Manual transmissions* are great to learn on and they give you a better connection to the car, but they sure suck when you're stuck in a stop-and-go traffic jam for an extended period of time.
That is why I am nervous with getting a manual. Looks like a lot of fun, but my area will be a pain with the stop and go traffic and I always hear complaints.
“For the most part when you drive a car you’re not driving it for what you bought it for”. True, except for everyone who bought a minivan. I don’t know a single minivan owner that doesn’t use it for its intended purpose.
Well, there was the first guy to drive a minivan in Car and Drivers "One Lap of America." Don't think the minivans creators thought of that. Dude must be an absolute hero.
I drove a Manual Dodge Dakota for years and swore that I only wanted manuals. My main reason was the control to down shift especially in the snow and ice of CO. I ended up getting a 4Runner that is an automatic and have come around on the automatic. I can still down shift when needed to slow down the vehicle with the engine using sport/manual mode. The daily and off road driving has been so much better and surprised me.
I initially disagree, and strongly. But I'll listen first... (VERY long post warning.) Offroad vs onroad. Deeper tread, taller side walls, longer suspension travel may all contribute to softer ride. But is it a more secure ride? I don't feel confident in a car that isolates me from the road, which is all that you are describing as desireable. I want to feel what the road is doing. Not to the point of being beat up by the road, but enough for conditions to communicate to my hands and butt. High ground clearance is an after effect of big tires and long suspension travel. It results in a higher CG which creates more lean and a higher roll over risk. It also contributes to a bobbing motion which can only be controlled by stiffer springs and dampers, harming ride quality. Often I find offroaders to be the worst in that they are both rocky riding AND bobby. Height/visibility. "King of the Road" only applies when you are the only tall vehicle. Meanwhile everyone around you suffers. Thanks for that. Height doesn't make it easier to park. Visibility via larger windows helps. That IS a case where off road vehicles often have an advantage, in that they often have a LOT of glass. Tire types/longevity: Tires are very subjective to where you drive and what you want. In places like the Colorado mountains a more snow oriented tire is desireable. Where I live (Maryland) I can get by no problem with all seasons. Around here, big knobby off road tires are a liability, in that their ability to grip pavement in the rain is severely compromised. Do a test of all seasons vs off road tires on wet pavement if you don't believe me. I suspect you will be shocked. Regarding tire COMPOUNDS, softer compounds give more pavement grip at the cost of faster wear. For off-road tires, you are going for digging grip, rather than pavement grip. So you need deep knobs that are made of a tougher rubber, which will make them long lasting. But the compromise there will be less pavement grip, both wet and dry. Pick your poison, but for MOST drivers, who don't go off-road on a daily basis, knobby tires are a poor choice. Efficiency: Most people only use their cars for basic transport. It makes me sad, but they aren't interested in performance, feeling the road, hopping over dirt and rocks, etc. But they are interested in the price of gas. Off-road vehicles SUCK gas. Bad aerodynamics, large tires, large wheel gaps, often quite large, and with AWD or, even worse, 4WD systems, they are BUILT for getting bad fuel mileage. Manual vs auto transmissions: I LOVE shifting a manual transmission. But it's going exinct, because new automatic designs are getting SO good. A manual transmission in a new car is more of a conciete than an advantage anymore. New autos are not only faster and more smooth shifting, they are usually more efficient as well. The only exception is when the auto is a CVT. Those whould be the perfect transmission, but so far, mechanically, they suck. (Exception in an excpetion: The latest Subaru WRX's CVT appears to be a good thing, at least in early reviews. Time will tell.) Wow, that was long. Thanks for you time.
Not sarcasm: I LOVE when you guys talk about non-car things on this podcast! I'm already knowlegable about cars, sometimes I could use some fresh new idea. To this day my favorite thing on TFL was Tommy and Brendan talking about breakfast on Classics podcast. I still look for a cheap place that serves hashbrowns with ranch and hot souce.
Auto vs Manual: 1. Daily Driver vehicle, constantly in the city: automatic 100% of the time. 2. Enthusiast vehicle, something to have fun with on your time off: Manual.
Absolutely. But I still prefer a manual OTR semi truck. I’ve almost crashed on ice/snow covered highways just because the auto shifted at the worst time!
With the condition of Colorado’s streets and roads it’s almost like off roading every day. As a retiree I bought a Tacoma OR is a six speed manual but if I were still commuting every day I’d get an automatic.
Same experience living rural western/central PA. We still have dirt roads here in places. Granted you don't find yourself on them often, but you do find yourself on them often enough. Even some of our paved roads are just dirt they tossed extra asphalt on, so they have an accurate miniature model of the Lunar surface after a year or two.
100% agree Nathan, BOTH on the feel of driving a manual, and also "to each his own," regarding the preference. I love driving my manual 08 GT Mustang (which I bought new 15 years ago). It's the opposite of what Roman said for me: Driving my manual Mustang in everyday traffic, my commute or to run errands is what makes it fun! Keep the faith my brother Nathan, you are not alone!!
The streets of Toronto, and here in hilly Calgary with pockmarked and broken pavement require you to have an SUV , with preferably steel rims or high sidewalls tires, those " normal tires " today with mags / alum rims are recipe for big buckis when it hits a pothole , traffic nowadays makes shifting a manual tranny a chore.
As more roads crumble and/or flood, everyday off-roaders make more and more sense. Love my sedan, except at night because truck/suv headlights are at my eye-level.
You guys are forgetting, manuals worked WAY BETTER with an actual throttle cable. Now everything is drive by wire and it has ruined the connection you once had with your manual. Imo
I own an old Gillig school bus which has a 10-speed manual. Slow, but so much FUN to drive. Roman is giving in to old age. Driving a manual is great brain and motor skill exercise for us old people. It's all about FUN.
I have a ‘24 Colorado ZR2 (non Bison) and it is one of the best riding vehicles I’ve owned. Firm, controlled suspension with lots of travel. Sidewalls that laugh at speed bumps and potholes. And it feels light and lively despite its height and the tires’ limited on-road grip.
