Death of the manual gearbox?

tonyg · Post by **tonyg** » Wed May 15, 2013 4:04 pm

Just finished reading the EVO article about the way manual gearboxes are disappearing fast.

Is it the just the relentless march of technology or are we taking some of the skill and satisfaction out of driving?

Opinions?

BiggestNizzy · Post by **BiggestNizzy** » Wed May 15, 2013 4:14 pm

I would love a CVT in my elise.

flyingscot68 · Post by **flyingscot68** » Wed May 15, 2013 4:36 pm

I like to stir the stick, not keen on the flappy paddle boxes I've tried so far, doesn't feel like you're in total control.

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jason · Post by **jason** » Wed May 15, 2013 7:58 pm

I couldn't care less if a flappy paddle saved n nanoseconds on my shift time. I'm a luddite who enjoys the (arguably pointless) manual thing.

Jeremy · Post by **Jeremy** » Wed May 15, 2013 8:01 pm

I seem to be in the minority but I actually really like them. The best twin clutch boxes I've used (DSG, S-Tronic, PDK) have all enhanced the driving experience in my opinion. Quicker acceleration, perfect blipped downchanges every time, better fuel economy, roots in motorsport. What's not to like about that ?

You will inevitably get the Evo-subscribing Troy Queef types bleating on the internet forums about how they can't heel & toe on the way to Tesco. I've been driving for 30 something years now and heard people lament various evolutions of the horseless carriage. Cross ply tyres. Syncro gearboxes. Fuel injection. Power steering. Fly by wire throttle. Airbags. Cars getting heavier to meet crash regs. Turbocharging. ABS. Things you don't even think about in 2013. You accept that the game has moved on and with hindsight, predominantly for the better.

I think future generations will look back and chuckle fondly at the manual stick shift in the same way we now look back at coachbuilt chitty chitty bang bang cars from the 20's and 30's. I bet the Troy Queef's of the day cursed the move to mass production and monocoque construction.

Regards,

Jeremy

rossybee · Post by **rossybee** » Wed May 15, 2013 8:12 pm

My last trip offshore, whilst watching tv the Peugeot 208GTi advert came on, a colleague asked if he thought it'd be as good as the 205GTi, and I'm not sure this car geek managed to get the difference three generations have made over to him.

I see the the new Clio 200 is dsg only, and for the first time a smaller turbocharged mill.

I do prefer a manual, but it's just evolution...

Am I alone in finding windscreen wipers a very antiquated form of clearing rain, you'd think one of those boffiny types would've come up with some groundbreaking more efficient method. Maybe it's just me

flyingscot68 · Post by **flyingscot68** » Wed May 15, 2013 8:28 pm

rossybee wrote:
Am I alone in finding windscreen wipers a very antiquated form of clearing rain, you'd think one of those boffiny types would've come up with some groundbreaking more efficient method. Maybe it's just me

I've thought that for years. Whoever comes up with a better alternative will be very rich indeed.

Back to the gearbox - I'd love to see a modern version of the Manu- matic box that was on my dads NSU Ro80. A car that was decades ahead of its time.
Anyone remember them?

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Dipper · Post by **Dipper** » Wed May 15, 2013 8:51 pm

As long as they don't detract from throttle control(my old m535d wasnt great. rs6 better)I'd be more than happy with flappy paddles. Heel and toeing, working the clutch and stirring the box is like rubbing your head a d patting your belly. It's just not that natural and takes a lot of coordination and therefore brain power. Brain power that could be better utilized watching where you're going.

I do like my gearbox and I understand where the Luddites are coming from but bring them on I reckon!

Justin · Post by **Justin** » Wed May 15, 2013 9:04 pm

I actually think I prefer paddles aswell

GregR · Post by **GregR** » Wed May 15, 2013 9:08 pm

A good non-delay transmission is great. I'd love one on track - the fact no current motorsport format uses conventional stick shift surely tells you something.

What does it tell you though? In my view it makes things easier. Apparently Ferrari didn't put a paddle shift in their F1 cars in the 70s as Gilles Vielluneuve thought it made driving easier thus reducing his advantage. So does easy = bad?

ABZ-Elise · Post by **ABZ-Elise** » Wed May 15, 2013 9:17 pm

What driving test would you have to sit if these semi automatic gearboxes completely replaced manual gearboxes. If the car doesn't have a clutch and has a automatic mode I suppose it will be an automatic licence that you'll need??

flyingscot68 · Post by **flyingscot68** » Wed May 15, 2013 9:20 pm

Interesting how the WRC guys still use a stick, but it's a sequential box.
That does appeal to me.

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jason · Post by **jason** » Wed May 15, 2013 9:59 pm

flyingscot68 wrote:Interesting how the WRC guys still use a stick, but it's a sequential box.

Flappy paddles banned in WRC, IIRC.

smee · Post by **smee** » Wed May 15, 2013 11:10 pm

All fine until you get a light sprinkling of snow and you find yourself without a clutch.

Alistair · Post by **Alistair** » Wed May 15, 2013 11:26 pm

Interesting - personally I think it takes a bit of the fun out of driving - I select the gear - I blip the throttle - and if I get it wrong then I do better next time!

On a side note - in F1 for example we now have artificial aids for overtaking and so on to make it more exciting. And we hear constant talk of developing new technology to drip feed into car manufacturing. If you want more exciting racing, why not turn it on its head - and put some older technology back into F1? They banned traction control IIRC, what would happen if they stuck manual boxes back in F1 cars? Difficult to master I'm sure - but is that not what a multi million payed driver should be doing? Missing gears, upchanges and downchanges, blowing up engines and gaining advantages by being skillful rather than having the best tech in your car.

Just a thought?

Alistair

Scottish Elises