Stick-shifters Unite ...

[Ronzi]

"Hey Ron, what's a record player????"

Pete,
If you want to come over, I'll show you one. Along with an "LP" copy of the original soundtrack from "Grand Prix".

Originally Posted by Ronzi

"Hey Ron, what's a record player????"

Pete,
If you want to come over, I'll show you one. Along with an "LP" copy of the original soundtrack from "Grand Prix".

I remember showing my then 92 year-old Grandmother a music CD several years ago, and she was baffled. She also thought my wife's car had a hole in the roof, until I explained what a sunroof was!!

[Perfectlap]

92 aint that old.
Paul Newman came in third place at Lime Rock(in the rain!) in a Grand Am race at the age of 80!

About 50 years ago, they thought our "home computers" would look like this:

[MNBoxster]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

About 50 years ago, they thought our "home computers" would look like this:

Hi,

What's the Steering Wheel for...???

Happy Motoring!... Jim'99

[98Boxster98]

Originally Posted by bmussatti

About 50 years ago, they thought our "home computers" would look like this:

It's a photoshop from a fark.com contest.

2004 computer

Originally Posted by 98Boxster98

It's a photoshop from a fark.com contest.

2004 computer

98Boxster98, as far as I know it is not a photoshop. This is the photo that appeared in a 1954 Popular Mechanics Magazine.

[eslai]

No, he's right, man. Go check out the link he posted. I remember the photoshop contest where that image came from--it was hilarious!

[ranbar2]

This is one of those emotional arguments where there really isn't a right answer. I have no doubt that engineering advances will produce a car that shifts faster and outperforms even the most talented manual shifters. Some say that has happened already. And there are those who just will not, or cannot, be bothered with the "distraction" of shifting. And there are environments where shifting is just a pain in the butt, like stop and go rush hour commute.

But I disagree with Ronzi. Even if he were just getting his driver's license instead of his medicare card, the manual transmission will outlive him. There are two main reasons for this. First, manuals are still hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars cheaper than sticks. To many people it is the difference in owning a car or riding the bus (as we who are financially fortunate enough to own porsches may sometimes forget).

But, more importantly, to many it is an aesthetic and visceral choice. Unlike the transition from lp's to cd's, there are qualities in a manual that people desire. I agree with eslai in that there is a certain satisfaction in making your vehicle perform the way you want it to. It makes you feel more engaged to the car and more aware of the driving experience. And people will continue to pay to have that experience even if it no longer provides a performance advantage. And I say this as someone who drove an automatic my entire life until I bought my first porsche two years ago. Yes, I have an SUV with an automatic for those times when the practicality of the car is paramount. But I will forever also have a manual sportscar (hopefully a porsche) for those times when I want to have FUN driving.