Have a 2021 Manual Ford Bronco 4 Door Badlands. Best manual I have ever driven. Would not want an auto. Long Live all Manual Transmissions. Wish I could get a new manual in a full size 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck. May eventually have to find a 2018 Ram so I can get the newest full size truck manual. Currently also have 2010 F250 gas burner with Manual. Love the show. Keep it up.
I think bumper to bumper traffic is one of the easiest things you can do on a manual transmission. What really is tedious and even distracting you from having fun is performance driving in a stickshift. You always worry about snap oversteer, you need to heel and toe, you need to shift fast - all those issues go away in a calm city driving.
@@LafemmebearMusic no. I suggest that performance driving the manual (like heel and toe and all that crap) is a lot harder than driving a manual in a traffic. So the issue with manuals is not bumper to bumper traffic, it's that you can't fully enjoy driving it fast because it's so hard to do.
@@LafemmebearMusic so like the easiest is driving an automatic on the highway, slightly harder is driving an automatic in traffic, slightly more hard is driving a manual on a highway, then goes driving an automatic fast, then goes driving a manual in the traffic, and finally, with a huge gap, is driving a manual fast. Maybe automatic fast and manual traffic should switch places. Driving a manual in traffic means nice and easy mobotonous clutch operation, no need to pull a rarely used skill out of the back of your mind, you can stay in second gear pretty much all the time, just switching it in and out, no need to ever downshift. I would rather drive a manual in traffic than in normal city conditions, cos in traffic you're relaxed, no need to read no signs, just follow the car in front of you, no downshifts, no need of fast reaction. Just chill, enjoying some Eisregen blast beats❤ Too bad if you're late for work though😒
Listend to this via Spotify at work and I think Roman has it nailed. For some reason every non-offroad car has gained sporty suspension and large wheels for good handling as if you are going to take your Kia family car to Nuremberg and it makes them absolutely miserable to be in on actual roads. What most people want is a soft comfortable ride that ignores imperfections in the road, and enough clearance that imperfections and debris do not damage the vehicle. I noticed an immediate ride quality difference when I swapped out the 3 season tires for Falken Wildpeak Trail tires on my Renegade, so all of my future vehicles will probably get Falkens regardless of how pedestrian they may otherwise be. Even the tire shop that put them on commented on the low amount of wear for the miles on them and they did well in all conditions. Idgaf if my next vehicle is the most NPC SUV/crossover that has no buisness parking in a grass lot let alone hitting a trail or tackling the service roads i took my Jeep on, its getting Trail Terrains for the improvement in ride quality on PA roads alone, plus winter preformance. We dont get snow here like we used to so it seems silly to run dedicated winter tires for the 1-2 storms that actually cover roads for more than an hour.
When driving in the mountains above Napa where I live, my adaptive suspension in my x3 msport is very noticeable in the corners under hard cornering. Yes out here you hard corner a lot. Lots of hairpins lots of crest oversteer moments. So maybe you’re right on normal roads Roman, but every use case isn’t the same. Out here in a SUV that’s top heavy those adaptive shocks really help after mile 5 of very tight windy turns. Go look at mt st Helena on a map on the 29 coming out of Napa valley into lake county 😅 you’ll see what I’m driving everyday.
I remember when they started saying auto got better fuel economy than standard by EPA, but they didn't in real life as the auto never lived up to EPA and the manual far surpassed EPA. I don't know if that is true anymore and they probably have gotten better finally but there was still the lies of old. I would love to see you find something that is available in both and do your real world testing side by side of the two
I love a manual. Most of the cars I've owned have been manuals. But there's no doubt that a modern automatic can shift much more quickly, through significantly more gears, than any manual.
Disclaimer disclaimer don't take my advice look it up for yourself... But... If you have an SUV... With NON LT tires ... If you dig into it you'll probably find that you can run 29 psi or even 26 psi in some cases and srill support thr GVWR of your vehicle with tons of room to spare. Take the Cherokee trailhawk for example... Take the 225 60 17 tires in some KL Cherokees set at 33 psi. If you "pretend" you are going to upgrade the tires to the Trailhawk size and you used the load inflation tables to calculate the correct pressure with the tire size upgrade... You will find that it will tell you 26 PSI... Go check for yourself... And yet the manufacturer recommends 36 for the Trailhawk probably for lateral stability and fuel economy reasons... But you know based on the load inflation tables you could actually run 26psi with that tire size... Now I would say that in modern vehicle is you're not going to find a single manufacturer running 26 the lowest they'll ever run is 29.... So you can probably get away with 29... Look into it.... You will find that these enormous tires have so much load carrying capability that if you want a soft or ride you can probably air them down a little bit on the street I would not run the off-road pressures and remember if you have LT tires the lowest pressure you should ever use is 35... And I would say never use 35 because it's at the bottom maybe use 36... But if you have P rates tires or metric tires... You might be surprised at how low you can go and still carry the GVWR with absolutely no issue.
Nathan, I love smoking cigar and drive! Automatic is the only to way to go imho. Since you need a hand to hold the wheel and the other the cigar :D. Love the show!
New 8-10 gear automatic transmission. The idea is shifts are quicker because you have more gears. When u have 6 gears or less the gears are taller because you have less gears.
Driving in city traffic, I like the responsiveness of a manual. It’ll be in the right gear for what I intend to do (such as speeding up to get into another lane). If getting out of a parking lot from a large event, like a ball game or concert, moving one car length at a time, manual is annoying.
I love a manual! You were driving the Porsche up in the mountains of north Ga by me! Atlanta sucks. Go 2 hours north and you are in Gods country! Great and fun show guys!!!
Speaking about the larger wheels and skinny tires I think the main reason they went with so large wheels is to put large brake rotors for better stopping performance
Automatic vs. manual. It’s always nice to have a choice. I will say though that using a manual while rock crawling serious obstacles can be very dangerous unless you have mastered driving a manual and hopefully have upgraded to a centerforce type clutch.
