Does any other auto tranny Yaris owner regret not getting the MT?

[NZ-FE Vios]

Originally Posted by daf62757

I think the main point is that what does the car makers consider most cost effective. You can't argue about the efficiencies of a manual transmission. You can argue that when the dealers are selling the shinny and new cars, more people want an automatic. When the manufacturer starts to compare the costs of making manuals vs automatics, if one gives you equal mileage, has more buyer appeal, and saves you production costs....that is the transmission you will produce more of.

As for automatics costing more to repair, yes, they do but I would also argue that they are more reliable than manuals. Most autos go over 100k miles without any problems. Most manuals have to have their clutch worked on because most people....no matter how the person says they know how to drive a clutch....don't know how to operate one.

If automatics were such a horror, why have the vast majorities of all cars and trucks sold today have an automatic for their transmission....cost effectiveness, and reliability. The bottom line will eventually dictate the answer.

The reason the "vast majority" in the states are automatics is because Americans are lazy. We have too many things to do (eat a burger, drink a big gulp, smoke cigs, put on makeup, yell at the kids) or be concerned with(billy's soccer practice, work, school, spouse, making more money) rather than being engaged (literally) and it total control while driving.

Personally, my mind is at ease and I'm not thinking about all of the concerns and issues in life. All I'm doing is driving. I don't find working the clutch and gearbox a chore either, really I don't even think about it, I just do it. My subconscious is most likely continuously planning responses and actions to any and all scenarios that may arise. But again, all I'm able to concern myself with is the task at hand, which is very satisfying considering the unending multitasking required on a daily basisnl.

We've had at least five fords that had the auto trans fall out under 100,000 miles. And this is with respectable adults driving (not being dogged out).

My truck kept the original clutch until about 190,000 miles. I'm at 275,000 now. I don't think the truck would still perform the same if it was an automatic.

Those who think the manual transmission is a thing of the past will meet their end before the manual trans does.

Or the way manual transmissions die is when gas engines die. All you need is one gear if its electric.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by NZ-FE Vios

The reason the "vast majority" in the states are automatics is because Americans are lazy. We have too many things to do (eat a burger, drink a big gulp, smoke cigs, put on makeup, yell at the kids) or be concerned with(billy's soccer practice, work, school, spouse, making more money) rather than being engaged (literally) and it total control while driving.

Personally, my mind is at ease and I'm not thinking about all of the concerns and issues in life. All I'm doing is driving. I don't find working the clutch and gearbox a chore either, really I don't even think about it, I just do it. My subconscious is most likely continuously planning responses and actions to any and all scenarios that may arise. But again, all I'm able to concern myself with is the task at hand, which is very satisfying considering the unending multitasking required on a daily basisnl.

We've had at least five fords that had the auto trans fall out under 100,000 miles. And this is with respectable adults driving (not being dogged out).

My truck kept the original clutch until about 190,000 miles. I'm at 275,000 now. I don't think the truck would still perform the same if it was an automatic.

Those who think the manual transmission is a thing of the past will meet their end before the manual trans does.

Or the way manual transmissions die is when gas engines die. All you need is one gear if its electric.

Well, we will see! I don't really have any heartburn about it one way or the other expect to say I prefer an automatic. It not laziness.....what an absurd thing to say. I suppose you think using an MP3 player is lazy as opposed to using a record player?

Technology changes....and sometimes we don't have any choices to be made because the economics of how things are built take those decisions away.

But I hope you are happy with you manual!

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by NZ-FE Vios

The reason the "vast majority" in the states are automatics is because Americans are lazy.

That'd be a great theory if the same wasn't happening in a lot of other countries!

We've had at least five fords that had the auto trans fall out under 100,000 miles. And this is with respectable adults driving (not being dogged out).

Seriously? You're comparing Ford transmissions with that of Toyota? Ford can't make a good transmission, manual or otherwise. I drove two brand new Fusions a few weeks back and both were horrible.

Those who think the manual transmission is a thing of the past will meet their end before the manual trans does.

Right, you've really convinced me with that one! Anyone who still drives a 1994 truck is the one clinging on to the past!

Do you still own your old 8-track cassettes as well?!?

[NZ-FE Vios]

Originally Posted by MadMax

That'd be a great theory if the same wasn't happening in a lot of other countries!



Seriously? You're comparing Ford transmissions with that of Toyota? Ford can't make a good transmission, manual or otherwise. I drove two brand new Fusions a few weeks back and both were horrible.



Right, you've really convinced me with that one! Anyone who still drives a 1994 truck is the one clinging on to the past!

Do you still own your old 8-track cassettes as well?!?

1) Let's see empirical data in favor of your claim.

2) My comment about fords was relating to the statements regarding manual transmissions being phazed out.

3) I bet I'm younger than you. What's an 8-track (rhetorical, predecessor to standard tape deck)? My 94 Toyota truck runs like a top, has 275,000 miles on it. The value to sell is less than the value it is to me keeping it. It still does great in snow and mud and has a lot of utility. Gearbox is great, lowrange is great, high range is great. I'm not in a position to buy a new truck either, much less a newer Toyota 4x4. They hold their value incredibly well, especially in a manual transmission because the demand is much greater than supply in 4x4 manual Toyota trucks. Why would I not keep a vehicle that I know the history of for most of its life?

