I forgot that having a manual is pretty common in the UK. In the US, it's rarer and largely considered for enthusiasts so it isn't as surprising that you'd want one on a performance car.
US used to have manual options in normal cars like Honda accord, 3- and 5- series BMW (I had both), Toyota Corolla just to name a few. This is 5-10 yrs ago. Unfortunately, drive to standardize in the name of higher profits have killed these daily’s. Only remaining ones are Civic si, integra, vw Jetta and Subaru wrx; all variants still near the $40k mark
Damn i'm early. Manual Transmission even with 150hp supercharged engines is really fun. I understand why people with automatics are not enganged even with 300-400bhp.
Honestly rev hang is what ruins it these days. Throttle or pedal response in general is also shit these days. So yeah auto is the way to go these days before it’s eventually electric only.
I drive a 99hp fiesta and I enjoy driving it. Still get enough of a power surge at first when I accelerate briskly to make me smile because it's turbocharged and that initial surge of torque just makes me smile
@@hudders11 I have owned many Fords over the years and really enjoy the gear change. My current Focus is a 1.5 120hp diesel in ST-Line X trim and I love it. It looks sharp, the steering is well weighted, the suspension is firm but not crashy, the power delivery is smooth with plenty of torque from low revs. You can definitely have fun in lowered powered cars and Fords are some of the best in class for putting a smile on your face 😁. Enjoy the fiesta 👍🏻
totally agree with you mate.. I drive manual for past 15yrs and its never a dull time. Most of the time people hate manuals in city traffic but i still enjoy it. When you drive for a long period, you know how to engage the clutch in the right way in 2nd gear even in NA engines without damaging the clutch and having a leg workout. It's not that bad at all. Listening to the favorite music and driving a manual is a bliss. Trust me, the muscle memory drives the most and you wont feel much.
I got my license 7 years ago and has been driving auto for the majority of the time, learned how to drive manual at the beginning of this year and never looked back, sure autos are faster and more convenient but just the feeling of being actively engaged in the act of driving is unbeatable
@ryanwatterson4038 depends. Manuals allow you to keep the revs at peak range for power so theyre better for tracking or going fast through bends. For straight line speed in regular street cars autos are probably the fastest for the average driver, if the manual knows what hes doing theyre basically the same speed. The real nice thing about manuals is theyre better for offroading and going in snow. Auto will loose traction more(happens in sand alot) because they dont like you keeping the car at 5k rpm in a low gear. Manuals can also get better fuel economy than autos because you can keep the revs low (lots of autos will downshift to keep you in peak power because they dont know what youre trying to do. They have improved alot so its close with newer 8-10 speed autos). The real selling point is manuals are way more fun.
Manual is engaging to drive . I drive a 88bhp 113 Nm car, but I enjoy every moment because it's so engaging with a manual and it doesn't even exceed 80 kmph.
Yeah, I feel the same. My daily is a Hyundai i20n which only comes as manual. But I tend to always choose manual cars actually. I think they are more fun..And I feel like a better driver because Im a little more attentive to the course of the road (looking ahead). I feel like a manual gear motives to look ahead what speed one drivers a few seconds ahead whereas auto makes me slightly more "lazy"as a driver.
As always, love your videos Mick! I have to say, I am happy you get the privilege of enjoying a manual car in the area you live in and the lifestyle you have. To be honest, as an enthusiast who lives in one of the big Canadian cities, it is really hard for me to enjoy a manual the same way others do. One of the reasons I ended up going for an automatic Mazda 3 Turbo Hatch instead of the NA manual version or even a BRZ manual, was mainly due to practicality reasons. City traffic where I live sucks balls, the issue isn't being unwilling to learn manual, it's just I commute 1-2 times a week to work, I use my car as my daily, I can only afford one car, I rarely have the opportunity to fully row through the gears and enjoy the car the way it was meant to. If I had a manual, I would put in the work, learn the car, and have that skill, only to be stuck between 1st-3rd gear 80% of the time. I'd rather trade in some of that fun factor to have a smoother, less stressful driving experience when I have to use my car. Being able to use your car mainly as a hobby is a dream and I'm happy you get to experience that. If I were in your shoes, i would have given away my auto car as well. To some people, that extra engagement with a manual is worth it, even if they live in a major city, all the power to them. I am just not that type of guy haha. Looking forward to more M2 vids :) cheers
honestly people with a Manual enjoy driving much more and especially in detail. this is a summary of Me asking every 2 people in the McDrive what they think about driving their car and how it handles
7:06 This is why in my 2km commute to work I've replaced my manual Pajero with an e-scooter. In the car I get to work sitting on a lounge seat all comfy and I don't want to get up and out of the car once I've parked, but in my e-scooter I get the wind in my face, practice physical body balance and arrive refreshed. Can't do much impromptu grocery shopping on the way home, though...
I only drove auto for my entire life until I went to flight school and became a pilot. Then, I began finding driving autos incredibly boring-sterile, if you will. So I bought an old manual 2008 BMW 328xi the other day and find it to be a much more engaging experience, and even thrilling since I’m not quite good at driving it yet.
