Journo Claims That Manuals Matter — BUT In This Day And Age, Do They REALLY?

If you were to ask me what kind of cars I like most, I'd probably say "something small and sporting." If that were too vague for you and you needed a bit more color or had to clarify, I'd follow that up with "simple cars."

What can I say, I am more of an analog kind of guy.

Agent 001, on the other hand, wants the latest and greatest technology. And he wants it to work flawlessly.

So, as you can imagine, when dual-clutch transmissions disrupted the manual gearbox, I was a bit sour and 001 was excited. Not only would a dual-clutch transmission shift faster than you ever could, you could also let the car do all the work by leaving it in "D."

In this clip delivered by Carfection's Henry Catchpole, however, he makes an analog case for the standard gearbox. While I tend to agree with his points, I've got to ask the Spies: In this day and age, do manual transmissions matter?


Henry Catchpole demonstrates why the manual is something to be treasured in a 991.2 Porsche 911 GT3.

TheSteve - 6/13/2018 12:38:47 AM

0 Boost

Yes, they matter! Some people enjoy them. There are enough of these people for Porsche to bring manual transmissions -- and really nice ones -- back to 911 versions from which a stick was discontinued.

I drove stick and bikes for close to four decades, and I loved it. I'm on my first automatic, and I enjoy it. But you know something? Money no object, I'd get a 911 Turbo S with PDK, *AND* a nicely optioned Carrera 4S with a stick... just because I occasionally miss the experience of driving a stick.

HUGE kudos to Porsche for listening to their customers, and for doing a great job at creating a variety of delightful cars!

MDarringer - 6/13/2018 12:42:05 AM

+2 Boost

Automatics simply have more cogs and can shift faster than humans...and I'm a diehard manual guy.

PUGPROUD - 6/13/2018 7:57:49 AM

+2 Boost

For that man bonds with machine nothing beats a manual. For pure speed nothing beats the new autos however. Just saying...

MDarringer - 6/13/2018 8:53:40 AM

+1 Boost

I absolutely agree that a manual is better for "bonding" but the writing is on the wall and I choose to accept the reality and move forward rather than being the cranky old man type that will laud manuals and bemoan their extinction with all the drama of a 12 year old RBF cheerleader.

Agent00R - 6/13/2018 9:28:08 AM

+1 Boost

You nailed it @PUG.

If you're getting a purposeful track car where a tenth of a second matters, I can understand going with a dual-clutch 'box.

If it's a nice cruiser, however, then a DIY transmission is the way to go.

Just my .02 cents.

supermoto - 6/13/2018 8:58:59 AM

0 Boost

Of a manual is irrelevant these days. In our lifetimes, driving a car will become an eccentric hobby for wealthy people to do a few days a year on private roads/tracks. Kids born today will probably never learn how to drive. Automakers need to adapt or die.

supermoto - 6/13/2018 8:59:45 AM

-1 Boost

Meant to say "of course a manual..."

Not enough coffee yet.

Agent00R - 6/13/2018 9:29:16 AM

+1 Boost

This is in line with what many of the world's futurists are saying but, if I am honest, it seems to be that there are plenty of diehard auto enthusiasts in this new generation of buyers.

carloslassiter - 6/13/2018 10:18:19 AM

-1 Boost

I'm sure people were also up in arms when the hand crank starter was phased out.

mre30 - 6/13/2018 3:26:43 PM

+1 Boost

I'm thinking of teaching my 15 yr old son to drive on a stick and then only letting him drive a stick so he will be "busy" driving and not on his phone while driving.

Modern cars are so uninvolving for the driver that it leads to a false sense of security and the resulting 'death-wish' when their iPhone dings with yet another meaningless alert.

MDarringer - 6/13/2018 3:51:12 PM

-3 Boost

The problem with my teenager is that all of the stick-shift cars in my stable are mega-powerful.

valhallakey - 6/14/2018 1:52:58 AM

+2 Boost

Exactly what we did with our daughter. Audi TT manual transmission. Not that we have car jackers around where I live that I know of, but I think it will deter them from trying to steal her car and deter any boy friends from driving her car as well.

TomM - 6/14/2018 6:51:36 AM

+2 Boost

THere is no longer any advantage to having a manual transmission - now that many Automatics and many Dual Clutch units can shift faster than a person.

Carlos is correct - the manual will go to where the hand cranked starters went too. It is not because there are few people who want them - it is because engineering a car for a Manual requires far more than a shifter, clutch, and a few mount changes. In todays emissions environment - the cost of specifying a manual is prohibitive.

qwertyfla1 - 6/14/2018 7:05:11 PM

+1 Boost

They can take my stick shift out of my cold dead hand!

LexSucks - 6/15/2018 1:48:24 PM

+1 Boost

Archaic, Cumbersome, and counterproductive

MDarringer - 6/15/2018 1:53:09 PM

+1 Boost

Archaic? Maybe
Cumbersome? Maybe
Counterproductive? No, baby, nah ah, no.

qwertyfla1 - 6/15/2018 8:26:41 PM

+1 Boost

Matt LexSucks was describing himself...

MDarringer - 6/15/2018 9:47:17 PM

+1 Boost

Oh LOL

I was a bad boy today. I blasted down a highway in an RHD TVR enjoying clicking through the gears.

senft - 6/18/2018 5:45:53 AM

+1 Boost

Manuals only matter if a driver wants to be fully engaged with driving. (I'd be willing to add manual mode to that, but less than a third pedal + H pattern.) A manual makes driving a modestly powered vehicle engaging.
But, you know, relying on an automatic and excess power as a compensation, well, meh to that.

MDarringer - 6/18/2018 8:16:20 AM

+1 Boost

Given that automatics can shift faster than humans can, they actually enhance performance over a manual. These days, the only real advantage of a manual is the nostalgic fun factor.