The cars and bikes thread!

[Raza]

ABS, traction control, stability control, the list of computer controlled aids on your car is endless... are you really even driving? 

Wayne

It's not endless--that's the whole list. Oh, hill assist on the clutch.

And they can all be turned off. Even if it necessitates a fuse being pulled. You can't make a torque converter into a clutch pedal.

[geoffbot]

Does gas mileage matter very much when you get a fun convertible that you can drive everyday for under £10,000? That's a lot of gas money saved.

I'm broke these days and the difference between 20mpg and 40mpg OS a good £1000 a year. Which I mean I can afford but still.

[Seriously]

There's just a difference of opinion of which is best.

There are manual 'box fans, auto 'box fans , even fans of the far superior DCT 'box ........................













.............Then there's Raza

[Seriously]

I'm broke these days

Hmmmmmm wonder why
You're the only full time working bloke without kids I know of that complains that you're broke...................

[geoffbot]

Hmmmmmm wonder why
You're the only full time working bloke without kids I know of that complains that you're broke...................

Really?! It's all relative - I was earning 40% more last year...

[happyscrappyheropup]

It's not endless--that's the whole list. Oh, hill assist on the clutch.

There are more. Clutch restrictors that slow engagement, electronic throttle body(is) that manage throttle inputs.

And they can all be turned off. Even if it necessitates a fuse being pulled. You can't make a torque converter into a clutch pedal.

I'm going out on a limb here, but my guess is that you aren't disabling these systems. 😉


-- Wayne

[Seriously]

I'm going out on a limb here, but my guess is that you aren't disabling these systems. 

This

There are more. Clutch restrictors that slow engagement, electronic throttle body(is) that manage throttle inputs.

He'll probably say he knew already, but for instance fly by wire throttles have been on cars for years..........


You do know it's not real driving if you don't have a mechanically (bowden cable stylee) wired conventional throttle.

[Seriously]

by the way...............

[gnuyork]

The Lotus Elise probably comes closest to a (fairly) modern car with out any assists. Though you'd have to go for a 2005 for the cable throttle. I have a 2006. Not even power steering, which is sublime for me, and I don't even have power windows on mine Some models include traction control (that can be defeated) as an option, and some with limited slip differentials. Mine has the traction control and has been upgraded to a variable set up with the tuning and mods.

I'm with Raza on the manual gear box. I'd take the fun of it over the .2 seconds faster shifting. Only two cars would sway my thoughts about paddle shift DC - McLaren 675LT or a 458 Speciale. Even then, I'd still want something I could shift for funsies (Lotus!)

[93EXCivic]

ABS, traction control, stability control, the list of computer controlled aids on your car is endless... are you really even driving? 

Wayne

HAHAHAHA. I acutally have never owned a car with any of those things (ok one had ABS)

by the way...............

Manual boxes are still the most fun. I haven't driven any DSGs, DCTs, whatever crap that are as fun as a proper 3 pedal manual.

Of coarse, I still think a lot of old cars are a lot more fun then modern cars with their electronics, over assisted steering and all the other shit they shove in modern cars. Like an old Triumph Spitfire is a lot more fun to drive then a new Miata (well I haven't driven the ND yet but I have driven the NC) and the old Civic Si (EG and EF models) are lot more fun then the modern Si. Yeah they are slower off the line and probably don't handle as well but they are more fun to drive and that is what matters. Now get off my lawn you damn kids.

All that being said I don't believe every car is suited to have a manual. Most big luxury cars (XJs, 7-series, Bentleys, etc) should have a self shifting gearbox and same with most trucks. I wouldn't buy a manual truck.

Also automatic shifting manuals make total sense in hypercars as those are built solely to be as fast as possible but for sports cars, hot hatches and sport sedans, there should always be a manual option.