Good points. As an owner of vintage BMWs as daily drivers in the US, I get sooo sick of people’s tremendous disapproval when they hear it’s an auto. In highly populated areas they’re not fun. It’s more work than fun. An auto is easier and relaxing. Granted 1/3 of the time when on sweeping country roads I’d love a manual. But it’s game over in the city and traffic
I have an idea: you could create a video explaining all the essential basics that beginners need to know, such as oversteer, center of mass, and similar concepts. Then, in your more advanced videos, you can simply refer viewers to this foundational video whenever these topics come up.
The long gearing on BMW manuals is so true, especially the 2nd gear. I love my stick shift N52 which revs to 7300 rpm but it kind of takes away from the fun once you shift from 2nd to 3rd and it drops to like 3000 rpm 😂 way outside the powerband.
3 reason, Double clutching downshifting to overtake in motorway, heel to toe shifting to keep smooth meantime I am breaking before take the bend. Because is fun
I 100% agree! I had a BMW 123d manual and loved it, I'd still be driving it now if it hadn't died. I wanted another manual but when I was test driving some others, the ZF auto box in the 125d's were so good, I thought I'd give it a go. 18 months later, I'm now looking to change back to a manual because as good as the ZF auto is, the 'manual' modes just don't spark the same joy! Especially when it still changes up or down for you when you want to hold it and it's also confusing not knowing for sure what gear you're in!
I drive for work, and spend about 6 hours a day 5 days a week driving automatic. After that, all I wanna do is drive home in my manual shitbox because it's just so much more fun
My 1.2L 3-cylinder spins at about 4,000 RPM at 70 mph. The gears are extremely short (2nd gear ends at about 40 mph). It has no power. It's great fun, within the speed limit. The only downside is that it's earned the nickname "the hybrid" because it burns fuel and oil, almost in equal proportions
@@gravemind6536 The owner's manual says to use 5W-30. It doesn't burn much oil below 3,500 rpm, so I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for the tip, though
Mick, you can teach me the thrill of the country roads sometime if you want a video idea. I drive on them seldom and they make me a bit uneasy as a result, i never quite know what to do when you have a speed limit that's doable on short segments of the road but would be absolutely insane on others .
Recently I've been driving a manual 1.2 hyundai i10 around empty and bendy country roads in the Scottish Highlands. The fun I've been having is off the charts. It's boring and frustrating on motorways, but you can drive like a lunatic. I'm really enjoying gears again after tlyears of automatic. Especially on roads you can connect with.
Totally agree. Always been a manual driver. It's just more fun, more engaging, and it keeps you more alert. I have to admit. The DCT 8 speed wet clutch in the i30N is phenomenal. Currently driving one as a loan car, and TBH? I kind of wish I chose it, as it's that good. My 'manual' i30N is arriving in January. Despite having to drive now and then in stop/start traffic. Yes it's annoying, as our roads in Brisbane are extremely congested at times... But? My PDe2 2018 N was fine, it's an easy manual to drive. I cannot wait for it to arrive. Also chose the 6 speed in the i30N as it is more rare. The PDe6 MY25 i30N hatch is a release Australia pretty much gets exclusively, and it's probably one of the last new manual, petrol only, turbo hot hatches available as of next year, onwards.
Totally agree on the gears, but somehow that makes me feel even more that S58 is indeed better suited with the ZF8. Not to say that choosing the manual it’s wrong, I would love to have the 6MT on G87, it’s just my use case dictates otherwise (live in London, sometimes do long motorway journeys) and the ZF8 being brilliant. Good content from you ❤
There is probably no chance you read it but maybe someone will. I actually own a 2.0T 214 Genesis coupe in manual. I love it, the feel. But my health just cannot let me drive singlemass manual and my right foot is much much stronger after surgeons on both legs. I have to sell it, but the second reason is the 3.8 in Genesis coupe is actually much better in AT than manual (valid dual mass from factory) which is expensive. The choices are depend on your lifestyle, money, health and also a car trim
Thats the thing. Automatic is better in every way. And yet for whatever reaason, I can't see myself getting an auto car any time soon. I can't put my finger on why
There's still situations in driving where you want to disengage the transmission for finer control (not talking about coasting) and nothing beats a clutch pedal for that. No matter how good an auto's transmission is I still find myself relying on the brake pedal a lot more in an auto to control the car. Now imagine 99% of the population drives an auto (like the US), the more brake lights you see the worse it's going to be for traffic flow.
its very depend on where you live , i am in busy city , manual car would be hard job to drive around with hill and bad traffic time , so i pick automatic , however i do agree manual car is more enjoyable and fun
Life goes round people chasing 0-60 times but soon people will want the feel of a car again like in the old times people only wanted a manual sports car because it’s about the feel and feeling connected to your car
If everyone drove a sorted MX5 and felt the pleasure and connection of a good manual gearbox they'd never look back. Unfortunately 95% of road users just look at is as transport and aren't interested.