Our WK2 Grand Cherokee has been a pretty good on-road vehicle. Unibody construction and 4 wheel independent suspension provides reasonable handling compared to more truck-like vehicles. 18" wheels give enough sidewall to be comfortable. But still have 4WD and 2-speed transfer case to do some light off-roading. Too bad it didn't come with a manual transmission. :)
I live in the Northeast where we have actual twisty mountain/valley roads on our everyday drives. For good handling vehicles that "99% of the time the car isn't driven for what it's made for" doesn't exist here, even grocery runs have S turns thru the woods. And as a *driving* *enthusiast* any vehicle that can't handle the turns is worthless. Full stop. CUVs, SUVs, and pickups: the high center of gravity and the need to take turns 10mph under the speed limit makes them the villain. I don't need to pretend to be Max, or Luis, or even Stig Paul to have fun in my great handling Everyday Driver, nor do I even need to exceed the limit or put anyone in danger to have that fun. All that's needed are good twisty roads and a good handling car. And for those without one or both nearby, I encourage seeking them out.
On the manual versus auto transmissions, they both have their pros and cons. My main issue with manual transmissions is when you are stopped going up a hill, and the person behind you decides to ride your bumper. I HATE that!!! I know that if we collide it is their fault, but it is my car and I don't want to damage it for no reason. When it comes to an auto, just stay away from the CVT's.
It's really not hard at all, you should be able to hill start without rolling back pretty quickly when learning stick shift. My 6MT vehicle has a hand-pull style parking brake, which allows you to hold that brake with your hand while working the clutch to the point of engagement.
I am a big fan of manual transmissions. As a younger person I had many manual trans cars. Including a Fiat 128, VW bug, Firebird Formula and a 5.0 5-speed Mustang. Enjoyed each one, even took 2nd place at Muscle Car Nationals in my Mustang. That said, as a older person I have all automatic vehicles. My supercharged Grand Prix auto wasn't as fast as my Mustang, but was a much nicer more comfortable car. At some point I will get another manual car and as a second car it will be fun. Driving our 4Runner with a lift and off-road tires is not as smooth as our Fusion, but it does do well in the city over potholes. Every car is a compromise. Most cars and drivers are automatics as they only use them as appliances.
I know this isn't really the point you were making but when I was racing Formula Ford, we only used the clutch to get rolling, otherwise, snick, snick... Much faster than an automatic. :)
I'm Nathan and I agree with Roman more I drove manual transmission for years I've matured past it... Maybe if I lived in the country with no traffic..I'd do manual
Unless the MPG or eMPG is equivalent then you have a point but a lot of people get smaller compact cars for city driving due to miles, parking, space, etc. 4x4s aren’t that unless you get some hybrid or EV. But then you’re spending north of 60k for an off road hybrid/EV. Oh that “reward” when driving manual…fades quickly, no one can even explain why it’s rewarding unless you’re on a race track. Off-road manuals….i think it’s just a bragging right.
Roman, I've owned a 2005 subaru with a 5 speed manual since new...I've driven every hill there is. It's a wonderful car with a manual transmission. It's about the interaction with the vehicle that sets manual lovers from auto lovers.
I love manual transmissions in sports cars but those days are over. Bad knees make driving a manual suck more than driving in traffic so now I stick to automatics.
If you are in a city environment and don't go out and off road consistently, it is better to be in a smaller on road vehicle for many reasons, with the biggest ones being efficiency and cost. You can get a base camry/corrola and spend significantly less on both the vehicle and on gas. If your concern is ride quality, there are luxury road vehicles that provide very comfortable rides. Getting more into semantics, off road tires are not comfortable to drive because of the chunky knobs and the road noise that they generate, you get significantly more wind noise, and you are more consistently going to have to worry about that high center of gravity. I am currently wanting to switch my camry to a used 4runner because I like to get out into the mountains to camp and to ski and want to get into off road wheeling, and need to get out to my parent's farm in southwestern Colorado. That being said, I don't think that people who don't need an off roader should get one. Most people who never get off pavement don't need and should probably never get a 4x4 off roader.
SUVs drive better on-road than CUV because of the present shock/vibration isolators at the mounting points between the body and frame on SUVs. CUVs don’t have them so all that shock and vibration transfer to the cabin
Manual vs automatic along with cigarettes and black coffee all come down to classical vs romantic schools of thought! Different strokes for different folks!
Roman - why isn't it okay for people to love manuals? it sounds like you are saying, it's not okay... everyone has their own opinions. So not sure why you are telling us otherwise
If I had a fortune and all my needs were taken care of, I wouldn’t complain about car prices and I have a car for all my moods and wants - road trip SUV, canyon carver and a daily driver. The fun car would definitely have a manual transmission but since my vehicle has to take care of all my wants and needs, I drive an automatic
This argument between automatic and manual is akin to the electric versus gas vehicle. It's hard to beat an electric vehicle as a short-trip, daily driver. They're quiet, smooth, somewhat autonomous, and an absolutely numb experience. It's the same reason I would never buy an electric vehicle as a weekend "fun" car. They are extremely heavy for their size and completely disconnect the driver from the experience of driving. It doesn't matter how short their 0-60 time is. This is a source of frustration for the enthusiast. The problem is not that an electric vehicle exists, but that there are so few affordable, light-weight, rear wheel drive, naturally aspirated, manual transmission, driver cars.
2017 Chevy colorado zr2 with the 3.6 v6 on 35x12.50r17 on the stock rim was the best handling vehicle I have ever owned. To bad the transmission was a pos. I miss that truck dearly.
I'm surprised these companies haven't made an auto that has as tall a final gear as the old twin sticks, you can use an old 4 speed auto and an overdrive like a gear vendors and get a taller final drive than any of the 10 speeds
Rush-hour traffic cured me of wanting to be “connected” to driving. There is a very limited amount of driving that is made more enjoyable with a manual. There are no more cool cars.
