CT4-V CT4 V blackwing vs RS3 6 months later

[ngoni]

Posted this morning. I did not realize that the 4BW and 5BW were the only GM cars (and, I assume, trucks?) left with a manual:

Here's How Well Manual Transmissions Sold In 2024

It looks as if there’s still a decently sized slice of the market that wants to row their own gears

jalopnik.com

At this point, I think they're also the only sedans you can buy from GM.

 

[Todd]

And I'm glad VW still offers them in the GTI/Type R....

Not anymore after this year.

But there’s still the GLI in MT.

 

[Roadhawk]

Not anymore after this year.

But there’s still the GLI in MT.

Thats a shame....oh well....

 

[bloominguez]

Kudos to all the makes still offering MT. I really like to see the Subaru/Toyota guys (and gals?) taking MT in the BRZ/86....meant to be. And I'm glad VW still offers them in the GTI/Type R....unlike Audi (which is now dead to me)....lol

Definitely "and gals". One of those with a GR 86 with a manual is my daughter. Very nice shifter in the GR 86, perhaps not up the the level of a Honda or a Tremec, but very nice. The MT in my GR Corolla I would describe as "better than average" but not great, not quite as satisfying as the GR 86 shifter. The Bronco, well, it's just nice to have a MT in that, but it's pretty mushy, below average I would say--although some would say that since it's a truck it fits the character of the vehicle.

 

[Roadhawk]

Definitely "and gals". One of those with a GR 86 with a manual is my daughter.

Thats great! Good for her (and you). You've taught her right.

Both my boys currently drive MT vehicles and even their prior cars were all MT. They fully understand and appreciate the joy of driving manual. And both have taught friends of theirs how to drive MT (as their folks either didn't know how or didn't have MT cars to teach them on).

But it wasn't always that way. The grief I got from them both as they were learning to drive (in a BMW ZHP no less....lol). Sure it was more difficult for them....and they resented it. I always told them they would appreciate it one day....and besides we had no choice....I certainly wasn't going to teach them with our Mustang...the only automatic we own/owned.

 

[bloominguez]

Thats great! Good for her (and you). You've taught her right.

Both my boys currently drive MT vehicles and even their prior cars were all MT. They fully understand and appreciate the joy of driving manual. And both have taught friends of theirs how to drive MT (as their folks either didn't know how or didn't have MT cars to teach them on).

But it wasn't always that way. The grief I got from them both as they were learning to drive (in a BMW ZHP no less....lol). Sure it was more difficult for them....and they resented it. I always told them they would appreciate it one day....and besides we had no choice....I certainly wasn't going to teach them with our Mustang...the only automatic we own/owned.

I'm 1 for 2. Two daughters, one of whom drives a manual and one who doesn't. I taught both, but one daughter just doesn't like it. The daughter who does told me, before she knew how to drive MT (before she drove at all), that she was nervous about learning BUT she *knew* she would love it once she learned, if only because she'd be able to tell boys, "What do you mean you can't drive a manual? I'm a little girl and I can!" She is an excellent driver. Fast forward a few years ... we just a track day together last summer (she in her GR 86 and I in my GR Corolla, paid for by Toyota--thank you Toyota!).

 

[Roadhawk]

Both my boys are good drivers (with excellent driving habits WRT turn signals and all the rest)....though had my doubts during the learning phase. What amazes me is their general adherence to speed limits and such...particularly as they've spent much time in a car with me (and were always encouraging speed when younger....lol).

My eldest (the better technical driver) has pushed both our GTI and our previous Audi on occasion...once where I was driving the GTI and he the Audi and I wanted to see if he could keep up with me. He did so easily...

 

[BW56M]

Taught my grandson how to drive a manual in my GT350, before he even had his temporary license. It had a feature that as you let the clutch out, the RPM's would automatically raise slightly, making it much easier to learn without stalling. It also had hill assist. I would have him (empty high school parking lot) let the clutch out very slowly, without giving it any go pedal. Once he mastered that, he learned very quickly. Today he is very proficient at driving a standard shift. He loved driving the Shelby, but was ecstatic that he got to drive my 5BW 6M on my 2nd day of ownership.

 

[bloominguez]

Taught my grandson how to drive a manual in my GT350, before he even had his temporary license. It had a feature that as you let the clutch out, the RPM's would automatically raise slightly, making it much easier to learn without stalling. It also had hill assist. I would have him (empty high school parking lot) let the clutch out very slowly, without giving it any go pedal. Once he mastered that, he learned very quickly. Today he is very proficient at driving a standard shift. He loved driving the Shelby, but was ecstatic that he got to drive my 5BW 6M on my 2nd day of ownership.

That's one of my main methods of teaching people to drive a manual transmission as well, one of the very early exercises (right after practicing "clutch and brake" without the car even running for muscle memory). With or without the "assist" of the car trying to add gas to avoid stalling. Clutch only, no gas. When you try to do both first, they don't pick it up as quickly. Some cars have enough power do do this easily. If not, just go to a parking lot with a very slight downward slope.

 

[BW56M]

I would also have him bring the car to a stop on an upward slope. This is where many newbies panic. After coming to a stop, I had him kept the clutch pushed down and let off the brake breifly to learn how long hill assist would hold the car from rolling backwards. This kept him from panicking (well sort of...took a few tries, but you get the idea). Again, these features can be very helpful in learning how to drive a manual.