[fastball]

Let's just leave it at this: Steve McQueen did his own stunts and drove that green '68 Mustang GT 390 Fastback 4 speed all by himself in the epic chase scene in Bullitt.

Would it have been anywhere near as exciting to watch with him simply flapping the paddles or tapping the gear lever?

Part of what made that scene were the interior closeups of him heel and toeing, showing how fast he could shift, and just his sheer mastery of the three pedals. Those weren't done with any Hollywood tricks. I know some of you know Steve was a semi-pro race car driver in his spare time.

Steve McQueen. Bullitt. End of argument.

[SpeedIsLife]

Aaaand it's turned into a self congratulatory session of the three pedal master race purporting themselves to practically be the masters of the universe.

Let people enjoy their cars, be them automatic or manuals. Don't degrade them as not being true drivers, not really being driving enthusiasts or what-have-you simply because they have elected to drive an automatic car..hell there's so much more to driving than just shifting the thing.

[Casalino]

exactly. point proven. Or going through the gears in eleanor.

[somewhatdamaged]

Originally Posted by cellsafemode

Whether you prefer manual or not and have more fun driving with a stick shift or without, the future is coming either way. Best to adapt rather than stubbornly pretend it's not going to happen. I'm sure we'll be having the same kind of discussion when ICE's are phased out. The arguments against embracing the evolution will be just as weak.

It's not a weak argument - I'll wait till the autos are the only option, and by then they will be much better quality - then, and only then will I "adapt" No need to do so when the M6 still kicks ass

[Michigan1LTRS]

Lol This thread is very entertaining. It's even got movie reviews.

[somewhatdamaged]

Originally Posted by Norm Peterson

Just because the majority of high-net-worth individuals prefer one or the other of those doesn't make either of them any better for me.

Hell, the implication that I'm supposed to envy the rich and follow their lead is almost a good enough reason all by itself for NOT choosing an AT or even a DSG.


Norm

truth

[clanky]

I'm 31 ,but if you ask me again i'll say i'm still 29. Anyways I have had quite a few vehicles and the majority of them were manuals. 2 jeeps, 3 trucks (which is hard to get in a manual now days). Some old beaters like saturns and all of those were manual too. My first camaro was for my wife a 2010 camaro and it was a auto because she can't drive a manual and doesn't care enough to learn even though I tried to show her countless times. Anyways I really liked that car, but I always hated it being a manual and my god when you downshifted on that thing the lag was real... I hate that the sticks are disappearing, but as the auto's get more and more advanced it's just going to happen. I'd say within 20 years, but who knows. Heck most big rigs are auto's although I heard rumor some are switching back to the rowing. Guess we'll see I hope i'm wrong with my prediction.

[DownWithNPP]

The funny thing these ridiculous debates seem to only happen on the domestic forums...I guess when everyone can afford one some folks need to elevate themselves over the next guy. I had a C6Z a few years back and it was the same BS over there. Personal preference is just that...

[ForgedReality]

It's because kids these days don't know how to do anything for themselves. They buy smartphones that do everything for them. They buy laptops. If they buy a desktop, they don't know how to build it themselves from parts, so they buy some crappy, underpowered Dell or something. You're lucky if they even know how to change their own oil.

They're not technically minded, so the thought of learning to drive a manual is terrifying to them when they've grown up learning that, to get what they want, all they have to do is push a button. They're less intelligent, in a way, because they were never taught to think or figure things out.

They have their education paid for by someone else, and their first car is bought for them. Automatics are just an easy answer to getting from A to B. They'll never understand the concept of really driving your vehicle because they grew up in a world where doing something as fast as possible with minimum effort is what is expected. Quality and self-reliance are foreign concepts.

Just because something requires interaction doesn't make that thing outdated. It just requires more technical know-how and basic intelligence than sitting and waiting for results to be handed to you. I guess those are things that have fallen out of fashion these days. It's a damned, downright dirty shame.

[ForgedReality]

Originally Posted by fastball

Let's just leave it at this: Steve McQueen did his own stunts and drove that green '68 Mustang GT 390 Fastback 4 speed all by himself in the epic chase scene in Bullitt.

Would it have been anywhere near as exciting to watch with him simply flapping the paddles or tapping the gear lever?

Part of what made that scene were the interior closeups of him heel and toeing, showing how fast he could shift, and just his sheer mastery of the three pedals. Those weren't done with any Hollywood tricks. I know some of you know Steve was a semi-pro race car driver in his spare time.

Steve McQueen. Bullitt. End of argument.

Except the sound the car made was dubbed in from a different car altogether. What else is faked to seem more exhilarating for the audience?

[JLSuperfly]

Originally Posted by fastball

Let's just leave it at this: Steve McQueen did his own stunts and drove that green '68 Mustang GT 390 Fastback 4 speed all by himself in the epic chase scene in Bullitt.

Would it have been anywhere near as exciting to watch with him simply flapping the paddles or tapping the gear lever?

Part of what made that scene were the interior closeups of him heel and toeing, showing how fast he could shift, and just his sheer mastery of the three pedals. Those weren't done with any Hollywood tricks. I know some of you know Steve was a semi-pro race car driver in his spare time.

Steve McQueen. Bullitt. End of argument.

But KITT is an auto.

[slick3]

Weekend toys, always manual. Daily Drivers always auto. Last thing I want to do after a 12-14 hour day busting my ass is row gears in traffic.

[fastball]

Originally Posted by ForgedReality

Except the sound the car made was dubbed in from a different car altogether. What else is faked to seem more exhilarating for the audience?

So they faked the engine sound..... doesn't change the fact that after my Dad rented that movie when I was 13 and saw it for the first time I was hooked on the stick and have never owned an automatic in 24 years of driving and I never will. Even stuck in traffic I love it!

[Drew66]

I like that we have a choice. Which one I prefer really doesn't have a bearing on this thread. The important thing is you can get which ever you want.

If they don't make a manual, can they still charge you to upgrade to an automatic. Things that make you say hmmm.

Drew