Death of Manual Transmission ETA????

[riverc0il]

Yea, I am very much aware of the Sky diesel engine. I was very excited for Mazda when I was doing my search. I even drove a Mazda3 gaser to see if it was worth waiting for. But everything I heard said that the diesel was being delayed for the US and we might not even get one. Europe gets SO MUCH GOOD STUFF that we don't get! So many diesels and great looking wagons over there that never make it here.

Glad to hear they are rumored to be coming. Diesel is a great way to get super performance and economy and the price eventually evens out and turns to the owners favor vs gas if you keep the vehicle for its lifetime. Nearly one year after my purchase of the TDI, I am averaging exactly 40 MPG combined (which is more than its highway EPA, let alone city). Only Prius engine based hybrids can do better than that.

This could be considering hyjacking but not quite... the segment that drive diesels also have a large number of MT fans as well. So I'm all for more MT diesel as that means more AT diesel options for our next vehicle choice. Especially if the option of a AWD Diesel Wagon/Crossover is available, I'd pay full sticker price for that.

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Just did a search and noticed this: "

173 horsepower and a stump-pulling 310 lb-ft of torque". That would be nice. I bet they won't bring it over with AWD though. I bet they would bring the MT though. Between the diesel and Mazda already being more stick friendly than most, I bet they could have a market segment mostly to themselves. WV doesn't have a small crossover diesel and the Touareg is stupid expensive.​

 

[deadheadskier]

I thought VW was considering bringing over a Tiguan in a diesel?

It does suck that there are so many great cars in Europe and elsewhere that we don't get. It's unfortunate that much of that is probably to do with differences in emission and safety ratings. You would think that in today's "global economy" there'd be a way to get some of those cars here for people that want them and are willing to pay a premium to import what they want via special orders.

As for my 3, I'm averaging 36mpg combined after 3K miles. I drive the car pretty hard and use very few techniques to improve mileage outside of shifting into neutral and coasting for off ramps on the highway (something I wouldn't bother with in an Automatic). About 80% of my driving is highway though and I rarely spend any time in stop and go traffic, so I'd image someone in the city would get more like 32.

 

[bvibert]

They advertise 52"mpg" combined, but I have to assume they mean kilometers not miles, which would mean 32mpg combined in the US.

They use miles in the UK, same as here, but that figure probably uses Imperial gallons, which contain more liquid than US gallons.

 

[bvibert]

I drive the car pretty hard and use very few techniques to improve mileage outside of shifting into neutral and coasting for off ramps on the highway (something I wouldn't bother with in an Automatic).

My VW used to actually shut off the injectors when decelerating in gear (5 speed MT), so it was actually more fuel efficient to leave it in gear.

 

[deadheadskier]

Interesting, not sure if that's the case with my 3. I'm no engineer, I just assumed lower RPMs = less consumption.

 

[bvibert]

Interesting, not sure if that's the case with my 3. I'm no engineer, I just assumed lower RPMs = less consumption.

I used to think the same as you, but when you're coasting downhill with the car in gear (MT) the engine will stay spinning as long as the wheels are turning, so there really isn't any need for the engine to be doing anything to keep itself running. That isn't necessarily true for a traditional AT car if the torque converter isn't locked up, there needs to be a direct connection to the engine. It all depends on how the engine management is setup as to whether the fuel is shut off or not.

Keeping it in gear has the additional benefit of saving wear and tear on the brakes, as the engine is aiding in slowing the car down.

 

[ctenidae]

With a manual, if you coast in gear you use no gas. At least, with a fuel injected engine you don't. Engine braking is by far the most efficient way to slow down, as much as you possibly can. Remember, every time you touch those brakes, you're doing nothing but turning valuable gasoline into useless heat.

There's a spot on 95 in Stamford that often comes to a stop. Knowing it's there, I was able to go from 60 to a full stop without ever touching the brakes, and did it at thesame time as the cars in the lane next to me. There's a little rise leading up to the place where traffic stops, so I was able to coast all the way to 0, then used the brakes to keep from rolling back. Couldn't have done that in an automatic.

 

[wa-loaf]

Hell, you can buy min-vans in Europe with manuals!

If Mazda put out a MX5 diesel with MT that would jump to the top of my list! Subaru also needs to bring their damn diesel over for the Outback!

I've always used the engine to break on off ramps and the such. I suppose you can do it with the automanuals too. But it's just not as satisfying.

