Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[Fixastuff]

The crazy thing is now with many/most models the automatic is faster and gets better mpgs than the manual version.

 

[scootr]

The crazy thing is now with many/most models the automatic is faster and gets better mpgs than the manual version.

So? ... What's your point ?

 

[dstig1]

The first car I bought after college was a 1992 Taurus SHO with a 5-speed stick. I kept that car until 2007 and only sold it because I started to smell coolant inside. The heater core was a known weakness but the problem was the assembly instructions for an SHO were 1. Start with a heater core 2. Build car around it. So rather than deal with that I finally sold it. Loved that car but not in traffic. In stop and go the clutch would get stiffer and stiffer as you kept pumping it to the point where it was painful.

I was shopping for a new car a few years back and looking seriously at BMWs and thinking about getting another stick as they are one of the few that still have them on some models but I went auto as I must be getting lazy in my old age...

 

[deserteagle71]

The crazy thing is now with many/most models the automatic is faster and gets better mpgs than the manual version.

Absolutely true. No 10 speed manual transmissions out there for cars or pickups...but that's what most automatics are these days. And gear 7, 8, 9, and 10 are all overdrives. When the tranny is in tenth the gear ratio is so high the engine is barely over an idle at highway speeds. Whereas the manual transmission overdrives generally top out at about .7 to 1 so at 70 or 80 mph on the highway the engine is having to turn a lot more rpms.

The last few years that Ford and Ram offered a manual tranny in their pickups the diesel engine was derated compared to the automatic tranny pickups because the torque of the diesel would tear up the manual transmissions.

 

[bcp]

Bruce

 

[5030]

You’re comparing apples to oranges. You’re talking about heavy diesel trucks VS a 3/4-1 ton pickup truck with a diesel. Those older manual and automatic transmissions won’t stand up to the torque of modern diesels in the current super duty pickups.

Wrong again, maybe not the old shush boxes might not but a gear drive box, certainly. I have one in my highly modified 97, F350 and it's been dynoed at 375 RWHP. I have no idea what the torque value is other than to say I can incinerate the rear tires which are 34 x 1050's at will with a Detroit locker out back. Never had a trans or clutch issue with it either. I certainly don't make a habit out of that in as much as the tires, Mickey Thompsons, are quite expensive. Additionally, all the newer servo shift PRNDL tranny's in big trucks are still manual gearboxes with electronically controlled (servo shift) dry ceramic clutches. All that has changed is the operator cannot manually change gears and there is no 3rd pedal either but the operator can still override the servo control if required. In reality, all the electronic controls do is 'float the gears' just like a good driver always did, me included.

For me, a clutch is always an optional accessory tractors, trucks or cars included.

I've never replaced a dry clutch in anything, ever and that includes the fleet trucks I drove for over 27 years, which were all 13's or 18's.

 

[5030]

Not going to continue to joust with you all concerning what I know and have practiced for well over 36 years and millions of road miles. You do your thing and I'll do mine.

 

[ultrarunner]

The crazy thing is now with many/most models the automatic is faster and gets better mpgs than the manual version.

I believe this was the turning point…

 

[Thomas]

First pickup Dodge D100 3 speed on the column than Ford F100 3 speed on column until 2015 Chevy pickup stick shift,now 2015 GMC 4WD.

Wonder many youngsters could drive column shift.

 

[Hughman]

I have one of these stickers on the back of my jeep.

Custom TMGPS Vinyl Decal

The Manual Gearbox Preservation Society Vinyl Decals. Show your dedication to the TMGPS cause, and spread the word to other drivers with these stickers custom cut to your specific shift pattern. Save The Manuals! Available in any shift pattern or color. If you would like a specific pattern to...

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