Who still drives a stick in 2025?

[deserteagle71]

25 years ago transmissions were better. Think about a C-6 ford or the GM TH 350-400. As long as you changed the juice every 70k+/- they would last forever.
As I type this I'm thinking about today's HP also.....
never mind, maybe.

Don't think any of those old trannies would hold up to the torque of a diesel in today's pickups...I believe all of them are now rated over 1000 lb-ft of torque. If I remember correctly the new Superduty is at 1200 lb-ft of torque. I think the GM Turbo 400 you mentioned was supposed to be the strongest of them all back then - but it is rated to handle only 450 lb-ft of torque.

 

[5030]

I drive my stick shift samurai at least weekly if not more.

I was at the hardware store and a young guy asked me if it’s hard to drive?

I said no… I learned to drive with a stick.

Another skill set fading with time.

How many TBN members own/drive manual transmission vehicle(s) in 2025?

I do and prefer a standard over a slush box, every time. My 2014 Ford Focus RS is a 6 speed and last time I checked, both my Kubota M series tractors were multi speed standards as well and I rarely use a clutch except for the initial start out and full stop only. Thinking about it, my Western Star long nose conventional I pull a grain trailer with is an 18 speed Road Ranger behind a Cat 3406. Almost forgot about it as it's sleeping for the winter. It's a grain hauling outfit.

 

[5030]

Don't think any of those old trannies would hold up to the torque of a diesel in today's pickups...I believe all of them are now rated over 1000 lb-ft of torque. If I remember correctly the new Superduty is at 1200 lb-ft of torque. I think the GM Turbo 400 you mentioned was supposed to be the strongest of them all back then - but it is rated to handle only 450 lb-ft of torque.

Wrong, totally wrong in fact. Just because we live in a PRNDL society don't mean even an ancient stick shift cannot handle the torque and 1000 foot pounds is puzzy torque compared to a Class 8 turbo diesel like a Cat. The Cat in my farm truck makes around 1900 foot pounds of torque on average.

Even the new trucks of today with their 'automatic' transmissions are, in fact, servo shifted manuals.

 

[scootr]

A fun game we played when learning to drive was shifting without the clutch...rev matching and finding that notch without grinding any metal. I still enjoy that today 55 yrs later.

 

[jyoutz]

Wrong, totally wrong in fact. Just because we live in a PRNDL society don't mean even an ancient stick shift cannot handle the torque and 1000 foot pounds is puzzy torque compared to a Class 8 turbo diesel like a Cat. The Cat in my farm truck makes around 1900 foot pounds of torque on average.

Even the new trucks of today with their 'automatic' transmissions are, in fact, servo shifted manuals.

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.

 

[ultrarunner]

A fun game we played when learning to drive was shifting without the clutch...rev matching and finding that notch without grinding any metal. I still enjoy that today 55 yrs later.

Most of my manuals are not Synchromesh so to be a proficient operator you become one with the machine.

When I worked at the dealership as a lot boy in high school I was able to take a car home and it was fun to keep people guessing because I never drove the same car twice... one day a $400 trade and the next day a late model that needed driving.

It was a great job for a teen that liked cars.

When I think back it would have been great to have many of those cars now... during the gas shortage the big stuff went for pennies...

Used with stick was always cheaper because less demand from pintos to 396 chevelle. The Road Runners couldn't give away...

There was a sweet low mileage 68 Mustang V8 fastback with stick... traded because it was a stick.

The owner of the dealership said why tie up your money as you can drive cars from the used lot and don't have to pay tags, insurance and gas?

 

[Hay Dude]

A fun game we played when learning to drive was shifting without the clutch...rev matching and finding that notch without grinding any metal. I still enjoy that today 55 yrs later.

I used to drive my big trucks with manuals like that, too.
However, after just a few mistakes of trying to force a shift, you can ruin the shift fork, or input shaft.
Double clutching on a big twin countershaft transmission like an Eaton Fuller 18 speed is still best on them.
I could shift clutch less on my Spicer 7 speed pretty good.

 

[flyerdan]

Pontiac Vibe 5 speed and a Toyota SR5. And my cousin's Honda Fit wagon with a five speed while she's traveling in Europe.

 

[ultrarunner]

Viscosity of trans oil made all the difference with non Synchromesh.

A guy brought his Model A to me saying he couldn't drive it without grinding the gears.

Someone put light gear oil instead of 600w.

The 600w added just the right amount of drag needed.

 

[ultrarunner]

Mom always drove a stick until she bought her one and only new car...

She taught me how to double clutch on that old VW.

When she bought the new car she was introduced to automatic, power steering and A/C

She did miss the shifting but really appreciated power steering.

 

[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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