Why cars are so popular, but mechanics are still better
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Why cars are so popular, but mechanics are still better

Why cars are so popular, but mechanics are still better

The Porsche manual transmission has a beautiful, bolt-like action.

Perfection is overrated. Look at the Mona Lisa; she has neither eyebrows nor a waist, yet she has fascinated us for centuries.

Same with gearboxes. Ferrari's new 488 GTB features a seven-speed "F1" dual-clutch transmission that's as close to flawless as modern science can get, but the fact that you can't even buy this car with a manual transmission is a problem. . cry of shame.

Of course, one can argue that no one in such a fast car has time to shift gears, that it is wiser to hold on with both hands and that no manual gearbox can cope with its titanic 760 Nm of torque.

However, it's equally arguable that the sport of Formula One would be more interesting if they made them go back to clutch shifting. And that's because the possibility of errors makes things more interesting.

Not only that, it makes doing something as inherently difficult as shifting gears in manual mode - especially if you're old-fashioned/boring enough to try shifting from heel to toe down - much more fun when you do it right. .

The argument for manual supercars is, of course, long lost because, like racing cars, they are aimed at chasing pure speed, and paddle shifters are undeniably faster (it's also possible that owners complained that they couldn't fit their the left legs no longer tuck into the pant legs, and the supercar clutch looks like a truck).

Even the purists at Porsche, which still offers one of the nicest manual shifts in most of its true sports cars, no longer give you a choice if you're buying something as track-focused as a 911 GT3.

Proper manual shifting is equivalent to a good golf swing.

However, in normal, mortal 911s, as well as in Boxster and Cayman, you can and should choose manual control. Porsche's PDK is faster, smoother and much closer to perfection, but if you drive one after the other in the old-school version for left leg training, you will simply experience more joy, more connection with the car, more satisfaction from doing everything right. .

Yes, you'll be slower on the track and at traffic lights, but proper manual shifting (especially in a Porsche) is as good as a good golf swing. In essence, a dual clutch golf club ensures that you land the perfect hit every time, which is fun at first but gets boring after a while.

However, buying a manual is going out of style, and fast. BMW makes a great old-school six-speed car, but its M3 was one of the first to start the petal revolution (with a pretty terrible SMG drivetrain) and scares 95 percent of customers, possibly its best car. now check out the dual clutch box (compared to 98.5% of all BMWs sold locally).

Those of us in the 3% can only lament the stupidity of the majority. Do M4 (and MXNUMX) buyers really care that much about the convenience/laziness of an automatic option?

In the pocket rocket market, where the ability to shift gears adds something to the driving experience that's lacking in power and torque, there seems to be some hope, at least with the Peugeot 208 GTI (and the brilliant 30th Anniversary Edition). ), offering only a manual transmission.

Unfortunately, unfortunately, the Renault Sport Clio, which now only has a dual clutch, and a smaller car for it.

A Golf GTI with a dual-clutch DSG transmission can shift between gears with no noticeable loss of momentum between shifts, just a slightly mysterious fart sound, while how fast your manual changes will require more skill. However, it's safe to say that you'll have more fun if you use a VW clutch because it's another joyful little guide to use.

There are cars where one could argue that automatic versions have no right to exist. The Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ twins would be at the top of this list because they are at least 60 percent less enjoyable to drive without the proper clutch.

Mini also deserves a mention. Fun and frisky with manual controls, this is a car that is mostly immobilized by its automatic option.

However, at the sharpest end of the debate between manual and automatic is the new Mazda MX-5. Mazda Australia predicts that 60% of buyers of this incredible, fun new car will choose to go old school and opt for a manual.

The vending machine is like buying a big bottle of expensive-looking whiskey and then discovering it's non-alcoholic.

While this still means that nearly half of all buyers will make the wrong choice, it's encouraging that buyers of a purist car like this understand that part of what makes it so exciting and invigorating is the feeling that you're actually driving it. . You are not detached from the car or the road as you are in more expensive cars, you really feel like you are part of the process and shifting properly with a silky, light and easy clutch and shift is a big part of that.

By comparison, a vending machine is like buying a big bottle of expensive-looking whiskey and then discovering it's non-alcoholic.

Manual control could be more accessible and economical, and these dual benefits, along with more important driver involvement, still seem to be gaining a lot of fans in Europe, where they are still popular (in the UK, for example, 75% of cars sold in 2013 were equipped with a manual transmission), but unfortunately Australia is following the example of the US, where 93 per cent of all cars sold are equipped with an automatic transmission.

But then again, a lot of them probably think the Mona Lisa is a movie.

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