Manual V8 sedans are becoming rare.

[zorro]

I always had manuals and then when I moved to Melbourne driving the ute across town was just too much and lost the enjoyment. My company cars are autos, I have an sv6 atm and have tried a few times to drive it straight 'manual' mode but it just isn't right so it stays in D . It's pretty sad though I'm hanging out for my new car which is a manual tD Amarok 4x4

I miss the 3rd pedal on weekends but don't seem to do much driving for fun these days

[planetdavo]

I always had manuals and then when I moved to Melbourne driving the ute across town was just too much and lost the enjoyment. My company cars are autos, I have an sv6 atm and have tried a few times to drive it straight 'manual' mode but it just isn't right so it stays in D . It's pretty sad though I'm hanging out for my new car which is a manual tD Amarok 4x4

I miss the 3rd pedal on weekends but don't seem to do much driving for fun these days

Definitely can be like that. Most people don't have the luxury of having two different cars, so compromise is required. If the compromise balance means an auto is the way to go- so be it.
An "enthusiast" outright dismissing a traditional manual though, no matter what the circumstances...they should be banned from the forum!

[redvxr8clubby]

Think you have missed the point of why many enthusiasts still love manuals XUV.
Take out that open road cruise, and swap it for a hilly, winding road. Then tell us which one is more enjoyable if you love to drive, rather than just reaching the destination...

Absolutely correct, can't beat the manual on hilly windy road. Anyone who argues this point should simply be shot.

[timbo888]

hadn't really thought of that, or realised the fact..

and everyone is in luck, i'm currently trying to sell the rare V8 manual sedan in my driveway 2007 SSV

[macca_779]

Absolutely correct, can't beat the manual on hilly windy road. Anyone who argues this point should simply be shot.

Yep take a powerful good handling car through for example the snowy mountains and enjoy a very satisfying fun drive. Do it with an auto.. Pfft you might as well have gone to Luna Park.

[Angeldust]

i once bought an auto 5oh VR SS...never again i said, totally ruins the car.

had manual ever since.

was funny when the A6 came out, as a lot of people were sayong how great they were.. now u just hear stories
of how the A6 just does'nt know what gear it wants to be in etc etc.

I had a someone with a g6e turbo with an auto trying to keep up with me through some twisties, by the time his
gearbox figured out what gear in wanted to be in, then kicked down, and the turbo spooled up, lol i was already
powering through the next corner in the right gear in the right rev range etc even though theirs was prolly quicker
'in a straight line' .

[tyrhantc]

Not that I could afford it but if I could, I would really want a manual C63.

I know it was a crappy A4 but years ago I got a new VYII A4 for a change as I had always driven manuals; I traded it 6 months later for a manual VZ.

[Smitty]

....

was funny when the A6 came out, as a lot of people were sayong how great they were.. now u just hear stories
of how the A6 just does'nt know what gear it wants to be in etc etc........... .

ain't that the truth.

mate in the car club bought an A6 SSv sportwagon to tow his race car (to PI Winton etc) and on one of the runs down to PI for a track day
(sitting 100-105kmh) that A6 box must have done several thousand gearchanges..up and down up and down. We started counting
but after reaching 100 in a kilometre or 2, we gave up! He sold it and bought a manual SSv Redline Sportwagon.

Interestingly we also have a few GM Holden engineers in the car club (with weekend race cars they tow around). They use MANUAL SS/SSv Sportwagons...

[planetdavo]

ain't that the truth.

mate in the car club bought an A6 SSv sportwagon to tow his race car (to PI Winton etc) and on one of the runs down to PI for a track day
(sitting 100-105kmh) that A6 box must have done several thousand gearchanges..up and down up and own. We started counting
but after reaching 100 in a kilometre or 2, we gave up! He sold it and bought a manual SSv Redline Sportwagon.

Interestingly we also have a few GM Holden engineers in the car club (with weekend race cars they tow around). They use MANUAL SS/SSv Sportwagons...

Guess that just supports what many of us have been saying doesn't it.
Auto transmissions are, and forever will be, a compromise for enthusiasts. They are only as good as the hardware and software designed into them. They are mostly a REACTIVE device, doing something in response to something the driver has done. Some are better than others- many now downshift a gear when slowing down etc, but they are a remote device just doing a job really. Paddles and tipshifts ATTEMPT to make them interesting (how many people actually use them regularly?), but rarely do they end up being even close to the enjoyment a manual can give. They are designed to press the accelerator/brake and reach your destination with a minimum of fuss.
Whereas (acknowledging some are also better than others) manual gearbox and clutch cars are only as good as the mug operating that lever and pedal...

[chocco]

your just nnot cutting it so she takes the car for a spin instead lol


all my cars are manual, accept the wifes, auto's for me are just boring, they even sound better IMO than an auto.

just sayin

The G8 wagon is hers, the Cross 8 is mine

To quote my wife when I drive the wagon " You drive like pussy, put the boot in "

PS - I still have all my points.

[zorro]

Paddles and tipshifts ATTEMPT to make them interesting (how many people actually use them regularly?), but rarely do they end up being even close to the enjoyment a manual can give. They are designed to press the accelerator/brake and reach your destination with a minimum of fuss.
Whereas (acknowledging some are also better than others) manual gearbox and clutch cars are only as good as the mug operating that lever and pedal...

Until more manufacturers start designing pedal layout to support exclusive left foot braking the buttons/paddles and even the up and down traditional gearsticks are just a gimmick.

[steve_t]

Until more manufacturers start designing pedal layout to support exclusive left foot braking the buttons/paddles and even the up and down traditional gearsticks are just a gimmick.

What's wrong with the pedals as they are? I left foot brake sometimes. It's always interesting to start out with because you always forget that you have less fine motor control in your left leg and invariably brake way too hard, but it's all good

[feistl]

This is where hybrid technology could be good...

V8 with manual transmission, RWD LSD WITH a small ~50kw electric motor powering the front wheels supplied by a lithium battery pack. Work commute = Electric motor (When the manual is the problem). Every other time = V8/manual.

Could even go a step further and have a generator connected to the front of the engine (similar to the 4WD Ferrari), so when batteries run low you start the V8 (leave it in neutral) which charges them up on the fly. Sort of like the volt concept expect in a car you actually want to buy....

With electric drive by wire throttles these days you could easily switch between "modes"....

[zorro]

My knee hits the steering column, dunno what is is with Aussie cars and having the pedals as far right as possible and accelerator sitting further in.

If you had the pedals further to centre of the car and left foot braked its more natural feel and you would adjust pretty quick

[steve_t]

My knee hits the steering column, dunno what is is with Aussie cars and having the pedals as far right as possible and accelerator sitting further in.

If you had the pedals further to centre of the car and left foot braked its more natural feel and you would adjust pretty quick

Fair enough. I'm not tall enough to smash my knee

The accelerator pedal I agree with. I can heel-toe rev match in my Subaru but not in the Maloo