I drive a manual ford ranger t6 and also 2 small auto cars. Both have their advantages. In town center or busy places it's better to drive auto. Going to country roads it's better to drive manual
It’s odd , I don’t hate on any one who has a manual , but I thought it would be super fun since I’m really into cars , and I just found myself pissed off struggling to drive the car freely even after learning , it’s so much more annoying to hit a corner hard in a manual , I feel so powerful using paddle shifters
I converted my 1996 Swift from automatic to manual transmission, and due to its increased power, I had to use a bronze clutch, which has made it quite uncomfortable to drive. :(
I rented the ZF 8 speed M2 G87 in Germany over the summer and whilst it is a seriously impressive gearbox and it pulls like a b*stard, there was something so unsatisfying about clicking that paddle and dropping a gear to overtake or make a corner. It just felt really cheap and arcadey. Even if the paddle shifter was more premium feeling, I think I would still come to the same conclusion. I also think the long gearing problem you describe also applies to the ZF 8 speed box, but I kind of got around it by either short shifting or being more liberal with the throttle. It’s not perfect but what car really is? Great video mate. My manual G87 LCI is coming in March..!! Gotta keep those manuals alive My gf is ordering me an OBD reader with your link for Xmas. Hope it helps the channel 🙏🏻
i assume the answer to this question is no but what are your thoughts on the feel of the manual in this M2 or if you have driven it the m3. Follow up question which would you rather have a bad manual or a good automatic
Well, for most of us (at least in not so wealthy countries), this isn't really a choice. There's a saying in my area that "a new car here starts from 200.000 kms", cause that's what people can afford. You're usually looking at 15+ years old used cars, all with manual gearboxes. Sure, there were a lot of automatics even 20 years ago, but they also had a bunch of faults, or were simply too primitive compared to modern automatic cars. Manual is the way to go for this reason. In fact, I don't know a single person in my life that drives an automatic.
I would like to buy a M2 G87 as manual. But i never driven a manual sportscar so i like to testdrive one. But in munich is no testdrive possible, only with automatic😢
I've stopped using this kind of box (Carly, OBD Eleven) since they introduced a subscription system... seriously, a subscription for an OBD box, what kind of nonsense is that? We're on the same level as BM and their subscription system for heated steering wheels lol
Video regarding caring for your clutch in a manual? 2 cars in now, thrust bearing went in 1st car. Now, the second car I believe has slipping clutch.. car seems sluggish. Both cars within the last year. 2010 & 2011 plates
That 0-60 on gear shift change. Is not talked enough. On the opposite side, the love of the gear shifting killed CVTs which is actually the next step or superior transmission technological evolution from automatics but the marketing department decided it should mimic the traditional shifter feel to sell more and thus, defeating its purpose and made it not as efficient on gas and worst, breaking it and had a stained name as unreliable, hindering its further potential of development. I cherish the remaining time I can get from driving a stick as much as with gas combustion engine cars. They could be the last of their breeds as we speak. I hope yall do.stay safe and have fun.
Hi, i may have a silly question. I recently purchased a 2023 118i and the manual states a minimum of ron 91 and max 95 ron. If i run 98 ron in it, would it harm the engine?
People are obsessed with 0-60 even the car brands. Back in like 2005 the last of the golden era each car brand had its own uniqueness now they all aim for all wheel drive and the fastest 0-60. Audi was awd Mercedes and bmw were rwd and vw seat Ford were fwd so each car brand targeted different types of people now it’s pretty much the same most use awd just for the 0-60 but not about the uniqueness. Honda has stuck to the fwd and stayed original
My wife has a new auto trans car. When I drive it and push the pedal down I have to wait about 2-4 beats before the computer does the math and decides how it wants to be driven before anything happens; pisses me off. I needed that boost 1.3 seconds ago you daft device. A manual with all of that control, choice and responsiveness is far superior in enjoyment and safety. Gearing down before icy corners instead of expecting the brakes to do it. Hell I had a time where my calipers weren't working in the front, for a week or so while I waited to get it fixed I was able to do most of the same driving just using the gear box to slow down most of the way with a touch of e.brake now and then.
@MickDrivesCars Hello mr.Mick, loving the content and learn new technics to do a better job in the situations you cover, while being a better driver for me and for my car, thanks :) Also, idk if you or anyone here can help me so here goes. I just got a new car and im having a bit of trouble with the gearbox, because i feel some resistance puttin on 1St. While im with my clutch foot on the pedal, and about to put on 1ST, it does not go in properly, staying half way and starts to jugle and do clicky noises (which every normal person with 2 brain cells understands its very bad) but i dont know what to do with this issue, any sugestions? I have driven like 6/7 different cars and this never happened to me, if feels like have to go 2 levels to put on the 1st and im afraid of damaging the gearbox
Anyone driven a manual leon cupra? Want to get one as my next car but wondering how good the manual feels and how it may compare to other manuals. Dsg farts are something that I would like lol so not sure
There are always paddles - or you can switch stick in the auto to the side? I've been driving manuals most of my live - but auto changes gears better without killing itself or the engine.
@@Aryalmiah most modern cars with paddle shifters have an automatic rev-matching feature built into the transmission, meaning it will automatically adjust the engine RPM when you downshift, eliminating the need for you to manually blip the throttle.