Also in sport versions you have paddles so you can stay in the power band. Manuals were great years ago but I got tired of it when i lived in a big city. Nothing is enjoyable about a Manual in stop and go traffic
Maintenance? Fluid and filter replacement is either not required or is only required infrequently with current automatic transmissions. Manual transmission will eventually need everything from gear oil and clutch fluid and throw out and pilot bearing. And especially in heavy duty trucks manual transmissions put more stress on driveline components like Ujoints and final drives. Having an automatic in a heavy duty commercial vehicle can even increase your warranty on differential/final drive components.
@@briancorreia2923 true for heavy duty trucks. I still believe general cost is less for ordinary vehicles using manuals. Could be wrong though and appreciate your feedback
2 месяца назад
the manual trans is more fun than an automatic but other than that the auto is the best
Lots of sidewall doesn’t mean shit if it’s a stiff ass LT tire which come on most off-road vehicles. Swap P tires even in the same exact tire and it instantly improves ride quality by 50% I travel for work and rent vehicles often and own a 2019 ranger fx4. All of em absolute dog shit ride quality on the road (rubicon, frontier etc). There’s a reason the most common mod on ranger forums is complete suspension swap. Buncha bullshitters
I like manual cars and trucks that are low on power to really use all the available power. Once your above 300 hp in a car your probably breaking law in third gear. It's more fun to ring out an older Civic Si to 9000 rpm with a manual. This just my personal opinion.
In modern performance cars the auto is superior. Manuals have been relegated to underpowered cars like the MX-4. But back to the muscle car days, a skilled driver with proper tires and a 4 speed won the day, most of the time. But you often got schooled on the street by a high powered big block with gears and an automatic. I “acquired” quite a few shekels with my 4.10 geared 383 Roadrunner back in the day. Horrible on the highway though.
Based on this conversation, I think I could deduct that Roman is liberal because he’s trying to push his agenda of Why people shouldn’t enjoy manual transmissions onto everybody. I would also say that Nathan leans more to the conservative side because he’s much more laid-back and seems to be saying that everybody has their own preference and their own tastes as far as manual versus automatic transmission.
My 2009 Honda Fit would be the greatest daily driver of all time if it was automatic. The fact is, my wife won’t drive a manual because she’s afraid of stalling on the steep hills we live in. I know I’m not the one out there.
And rev-hang in manuals sucks. And it exists in every modern manual I know of. Lift your foot from the accelerator and the rpm sits without falling for what feels like a second. Some cars have rev match and all cars have synchronizers, but I still hate rev-hang.
The only reason the exotic cars went to autos is so they could use launch control. They became all about the numbers instead of the driving experience. And the GMA T.50 is manual only. Thats because gordon murray understands the driving experience matters more than the numbers and his company doesnt need to be the fastest or quickest. Its probably the best car you can buy today.
Love me some manual transmission! Good in the snow, good on gas, and let’s not forget, in the USA in 2024, it’s an anti theft device in our crime ridden cities!
I completely agree with boss man Roman on the manual trans vs. the modern auto trans debate. All changed for me around the time Ford co-developed the 10speed in 2018.
Okay I'm going to put my two cents in on this Mustang vs Mustang thing here no matter how you look at it the automatic Mustang will beat the manual but in fun Factor the manuals a lot more fun to own and drive and that's the truth me myself I would rather the manual cuz I'd rather feel more connected to the car
People need to move more and take better care of their physical health so they can get in and out of vehicles 😅. Speaking as a person who’s had to make some big changes and loose aLOT of weight to get back to strong mobility and capability. I gotta say you really don’t realize how much you’re missing when you loose mobility. Like I forgot I could be so capable and I’m pushing 40 and I’ve never been this capable physically. I know life is hard and tiring and work makes us all overworked and tired but please folx it will make that all easier and help your mental health 🤷🏾♀️💜☺️
Gentlemen...I love your videos!! Keep them coming 🙂
Manual transmissions* are great to learn on and they give you a better connection to the car, but they sure suck when you're stuck in a stop-and-go traffic jam for an extended period of time.
Or when you have coffee, beer, joint, trying to shoot…
@@garysarratt1... Or trying to hold your lady's hand
That is why I am nervous with getting a manual. Looks like a lot of fun, but my area will be a pain with the stop and go traffic and I always hear complaints.
It’s so muscle memory it’s a non issue.
@@FRWD_FXLRSTthat’s not true for every use case and you know it. You’re just being stubborn and grumpy 😂
“For the most part when you drive a car you’re not driving it for what you bought it for”.
True, except for everyone who bought a minivan. I don’t know a single minivan owner that doesn’t use it for its intended purpose.
Ford Flex that acts like a mini van but goes like a bat out hell
Well, there was the first guy to drive a minivan in Car and Drivers "One Lap of America." Don't think the minivans creators thought of that. Dude must be an absolute hero.
Meth lab?
@@garysarratt1 they usually use a full size van rather than a minivan. Not that I would know…
@@RayVi5ions 🤣
Nathan's reactions throughout this chat are priceless.
He really wanna tell Roman to shut up 😂😂😂😂😂 RESPECTFULLY
He really wanna tell Roman to shut up 😂😂😂😂😂 RESPECTFULLY
He really wanna tell Roman to shut up 😂😂😂😂😂 RESPECTFULLY
I drove a Manual Dodge Dakota for years and swore that I only wanted manuals. My main reason was the control to down shift especially in the snow and ice of CO. I ended up getting a 4Runner that is an automatic and have come around on the automatic. I can still down shift when needed to slow down the vehicle with the engine using sport/manual mode. The daily and off road driving has been so much better and surprised me.
Can also just get winter tires
I initially disagree, and strongly. But I'll listen first... (VERY long post warning.)
Offroad vs onroad.
Deeper tread, taller side walls, longer suspension travel may all contribute to softer ride. But is it a more secure ride? I don't feel confident in a car that isolates me from the road, which is all that you are describing as desireable. I want to feel what the road is doing. Not to the point of being beat up by the road, but enough for conditions to communicate to my hands and butt.
