gears in rhythm with the car.  Some
   people get a tingle from the sound of the engine revving as they slide
   down into a lower gear while threading winding roads......."



                 Maybe there is hope for a future with manual
   transmissions.  In any event, we still have the Panteras and the ZFs.



                                   Warmest regards,  Chuck Engles


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