@@Aryalmiahah , it is person to person , I personally find having to do it myself annoying because it leaves room for error , I’d never stall or blow my trans hitting a corner wrong in my auto
I am the last of a dying breed, at 50 I came up through the slow death of the manual transmission. I'll admit the modern computer controlled automatic transmission is superior to others, however this is relatively new. When I first drove, autos were self destructive prices of disposable trash for lazy and stupid people. I've owned 25 cars over the years only 2 were/are Autos. A van that was the only option, and a 2022 SUV that I was promised a lifetime powertrain warrenty. Both gave me major trouble. Worst issue I've ever had with a manual was a worn clutch.
I’m 20 now. At 18, I decided to sell my mk8 fiesta as it was getting close to needing a lot spending on it. Wanted something with more power (it was running around 155bhp) and a diesel for better fuel economy from working as a pizza delivery driver and shortly going into a lot of motorway miles. I wanted another manual too. Was looking at Octavia vrs and golf gtds, but found a 220d which was pretty much perfect spec, and a manual. Purely because I thought I want more experience driving a manual, it’s more fun and we potentially don’t have too many more years of autos. I love the car. At times I wish I had an auto, usually traffic, and it used to be when encountering lots of speed bumps. But I’m happy with the choice I made. Put 30k miles on it in a year and a half and it’s been amazing and issue free. It’s currently parked up and sorn as I’m studying abroad, but I can’t wait to come home and drive it. Fairly confident in saying it’ll be around for many more years yet too, it’s on 45k and I expect to easily pass 100k in it. (I bought the car at 18 as insurance was very cheap for me and I thought it was better to invest in a nice reliable car whilst I still had a year of work ahead of me, rather than coming out of training with debt and needing to spend a lot on the fiestas). And every time I want to have a bit of fun I love it, especially when the gearbox feels perfect, and other than that it spends a lot of time sat in 6th anyway, so all I’m losing out on is cruising about 400rpm lower, not that that’s an issue as it does 60+mpg on the motorway all year round.
@@Vova3iLvovayeah! i actually wonder if they missgear more often in traffic than right seated steered cars because of that, because 1 and 2 are away from the body 🤔 statistically speaking
The advantage of 2nd gear to 72 is you can floor it down the motorway slip road if there's no slow pokes and get to motorway speed limit before going to 6th (may as well go for a double clutch on that shift). Yeah it's not as fun as rowing through 3rd in some ways, although I suppose you could short shift, though that change a hair's breadth from the limiter (provided you have a hot and healthy engine) is satisfying.
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Hey dude love you're vids hope your doing better 💪
I forgot that having a manual is pretty common in the UK. In the US, it's rarer and largely considered for enthusiasts so it isn't as surprising that you'd want one on a performance car.
In the US, manual is quite a common choice amongst sports car drivers.
@@lkearney7299 Exactly, so people here are less likely to wonder why you didn't go with the higher performance of an automatic.
Even in India manual transmissions are pretty common
US used to have manual options in normal cars like Honda accord, 3- and 5- series BMW (I had both), Toyota Corolla just to name a few. This is 5-10 yrs ago. Unfortunately, drive to standardize in the name of higher profits have killed these daily’s. Only remaining ones are Civic si, integra, vw Jetta and Subaru wrx; all variants still near the $40k mark
@@socalbadger1 Yeah it's so sad how many manual options we've lost.
Absolutely loved the: "People are obsessed about statistics." 0-100, or 0-60 speaks so little about the actual feel and joy. 10/10
Damn i'm early. Manual Transmission even with 150hp supercharged engines is really fun. I understand why people with automatics are not enganged even with 300-400bhp.
Honestly rev hang is what ruins it these days. Throttle or pedal response in general is also shit these days. So yeah auto is the way to go these days before it’s eventually electric only.
I drive a 99hp fiesta and I enjoy driving it. Still get enough of a power surge at first when I accelerate briskly to make me smile because it's turbocharged and that initial surge of torque just makes me smile
@@hudders11 I have owned many Fords over the years and really enjoy the gear change. My current Focus is a 1.5 120hp diesel in ST-Line X trim and I love it. It looks sharp, the steering is well weighted, the suspension is firm but not crashy, the power delivery is smooth with plenty of torque from low revs. You can definitely have fun in lowered powered cars and Fords are some of the best in class for putting a smile on your face 😁. Enjoy the fiesta 👍🏻
totally agree with you mate.. I drive manual for past 15yrs and its never a dull time. Most of the time people hate manuals in city traffic but i still enjoy it. When you drive for a long period, you know how to engage the clutch in the right way in 2nd gear even in NA engines without damaging the clutch and having a leg workout. It's not that bad at all. Listening to the favorite music and driving a manual is a bliss. Trust me, the muscle memory drives the most and you wont feel much.
