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Post by guido2 on Oct 28, 2018 9:53:59 GMT -5
Anybody remember the trend for pushbutton transmissions...I think Studebaker had them...oh yeah Corvairs had a little bitty handle. But you still had to shift. ramblers had them as well.......all my father owned until ramblers disappeared.... Actually AMC or what ever name came up with some interesting cars. Remember the Gremlin? I don't think it is a stretch to say it was a car ahead of its time. Knock the hard edges off and look at the hatchback design.....and you are seeing the Grandfather of most cars on the road today. How about the Javelin. That was a hot car meant to go against Mustang, Camaro and Corvette and many others in a very crowded 'muscle car' arena. If you look at pictures of it now.....IMO....it is still a very nice looking car. But inside...it was bare bones....More of a race car with a radio than a road car. Almost too hot if my memory is correct.
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cyhmn
Junior Member
Posts: 195
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Post by cyhmn on Oct 28, 2018 11:18:18 GMT -5
ramblers had them as well.......all my father owned until ramblers disappeared.... Actually AMC or what ever name came up with some interesting cars. Remember the Gremlin? I don't think it is a stretch to say it was a car ahead of its time. Knock the hard edges off and look at the hatchback design.....and you are seeing the Grandfather of most cars on the road today. How about the Javelin. That was a hot car meant to go against Mustang, Camaro and Corvette and many others in a very crowded 'muscle car' arena. If you look at pictures of it now.....IMO....it is still a very nice looking car. But inside...it was bare bones....More of a race car with a radio than a road car. Almost too hot if my memory is correct. I really wanted a Pacer. Nothing like driving around in a fishbowl. The Javelin was really the only AMC worth owning. And of course who can forget the ugliest car known to man-- the AMC Matador.....I still recall the AMC marketing campaign "What's a Matador?".......
you are correct about the Gremlin...was a bit ahead of it's time....the marketing there was unique "Where's the other half of your car?".......
for the record, I never learned to drive a stick.....however, I had a VW Superbeetle with a semi-automatic....no clutch (servo driven), but you still needed to shift it....had 3 gears and couldn't go up anything more than a 7% grade....
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Post by guido2 on Oct 28, 2018 11:31:38 GMT -5
Actually AMC or what ever name came up with some interesting cars. Remember the Gremlin? I don't think it is a stretch to say it was a car ahead of its time. Knock the hard edges off and look at the hatchback design.....and you are seeing the Grandfather of most cars on the road today. How about the Javelin. That was a hot car meant to go against Mustang, Camaro and Corvette and many others in a very crowded 'muscle car' arena. If you look at pictures of it now.....IMO....it is still a very nice looking car. But inside...it was bare bones....More of a race car with a radio than a road car. Almost too hot if my memory is correct. I really wanted a Pacer. Nothing like driving around in a fishbowl. The Javelin was really the only AMC worth owning. And of course who can forget the ugliest car known to man-- the AMC Matador.....I still recall the AMC marketing campaign "What's a Matador?".......
you are correct about the Gremlin...was a bit ahead of it's time....the marketing there was unique "Where's the other half of your car?".......
for the record, I never learned to drive a stick.....however, I had a VW Superbeetle with a semi-automatic....no clutch (servo driven), but you still needed to shift it....had 3 gears and couldn't go up anything more than a 7% grade....
Oh geeezzeee the Pacer...good description. I think that my wife and I are the last remaining couple that can both use a stick. 😆 I personally prefer a stick....I am sure it is just me....but I feel more in tune with the vehicle and have better control. But admittedly backing up a trailer/boat up a hill is a lot easier with an auto.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 28, 2018 12:27:41 GMT -5
I really wanted a Pacer. Nothing like driving around in a fishbowl. The Javelin was really the only AMC worth owning. And of course who can forget the ugliest car known to man-- the AMC Matador.....I still recall the AMC marketing campaign "What's a Matador?".......
you are correct about the Gremlin...was a bit ahead of it's time....the marketing there was unique "Where's the other half of your car?".......
for the record, I never learned to drive a stick.....however, I had a VW Superbeetle with a semi-automatic....no clutch (servo driven), but you still needed to shift it....had 3 gears and couldn't go up anything more than a 7% grade....
Oh geeezzeee the Pacer...good description. I think that my wife and I are the last remaining couple that can both use a stick. 😆 I personally prefer a stick....I am sure it is just me....but I feel more in tune with the vehicle and have better control. But admittedly backing up a trailer/boat up a hill is a lot easier with an auto. Don't bet money on you and your wife be the last remaining couple that can both use a stick because you would lose. My daughter (age 42) owns a Kia Soul stick and she taught my oldest grandson (age 27) how to drive it.
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Post by Save the Manuals! on Oct 30, 2018 18:40:38 GMT -5
Yep, there's a few out there who can drive a stick, but with the advent of "smart transmissions" street manuals are becoming a thing of the past, even some track-only barely street legal cars have dual clutch, paddle shifted transmissions that are "manuals" in the most basic sense of the word. I'm negotiating with a local dealer about one of these: www.ford.com/cars/mustang/models/bullitt/ I'd prefer a Camaro, but they're a little too much show and no go for the money.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 27, 2018 19:54:10 GMT -5
We both drive sticks. I bought her a 2014 Mustang 6 speed, no problem. Now 3 cars and a ATV, 2 auto's, a semi auto and a 4 speed vette. We actually like our shifting from time to time.
