Post your Car

[Strider]

I drive a 1976 Cosworth Vega #2911 on a daily basis.

My weekend toy is a 1969 Camaro RS Coupe (tho I'm thinking of selling it).

[j_factor]

My last car was a piece of shit. Specifically, it was a '93 Pontiac Grand Prix. Only got it because I knew the previous owner and got a great deal on it (and it seemed pretty reliable). Unfortunately, it died. Although it hadn't previously had any real problems in its entire existence, I managed to kill it. Actually, it wasn't entirely my fault. The coolant was leaking... so I replaced the hose. I thought it killed the leak, but shortly thereafter, I noticed additional leakage. And then my transmission failed. Apparently, the transmission fluid and the coolant had been leaking at the same time. Fuck all the auto makers for not having any indicator for transmission fluid (why the fuck not?). Transmission repair would've cost more than the car was worth, so I gave it to one of those tax-deduction donation things.

Anyway, so I'm currently living without a motor vehicle. It sucks, but then again, I kind of like the idea of living without cars. Towards the end of the year, I hope to move out of the 'burbs and into the city. And then I'll have no need for a car.

[Iron Lizard]

Automatic transmissions are expensive. I just got mine done for my old pontiac which has a very common transmission (th400). It set me back $600 and that was just for the rebuild. I put it in my self. I won't be buying any games or eating for that matter. My old Volvo is in same boat as your Grand Prix. It is worth less then my humble game collection and now needs a new turbo and tranny. If it wasn't so useful to have around I would donate it too.

[Joe Redifer]

I think my car is less likely to be stolen since most people out there can't even drive a stick. They fear it. They move on to the next car which is AT.

[Iron Lizard]

Its funny how people fear stick in the U.S. In Europe you will get made fun of if you can't drive stick. In fact in many places if you take a drivers test with an automatic you can't legally drive a manual car. Thank god my Mustang is a 5 speed. It is so much more fun.

[evildragon]

I love driving stick.!!

[j_factor]

In Europe, a lot of your cars have those "automated manual" transmissions now. I've never seen a single car in America with an automated manual transmission. I think the upcoming U.S. launch of the Smart Fortwo might be the first introduction of such a transmission here.

[Rusty Venture]

Automated Manual sounds like a nice way of saying "Automatic".

[playgen]

The vast majority of cars sold in Europe are still just normal manuals

[lordofduct]

In Europe, a lot of your cars have those "automated manual" transmissions now. I've never seen a single car in America with an automated manual transmission. I think the upcoming U.S. launch of the Smart Fortwo might be the first introduction of such a transmission here.

Do you mean those cars where you can quick shift via either pushing a shift lever or button on the steering wheel, or by tapping the automatic stick (not like the quick throw manual sticks... but actually automatic)

Lexus, Acura, some Toyotas, a couple fords, and subaru I know have this feature in their newer cars.



oh wait... some looking around shows what you are talking about, I think, are you talking about the "Zeroshift Automated Manual Transmission"? Instead of using the pressure timed gearbox shift of an "automatic transmission" (it uses torque pushed inward on the drive shaft with the pressure of the fluid to time your shifts), it instead uses what seems to be a computer along with some other analogue parts. It appears to be a very new technology (2006 - 07') and is probably why you don't see it very much. Sounds very interesting.

Automated Manual sounds like a nice way of saying "Automatic".

In the two cases I just covered, it is a way of distinguishing the transmission style that is similar to "automatic transmisions". There are differences though, where the user can have control over it, and it doesn't use the torque based pressure sensitive style that the classic "automatic transmission" uses.

[Iron Lizard]

"manual automatics" are ancient now. I not sure why all the fuss. It had been possible to do since automatics were new. All you have to do is play with the valve body or the computer in newer trannys..I had my th400 in Pontiac built this way. It just requires a good shifter like a B&m or Hurst. The his&hers shifter was available in the 1967 Gto. A well built automatic will take far more abuse then any manual and shift faster then any human. Almost all the guys at the strip run then becuase of this.Regardless I still would rather have a t56 in my Pontiac.

[AD2101]

My daily driver has a 5 speed manual, and I love it. Everyone should at least know how to drive stick because you never know when something comes up and you may have to drive someone else's car.

[Scooter]

This past Fall we were in the market for a new car for the wife to drive. Bless her heart she only wanted to look at cars with manual transmissions. It was REALLY difficult to find anything modern in the US that isn't an entry level rat trap that has a manual transmission. Drivers in this country are lazy and poorly skilled. I cannot believe how many people I know who don't know how to drive a stick!

Well, we got lucky and found her a sweet 2003 VW GTI VR6 with a 6 speed manual. We probably only got such a sweet deal on the car because the market for a manual is so small.

[Iron Lizard]

THe mentallity here is very different from the rest of the world. I think many people in the U.S. think "Why should I shift if the car will do it for me?" others don't even think about it. All the cars they have ever seen are automatic and they see nothing wrong with it. Some people think that Moms don't need a manual for driving the kids to Soccer practice and that manuals are only for little cars, race cars, and big trucks. Its very sad. People don't know what they are missing. I really wanted a anual turno volvo wagon but they are impossible to find here. Not only that but the thought of such a creature is very confusing to most Americans. Why would such a car have a manual. Its a mom car it should be Automatic. Many companies don't even import manual cars to the U.S. anymore.

[sega fan]

This is how i roll

http://www.have-you-met-ted.com/wp-c...d-tricycle.jpg