I got my license 7 years ago and has been driving auto for the majority of the time, learned how to drive manual at the beginning of this year and never looked back, sure autos are faster and more convenient but just the feeling of being actively engaged in the act of driving is unbeatable
Autos are faster? Lol
@@ryanwatterson4038 maybe in terms of acceleration ? idk
@ryanwatterson4038 depends. Manuals allow you to keep the revs at peak range for power so theyre better for tracking or going fast through bends. For straight line speed in regular street cars autos are probably the fastest for the average driver, if the manual knows what hes doing theyre basically the same speed. The real nice thing about manuals is theyre better for offroading and going in snow. Auto will loose traction more(happens in sand alot) because they dont like you keeping the car at 5k rpm in a low gear. Manuals can also get better fuel economy than autos because you can keep the revs low (lots of autos will downshift to keep you in peak power because they dont know what youre trying to do. They have improved alot so its close with newer 8-10 speed autos). The real selling point is manuals are way more fun.
@@ryanwatterson4038 suspect the comment meant shift faster.
As an advanced driver and trainee mechanic, I'll drive a manual as much as I possibly can! It's a superior driving experience
Manual is engaging to drive . I drive a 88bhp 113 Nm car, but I enjoy every moment because it's so engaging with a manual and it doesn't even exceed 80 kmph.
i thought the same at first, but im constantly finding myself in stop start traffic going uphill, and i'd be much happier with an auto
@chickenbobbobba if you get stuck in traffic a lot, auto would be the best choice.
I drive a manual 6 speed diesel van and its hella fun. Yeah its not fast but its engaging. Driving a slow car fast is way more fun
Yeah, I feel the same. My daily is a Hyundai i20n which only comes as manual. But I tend to always choose manual cars actually. I think they are more fun..And I feel like a better driver because Im a little more attentive to the course of the road (looking ahead). I feel like a manual gear motives to look ahead what speed one drivers a few seconds ahead whereas auto makes me slightly more "lazy"as a driver.
You are 100% correct
german translation says "why I chose a hand-book in 2024/2025" xD
yeah haha
As always, love your videos Mick! I have to say, I am happy you get the privilege of enjoying a manual car in the area you live in and the lifestyle you have. To be honest, as an enthusiast who lives in one of the big Canadian cities, it is really hard for me to enjoy a manual the same way others do. One of the reasons I ended up going for an automatic Mazda 3 Turbo Hatch instead of the NA manual version or even a BRZ manual, was mainly due to practicality reasons. City traffic where I live sucks balls, the issue isn't being unwilling to learn manual, it's just I commute 1-2 times a week to work, I use my car as my daily, I can only afford one car, I rarely have the opportunity to fully row through the gears and enjoy the car the way it was meant to. If I had a manual, I would put in the work, learn the car, and have that skill, only to be stuck between 1st-3rd gear 80% of the time. I'd rather trade in some of that fun factor to have a smoother, less stressful driving experience when I have to use my car. Being able to use your car mainly as a hobby is a dream and I'm happy you get to experience that. If I were in your shoes, i would have given away my auto car as well. To some people, that extra engagement with a manual is worth it, even if they live in a major city, all the power to them. I am just not that type of guy haha. Looking forward to more M2 vids :) cheers
honestly people with a Manual enjoy driving much more and especially in detail.
this is a summary of Me asking every 2 people in the McDrive what they think about driving their car and how it handles
7:06 This is why in my 2km commute to work I've replaced my manual Pajero with an e-scooter.
In the car I get to work sitting on a lounge seat all comfy and I don't want to get up and out of the car once I've parked, but in my e-scooter I get the wind in my face, practice physical body balance and arrive refreshed. Can't do much impromptu grocery shopping on the way home, though...
I only drove auto for my entire life until I went to flight school and became a pilot. Then, I began finding driving autos incredibly boring-sterile, if you will. So I bought an old manual 2008 BMW 328xi the other day and find it to be a much more engaging experience, and even thrilling since I’m not quite good at driving it yet.
Good points. As an owner of vintage BMWs as daily drivers in the US, I get sooo sick of people’s tremendous disapproval when they hear it’s an auto. In highly populated areas they’re not fun. It’s more work than fun. An auto is easier and relaxing. Granted 1/3 of the time when on sweeping country roads I’d love a manual. But it’s game over in the city and traffic
I have an idea: you could create a video explaining all the essential basics that beginners need to know, such as oversteer, center of mass, and similar concepts. Then, in your more advanced videos, you can simply refer viewers to this foundational video whenever these topics come up.
The long gearing on BMW manuals is so true, especially the 2nd gear. I love my stick shift N52 which revs to 7300 rpm but it kind of takes away from the fun once you shift from 2nd to 3rd and it drops to like 3000 rpm 😂 way outside the powerband.
3 reason, Double clutching downshifting to overtake in motorway, heel to toe shifting to keep smooth meantime I am breaking before take the bend. Because is fun
Bro I really love your videos please continue making these lovely videos really helps alot
I 100% agree! I had a BMW 123d manual and loved it, I'd still be driving it now if it hadn't died.
I wanted another manual but when I was test driving some others, the ZF auto box in the 125d's were so good, I thought I'd give it a go.
18 months later, I'm now looking to change back to a manual because as good as the ZF auto is, the 'manual' modes just don't spark the same joy! Especially when it still changes up or down for you when you want to hold it and it's also confusing not knowing for sure what gear you're in!
