Automobiles

[GeneK]

I’ve been driving my new Golf R for the past month. 6 speed MT. After a decade of driving a Wrangler it’s like heaven. And yes Jim, no sunroof (it’s not even available).

[hoch]

I’ve been driving my new Golf R for the past month. 6 speed MT. After a decade of driving a Wrangler it’s like heaven. And yes Jim, no sunroof (it’s not even available).

If I were to buy another small fun car, that would be it. 2nd set of wheels with snow tires for winter driving, sticky summer tires for fun commutes. I still kick myself for not buying an '04 when they came out. That blue color was stunning.

[twowheels]

I just swapped my 2017 6MT golf R for a 2018 DSG golf R for no cash. The 2017 had 4 CELs that VW couldn't fix so I lemoned it and VW gave me a brand new 2018 in exchange. The 6MT really needs a short shift (I installed a dieselgeek), taking the restrictor orifice out of the clutch line, and removing the spring on the clutch pedal to make it reasonable. I still found the shift action wanting and the relationship between the brake and throttle pedals is wrong for heel and toe downshifts. So, I went with the DSG, which is a brilliant transmission.

[GeneK]

Just saw an article (from a Euro site) that 2019 GTI will not be offered with manual.

[Saab2000]

Just saw an article (from a Euro site) that 2019 GTI will not be offered with manual.

In some ways that sucks, but it’s a bit akin to a Pinarello being offered with friction shifting. I drove a modern Audi with a dual clutch automated manual and it’s faster than a manual with the paddle shifters. Manuals are cool in the same way 1980s bikes are cool. I’m pretty much over both. Driving my manual to Chicago tomorrow.

[GeneK]

I kinda know where you’re coming from. When I ordered the Golf R I had specified a manual knowing full well the DSG was faster 0-60, and knowing this could be my last manual. Me, I didn’t own my first car ‘til I was 35. But since then, of the cars I’ve leased or owned (Honda/Volvo/Audi/BMW/Jeep) and now VW, all have had 3 pedals. Still get a kick out of it. Sometime I’ll have to adapt to 2 pedals and both hands straight ahead.

[GeneK]

PS. Guess I like to think there’s still some skill involved a driving the stick. I mean, the most aggressive drivers who blow by me going to work (19 yo girls in a subcompact w/phone in right hand) just mash on the gas pedal and that’s it!

[clunk]

Just saw an article (from a Euro site) that 2019 GTI will not be offered with manual.

If that’s the case then maybe I should trade in my 2015 manual for a 2018.

[GeneK]

The 2018 is pretty nice.

[jerk]

If you sat in the passenger seat and had Lewis Hamilton drive m- your car would go 0-60 faster too. The point of a manual is not the negligible real world performance differences- it's the pleasure of driving the car. Some cars are great with an automatic- big muscle cars, big AMGs, etc. they'd be kinda wrong with a manual. Some cars especially hot hatches with small engines and turbos make for a pretty compromised driving experience with an automatic.

I bought an R32 in 2008 when it only had a DSG available. That thing was amazing. Luxury car amenities- the best brakes I've ever had, AWD, tons of power and great handling. I didn't own it six months because I hated not having a manual. You think you'll use the paddles- but you never do. It just made the whole car "meh" for me. But if I were to say buy a Hellcat- I'd strongly consider the A8 auto.

[Saab2000]

If I ever get a place with another garage spot (I currently only have one) I may get another MX-5 (better yet a Boxster) and it will likely have a manual transmission and will definitely not have a trailer hitch receiver!

Manuals have a place in this world but for my daily driver, especially in Chicago traffic, no thanks!

For the Mazda? Bring it.

I'm sorry I had to move this car. Underpowered but as the reviewers say, perfectly balanced handling and the rear end would come out if driven well enough.

[davids]

If you sat in the passenger seat and had Lewis Hamilton drive m- your car would go 0-60 faster too. The point of a manual is not the negligible real world performance differences- it's the pleasure of driving the car. Some cars are great with an automatic- big muscle cars, big AMGs, etc. they'd be kinda wrong with a manual. Some cars especially hot hatches with small engines and turbos make for a pretty compromised driving experience with an automatic.

I bought an R32 in 2008 when it only had a DSG available. That thing was amazing. Luxury car amenities- the best brakes I've ever had, AWD, tons of power and great handling. I didn't own it six months because I hated not having a manual. You think you'll use the paddles- but you never do. It just made the whole car "meh" for me. But if I were to say buy a Hellcat- I'd strongly consider the A8 auto.

I'd throw in that it's also a matter of the circumstances I'm driving in. Commuting in Boston does not make me want to operate more levers and pedals. It makes me want to get on a train.

[sailor]

The solution for bad traffic is a bike not an automatic transmission.
-Guy who bike commutes and carries a mtb on a stick shift BMW wagon on the weekends.

[dashDustin]

I don't think an ez-up will find in an allroad, you might need to go up a size to an a6/5 series / e-class / volvo v70

ended up with a V60 Cross Country. EZ Up fits with 2" to spare behind me. 200mi trip to pick it up...18mpg with tailwind in the 4Runner. 32mpg with headwind coming back in the V60. I'm content with that. first trip this weekend up to OKC ProAm. We'll see how it goes. 2 bikes, EZ Up, A-frame, tools, spare parts, and luggage.

