meh I don't think his response was that bad, aside from picking on Frenchy... but even that wasn't that bad... anway we got way OT in this thread...

all in all it does suck that Dodge doesn't offer more manual transmissions... :-(, I am happy they decided to offer a manual for the new Challengers, wish it launched with a manual option, I also wish they would offer a manual in the charger, atleast in the SRT8


The best part is if americans in general appreciated manuals better, and knew how to drive them, more ppl would save money... saying as how the manual transmission option is typically cheaper than a automatic..

 

You used them all.

 

Awww, Paul, I didn't know they let the special people use such big words...

 

they need to get back to offering 6 and 5 speeds in v8s. Cheaper. better mileage. more reliable, and the driver can actually have some control. it's pretty much gonna be illegal to hold a phone to your ear, so we oughta get back to shifting. and I hate the way tow haul works, I guess they don't want the driver to have to think. Oh, the Prius debate, can't say much, stepmom has one, and also she has a 97 1500 Ram 5.9. Differant vehicles with differant purposes, one pulls horse/travel /hay trailers, one gets 40 plus in a very hilly, curvey area, and thru bumper to bumper Branson Mo. traffic The Caravan was sold to buy the Prius

 

hahaha driving a stick doesn't stop me at all from talking and using a cell phone (no headset) at the same time... hell I drive using a stick with a broken right hand (casted... pain in the *** to shift) and I still talk on the cell phone, of course not everyone can handle talking and driving, like my gf, no joke she's admitted to me that she can't talk and drive... not just on a cell... she can't talk to a passenger she loses concentration and she drives really bad cuz of it... I'll vouch for that.. oh and she has a auto

 

Modern automatics (therefore not any Dodge automatic) almost always deliver equal or better fuel mileage as a manual in the same vehicle nowadays. Of course you can radically alter your driving style and maybe still get the manual to edge out an auto, but all else equal the MPG advantage is fading out.

Manuals are still cheaper to build per vehicle, but factor in the development and testing time, combined with the unpopularity of manuals among American truck buyers, and they probably don't pay for themselves. Unless you are talking about the Ranger, whose development costs were probably paid off a decade ago, or the Tacoma, which still has a very strong 4cyl/5M market.

People nowadays abuse their cars and throw them away every couple years, so who cares if a well driven manual could be on the orignal clutch after 150,000 miles?

It's a shame that half-ton manuals are extinct. HD owners will probably keep them around for a while (except for Chevy). Small trucks will keep them around to drive down cost.

 

I would have prefered a manual for all my vehicles. Not available at the time (or at all in the Prius). My wife doesn't drive manual so that is my major consideration in what to get. Prius is mostly my wifes daily driver. It's a 07 and just went in for it's 45,000 milage service. As I said, for what it is, it really is a peppy little car. I hate the CVT but it is much better than the one in the Caliber we test drove. That car was lifeless and loud. I drive mostly the Dak and the van. It all depends on what the need is. The tires chirpping was in response to a lawn mower comparison. Then I even said big deal. Sorry that was taken the wrong way but whatever. I have compared the Prius to a golf cart. The CVT is the main reason. I am a golfer and therefore don't take that as a big insult. I have fun driving both. If I could, I would have a 6 speed in the truck. (Wife would not drive it anymore ) But I really can't complain truck tows our boat without any issue (haven't had the opportunity to tow with the SC in towing mode yet) Towed my brothers 26 foot Rinker and various trailers with lawn mowers (lol) quads and snowsleds. Each of our vehicles have there own purpous and each one does what it needs to well. Manual just adds more of the "fun" factor into the drive.

 

You realize there is no "CVT" in the conventional sense to be found in a Prius...it's all electric motors .

Toroidal CVT is Nissan's game, and I have a feeling they will start to dissappear as automated manuals and automatics get better. From what I understand, the Nissan CVT keeps the engine at peak efficiency but is not necessarily an efficient mechanism iteself.

I like my 6 speed. Too bad it might be the last one I can get in a non HD Dodge.

 

That explains the definite difference in feeling when driving the 2. The CVT (and noise) is really what turned us away from the caliber. I really wanted to stay a Dodge family. Oh well.

 

Just curious what does HD stand for in ur guys' posts...??