Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[scootr]

Manuals are not maintenance free. There are recommended fluid change intervals. And clutches are sure enough not maintenance free. They aren’t a fun replacement item.

When I was a kid I was forever replacing clutches...now that I've grown up I rarely if ever replace one... something has changed.

 

[fidowanttobe]

Exactly. Two years ago I spent over $4k getting a manual transmission rebuilt at 100k miles because the synchros were worn out and I took that opportunity to install a new clutch to minimize future costs. Plus, they need fluid changes every 60k.

By contrast today's automatics have 150k mile service intervals, or beyond. I've seen guys go 300k miles without touching the auto trans (which I do not recommend, but it happens a LOT).

These must be all newer vehicles?
$4000 for a manual rebuild? 100k?? 300k on an auto??
Our local classified often have "repairable" vehicles on there that the auto is out therefore the vehicle is totaled.
Nice vehicles. Some auto's have crazy rebuild prices apparently.
I have 260k on a manual, and only put a clutch in it cuz the throwout bearing died. I've NEVER had an auto hit 200k without needing a rebuild.
Back in the road construction days of the 80's I drove some extremely clapped out manuals that were still on the job. Not gonna do that with an auto.

 

[Rockbadchild]

I know so many people who replace or rebuilt their automatic transmission not counting the one that have a slip or clonky shift... changing a clutch is a lot cheaper than an auto trans rebuilt.

 

[tradosaurus]

Traffic is also horrendous now, way worse than 10 and especially 20+ years ago.

Stop n Go traffic in large cities cured my of driving manuals.
Now with Full Self Driving in a Tesla I wouldn't want to go back to automatic or manual.

 

[pmsmechanic]

Manuals are not maintenance free. There are recommended fluid change intervals. And clutches are sure enough not maintenance free. They aren’t a fun replacement item.

Automatics are also not a fun replacement item. And a clutch is usually cheaper to reolace.

 

[jyoutz]

Automatics are also not a fun replacement item. And a clutch is usually cheaper to reolace.

True, but over the past 40 years I have never had to replace an automatic transmission, just change the fluid/filter. I have probably replaced 5 or 6 clutches on the 20+ vehicles I’ve owned. Always at around 100-125K miles.

 

[jyoutz]

When I was a kid I was forever replacing clutches...now that I've grown up I rarely if ever replace one... something has changed.

Mine always went out at around 100-125K miles. I do not ride clutches. I would assume that clutches have also improved over the years.

 

[masseyrider]

for the GT ? 7 weeks that much ??

Mid-May, Victoria Day long weekend.
She ain't your daddies old Chevelle.

 

[masseyrider]

True, but over the past 40 years I have never had to replace an automatic transmission, just change the fluid/filter. I have probably replaced 5 or 6 clutches on the 20+ vehicles I’ve owned. Always at around 100-125K miles.

As a young Andretti wanna be I cooked a fair number of automatics.
That happens when you get less than 5000 miles on a set of rear tires racing from light to light.
I've always been good on clutches, automotive and agricultural.

 

[Rockbadchild]

Mid-May, Victoria Day long weekend.
She ain't your daddies old Chevelle.

Yeah, I get that, but I just figure with the temperature you guys get down there the salt and grit is long gone by early May, no?