High ground clearance is an after effect of big tires and long suspension travel. It results in a higher CG which creates more lean and a higher roll over risk. It also contributes to a bobbing motion which can only be controlled by stiffer springs and dampers, harming ride quality. Often I find offroaders to be the worst in that they are both rocky riding AND bobby.
Height/visibility. "King of the Road" only applies when you are the only tall vehicle. Meanwhile everyone around you suffers. Thanks for that. Height doesn't make it easier to park. Visibility via larger windows helps. That IS a case where off road vehicles often have an advantage, in that they often have a LOT of glass.
Tire types/longevity: Tires are very subjective to where you drive and what you want. In places like the Colorado mountains a more snow oriented tire is desireable. Where I live (Maryland) I can get by no problem with all seasons. Around here, big knobby off road tires are a liability, in that their ability to grip pavement in the rain is severely compromised. Do a test of all seasons vs off road tires on wet pavement if you don't believe me. I suspect you will be shocked.
Regarding tire COMPOUNDS, softer compounds give more pavement grip at the cost of faster wear. For off-road tires, you are going for digging grip, rather than pavement grip. So you need deep knobs that are made of a tougher rubber, which will make them long lasting. But the compromise there will be less pavement grip, both wet and dry. Pick your poison, but for MOST drivers, who don't go off-road on a daily basis, knobby tires are a poor choice.
Efficiency: Most people only use their cars for basic transport. It makes me sad, but they aren't interested in performance, feeling the road, hopping over dirt and rocks, etc. But they are interested in the price of gas. Off-road vehicles SUCK gas. Bad aerodynamics, large tires, large wheel gaps, often quite large, and with AWD or, even worse, 4WD systems, they are BUILT for getting bad fuel mileage.
Manual vs auto transmissions: I LOVE shifting a manual transmission. But it's going exinct, because new automatic designs are getting SO good. A manual transmission in a new car is more of a conciete than an advantage anymore. New autos are not only faster and more smooth shifting, they are usually more efficient as well. The only exception is when the auto is a CVT. Those whould be the perfect transmission, but so far, mechanically, they suck. (Exception in an excpetion: The latest Subaru WRX's CVT appears to be a good thing, at least in early reviews. Time will tell.)
Wow, that was long. Thanks for you time.
Nerd
Not sarcasm: I LOVE when you guys talk about non-car things on this podcast! I'm already knowlegable about cars, sometimes I could use some fresh new idea. To this day my favorite thing on TFL was Tommy and Brendan talking about breakfast on Classics podcast. I still look for a cheap place that serves hashbrowns with ranch and hot souce.
As I get older I appreciate the automatic transmissions more. Especially since I live in an urban area.
Auto vs Manual:
1. Daily Driver vehicle, constantly in the city: automatic 100% of the time.
2. Enthusiast vehicle, something to have fun with on your time off: Manual.
Absolutely. But I still prefer a manual OTR semi truck. I’ve almost crashed on ice/snow covered highways just because the auto shifted at the worst time!
With the condition of Colorado’s streets and roads it’s almost like off roading every day. As a retiree I bought a Tacoma OR is a six speed manual but if I were still commuting every day I’d get an automatic.
😅
Yes sir. Sometimes in Alabama too.
Same experience living rural western/central PA.
We still have dirt roads here in places. Granted you don't find yourself on them often, but you do find yourself on them often enough. Even some of our paved roads are just dirt they tossed extra asphalt on, so they have an accurate miniature model of the Lunar surface after a year or two.
The Ineos Grenadier sucks on road, as you’ve noted. Imagine buying an $80k+ car the owner then has to adapt to use it normally….
Off-road with a manual gives you a reason to use low range more often if you’re not into the smell of hot clutch.
100% agree Nathan, BOTH on the feel of driving a manual, and also "to each his own," regarding the preference. I love driving my manual 08 GT Mustang (which I bought new 15 years ago). It's the opposite of what Roman said for me: Driving my manual Mustang in everyday traffic, my commute or to run errands is what makes it fun! Keep the faith my brother Nathan, you are not alone!!
The streets of Toronto, and here in hilly Calgary with pockmarked and broken pavement require you to have an SUV , with preferably steel rims or high sidewalls tires, those " normal tires " today with mags / alum rims are recipe for big buckis when it hits a pothole , traffic nowadays makes shifting a manual tranny a chore.
As more roads crumble and/or flood, everyday off-roaders make more and more sense. Love my sedan, except at night because truck/suv headlights are at my eye-level.
You guys are forgetting, manuals worked WAY BETTER with an actual throttle cable. Now everything is drive by wire and it has ruined the connection you once had with your manual. Imo
Put a tune in my Mustang and it fixed all that!
How does that make the transmission better?
I own an old Gillig school bus which has a 10-speed manual. Slow, but so much FUN to drive. Roman is giving in to old age. Driving a manual is great brain and motor skill exercise for us old people. It's all about FUN.
I have a ‘24 Colorado ZR2 (non Bison) and it is one of the best riding vehicles I’ve owned. Firm, controlled suspension with lots of travel. Sidewalls that laugh at speed bumps and potholes. And it feels light and lively despite its height and the tires’ limited on-road grip.
You guys are both right, I own a Jeep tj manual and I offroad it
But I definitely love rowing my gears ❤
You guys are awesome. Love the videos and the arguments. Don't stop.
Have a 2021 Manual Ford Bronco 4 Door Badlands. Best manual I have ever driven. Would not want an auto. Long Live all Manual Transmissions. Wish I could get a new manual in a full size 1/2 ton, 3/4 ton or 1 ton truck. May eventually have to find a 2018 Ram so I can get the newest full size truck manual. Currently also have 2010 F250 gas burner with Manual. Love the show. Keep it up.
I think bumper to bumper traffic is one of the easiest things you can do on a manual transmission. What really is tedious and even distracting you from having fun is performance driving in a stickshift. You always worry about snap oversteer, you need to heel and toe, you need to shift fast - all those issues go away in a calm city driving.
Huh? 2 hours of stop and go LA traffic in a manual is easier than an automatic? Is that what you’re suggesting?