I drive for work, and spend about 6 hours a day 5 days a week driving automatic. After that, all I wanna do is drive home in my manual shitbox because it's just so much more fun
Yeah I drive a bus 50 hours or more a week good fun to drive out of service but still love getting in my manual car at the end of the day.
My 1.2L 3-cylinder spins at about 4,000 RPM at 70 mph. The gears are extremely short (2nd gear ends at about 40 mph). It has no power. It's great fun, within the speed limit. The only downside is that it's earned the nickname "the hybrid" because it burns fuel and oil, almost in equal proportions
Put thicker oil in your car should ease off the burning a little.
@@gravemind6536 The owner's manual says to use 5W-30. It doesn't burn much oil below 3,500 rpm, so I'm not too worried about it. Thanks for the tip, though
Still have my Megane 3 RS and absolutely love it !
Mick, you can teach me the thrill of the country roads sometime if you want a video idea. I drive on them seldom and they make me a bit uneasy as a result, i never quite know what to do when you have a speed limit that's doable on short segments of the road but would be absolutely insane on others .
I share the same opinion. Driving a manual transmission feels like you are always in control of your car.
Recently I've been driving a manual 1.2 hyundai i10 around empty and bendy country roads in the Scottish Highlands. The fun I've been having is off the charts. It's boring and frustrating on motorways, but you can drive like a lunatic. I'm really enjoying gears again after tlyears of automatic. Especially on roads you can connect with.
In driving Opel Corsa C with 80HP and I have only power in 1st and 2nd 😆😆😆. Cool video mate. Watching you for over a year now
Legend, thanks ♥️
I brought a 2009 benz C300 manual. I enjoy it every time I drive. I get more control of the car.
Totally agree. Always been a manual driver. It's just more fun, more engaging, and it keeps you more alert. I have to admit. The DCT 8 speed wet clutch in the i30N is phenomenal. Currently driving one as a loan car, and TBH? I kind of wish I chose it, as it's that good. My 'manual' i30N is arriving in January. Despite having to drive now and then in stop/start traffic. Yes it's annoying, as our roads in Brisbane are extremely congested at times... But? My PDe2 2018 N was fine, it's an easy manual to drive. I cannot wait for it to arrive. Also chose the 6 speed in the i30N as it is more rare. The PDe6 MY25 i30N hatch is a release Australia pretty much gets exclusively, and it's probably one of the last new manual, petrol only, turbo hot hatches available as of next year, onwards.
Totally agree on the gears, but somehow that makes me feel even more that S58 is indeed better suited with the ZF8. Not to say that choosing the manual it’s wrong, I would love to have the 6MT on G87, it’s just my use case dictates otherwise (live in London, sometimes do long motorway journeys) and the ZF8 being brilliant. Good content from you ❤
There is probably no chance you read it but maybe someone will.
I actually own a 2.0T 214 Genesis coupe in manual. I love it, the feel. But my health just cannot let me drive singlemass manual and my right foot is much much stronger after surgeons on both legs. I have to sell it, but the second reason is the 3.8 in Genesis coupe is actually much better in AT than manual (valid dual mass from factory) which is expensive.
The choices are depend on your lifestyle, money, health and also a car trim
Thats the thing. Automatic is better in every way. And yet for whatever reaason, I can't see myself getting an auto car any time soon. I can't put my finger on why
That’s what I always tell my mates, I would go for that m2 because of its manual gear box
I have six speed manual Fiat 500L. I block gear change,to reduce gear changes
There's still situations in driving where you want to disengage the transmission for finer control (not talking about coasting) and nothing beats a clutch pedal for that. No matter how good an auto's transmission is I still find myself relying on the brake pedal a lot more in an auto to control the car. Now imagine 99% of the population drives an auto (like the US), the more brake lights you see the worse it's going to be for traffic flow.
and brake dust.
You should try a car with no powered steering to fell the most interacted with:))
My wife loves the manual car. I find other enjoyment out of driving, laying back, listening to music and relaxing.
its very depend on where you live , i am in busy city , manual car would be hard job to drive around with hill and bad traffic time , so i pick automatic , however i do agree manual car is more enjoyable and fun
Life goes round people chasing 0-60 times but soon people will want the feel of a car again like in the old times people only wanted a manual sports car because it’s about the feel and feeling connected to your car
If everyone drove a sorted MX5 and felt the pleasure and connection of a good manual gearbox they'd never look back. Unfortunately 95% of road users just look at is as transport and aren't interested.
Manual transmission also gets more fuel efficient so thats a huge plus for everyday cars ❤
My corolla and now the Vw Virtus 1.5 tsi engine, both do 70mph in 2nd gear. So that doesn't look long for an M2 with so much more power.
Its not always about the speed. Its the engagement of being involved in the experience
I drive a manual ford ranger t6 and also 2 small auto cars. Both have their advantages. In town center or busy places it's better to drive auto. Going to country roads it's better to drive manual
I love my rare Toyota CHR 1.2 turbo six speed manual. Its very wuick too!.
I'm undecided between an MX-5 or a Megane RS EDC. What would you go for Mick?
7:22 wrong - gearshift and pedalshift just becomes a part of your reflex response and it's like _you're_ the automatic transmission ...
