What kind of car do you drive?

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by PhishStyx

In fact, it's getting more difficult to find a higher end car with manual transmission. They all come now with that switchable manual/auto thing that doesn't have a clutch. I really very much preferred the regular old manual 5-speed stick.

Not here... You must still ask specifically for an automatic. I only know the Prius that has only an automatic...

[yvanleterrible]

CVT's (continually variable transmission) will take over for ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles. Nissan and Subaru have explored the avenues and provided decent versions so far.

I prefer a maual transmission also for many different reasons. You can reach the optimal power peak immediately or at the opposite the more frugal RPM.

Those days I'm learning and using hypermilage techniques to achieve better fuel consumption.

When EVs come, no transmission will be necessary. An electric motor has maximum torque at any speed from 1 to 30,000 RPM. I will miss the activity of sport driving though, that's the price of being responsible...

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Not here... You must still ask specifically for an automatic. I only know the Prius that has only an automatic...

Same here in the UK - automatics are rare. Automatic transmissions tend to be found to be found primarily in "luxury" cars in this country. One factor may be that European cars generally have smaller engines than American cars, and automatic transmissions are normally not very efficient for cars with small engines. There's also the fact that the automatic version of a car is generally rather more expensive than the manual version.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Same here in the UK - automatics are rare. Automatic transmissions tend to be found to be found primarily in "luxury" cars in this country. One factor may be that European cars generally have smaller engines than American cars, and automatic transmissions are normally not very efficient for cars with small engines. There's also the fact that the automatic version of a car is generally rather more expensive than the manual version.

I only know you often have to pay extra for automatics...

(but when I was in the States, in '91-'92, almost all cars there were automatics. And here it was really a luxury at that time...)

Hmmm, can you have a diesel with an automatic transmission?

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Hmmm, can you have a diesel with an automatic transmission?

Yes, you can - mine is.

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Obviously our tastes differ. I once made the mistake of buying an automatic (a BMW) and absolutely hated it. To me, automatic transmissions take all the fun out of driving.

Definitely different tastes. I do drive quite a lot and I find that the automatic is just more restful on a long journey - especially if there's a lot of start/stop traffic on the way (and there usually is!).

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

Hmmm, can you have a diesel with an automatic transmission?

Absolutely.

That's another significant difference between Europe and the US, however. In Europe, diesel cars are common, whereas in the US they are virtually unknown.

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Definitely different tastes. I do drive quite a lot and I find that the automatic is just more restful on a long journey - especially if there's a lot of start/stop traffic on the way (and there usually is!).

I find it keeps me awake... Too restful is never good in a car (unless you're not the one driving...)

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I find it keeps me awake... Too restful is never good in a car (unless you're not the one driving...)

Good point. Although if you take that logic to its extreme then you would replace the seat with a pile of rocks, make the steering wheel out of broken glass and, perhaps, remove the windscreen

Believe me, there are so many idiots on the road (i.e. everybody but me!), that it never gets that restful.

[pshrynk]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Good point. Although if you take that logic to its extreme then you would replace the seat with a pile of rocks, make the steering wheel out of broken glass and, perhaps, remove the windscreen

Believe me, there are so many idiots on the road (i.e. everybody but me!), that it never gets that restful.

You just described my first Jeep!

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

I only know you often have to pay extra for automatics...

(but when I was in the States, in '91-'92, almost all cars there were automatics. And here it was really a luxury at that time...)

Hmmm, can you have a diesel with an automatic transmission?

Not in the States so far. Diesel cars are scarce.
In New York State diesel cars are illegal. Only trucks can use the fuel. If a Canadian diesel car owner travels to that State and runs out, he's stranded...

In North America, clean diesel is just starting as it's been boycoted by the oilers and a law was mandated to force compliance on them.

[HarryT]

Originally Posted by yvanleterrible

Not in the States so far. Diesel cars are scarce.
In New York State diesel cars are illegal. Only trucks can use the fuel. If a Canadian diesel car owner travels to that State and runs out, he's stranded...

In North America, clean diesel is just starting as it's been boycoted by the oilers and a law was mandated to force compliance on them.

Good heavens - I knew that diesel cars were very rare in the US, but I didn't know that they were actually illegal!

Doesn't really make much sense, since they have so much better fuel consumption than petrol engines.

[yvanleterrible]

Originally Posted by HarryT

Good heavens - I knew that diesel cars were very rare in the US, but I didn't know that they were actually illegal!

Doesn't really make much sense, since they have so much better fuel consumption than petrol engines.

Diesels are better indeed but it makes no sense for the oil cartel consortiums' profits. It reaches right down to what car makers offer as vehicle choices...

Arrgh! I hate to be a conspiracy rumo(u)r propagator, if only it wasn't so obvious!

[Bilbo1967]

Originally Posted by pshrynk

You just described my first Jeep!

We had a Jeep as a hire car last summer in America and I can quite believe that - absolutely hateful car (imho). Wierdest thing was its inverse-Tardis proportions. It was about the size of a small oil tanker on the outside, yet it was cramped inside for four of us (and two of those are little people).

[Sweetpea]

Originally Posted by Bilbo1967

Good point. Although if you take that logic to its extreme then you would replace the seat with a pile of rocks, make the steering wheel out of broken glass and, perhaps, remove the windscreen

Believe me, there are so many idiots on the road (i.e. everybody but me!), that it never gets that restful.

Oh, it can get that restful... If you live in the right part of the country Like where I live and especially at this time of year, when a lot of people are on holiday.