@@LafemmebearMusic no. I suggest that performance driving the manual (like heel and toe and all that crap) is a lot harder than driving a manual in a traffic. So the issue with manuals is not bumper to bumper traffic, it's that you can't fully enjoy driving it fast because it's so hard to do.
@@LafemmebearMusic so like the easiest is driving an automatic on the highway, slightly harder is driving an automatic in traffic, slightly more hard is driving a manual on a highway, then goes driving an automatic fast, then goes driving a manual in the traffic, and finally, with a huge gap, is driving a manual fast.
Maybe automatic fast and manual traffic should switch places. Driving a manual in traffic means nice and easy mobotonous clutch operation, no need to pull a rarely used skill out of the back of your mind, you can stay in second gear pretty much all the time, just switching it in and out, no need to ever downshift. I would rather drive a manual in traffic than in normal city conditions, cos in traffic you're relaxed, no need to read no signs, just follow the car in front of you, no downshifts, no need of fast reaction. Just chill, enjoying some Eisregen blast beats❤ Too bad if you're late for work though😒
Listend to this via Spotify at work and I think Roman has it nailed.
For some reason every non-offroad car has gained sporty suspension and large wheels for good handling as if you are going to take your Kia family car to Nuremberg and it makes them absolutely miserable to be in on actual roads.
What most people want is a soft comfortable ride that ignores imperfections in the road, and enough clearance that imperfections and debris do not damage the vehicle. I noticed an immediate ride quality difference when I swapped out the 3 season tires for Falken Wildpeak Trail tires on my Renegade, so all of my future vehicles will probably get Falkens regardless of how pedestrian they may otherwise be. Even the tire shop that put them on commented on the low amount of wear for the miles on them and they did well in all conditions.
Idgaf if my next vehicle is the most NPC SUV/crossover that has no buisness parking in a grass lot let alone hitting a trail or tackling the service roads i took my Jeep on, its getting Trail Terrains for the improvement in ride quality on PA roads alone, plus winter preformance. We dont get snow here like we used to so it seems silly to run dedicated winter tires for the 1-2 storms that actually cover roads for more than an hour.
When driving in the mountains above Napa where I live, my adaptive suspension in my x3 msport is very noticeable in the corners under hard cornering. Yes out here you hard corner a lot. Lots of hairpins lots of crest oversteer moments. So maybe you’re right on normal roads Roman, but every use case isn’t the same. Out here in a SUV that’s top heavy those adaptive shocks really help after mile 5 of very tight windy turns. Go look at mt st Helena on a map on the 29 coming out of Napa valley into lake county 😅 you’ll see what I’m driving everyday.
I remember when they started saying auto got better fuel economy than standard by EPA, but they didn't in real life as the auto never lived up to EPA and the manual far surpassed EPA. I don't know if that is true anymore and they probably have gotten better finally but there was still the lies of old.
I would love to see you find something that is available in both and do your real world testing side by side of the two
I love a manual. Most of the cars I've owned have been manuals. But there's no doubt that a modern automatic can shift much more quickly, through significantly more gears, than any manual.
Disclaimer disclaimer don't take my advice look it up for yourself... But...
If you have an SUV... With NON LT tires ... If you dig into it you'll probably find that you can run 29 psi or even 26 psi in some cases and srill support thr GVWR of your vehicle with tons of room to spare.
Take the Cherokee trailhawk for example...
Take the 225 60 17 tires in some KL Cherokees set at 33 psi. If you "pretend" you are going to upgrade the tires to the Trailhawk size and you used the load inflation tables to calculate the correct pressure with the tire size upgrade... You will find that it will tell you 26 PSI... Go check for yourself... And yet the manufacturer recommends 36 for the Trailhawk probably for lateral stability and fuel economy reasons... But you know based on the load inflation tables you could actually run 26psi with that tire size... Now I would say that in modern vehicle is you're not going to find a single manufacturer running 26 the lowest they'll ever run is 29.... So you can probably get away with 29... Look into it.... You will find that these enormous tires have so much load carrying capability that if you want a soft or ride you can probably air them down a little bit on the street I would not run the off-road pressures and remember if you have LT tires the lowest pressure you should ever use is 35... And I would say never use 35 because it's at the bottom maybe use 36... But if you have P rates tires or metric tires... You might be surprised at how low you can go and still carry the GVWR with absolutely no issue.
Maverick Tremor XLT on road is awesome 👌🏽, just like off road lol
Nathan, I love smoking cigar and drive! Automatic is the only to way to go imho. Since you need a hand to hold the wheel and the other the cigar :D. Love the show!
New 8-10 gear automatic transmission. The idea is shifts are quicker because you have more gears. When u have 6 gears or less the gears are taller because you have less gears.
Driving in city traffic, I like the responsiveness of a manual. It’ll be in the right gear for what I intend to do (such as speeding up to get into another lane). If getting out of a parking lot from a large event, like a ball game or concert, moving one car length at a time, manual is annoying.
I love a manual!
You were driving the Porsche up in the mountains of north Ga by me! Atlanta sucks. Go 2 hours north and you are in Gods country!
Great and fun show guys!!!
Speaking about the larger wheels and skinny tires I think the main reason they went with so large wheels is to put large brake rotors for better stopping performance
I love my Elantra N. I only bought it in dual clutch because it is faster, has remote start, and has a sunroof. I love it.
Automatic vs. manual. It’s always nice to have a choice. I will say though that using a manual while rock crawling serious obstacles can be very dangerous unless you have mastered driving a manual and hopefully have upgraded to a centerforce type clutch.
I'm keeping my manual transmission vehicles... If you are a hypermiler, you want the manual. If you enjoy tracking the vehicle or do canyon drives.
We have the following manual cars: Samurai, 2 door Bronco Heritage Edition, 1966 Olds 442, Versa, Yaris iA. I wouldn’t have it any other way.
