StandardShift.com

even when i was a kid, it was uncommon to actually see on the road a manual suv. the older exploders, 4-runners, cr-vs, cherokees, etc. were all available with manual transmissions, at least initially, but seeing one on the road was uncommon, at least in my area. Manual XJ's are rare, and of the fe...

The coolest thing is seeing a minivan with a stick. Still haven't seen one in person... I've seen a couple Mazda5's, and occasionally a Previa will pop up on eBay. Did you know that early Chevy Astro/GMC Safari vans had a factory 5-speed manual option? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chevrolet_Astro#F...

Why is this news? It's on a truck - trucks have been using 10+ speed transmissions for decades. Aside from the incredibly inefficient shifter, it's nothing out of the ordinary.

And the same is true of Mazda, with the MX-5 Miata being their one car that sells in a high percentage of manuals. For that reason, I wouldn't even put them on this list of manufacturers. The Mazdaspeed3 has a relatively high manual take rate too :wink: I see quite a few regular Mazda3's and older ...

Performance models (WRX and BRZ) aside, Subaru does basically limit the manual to the base trims now. You can't even get a Legacy Premium (step up from base model) with a manual any more (despite still being able to get an Outback Premium with one...not sure I understand that logic). And of course n...

• I've seen old shifters with a ring right under the knob that you have to pull up as you're shifting into reverse. My friend's '03 Saab 9-3 (5-speed) and my dad's '12 Subaru Outback (6-speed) both have this. My '08 Outback locks you out if you're going more than a couple miles an hour, but there's...

Does bump-starting work in a car with keyless/push-button ignition? Provided that there's no key to turn, and if the battery is dead, pushing the ignition button probably won't register as putting the car into run position.

give it a little gas, or let the clutch out slower. If I have a lot of time on my hands and I'm not facing uphill I can successfully no-gas launch my Outback in 2nd - you shouldn't have any issues doing a rolling 2nd gear start in an A5.

I do a few no-gas starts and 1-2 shifts in the parking lot/driveway/whatever when getting oriented with a new car. By the time I'm on the actual road I have a relatively good feel for the vehicle. The clutch in my 2008 Outback was in much better shape than the one in my previous one (2003), engaged ...

Not with my current car - I intend to keep it until it dies.

on a side note, i find it disturbing how much propaganda for AWD vehicles is out there, especially after switching from subaru (AWD) to VW (FWD). The VW with snow tires did better in the snow and ice than the subaru with highly rated and practically new all season tires. before i got the vw and (af...

mapman85 wrote:Subaru Outback 2.5:
5th @ 3000 = 70 mph

My guess is that my '08 OBW does approximately the same

My old Outback (2003) had shorter gears, 3k would only get you about 62 or 63mph in 5th.

I still drive like I'm taking the freakin road test when I have a parent in the passenger seat, heh.

As for "normal" passengers? Sometimes I go a little more slowly than usual, and I generally try to make my shifting smoother, but that's about it.

Easy, but a terrible, feel...Challenger RT...felt like I was driving a boat, crazy sensitive gas pedal, I hate the shifter. I don't know why. Had to move a Challenger SRT8 for work once -- Hurst shifter...it was terrible. Couldn't find reverse, then when I finally did and finished backing up, I tri...

Admittedly, I haven't experienced all that many stick cars. Hardest: 1987 Porsche 911. My feet aren't even that big, and I was still clipping pedals I didn't mean to be pressing all the time. the footwell was TINY. I've never felt a clutch so tight and hard to press in my life. As far as I could tel...