viperman:
Ikenna, the manual transmission is good no doubt, thats probably why its still used for formula-1 racings and Rally's.
That said, technology is to improve lives, and technology has created automatics, step/tiptronics etc, and people have adopted it. Its not only africans that have jumped onto the automatic transmission bandwagon, even europeans have also, so whats the whole "mental colonisation " talk about must everything be about that?
If a race improves on something, I shouldn't use it because, i want to be seen as mentally independent?
Tomorrow, something better than automatic is surely in the cooking pot of the auto giants, and when it comes out, people who love to try NEW THINGs will jump on it, if it feels good for them, they'd buy it, if not, they'd definitely trash it.

With the stress people have to go through in their daily lives in the homes, offices etc, I don't think adding stress of driving manual transmissions would make sense to plenty. Except those who want to drive it for special purposes/events e.g racing OR those who are auto engineers who drive it for better/core understanding and feel of a car's engineering.

This thread of mine's been resurrected?

The latest failures on automatics (I'm talking mass failure) has been with the new Ford Galaxy, Mondeo, S-Max, C-Max.

The transmission fitted to auto models is the dual-clutch transmission, which Ford dubbed "Powershift". The equivalent of BMW's SMG, or Audi / Volkswagen's DSG.

For those that reside in the UK, you are not likely to have missed seeing the Panther Black Ford Galaxy's run by Addison Lee, the largest privately run taxi service in the UK. Addison Lee buys 250 Ford Galaxy's a month from Dagenham Motors, Edgware Road. Up until last week, I was contracted to Dagenham Motors, on the night shift.

This is a bit long winded, but please bear with me, and you'll see where I'm heading.

The Powershift auto transmission in the Ford models I listed above have been far from reliable. Addison Lee is a major client of Ford, given the number of vehicles they purchase monthly. When I visited Dagenham Motors for the first time, the first thing that struck me was the vast number of Addison Lee Ford Galaxies on site. There were never less than 25 at any given time, ranging from 2011 - 2013 models.

They were there due to transmission or the wet clutch failure. And due to the fact the backlog of cars waiting to have replacement transmissions or replacement clutch damper units, the "Night Shift" was born. There was simply no way the day staff was going to get through them! Besides the vast number on site, there were more booked in, but not collected, due to space. This was what I ended up with, replacing transmissionns and clutch damper units every night. I've never seen such mass failure of any auto transmission, from just 1 brand, all in one place - some of the failures occured as early as 30,000 miles, on 2012 cars!

The manual models I've never worked on, never replaced their clutches. The Powershiftauto tranny in the vehicles I'v e listed are built by Getrag, so are fitted in other vehicles besides Ford. Now, that's a TON of transmissions worldwide, that are waiting time bombs! In countries where warranties are upheld, not too bad, if the cars are in warranty. What happens to failures in cars on Nigerian soil, or other developing countries? The same transmission is used in automatic versions of the Ford Kuga (Ford Escape in North America).

Is anyone seeing a pattern here?

rickie4us:
I need to know the advantages of CVTs over the normal auto transmissions. Anybody in the house with experience? Thanks

drnoel:


@Nobody, u obviously know ur cars. Respect. If you and any other car gurus are still on this thread. I would like to humbly ask if any of you smart guys have heard to work on or know problems with Nissan Juke 2013 model. I recently acquired one for madam a year and half ago and have not had to do nothing major on the car yet. The car is also fully insured but my fear now is if it will develope any major issues once the warranty passes which should be sometime in october next year. Waiting to hear from u guys. Meanwhile great thread, have learnt much.

Kashif:


Better to purchase extended warranty of available.

kuntash:
I dont know if Siena had mentioned it here, "EXERCISE" many people dont this,

I discussed this issue with Siena some months back when I complained of my leg while driving a Manual tranny car some 5yrs ago, and he advised me I should try engage myself in one form of exercise or the other.

truly, after I dumped my manual for an auto, my hip joint pain didn't really disappear like that, it was still there. and I noticed then my clutch was really not too soft as it should be.

But after engaging in some exercise for like 3 months or so, I really felt I could do anything, Also if the clutch are soft enough, u wouldn't have worries,


come to think of it, many people staying in places like Lagos doesn't have time to do other things, and this isnt good,

Auto is pleasurable, but manual is kool and somewhat makes u a feel like a real driver ,

kuntash:
sincerely, I loved the driving pattern of manal C-class benz I drove 2 weeks ago, after about 4yrs of all AUTO tranny,

the first few mins was like I was learning how to drive, but all of a sudden, I discovered the clutch was so smooth and need no much stress to push down, obviously this was what discouraged me in my old camry that was manual,

this one was really nice, and I wish to try it again.

suffice it to say that there is much fun driving a manual, especially on the highway,

drnoel:


@Nobody, u obviously know ur cars. Respect. If you and any other car gurus are still on this thread. I would like to humbly ask if any of you smart guys have heard to work on or know problems with Nissan Juke 2013 model. I recently acquired one for madam a year and half ago and have not had to do nothing major on the car yet. The car is also fully insured but my fear now is if it will develope any major issues once the warranty passes which should be sometime in october next year. Waiting to hear from u guys. Meanwhile great thread, have learnt much.

Mekzyz:
The OP is extremely deceitful and biased. Topic of the thread is a question but he went ahead in the body to root for manual gears. You can as well go on and tell people to buy cars without AC since the AC saps engine power. I am sure he was among the mechanics that adviced people to stay away from front wheel drive cars years ago. I will categoeize the OP as an advanced Kazeem. If manuals are the best things after sliced bread, why do we smell burnt clutches? OP please drive what pleases you and let people be!

jayriginal:


He's not nobody, he's the one and only Sienna. Too bad he deactivated his account, probably because of the shoddy way this forum is handled.

apatheticme:



Best manual transmission I've ever driven is Benz. They get their cars so much. Though I'm driving an automated Benz now, but I still miss the manual transmission cos its dope.