[Altitude]

Originally Posted by MadMax

Anyone who still drives a 1994 truck is the one clinging on to the past!

You don't believe that now do you?

My Wrangler is a '97 (not too far from '94) and I'll be driving that thing 'til it won't drive anymore. And yes, it's a manual. It's got another 10, 15 maybe 20 years on it.

[MadMax]

Originally Posted by Altitude

You don't believe that now do you?

My Wrangler is a '97 (not too far from '94) and I'll be driving that thing 'til it won't drive anymore. And yes, it's a manual. It's got another 10, 15 maybe 20 years on it.

Jeeps don't count, they're timeless!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by MadMax

That'd be a great theory if the same wasn't happening in a lot of other countries!



Seriously? You're comparing Ford transmissions with that of Toyota? Ford can't make a good transmission, manual or otherwise. I drove two brand new Fusions a few weeks back and both were horrible.



Right, you've really convinced me with that one! Anyone who still drives a 1994 truck is the one clinging on to the past!

Do you still own your old 8-track cassettes as well?!?

....but it might be happening in those other countries for a different reason...doesn't mean that laziness isn't the reason in the U.S.

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by NZ-FE Vios

The reason the "vast majority" in the states are automatics is because Americans are lazy. We have too many things to do (eat a burger, drink a big gulp, smoke cigs, put on makeup, yell at the kids) or be concerned with(billy's soccer practice, work, school, spouse, making more money) rather than being engaged (literally) and it total control while driving.

Personally, my mind is at ease and I'm not thinking about all of the concerns and issues in life. All I'm doing is driving. I don't find working the clutch and gearbox a chore either, really I don't even think about it, I just do it. My subconscious is most likely continuously planning responses and actions to any and all scenarios that may arise. But again, all I'm able to concern myself with is the task at hand, which is very satisfying considering the unending multitasking required on a daily basisnl.

We've had at least five fords that had the auto trans fall out under 100,000 miles. And this is with respectable adults driving (not being dogged out).

My truck kept the original clutch until about 190,000 miles. I'm at 275,000 now. I don't think the truck would still perform the same if it was an automatic.

Those who think the manual transmission is a thing of the past will meet their end before the manual trans does.

Or the way manual transmissions die is when gas engines die. All you need is one gear if its electric.

.....especially your first paragraph. This is not universally true, perhaps not even true for the majority....YET....but it is true re large swaths of the population.

[mazilla]

Manual transmissions are not going anywhere, certainly not in the next 10 years anyways.

[daf62757]

I leaned to drive in the early 70s and few cars had a manual. It had to learn to drive a manual in the Army. Today, all the Army vehicles are automatic.

Regardless of how nostalgic you might be towards the manual transmission, its day is going to come to an end. So much so that if a dealer has one, you might wind up paying more for it than an automatic.

[Altitude]

@daf - It's not nostalgia, just an observation that driving a stick is no longer considered a skill to learn.

I do not believe MT's will ever go away and if it ever came to be that it is more expensive to buy a car with an MT I would gladly pay it.

I've never owned a car that wasn't MT and I've also never had to replace a transmission, only the clutches. How many automatic owners can say the same?

[Yaristeve]

Originally Posted by Altitude

...and if it ever came to be that it is more expensive to buy a car with an MT I would gladly pay it.

I would not be surprised if MT is more expensive for some cars, even now. Not on the MSRP but when you go into a dealership, you can probably get a bigger discount on an AT equipped car sitting on his lot than a MT equipped car you have to hunt around for or special order...

I too would pay whatever it takes to get the MT version (if available) of the car I want.

[NZ-FE Vios]

Maybe I went a little too far. Not everyone drives an auto because they are lazy but I'd say that would be a fair generalization as an American.

I've never owned a record player. But I consider that a false dichotomy.

[daf62757]

Originally Posted by NZ-FE Vios

Maybe I went a little too far. Not everyone drives an auto because they are lazy but I'd say that would be a fair generalization as an American.

I've never owned a record player. But I consider that a false dichotomy.

Ok....how about someone who uses a MP3 vs a CD player? The point is the same. Technology advances sometimes makes the choice for us. At some point, the industry makes the choice for us and we are powerless in the decision.

American are lazy so that isn't a reach, but ATs have been the majority of transmissions sold in the US since at least 1975.

[NZ-FE Vios]

When a next or back button has a clutch I'll agree.

What automotive manufacturer doesn't sell a manual ?

[Hershey]

The '08 base model 3 door with the 5 speed manual we had was fun to drive . Made you think about your driving . But thanks to results like these with the '08 base model sedan w/ the 4 speed auto the manual tranny isn't missed all that much . The calculated mileage was 41.05 .

[CTScott]

In nearly 30 years of driving, I hadn't owned a vehicle with a manual transmission. I learned to drive stick before I was old enough to drive, but never used the knowledge. A month ago I bought my first MT vehicle (a 92 Celica GT convertible). It took me a week or so to get in the groove, but I am really enjoying it. It almost makes me wish that my Yaris was MT.

[fj40dave]

Guess which one has the 9C1 350 with the SM420 and twin stick 3sp T-Case, Lockers, SOA, OBA, Warn 8240

The automatic is because it's easy to drive ... but I'm certainly not lazy!