[dashDustin]

alrighty, trip 1 done. 2 bikes on Thule Aeroblade setup, a 10x10, A-Frame, Sprint stand, 3 sets of wheels, my smaller box, 3 days of luggage and kit for 2 people, a full ice chest. The little 4 banger turbo in the V60 CC had no problems. 29mpg up to OKC from Austin and 28 back. Plenty of get-up when needed. Might take it up to Tulsa, similar cargo.

[sk_tle]

I'm sorry I had to move this car. Underpowered

These cars are light , they aren't underpowered and they'd still go from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds which is good enough to mix in the traffic. Looks to me there are so many traffic + speed limits and enforcement these days that the smallest and oldest cars can't even feel underpowered anymore. It takes you 2 seconds more than a Ford Escape to reach 60mph so what ? 4 seconds later you'll still end up inches from the rear bumper of that soccer mum that beat you in the drag race and she won't reach home faster.

[Saab2000]

These cars are light , they aren't underpowered and they'd still go from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds which is good enough to mix in the traffic. Looks to me there are so many traffic + speed limits and enforcement these days that the smallest and oldest cars can't even feel underpowered anymore. It takes you 2 seconds more than a Ford Escape to reach 60mph so what ? 4 seconds later you'll still end up inches from the rear bumper of that soccer mum that beat you in the drag race and she won't reach home faster.

It wasn't underpowered by a ton because the car was light and I really enjoyed owning it. But on this particular trip, with the bike rack and the top down (lots of drag) I remember a few times going up the hills through Pennsylvania where I had my foot on the floor to maintain 80 MPH, which is basically keeping up with traffic. I will admit that the top down and the bike rack cause a lot of drag, so that's part of it. I think it had 115 hp.

This particular automobile was from the first year they made them, had a lot of miles and was still a blast to drive. And everything worked on the car as designed, proving the quality of Mazda's engineering. It was very reliable and I only sold it because my father died and I took over his old GMC Yukon and couldn't justify owning three cars. The Mazda needed a new roof and I wasn't willing to get a new one, so I sold it. I wish I had space for a new one because I really enjoy the simplicity of the tiny, 2-seat roadster. I'd probably buy one today but I don't have a 2-car garage for it. The Yukon is long gone.

I hate sunroofs but love cabriolets! These are virtually perfect in every way.

[rwsaunders]

I love when I spot beauties like this Volvo 122...manual tranny and no sunroof either!

[dgaddis]

These cars are light , they aren't underpowered and they'd still go from 0 to 60 in 9 seconds which is good enough to mix in the traffic. Looks to me there are so many traffic + speed limits and enforcement these days that the smallest and oldest cars can't even feel underpowered anymore. It takes you 2 seconds more than a Ford Escape to reach 60mph so what ? 4 seconds later you'll still end up inches from the rear bumper of that soccer mum that beat you in the drag race and she won't reach home faster.

My new Ridgeline pickup has 285hp and a 6spd auto, the car I had before was an '03 Civic LX with 115hp and a 4spd auto. The Ridgeline weighs in around 4200lbs vs the Civic's 2500lbs. The Civic takes over 9seconds for the 0-60 sprint, and the Ridgeline does it in under 7 seconds. It doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it makes a big difference in how the car drives in day to day life (even tho I rarely bury the gas pedal on the Ridgeline 'cause it guzzles fuel when you do). Merging onto the freeway, pulling out into a busy road, passing on a two lane country road, all much easier with that extra oomph.

Saab's right about the bike rack adding a lot of drag, and it being noticeable on low power cars. I spent a year living in Augusta during the week and Macon on the weekends, about 2.5hrs apart taking mostly country backroads and little freeway. 52 mondays in a row I made the drive east, and 52 Thursdays in a row I made that drive back west. Every trip I'd pass a couple of people on those back roads, and it's not that I'm a speed demon (I typically set the cruise control at 5 or 7mph over the limit), but so many of the local folks on those roads aren't in a hurry at all, so I'd pass them. The extra drag from putting a bike on the back of the Civic was very noticeable in both gas mileage and when you needing to pass.

[mmoore]

My new Ridgeline pickup has 285hp and a 6spd auto, the car I had before was an '03 Civic LX with 115hp and a 4spd auto. The Ridgeline weighs in around 4200lbs vs the Civic's 2500lbs. The Civic takes over 9seconds for the 0-60 sprint, and the Ridgeline does it in under 7 seconds. It doesn't sound like much of a difference, but it makes a big difference in how the car drives in day to day life (even tho I rarely bury the gas pedal on the Ridgeline 'cause it guzzles fuel when you do). Merging onto the freeway, pulling out into a busy road, passing on a two lane country road, all much easier with that extra oomph.

Saab's right about the bike rack adding a lot of drag, and it being noticeable on low power cars. I spent a year living in Augusta during the week and Macon on the weekends, about 2.5hrs apart taking mostly country backroads and little freeway. 52 mondays in a row I made the drive east, and 52 Thursdays in a row I made that drive back west. Every trip I'd pass a couple of people on those back roads, and it's not that I'm a speed demon (I typically set the cruise control at 5 or 7mph over the limit), but so many of the local folks on those roads aren't in a hurry at all, so I'd pass them. The extra drag from putting a bike on the back of the Civic was very noticeable in both gas mileage and when you needing to pass.

I did a trip out to the east coast last year in our minivan with a Thule roof storage unit and bike rack with our tandem on it. taking the roof unit and bike rack off was the difference in just passing and having to drop a gear or two. wouldn't have changed a thing, the few little bike rides we did were a nice change from being in the car.