On country roads manual is a bliss. In the city rush hour, manual is a nightmare.
It’s odd , I don’t hate on any one who has a manual , but I thought it would be super fun since I’m really into cars , and I just found myself pissed off struggling to drive the car freely even after learning , it’s so much more annoying to hit a corner hard in a manual , I feel so powerful using paddle shifters
I converted my 1996 Swift from automatic to manual transmission, and due to its increased power, I had to use a bronze clutch, which has made it quite uncomfortable to drive. :(
I fully agree with the choice of manual.
I rented the ZF 8 speed M2 G87 in Germany over the summer and whilst it is a seriously impressive gearbox and it pulls like a b*stard, there was something so unsatisfying about clicking that paddle and dropping a gear to overtake or make a corner. It just felt really cheap and arcadey. Even if the paddle shifter was more premium feeling, I think I would still come to the same conclusion.
I also think the long gearing problem you describe also applies to the ZF 8 speed box, but I kind of got around it by either short shifting or being more liberal with the throttle. It’s not perfect but what car really is?
Great video mate. My manual G87 LCI is coming in March..!! Gotta keep those manuals alive
My gf is ordering me an OBD reader with your link for Xmas. Hope it helps the channel 🙏🏻
Really love the interior of this BMW, but I love my Megane RS
the dash isn't blurred mate
No one cares
@@theredsalmon612 the police might if they're proper cunts, happened numerous times before
Don’t think he broke the speed limit by a significant margin
i assume the answer to this question is no but what are your thoughts on the feel of the manual in this M2 or if you have driven it the m3. Follow up question which would you rather have a bad manual or a good automatic
Auto rev matching Lowe's the barrier to entry massively. My wife refuses to learn manual. I don't understand why.
Manual trans is just better. Always! In town, on the high way, off road. I'll always pick a manual.
It feels bad when mini stopped the production of manaul.
Who's Emmanuel?
Well, for most of us (at least in not so wealthy countries), this isn't really a choice.
There's a saying in my area that "a new car here starts from 200.000 kms", cause that's what people can afford. You're usually looking at 15+ years old used cars, all with manual gearboxes.
Sure, there were a lot of automatics even 20 years ago, but they also had a bunch of faults, or were simply too primitive compared to modern automatic cars. Manual is the way to go for this reason.
In fact, I don't know a single person in my life that drives an automatic.
I would like to buy a M2 G87 as manual. But i never driven a manual sportscar so i like to testdrive one. But in munich is no testdrive possible, only with automatic😢
I've stopped using this kind of box (Carly, OBD Eleven) since they introduced a subscription system... seriously, a subscription for an OBD box, what kind of nonsense is that? We're on the same level as BM and their subscription system for heated steering wheels lol
Nice video Mick! What do you do for work?
Video regarding caring for your clutch in a manual?
2 cars in now, thrust bearing went in 1st car. Now, the second car I believe has slipping clutch.. car seems sluggish. Both cars within the last year. 2010 & 2011 plates
What is your tire/wheel setup for winter?
That 0-60 on gear shift change.
Is not talked enough.
On the opposite side, the love of the gear shifting killed CVTs which is actually the next step or superior transmission technological evolution from automatics but the marketing department decided it should mimic the traditional shifter feel to sell more and thus, defeating its purpose and made it not as efficient on gas and worst, breaking it and had a stained name as unreliable, hindering its further potential of development.
I cherish the remaining time I can get from driving a stick as much as with gas combustion engine cars. They could be the last of their breeds as we speak. I hope yall do.stay safe and have fun.
What about knee ache when in traffic for long periods of time? That’s why I stopped driving manual
Hi, i may have a silly question. I recently purchased a 2023 118i and the manual states a minimum of ron 91 and max 95 ron. If i run 98 ron in it, would it harm the engine?
I love my Auto
People are obsessed with 0-60 even the car brands. Back in like 2005 the last of the golden era each car brand had its own uniqueness now they all aim for all wheel drive and the fastest 0-60.
Audi was awd Mercedes and bmw were rwd and vw seat Ford were fwd so each car brand targeted different types of people now it’s pretty much the same most use awd just for the 0-60 but not about the uniqueness. Honda has stuck to the fwd and stayed original
FWD is cheaper
@ it’s cheaper but each brand was unique before the 0-60 craze
Thanks! Is this device available for 2025 m2?
Because i like driving
My wife has a new auto trans car. When I drive it and push the pedal down I have to wait about 2-4 beats before the computer does the math and decides how it wants to be driven before anything happens; pisses me off. I needed that boost 1.3 seconds ago you daft device. A manual with all of that control, choice and responsiveness is far superior in enjoyment and safety. Gearing down before icy corners instead of expecting the brakes to do it. Hell I had a time where my calipers weren't working in the front, for a week or so while I waited to get it fixed I was able to do most of the same driving just using the gear box to slow down most of the way with a touch of e.brake now and then.
