New Mazda 3?

[2o6]

Good to see gm start to offer more manuals. I didn't know they started making them available on cars like the malibu/impala/ss sedan.

Manual shifting actions - poorly worded effort to say "manual mode" on an auto trans.

[MX793]

.....I don't think manual shifting actions add anything to price anymore. They've been standard on pretty much every Hyundai since 2002.....and they're standard on pretty much every GM car now, too.

And the Focus's DSG has a manual shifting mode, it just doesn't have steering wheel mounted paddles.  Shifts are executed via a toggle switch on the shift lever.

[r0tor]

Except our model doesnt... the toggle switch is poorly implemented anyway

[12,000 RPM]

.....I don't think manual shifting actions add anything to price anymore. They've been standard on pretty much every Hyundai since 2002.....and they're standard on pretty much every GM car now, too.

It doesn't cost much to add buttons that don't do anything. My dad's M45 has "manumatic"... it's a miracle when it actually listens to your shift commands, especially at speed.

[2o6]

It doesn't cost much to add buttons that don't do anything. My dad's M45 has "manumatic"... it's a miracle when it actually listens to your shift commands, especially at speed.

What does an old-ass manumatic function have to do with anything?

[12,000 RPM]

What does an old-ass manumatic function have to do with anything?

That old unresponsive function is the kind of low cost add on they would put in something like the Focus. They wouldn't re-engineer the transmission's electronics for a $18,000 car

[2o6]

That's wrong.....


For starters, the DSG in the Focus would be the most responsive to a manual mode. And the MT function in most TC cheapo automatics work well enough.

[12,000 RPM]

That's wrong.....


For starters, the DSG in the Focus would be the most responsive to a manual mode. And the MT function in most TC cheapo automatics work well enough.

They're not. The function in my Rabbit is worthless, the function in my dad's M45 is worthless, the function in every rental car I've had with it was worthless. OF all the cars I've driven with it, ONE was worth having- G35- which made my dad's worthless transmission that much more bewildering.

Leave the autos auto. If people want to shift for themselves they will get manuals.

[280Z Turbo]

The manumatic in the newest Sienna is worthless.

[hotrodalex]

E46s have decent manumatic ability, although I don't see the point 99% of the time. Only times I used it were when I was racing up and down mountain roads.

[280Z Turbo]

A manumatic is just the car patronizing me.

"Hey imma real sports car! Come on shift me! Let's have fun"
"You don't need me"
"Sure I do! You can shift better than anybody I know! Let's pretend we're racing!"
"Just leave me alone and do your job, car"

There are two kinds of cars, those with clutch pedals and automatics.

[12,000 RPM]

hotrodalex touched on a good point. I did a mountain run on the bike a while back and relied heavily on engine braking to slow me down. A recalcitrant manumatic would be doubly dangerous- not providing engine braking when needed, and putting the stopping load back on the brakes, which on a downhill slope is bad juju. I do think most automatics today have some kind of hill control though. The Rabbit downshifts under heavy braking and I think up and down hills too.

[MX793]

hotrodalex touched on a good point. I did a mountain run on the bike a while back and relied heavily on engine braking to slow me down. A recalcitrant manumatic would be doubly dangerous- not providing engine braking when needed, and putting the stopping load back on the brakes, which on a downhill slope is bad juju. I do think most automatics today have some kind of hill control though. The Rabbit downshifts under heavy braking and I think up and down hills too.

You can manually control pretty much any automatic, even old-school autos from before the days when "manumatic" mode became common.  Since the 90s, Fords have had an overdrive button that would lock out OD and force the transmission into D (3rd gear) for descending hills.  Plus you always had L2 and L1 (or just L) which would allow the transmission to go no higher than 2nd gear, or 1st in some cases.

[r0tor]

hotrodalex touched on a good point. I did a mountain run on the bike a while back and relied heavily on engine braking to slow me down. A recalcitrant manumatic would be doubly dangerous- not providing engine braking when needed, and putting the stopping load back on the brakes, which on a downhill slope is bad juju. I do think most automatics today have some kind of hill control though. The Rabbit downshifts under heavy braking and I think up and down hills too.

