ralper

I heard (or read) somewhere that one of the advantages of the autonomous car is that it can provide you with an income. Imagine if it drops you off at work in the morning, then spends the day working for Uber and picks you up in the afternoon to take you home at the end of the work day. I suppose this was tongue in cheek, but it may not be so far fetched.

GuthNW

I can't predict the future, but at least I've enjoyed my past when it comes to my experiences with vehicles featuring manual transmissions. My introduction to manuals came via the world of dirt bikes. I learned to shift aboard a '69 Honda Mini Trail (it featured an automatic clutch). I learned to shift using a clutch aboard a friend's Yamaha Mini Enduro. Numerous other dirt bikes would follow. Learned to drive in a '69 El Camino with 3-on-the-tree that belonged to my dad, which was followed by my first car purchase — a 1972 Triumph Spitfire with 4-on-the-floor (slower, but much more fun).

The thing about manual transmissions is that overall you are more immersed in the driving experience. Driving (or riding for that matter — the appearance of DCTs is also on the rise in the world of motorcycles) a vehicle with a manual transmission is much more of a visceral experience than it is with an automatic transmission or some other variant (paddle shifters are simply not as involving). Another way to put it is that you are much more intertwined (responsible) for what is going with regards to the overall experience. I was never into fishing growing up, but fell for fly fishing (spey) a few years ago for similar reasons.

My son started driving a few years ago and is happy to know how to drive a manual. This makes him too part of a subset of people that is statistically shrinking as time marches on. So it goes.

Bamafan

Ironically, I spent several days teaching my son in our '94 BMW, and he wasn't very good. I put him in our NSX and he was smooth as silk.

tof

The NSX is actually pretty easy to drive. Very smooth clutch. Was it pre-97 with the twin plate clutch? Or the later ones with the single plate clutch. I had the former but always heard clutch engagement was even smoother on the later single-plate clutch.

My first car was also a Triumph Spitfire. As GuthNW says, not fast but really fun.

jukngene

Switching driving between the NSX and the S2000, there is very little difference in the clutching or shifting. You can sure tell the family heritage!

boltonblue

The VW stories bring back memories of my "first real date", i.e. one where i drove.
Had my sisters VW fastback. Reverse gear was missing a few teeth so it had a tendency to pop out of gear pretty easily.
It took me twenty minutes to back out of her flat 30 foot driveway.
My dates big sister even came out and offered to do it for me. I was mortified.

valentine

LOL. I have quite a few VW stories from my youth. Beetles were quite popular back in the day. They made it easy to learn to drive a manual.

tof

Big difference in torque, though. And steering effort if the NSX is a 91 or 92 five-speed.

ralper

It's in Honda's DNA. My new Si is the same.

boltonblue

I think this belongs in this discussion.
Only Chris Harris Would Compare The Porsche 911 R To An Old Peugeot