Great car but I took mine with zf8 ,works better with s58 powerband
i agree manual is more fun on an open road, but being stuck in stop start traffic instantly ruins it for me
@MickDrivesCars Hello mr.Mick, loving the content and learn new technics to do a better job in the situations you cover, while being a better driver for me and for my car, thanks :)
Also, idk if you or anyone here can help me so here goes. I just got a new car and im having a bit of trouble with the gearbox, because i feel some resistance puttin on 1St. While im with my clutch foot on the pedal, and about to put on 1ST, it does not go in properly, staying half way and starts to jugle and do clicky noises (which every normal person with 2 brain cells understands its very bad) but i dont know what to do with this issue, any sugestions? I have driven like 6/7 different cars and this never happened to me, if feels like have to go 2 levels to put on the 1st and im afraid of damaging the gearbox
Anyone driven a manual leon cupra? Want to get one as my next car but wondering how good the manual feels and how it may compare to other manuals. Dsg farts are something that I would like lol so not sure
Manual if you want to drive, auto if you want to be driven! 😜
There are always paddles - or you can switch stick in the auto to the side?
I've been driving manuals most of my live - but auto changes gears better without killing itself or the engine.
Yeah but you don't get the satisfaction of rev matching so it's not as fun
@@Aryalmiahpaddle shifters automatically rev match making every shift perfect
@@Aryalmiah most modern cars with paddle shifters have an automatic rev-matching feature built into the transmission, meaning it will automatically adjust the engine RPM when you downshift, eliminating the need for you to manually blip the throttle.
@hwphotos2389 yeah but I'm saying it takes the fun away from doing it yourself
@@Aryalmiahah , it is person to person , I personally find having to do it myself annoying because it leaves room for error , I’d never stall or blow my trans hitting a corner wrong in my auto
Das gute alte Handbuch. Wer kennt es nicht.
Respectfully saying it: both hands on the wheel my friend.
I am the last of a dying breed, at 50 I came up through the slow death of the manual transmission. I'll admit the modern computer controlled automatic transmission is superior to others, however this is relatively new. When I first drove, autos were self destructive prices of disposable trash for lazy and stupid people. I've owned 25 cars over the years only 2 were/are Autos. A van that was the only option, and a 2022 SUV that I was promised a lifetime powertrain warrenty. Both gave me major trouble. Worst issue I've ever had with a manual was a worn clutch.
Did you say it's 500hp?
My 2025 kia k5 is almost as nice inside the car as yours. Idk what's up with that. Same exact infotainment system.
How many miles does it have?
I’m 20 now. At 18, I decided to sell my mk8 fiesta as it was getting close to needing a lot spending on it. Wanted something with more power (it was running around 155bhp) and a diesel for better fuel economy from working as a pizza delivery driver and shortly going into a lot of motorway miles. I wanted another manual too. Was looking at Octavia vrs and golf gtds, but found a 220d which was pretty much perfect spec, and a manual. Purely because I thought I want more experience driving a manual, it’s more fun and we potentially don’t have too many more years of autos. I love the car. At times I wish I had an auto, usually traffic, and it used to be when encountering lots of speed bumps. But I’m happy with the choice I made. Put 30k miles on it in a year and a half and it’s been amazing and issue free. It’s currently parked up and sorn as I’m studying abroad, but I can’t wait to come home and drive it. Fairly confident in saying it’ll be around for many more years yet too, it’s on 45k and I expect to easily pass 100k in it. (I bought the car at 18 as insurance was very cheap for me and I thought it was better to invest in a nice reliable car whilst I still had a year of work ahead of me, rather than coming out of training with debt and needing to spend a lot on the fiestas). And every time I want to have a bit of fun I love it, especially when the gearbox feels perfect, and other than that it spends a lot of time sat in 6th anyway, so all I’m losing out on is cruising about 400rpm lower, not that that’s an issue as it does 60+mpg on the motorway all year round.
120n in Manual for me.
Cheers. What's your day job out of curiosity?
I've done a bunch of different stuff but currently larger IT projects
why does the gear ur in matter when different driving scenario
yo bro what do u do for living
hay man how do you do rev match in an manual car ?
what is the brown bag in the passenger footwell thats in every video :P
Driving is fun when there is no traffic and manual is more enjoyable. I bought a automatic but manual is more fun.
the left hand for shifting is so weird to me tho
and they get the same gear pattern. first is away and up. eww.
still better than auto
@@Vova3iLvovayeah!
i actually wonder if they missgear more often in traffic than right seated steered cars because of that, because 1 and 2 are away from the body 🤔
statistically speaking
@@bantoniow why would they. they literally grew up with that setup. its first nature
I hate driving on country roads.
Why you never change gear? Just wave your hands around?
For me it's not this or that. Family car: automatic, comfort. My small hot hatch: manual, fun. 😊
Maybe depending where you live. If you live in London there is no point to have a manual
The advantage of 2nd gear to 72 is you can floor it down the motorway slip road if there's no slow pokes and get to motorway speed limit before going to 6th (may as well go for a double clutch on that shift). Yeah it's not as fun as rowing through 3rd in some ways, although I suppose you could short shift, though that change a hair's breadth from the limiter (provided you have a hot and healthy engine) is satisfying.
Rev hang is what makes modern manuals a big no no for me. Makes shifting horrible and the opposite of satisfying.