Our WK2 Grand Cherokee has been a pretty good on-road vehicle. Unibody construction and 4 wheel independent suspension provides reasonable handling compared to more truck-like vehicles. 18" wheels give enough sidewall to be comfortable. But still have 4WD and 2-speed transfer case to do some light off-roading. Too bad it didn't come with a manual transmission. :)
I live in the Northeast where we have actual twisty mountain/valley roads on our everyday drives. For good handling vehicles that "99% of the time the car isn't driven for what it's made for" doesn't exist here, even grocery runs have S turns thru the woods. And as a *driving* *enthusiast* any vehicle that can't handle the turns is worthless. Full stop. CUVs, SUVs, and pickups: the high center of gravity and the need to take turns 10mph under the speed limit makes them the villain.
I don't need to pretend to be Max, or Luis, or even Stig Paul to have fun in my great handling Everyday Driver, nor do I even need to exceed the limit or put anyone in danger to have that fun. All that's needed are good twisty roads and a good handling car. And for those without one or both nearby, I encourage seeking them out.
On the manual versus auto transmissions, they both have their pros and cons. My main issue with manual transmissions is when you are stopped going up a hill, and the person behind you decides to ride your bumper. I HATE that!!! I know that if we collide it is their fault, but it is my car and I don't want to damage it for no reason. When it comes to an auto, just stay away from the CVT's.
Newer manuals removed that issue
It's really not hard at all, you should be able to hill start without rolling back pretty quickly when learning stick shift. My 6MT vehicle has a hand-pull style parking brake, which allows you to hold that brake with your hand while working the clutch to the point of engagement.
I am a big fan of manual transmissions. As a younger person I had many manual trans cars. Including a Fiat 128, VW bug, Firebird Formula and a 5.0 5-speed Mustang. Enjoyed each one, even took 2nd place at Muscle Car Nationals in my Mustang. That said, as a older person I have all automatic vehicles. My supercharged Grand Prix auto wasn't as fast as my Mustang, but was a much nicer more comfortable car. At some point I will get another manual car and as a second car it will be fun. Driving our 4Runner with a lift and off-road tires is not as smooth as our Fusion, but it does do well in the city over potholes. Every car is a compromise. Most cars and drivers are automatics as they only use them as appliances.
Roman looks so disappointed he couldnt talk the whole time 😂😂😂😂
I know this isn't really the point you were making but when I was racing Formula Ford, we only used the clutch to get rolling, otherwise, snick, snick... Much faster than an automatic. :)
I'm Nathan and I agree with Roman more I drove manual transmission for years I've matured past it... Maybe if I lived in the country with no traffic..I'd do manual
Unless the MPG or eMPG is equivalent then you have a point but a lot of people get smaller compact cars for city driving due to miles, parking, space, etc. 4x4s aren’t that unless you get some hybrid or EV. But then you’re spending north of 60k for an off road hybrid/EV.
Oh that “reward” when driving manual…fades quickly, no one can even explain why it’s rewarding unless you’re on a race track. Off-road manuals….i think it’s just a bragging right.
TFL stop talking about tire wear. You have never put 30k on a set of tires
Roman, I've owned a 2005 subaru with a 5 speed manual since new...I've driven every hill there is. It's a wonderful car with a manual transmission. It's about the interaction with the vehicle that sets manual lovers from auto lovers.
I love manual transmissions in sports cars but those days are over. Bad knees make driving a manual suck more than driving in traffic so now I stick to automatics.
If you are in a city environment and don't go out and off road consistently, it is better to be in a smaller on road vehicle for many reasons, with the biggest ones being efficiency and cost. You can get a base camry/corrola and spend significantly less on both the vehicle and on gas. If your concern is ride quality, there are luxury road vehicles that provide very comfortable rides. Getting more into semantics, off road tires are not comfortable to drive because of the chunky knobs and the road noise that they generate, you get significantly more wind noise, and you are more consistently going to have to worry about that high center of gravity. I am currently wanting to switch my camry to a used 4runner because I like to get out into the mountains to camp and to ski and want to get into off road wheeling, and need to get out to my parent's farm in southwestern Colorado. That being said, I don't think that people who don't need an off roader should get one. Most people who never get off pavement don't need and should probably never get a 4x4 off roader.
I’m trying to find a Mini CooperS Clubman R55 with a stick. However it’s my second car for weekends. So I agree with you both 😊
SUVs drive better on-road than CUV because of the present shock/vibration isolators at the mounting points between the body and frame on SUVs. CUVs don’t have them so all that shock and vibration transfer to the cabin
I drive my manual JKU like a Miata.
Please never stop making these podcast 😊
Manual vs automatic along with cigarettes and black coffee all come down to classical vs romantic schools of thought! Different strokes for different folks!
Some vehicles are marketed to off road that are really not off-road. Subaru in particular.
Roman - why isn't it okay for people to love manuals? it sounds like you are saying, it's not okay... everyone has their own opinions. So not sure why you are telling us otherwise
Roman says why isn’t it OK for car and truck enthusiast to like automatics? It seems that makes us less
shifting gears is fun unless youre in bumper to bumper traffic
If I had a fortune and all my needs were taken care of, I wouldn’t complain about car prices and I have a car for all my moods and wants - road trip SUV, canyon carver and a daily driver. The fun car would definitely have a manual transmission but since my vehicle has to take care of all my wants and needs, I drive an automatic
This argument between automatic and manual is akin to the electric versus gas vehicle. It's hard to beat an electric vehicle as a short-trip, daily driver. They're quiet, smooth, somewhat autonomous, and an absolutely numb experience. It's the same reason I would never buy an electric vehicle as a weekend "fun" car. They are extremely heavy for their size and completely disconnect the driver from the experience of driving. It doesn't matter how short their 0-60 time is. This is a source of frustration for the enthusiast. The problem is not that an electric vehicle exists, but that there are so few affordable, light-weight, rear wheel drive, naturally aspirated, manual transmission, driver cars.
I was always a manual transmission fan until I drove a new BMW with the ZF automatic. They launch like a bat out of he LL.
2017 Chevy colorado zr2 with the 3.6 v6 on 35x12.50r17 on the stock rim was the best handling vehicle I have ever owned.
To bad the transmission was a pos.