 

[deadheadskier]

With a manual, if you coast in gear you use no gas. At least, with a fuel injected engine you don't. Engine braking is by far the most efficient way to slow down, as much as you possibly can. Remember, every time you touch those brakes, you're doing nothing but turning valuable gasoline into useless heat.

There's a spot on 95 in Stamford that often comes to a stop. Knowing it's there, I was able to go from 60 to a full stop without ever touching the brakes, and did it at thesame time as the cars in the lane next to me. There's a little rise leading up to the place where traffic stops, so I was able to coast all the way to 0, then used the brakes to keep from rolling back. Couldn't have done that in an automatic.

Basically the same scenario on the few ramps I coast to a stop on around here. All slightly up hill with stops at the end that if I throw it in neutral, I roll to a stop at the end of the ramp with barely having to touch the breaks and the deceleration is basically the same as if I were downshifting through the gears and using the engine to stop the car.

 

[ctenidae]

Basically the same scenario on the few ramps I coast to a stop on around here. All slightly up hill with stops at the end that if I throw it in neutral, I roll to a stop at the end of the ramp with barely having to touch the breaks and the deceleration is basically the same as if I were downshifting through the gears and using the engine to stop the car.

Difference is, if you keep it in gear you use no gas (if you have a manual)

 

[Nick]

With a manual, if you coast in gear you use no gas. At least, with a fuel injected engine you don't. Engine braking is by far the most efficient way to slow down, as much as you possibly can. Remember, every time you touch those brakes, you're doing nothing but turning valuable gasoline into useless heat.

I remember growing up my dad would brag about his brake pads would last him 100,000 miles because he would use engine breaking so much.

Also I remember the same, he would never brake unless he had to. In other words he would coast to decelerate as much as possible, even if it meant getting onto someone else's ass.

Driving techniques alone can make a huge difference in efficiency. If there is a stop sign or red light ahead and you simply allow yourself to coast to it instead of riding the gas to maintain 1 or 2 mph and then hitting the brakes that makes a difference with a lot of city driving .

 

[bvibert]

Hell, you can buy min-vans in Europe with manuals!

When I was younger my parents bought a brand new Dodge Caravan (1987, I think), which was a 5 speed stick. You don't see that around here too much anymore, okay, it wasn't very common back then either. :lol: It also came with an AM only radio and was devoid of any possible options...

 

[Riverskier]

My last car was a manual Honda Civic I bought new. At 105,000 miles I had the brakes checked for the first time, and they said I had 1/3 of the pad life left. Granted I drive primarily highway and country roads, but a lot of that is attributable to engine braking.

 

[ctenidae]

I learned to drive in a 5 speed 1987 Isuzu Trooper II Turbo Diesel. 85 hp of gut wrenching power, there.

 

[deadheadskier]

I learned to drive a stick on the old arcade game "Hard Driving" :lol:

I went to party when I was 15 and the kid who drove ended up getting plastered. I obviously didn't have a license, but we were 3 miles from his parents house and didn't feel like walking. Got in his mom's Subaru and drove it back home without stalling.

 

[marcski]

I learned to drive a stick on the old arcade game "Hard Driving" :lol:

I went to party when I was 15 and the kid who drove ended up getting plastered. I obviously didn't have a license, but we were 3 miles from his parents house and didn't feel like walking. Got in his mom's Subaru and drove it back home without stalling.

You're a stud! .

I learned on an old Saab 99, 4-spd, with manual steering. My brother's college ride. He brought me to a quiet road with a hill. Put the emergency brake on and put me in the driver's seat. I found the friction point before hitting anything behind me. . (I had just got my license).

 

[deadheadskier]

Oh, I'm no Mario Andretti, just a funny way to learn how to drive a stick. When I was a kid and we went to the mall my mom used to just drop me off at the Arcade while she shopped. Hard Driving was one of those sit down car games and it had three pedals and a manual mode that was remarkably life like in terms of working the pedals. I played the game all the time and was amused that once I actually got to drive a car for the first time, it was a stick and it seemed easy.

 

[wa-loaf]

I learned to drive in a 5 speed 1987 Isuzu Trooper II Turbo Diesel. 85 hp of gut wrenching power, there.

1980 VW Rabbit Diesel and a 73 GMC pick-up (3 speeds!).

 

[deadheadskier]

Was the GMC a 3 on the tree? Buddy of mine had an old pick up with such a stick and man was it weird to drive.

 

[ctenidae]

1980 VW Rabbit Diesel and a 73 GMC pick-up (3 speeds!).

My buddy had a 3-in-the-tree mid '70s Dodge pickup. Thing was awesome.