The Automotive (& other mechanized vehicles) thread

[Chankgeez]

Yep, sounds like a Lotus.

Good to see you, Colin!

[Disarm D'arcy]

Heyo.

Good idea reviving this thread. Not much to say except I sold the 15 years old diesel Golf last spring and got an hybrid Toyota Yaris to replace it. It was the only to achieve similar / better fuel economy with a relatively new car ('22, only 22k kms on the odometer). Toyotas are a lot nicer these days in terms of interior finish and VW is sadly a lot less reliable than before in Europe.

[imJonWain]

I'd like to get something more interesting but my Honda Fit is still hanging in there and finding an manual transmission car is a pain in the ass now. My old really option would be to buy a subaru with 100k+ miles lol.

[Disarm D'arcy]

I used to prefer manual transmissions because
a) it's Europe for some reason, 10 yrs ago, automatic was still for old people only or sports cars,
b) it was better for fuel economy provided one used it properly (shifting at the optimum range, using engine braking),
c) cars on the European market usually have way smaller engines and HP than the same model in the US, and older automatic transmission would suck power
d) lower maintenance costs and better reliability because French manufacturers, who have over half the market share in France, notoriously suck at automatic transmissions

I've come to like it a lot on the Yaris because apparently the technology Toyota uses is the best available and the hybrid engine means there's always some electric oomph available.

Curious what makes you prefer Manuel these days.

[imJonWain]

honestly I just like driving them lol. I think it just feels a little sportier? There's no real logical/functional reason for it. Going hybrid/elec for me would be the reason to go away from a manual. I had a rental hybrid Corolla recently and really liked it. Much different than the 1993 Corolla I used to drive lol.

If I got worse gas mileage I'd be looking into hybrids more but my fit gets around 30+ usually and I also hardly drive anywhere so it's hard to justify.

[Disarm D'arcy]

All my manuals were diesel / TDI because I buy used usually and France had huge incentives towards so called "clean diesel" so this was pretty much all that was available on the market. So I understand what you mean but I have not experienced the "sporty manual petrol" thing ever, even on rentals with how downsized EU engines are nowadays.

The fit sure is a nice practical economy car, and probably a much more fun drive with a manual.

[dubkitty]

i really like manual, but it was kind of a relief to get the Subaru Outback i have now after years of driving Toyota Matrixes (Matrices?) with stick. it keeps me more occupied driving manual, but it's a huge pain in the ass in busy traffic. i've done enough popping the clutch to creep 5 feet, i think.

i love the Outback to pieces. it's in the sweet spot between modern electronics (mileage calculator, steering wheel audio controls, paddle shifters on the wheel for manual mode, AWD, backup camera) and the kind of excess i don't want (touchscreen radio). it has a ton more pickup than the Matrix and feels much better in lousy conditions because AWD. it also has enough cargo room to fit Becky's manual wheelchair in the back no sweat. it's like a 2012 or 13, i forget. it's so solid that i hit a deer going 50 and it only cocked up the bumper panel and right-side lights.