Search found 3381 matches

by Shadow
Wed Jul 24, 2019 10:36 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: How much do you drive manual for the performance reasons vs. the experience?
Replies: 22
Views: 8531

Re: How much do you drive manual for the performance reasons vs. the experience?

Probably the worst car I've ever owned in terms of top gear acceleration were my old Foxbody Mustangs. 5th gear was so severely overdrive that the car couldn't accelerate without downshifting first at highway speeds. Flooring the gas pedal did just about nothing unless you were over 80 MPH, and eve...
by Shadow
Mon Jul 22, 2019 10:20 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: How much do you drive manual for the performance reasons vs. the experience?
Replies: 22
Views: 8531

Re: How much do you drive manual for the performance reasons vs. the experience?

Looks like there are some reliability casualties and the new 8 speed era is not all fun and games... The GM 8 speed drove quite well, although not ZF 8 speed level, when I tried it out. You are right for my particular car, though I mention top speed because the bigger brothers of this car, the BMW ...
by Shadow
Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:59 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: I'm starting to get depressed about the automotive future
Replies: 10
Views: 4214

Re: I'm starting to get depressed about the automotive future

My problem ends up being that I can't kit up a car the way I'd like with a manual. Lately, I've been attempting to build a list of cars to look at when my lease expires. There are only two that can be kitted up the way I want with a manual, the Compass and the WRX. I'd like a sunroof, heated seats,...
by Shadow
Fri Jul 19, 2019 8:55 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: I'm starting to get depressed about the automotive future
Replies: 10
Views: 4214

Re: I'm starting to get depressed about the automotive future

I've always been a fan of the manuals and I've driven them for a long time. Up until a few years ago I didn't even consider buying a new car if it wasn't automatic. And that hurt my selection big time. But things have changed, and I was forced to change with them. Now, I've not abandoned my love of...
by Shadow
Thu Jul 18, 2019 1:56 pm
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: I'm starting to get depressed about the automotive future
Replies: 10
Views: 4214

I'm starting to get depressed about the automotive future

Like most of you, I've been dreading the demise of the manual transmission for quite some time now. And gladly, there are still many choices out there for people who want to buy a car with a clutch pedal. But Audi no longer offers any cars with manual transmissions. BMW even stopped offering their p...
by Shadow
Fri Jun 07, 2019 11:19 am
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: You Fixed the Ops, Now Fix My Car!
Replies: 14
Views: 5201

Re: You Fixed the Ops, Now Fix My Car!

The easy answer is to dump the entire concept of flat rate. It's one of the reasons that I got out of the car repair business many years ago. Sure, you can make good money at times, but there's a lot of BS politics involved (who gets the gravy jobs?) and unless you work in a super busy shop, it's no...
by Shadow
Fri May 10, 2019 1:59 pm
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: Weighted Shift Knobs
Replies: 9
Views: 4132

Re: Weighted Shift Knobs

Well, my OEM shifter looks like this and is mostly covered in perforated leather. I really like the look & feel, so I don't want to swap it out. I can pop off the top and fill the knob to weight it and I don't think it will make any difference as far as hot or cold temps. At least I hope not...
by Shadow
Wed May 08, 2019 2:47 pm
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: Weighted Shift Knobs
Replies: 9
Views: 4132

Weighted Shift Knobs

Anyone ever swap out their OEM shift knob for a weighted one? Reason I ask is because there's a guy on the Audi forums who decided to pop the top off of his OEM shift knob and fill it with lead shot. Then he poured in a bit of Elmer's glue to keep the shot from rattling around and also to add a bit ...
by Shadow
Tue May 07, 2019 10:21 am
Forum: Tranny Talk
Topic: How much do you drive manual for the performance reasons vs. the experience?
Replies: 22
Views: 8531

Re: How much do you drive manual for the performance reasons vs. the experience?

I started driving manuals back in the late 80s with a 5.0 Mustang. And back then, there were several good reasons to have the manual version of the car over the automatic. The manual cars were less expensive (automatic was a costly option), faster, and better fuel economy. So who would even want an ...
by Shadow
Wed Jan 30, 2019 2:01 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235259

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

A modern hydraulic clutch has no feel anyway, so that's easy enough. Maybe they could use force-feedback technology from arcade game joysticks to transmit synchronizer feel...hmm... Can't really agree with that. In my opinion, a hydraulic clutch usually has far less effort, but not really less feel...
by Shadow
Tue Jan 29, 2019 5:19 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235259

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

A modern hydraulic clutch has no feel anyway, so that's easy enough. Maybe they could use force-feedback technology from arcade game joysticks to transmit synchronizer feel...hmm... Can't really agree with that. In my opinion, a hydraulic clutch usually has far less effort, but not really less feel...
by Shadow
Tue Jan 29, 2019 4:43 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235259

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

Get the key out? Out of what? My keys never leave my pocket. Took me a minute to get used to push button start, but now that I've had it for awhile I love it. The Mazda even has a walk away feature, whereby if I leave the car with the key in my pocket and don't actively lock it the car automaticall...
by Shadow
Thu Jan 24, 2019 1:45 pm
Forum: Rants and Raves
Topic: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi
Replies: 55900
Views: 3235259

Re: Misc Thread VI: Return of the Threadi

ClutchFork wrote: Wed Jan 23, 2019 11:48 pm Some Bozo wanted to require manual transmission cars to be in reverse to get the key out, eh?
Get the key out? Out of what? My keys never leave my pocket.
by Shadow
Tue Nov 06, 2018 4:45 pm
Forum: Manual Driving Tips
Topic: Downshifting: when has slipping the clutch gone too far?
Replies: 19
Views: 15065

Re: Downshifting: when has slipping the clutch gone too far?

Here ya go. Auto-rev-match-downshifting on the 2019 Mustang. (No thanks, I'll keep my 1992 Mustang) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rh_7N3jKVeY&feature=youtu.be Quite a few cars have automatic rev matching (downshifting and upshifting) and I don't necessarily think it's a bad thing. Why? Well, ...
by Shadow
Tue Nov 06, 2018 9:08 am
Forum: Manual Driving Tips
Topic: Downshifting: when has slipping the clutch gone too far?
Replies: 19
Views: 15065

Re: Downshifting: when has slipping the clutch gone too far?

Your comment is chock full of assumptions and personal opinions but few facts. #1: "Riding the clutch damages it" How do you know your friend had to get his clutch replaced BECAUSE he was riding the clutch? Could it not have been something else? Had you been with him on every drive he eve...