I miss that truck dearly.
I used to shift automatic transmission on my Lexus manually just because 😂
debatable if off road suspension is more comfy on road than the equivalent on road model
I'm surprised these companies haven't made an auto that has as tall a final gear as the old twin sticks, you can use an old 4 speed auto and an overdrive like a gear vendors and get a taller final drive than any of the 10 speeds
You don’t have to with a 3.23:1 rear end.
FYI: The transmission are starting to break already so most likely going to be a recall
Rush-hour traffic cured me of wanting to be “connected” to driving. There is a very limited amount of driving that is made more enjoyable with a manual.
There are no more cool cars.
Save money and hassle. Ship your car or truck with uShip: imp.i117074.net/c/3690901/791888/11329
Also in sport versions you have paddles so you can stay in the power band. Manuals were great years ago but I got tired of it when i lived in a big city. Nothing is enjoyable about a Manual in stop and go traffic
"Take your Geritol and relax." (11:30) Nathan's not getting a bonus this year :)
they are the best because they all have cruise control except the ones Andrea buys. do the porsche and lambo have cruise control?
There are always trolls on the internet. Keep doing what you do. You all are killing it.
Manuals generally require less maintenance and should be less expensive.
Maintenance? Fluid and filter replacement is either not required or is only required infrequently with current automatic transmissions. Manual transmission will eventually need everything from gear oil and clutch fluid and throw out and pilot bearing. And especially in heavy duty trucks manual transmissions put more stress on driveline components like Ujoints and final drives. Having an automatic in a heavy duty commercial vehicle can even increase your warranty on differential/final drive components.
@@briancorreia2923 true for heavy duty trucks. I still believe general cost is less for ordinary vehicles using manuals. Could be wrong though and appreciate your feedback
the manual trans is more fun than an automatic but other than that the auto is the best
Lots of sidewall doesn’t mean shit if it’s a stiff ass LT tire which come on most off-road vehicles. Swap P tires even in the same exact tire and it instantly improves ride quality by 50%
I travel for work and rent vehicles often and own a 2019 ranger fx4. All of em absolute dog shit ride quality on the road (rubicon, frontier etc). There’s a reason the most common mod on ranger forums is complete suspension swap.
Buncha bullshitters
I’d agree with you both with one more point: daily an EV, drive in the mountains on the weekends with a manual.
I like manual cars and trucks that are low on power to really use all the available power. Once your above 300 hp in a car your probably breaking law in third gear. It's more fun to ring out an older Civic Si to 9000 rpm with a manual. This just my personal opinion.
I'm with Nathan. Give me the manual!
In modern performance cars the auto is superior. Manuals have been relegated to underpowered cars like the MX-4. But back to the muscle car days, a skilled driver with proper tires and a 4 speed won the day, most of the time. But you often got schooled on the street by a high powered big block with gears and an automatic. I “acquired” quite a few shekels with my 4.10 geared 383 Roadrunner back in the day. Horrible on the highway though.
my '23 MP does ride very nice here on LA roads.
Based on this conversation, I think I could deduct that Roman is liberal because he’s trying to push his agenda of Why people shouldn’t enjoy manual transmissions onto everybody. I would also say that Nathan leans more to the conservative side because he’s much more laid-back and seems to be saying that everybody has their own preference and their own tastes as far as manual versus automatic transmission.
My 2009 Honda Fit would be the greatest daily driver of all time if it was automatic. The fact is, my wife won’t drive a manual because she’s afraid of stalling on the steep hills we live in. I know I’m not the one out there.
Thank you Roman and N8
And rev-hang in manuals sucks. And it exists in every modern manual I know of. Lift your foot from the accelerator and the rpm sits without falling for what feels like a second. Some cars have rev match and all cars have synchronizers, but I still hate rev-hang.
But even “off-roaders” are going down the road of 20”+ wheels (cue the video of Tommy popping the Defender tire).
Off-road truck are inherently unsafe or unstable due to higher center of gravity and gass gufflers.
Manual transmission for me!!
The only reason the exotic cars went to autos is so they could use launch control. They became all about the numbers instead of the driving experience. And the GMA T.50 is manual only. Thats because gordon murray understands the driving experience matters more than the numbers and his company doesnt need to be the fastest or quickest. Its probably the best car you can buy today.
Actually, Gordon was going to make it an automatic but his customers demanded a manual😉
More than 90% of new cars that are sold are automatics, you’re just testing what people buy
Love me some manual transmission! Good in the snow, good on gas, and let’s not forget, in the USA in 2024, it’s an anti theft device in our crime ridden cities!
Good morning TFL..Hey guys have you checked out the 2025' Caterpillar truck.??looks based on chevy body
@47:55
What about the Air suspension that they put in a Wrangler that you guys had for a while?
Thanks
Honda CRX is a great example of better as a manual. That car is not even alive with an automatic.
Roman on his rants again😢.
1st five minutes are off topic
If I wanted mustang talk
I would have looked for a mustang video
I completely agree with boss man Roman on the manual trans vs. the modern auto trans debate. All changed for me around the time Ford co-developed the 10speed in 2018.
Anyone who complains about stop and go traffic is :
1) not macho
2) skips Leg day
😂😂😂
Okay I'm going to put my two cents in on this Mustang vs Mustang thing here no matter how you look at it the automatic Mustang will beat the manual but in fun Factor the manuals a lot more fun to own and drive and that's the truth me myself I would rather the manual cuz I'd rather feel more connected to the car
People need to move more and take better care of their physical health so they can get in and out of vehicles 😅. Speaking as a person who’s had to make some big changes and loose aLOT of weight to get back to strong mobility and capability. I gotta say you really don’t realize how much you’re missing when you loose mobility. Like I forgot I could be so capable and I’m pushing 40 and I’ve never been this capable physically. I know life is hard and tiring and work makes us all overworked and tired but please folx it will make that all easier and help your mental health 🤷🏾♀️💜☺️
Sports cars and muscle cars must have a manual transmissions. It's mandatory. 😊
Except a Wrangler.