Since we had the Pick-Up thread and the pet peeve thread..... I thought I would combine the two in what may hopefully be an interesting discussion:
I am very disappointed at the veritable lack of manual transmissions available on vehicles in the U.S. anymore. For me, I find a manual transmission better because a) for me it gives me better feedback on the road conditions (especially ice & snow), b) in many cases it gives better gas mileage, c) they traditionally resulted in less pollution being emitted as well, and d) it is a more interactive experience (IMO). I have driven manual transmissions on all my vehicles for more decades than I care to admit (except the occasional driving I would do in my wife’s vehicle.
I know it is “more profitable” I guess for the automotive industry here.... but it aggravates me when the same vehicles built and/or sold here are available in Europe, Mexico, and sometimes in Canada with a manual transmission but it is not an option in the U.S.
I would actually pay a (small) premium even... to get a manual transmission on my next vehicle if I had to.
I just wish we had more choices in this regard.
I am very disappointed at the veritable lack of manual transmissions available on vehicles in the U.S. anymore. For me, I find a manual transmission better because a) for me it gives me better feedback on the road conditions (especially ice & snow), b) in many cases it gives better gas mileage, c) they traditionally resulted in less pollution being emitted as well, and d) it is a more interactive experience (IMO). I have driven manual transmissions on all my vehicles for more decades than I care to admit (except the occasional driving I would do in my wife’s vehicle.
I know it is “more profitable” I guess for the automotive industry here.... but it aggravates me when the same vehicles built and/or sold here are available in Europe, Mexico, and sometimes in Canada with a manual transmission but it is not an option in the U.S.
I would actually pay a (small) premium even... to get a manual transmission on my next vehicle if I had to.
I just wish we had more choices in this regard.