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Will Subaru Kill the Manual Transmission?
Their automatic safety features are incompatible with stickshifts
I know we're supposed to let go of the past and move into the future, but one thing I'll never be able to give up are manual transmissions. I learned to drive on a stick. I've owned three cars in my life and all were manuals. I no longer own a car due to my city-slicker lifestyle, but I fantasize about moving to a farm in Vermont and buying myself a zippy little AWD stickshift to drift through the snowdrifts on my way to the hardware store. In the fantasy it's usually an STI.
Enter a caption (optional)Which is why it was so distressing to read this piece of news in the UK's AutoExpress. Writer Stuart Milne spoke with Chris Graham, the Managing Director of Subaru UK about their Eyesight camera-based system of safety features (automatic braking, smart cruise control, blah blah blah). Graham had this to say:
"I'm not sure if [Eyesight is] compatible at all with a manual gearbox. There are certainly no rumours we've heard that manual will continue, or Eyesight will be [offered] with manual.
"My gut tells me it will be Eyesight with Lineartronic ongoing and long term. [Subaru wants] to steal the mantle of the safest car in the world. I think if they do that, then they say 'here's a manual without Eyesight', they'll just ruin that [message]…. The safety message is the thing Subaru will want to take forward."
Gulp. In other words, newfangled safety features can't be added to manuals, so Subaru's solution might be to jettison manuals altogether. Graham goes on to point out that BMW's current generation of M-series cars don't offer manuals either, which just makes me…sick.
Folks, please tell me some of you out there still swear by manual transmissions. I know autonomous is supposed to take control away from us altogether, but can't we at least spend the final days of manually-operated cars by driving them in their ultimate configuration?
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Comments
With you on this! Driving is not a complete experience without a manual transmission and by "manual," I do not mean "tiptronic" or any of the variants that allow you to rev before "manually" triggering the automatic transmission to shift. It must have a clutch.
I have an unhealthy fixation on European cars from the late 80s'/early 90s. The newest car I've ever owned is a '98 Volvo, and it's only the 2nd automatic I've ever owned. I dont hate it, but it's an appliance, a point & shoot that leaves too much idle time. I want control of the machine. Give me a 5 speed Saab any day.
Car enthusiast are the minority, just hope they don't switch everything to CVTs. Or get a motorcycle for that sweet sweet manual shifting.
With my previous comment out of the way, now I wonder: why can't they figure out a way to automatically engage the clutch with their Eyesight feature? All you need is a solenoid and some software. Throttles can be electronic. Half my manuals have had cruise control on them.
I learned on an automatic, got my license, then promptly started my manual training. I've had 9 cars since then (I went through a lot of beaters in my college days) and only two were automatic. Now I do autocross. Yeah, you'd be fine going with "sport" mode on an automatic at an autocross and no one will care, but I don't want to. I'd much rather enjoy the satisfaction of doing the gear changes myself. Plus, an automatic will never know what you're about to do until you start asking it. I, on the otherhand, know most of my plans before I execute them, so I think the whole "automatics shift faster" argument is a wash.
could they not copy german engineering like they did the boxer engine and AWD?
I mean, VW has come with a 'automatic-manual' for a while (DSG). essentially its like two manual transmissions, that are shifted by the computer, better than any race car driver too. Or you can manually shift via padle... i know, not the same as foot clutch and stick... but at least it is always locked to the crank, and there is no tq converter lag.
Learned on a manual, next car was an automatic and hated it. Current car is basically the samewith a manual and LOVE it! It's so difficult to find manual cars now. They usually are only offered in the base level car so you don't get any of the features. I think it makes you a much better driver. You have to be more aware and engaged. The manual options they offer in automatic cars are awful. The lag in shifting is so uncomfortable. I will say that there are times when it would be nice to have an automatic for the convenience but that just means I'd probably be doing something stupid that would make me distracted. Would LOVE it if someone invented a manual transmission with the option to put it in an automatic gear. Wondering if they will ever be able to replicate the manual transmission feel with electric vehicles. Would there be any point in that?
Funnily enough, I learned on an automatic and all 3 of my cars are automatic and this past fall, at 37, I learned to drive manual. Really don't get what all the fuss was about (I have MANY friends that are manual/stick or go home types). Also, I'm amazed it took Subbie this long to contemplate dropping manual from their line, ever since they dropped doing rally (the year I bought my Impreza) I worried this was the way that the WRX/STi line would go.
Living the city is no excuse for not having a standard transmission car. You need to leave the city on a regular basis to maintain sanity and a sense of humanity.
I'm afraid my next car is going to be an automatic because of domestic "conversations". I may use the forced transition to automatic transmission as an excuse to go to an electric car. In the meantime I'm going to try to delay the inevitable by making my current car hit 300,000 (it's currently at 204k)