Our focus has a downhill button you press and then it aggressively downshifts going down hills and braking... seems to work as a poor mans sport button

[Soup DeVille]

You can manually control pretty much any automatic, even old-school autos from before the days when "manumatic" mode became common.  Since the 90s, Fords have had an overdrive button that would lock out OD and force the transmission into D (3rd gear) for descending hills.  Plus you always had L2 and L1 (or just L) which would allow the transmission to go no higher than 2nd gear, or 1st in some cases.

Yep, and properly modified, an old 3-speed hydramatic is more responsive than 90% of all modern manumatic modes.

[hotrodalex]

Yep, the TH350 in my dad's Camaro listens almost perfectly. I don't think he ever keeps it in D around town.

[12,000 RPM]

You can manually control pretty much any automatic, even old-school autos from before the days when "manumatic" mode became common.  Since the 90s, Fords have had an overdrive button that would lock out OD and force the transmission into D (3rd gear) for descending hills.  Plus you always had L2 and L1 (or just L) which would allow the transmission to go no higher than 2nd gear, or 1st in some cases.

I mean autos will eventually respond. My dad's will go into the right gear if you treat it just right and give it time. My friend used to beat the shit out of his Altima V6's 4AT... it shifted pretty reliably actually. But it's def no substitute for a real manual.

[Catman]

My Maxima had manual shifting and so does my CX-9 I don't use it. Does anyone use it?

[CALL_911]

My Maxima had manual shifting and so does my CX-9 I don't use it. Does anyone use it?

No

[12,000 RPM]

My Maxima had manual shifting and so does my CX-9 I don't use it. Does anyone use it?

No. My Rabbit has it too. It's garbage.

My friend's Maxima had it though and it actually worked pretty damn well. It was a 2004 SE. His next car was stickshift though.

[Cookie Monster]

The manual shifting automatic thing seems too gimmicky. On the G37S my dad and I drove, putting it in Drive Sport seemed to work better than trying to manually shift gears.

[MrH]

I'd agree it's a gimmick for most automatics.  For good DSGs though, it's not a gimmick at all.  Unfortunately, the Focus's DSG is pretty slow to respond.  Not worth even putting paddle shifters on that thing.

[Raza]

I used to use it 100% of the time in my E class and Passat.  Then I bought a stick car and I generally let automatics do what they're going to do when I drive them.  Although the transmissions in my mom's CLS and my brother's S4 (DSG) are both pretty responsive. 

[SVT666]

I use it in the Infiniti when I'm driving the twisties.  Otherwise, I leave it in auto.

[Laconian]

It works well in the TSX, but it needs more than 5 gears.

[giant_mtb]

If I didn't drive a stick for my DD, I'd probably get more enjoyment out some of the paddle systems in customer cars...but I don't.  Although the one in the 2010 Maxima I detailed about a week ago wasn't too bad.  It seemed quick to respond, at least, which is the area where manumatics seem to fuck it up the most.

[2o6]

If I didn't drive a stick for my DD, I'd probably get more enjoyment out some of the paddle systems in customer cars...but I don't.  Although the one in the 2010 Maxima I detailed about a week ago wasn't too bad.  It seemed quick to respond, at least, which is the area where manumatics seem to fuck it up the most.

Its also a CVT

[giant_mtb]

Its also a CVT

Right.

All the newer Subarus that have CVTs have absolutely horrendous manumatic functionality.

[MX793]

If I didn't drive a stick for my DD, I'd probably get more enjoyment out some of the paddle systems in customer cars...but I don't.  Although the one in the 2010 Maxima I detailed about a week ago wasn't too bad.  It seemed quick to respond, at least, which is the area where manumatics seem to fuck it up the most.

One of the regulars in our region autocrosses a 3.5L Altima with the CVT and I'm told he doesn't even bother with the manumatic function, he just leaves it in full auto.  Does pretty well with it too.

[Atomic]

Needing to see it in person but I think the refreshingly simple Miata-like dash is spectacular. I think I will like the exterior, too. I just do not like the pics I have seen.