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Post by WKDWZD on Nov 28, 2018 6:21:38 GMT -5
Oh geeezzeee the Pacer...good description. I think that my wife and I are the last remaining couple that can both use a stick. 😆 I personally prefer a stick....I am sure it is just me....but I feel more in tune with the vehicle and have better control. But admittedly backing up a trailer/boat up a hill is a lot easier with an auto. Don't bet money on you and your wife be the last remaining couple that can both use a stick because you would lose. My daughter (age 42) owns a Kia Soul stick and she taught my oldest grandson (age 27) how to drive it. Manual gearshift is still the most common method over here. In fact, if one passes their driving test in an automatic geared car, that is the only type of car that their licence will permit them to drive, pass the test in a manual (stick) shift car and you are licenced for both.
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Post by msdownunder on Nov 28, 2018 13:05:50 GMT -5
Don't bet money on you and your wife be the last remaining couple that can both use a stick because you would lose. My daughter (age 42) owns a Kia Soul stick and she taught my oldest grandson (age 27) how to drive it. Manual gearshift is still the most common method over here. In fact, if one passes their driving test in an automatic geared car, that is the only type of car that their licence will permit them to drive, pass the test in a manual (stick) shift car and you are licenced for both. Same in Australia
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 19:11:26 GMT -5
Don't bet money on you and your wife be the last remaining couple that can both use a stick because you would lose. My daughter (age 42) owns a Kia Soul stick and she taught my oldest grandson (age 27) how to drive it. Manual gearshift is still the most common method over here. In fact, if one passes their driving test in an automatic geared car, that is the only type of car that their licence will permit them to drive, pass the test in a manual (stick) shift car and you are licenced for both. What about bikes, remember Honda had a 750 auto in the late 70's? It was garbage I think.
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Post by apexbud on Nov 28, 2018 19:51:08 GMT -5
I had several chances to drive the old "automatic stick" that VW offered in the Beetle and other models. It had an electric clutch attached to the stick. No clutch pedal. All you had to do was move the stick a little, and the clutch would engage, then you would shift. Don't rest your hand on the stick, because it would remain in neutral. Don't let your leg hit the shifter, because it would go into neutral. It also took a moment to engage neutral before you could shift, so no fast shifts.
A great example of over-engineering a simple car, and answering a question, no one asked.
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Post by Bartman on Nov 28, 2018 22:10:23 GMT -5
Manual gearshift is still the most common method over here. In fact, if one passes their driving test in an automatic geared car, that is the only type of car that their licence will permit them to drive, pass the test in a manual (stick) shift car and you are licenced for both. What about bikes, remember Honda had a 750 auto in the late 70's? It was garbage I think. My '72 Honda 750 Four had the regular 5 speed. A guy at work later in the mid 70's had a Honda with the Automatic but I never got a chance to try it. Another buddy later got a Gold Wing, he was one of those Long Distance riders. Even had a trailer hitch on it. Him and his son both rode their bikes one summer all the way up to Alaska from here. That's just Nuts! I thought the ride from here to OC was long enough.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 28, 2018 22:45:34 GMT -5
What about bikes, remember Honda had a 750 auto in the late 70's? It was garbage I think. My '72 Honda 750 Four had the regular 5 speed. A guy at work later in the mid 70's had a Honda with the Automatic but I never got a chance to try it. Another buddy later got a Gold Wing, he was one of those Long Distance riders. Even had a trailer hitch on it. Him and his son both rode their bikes one summer all the way up to Alaska from here. That's just Nuts! I thought the ride from here to OC was long enough. Long distance riding as fine as ones ass and back could handle it BUT half the fun of a scoot is the shifting. I owned several but the most fun was the Leakin Limey despite the Smith gauges and Lucas electrics. Overall pretty reliable except a head gasket every now and again which I could swap out in a handful of hours. The old pre bowling ball Sportster was a torque machine if one could tolerate jugs vibrating loose.... which I couldn't. Automatics belong on SUV's, sedans and constant speed propellers.... NOT sports machines.
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Post by Bartman on Nov 29, 2018 5:37:26 GMT -5
My '72 Honda 750 Four had the regular 5 speed. A guy at work later in the mid 70's had a Honda with the Automatic but I never got a chance to try it. Another buddy later got a Gold Wing, he was one of those Long Distance riders. Even had a trailer hitch on it. Him and his son both rode their bikes one summer all the way up to Alaska from here. That's just Nuts! I thought the ride from here to OC was long enough. Long distance riding as fine as ones ass and back could handle it BUT half the fun of a scoot is the shifting. I owned several but the most fun was the Leakin Brit despite the Smith gauges and Lucas electrics. Overall pretty reliable except a head gasket every now and again which I could swap out in a handful of hours. The old pre bowling ball Sportster was a torque machine if one could tolerate jugs vibrating loose.... which I couldn't. Automatics belong on SUV's, sedans and constant speed propellers.... NOT sports machines.
A guy named Chuck at work had a Sporty but I never rode it. Only had my Honda for a year till a guy coming the other way in a Ford Torino made a left turn in front of my face and ruined my whole day and the next 3 months. After recovering from that was when I took up flying Cessna 150's out of Essex Skypark. My family thought I had a Death Wish but for a few years those were some of the best times of my life. But Girls will hop on the back of your bike in a NY minute, planes, not so much, Crap! Just drifted away from that hobby too after a few years. Oh Well...
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 29, 2018 12:03:06 GMT -5
Long distance riding as fine as ones ass and back could handle it BUT half the fun of a scoot is the shifting. I owned several but the most fun was the Leakin Brit despite the Smith gauges and Lucas electrics. Overall pretty reliable except a head gasket every now and again which I could swap out in a handful of hours. The old pre bowling ball Sportster was a torque machine if one could tolerate jugs vibrating loose.... which I couldn't. Automatics belong on SUV's, sedans and constant speed propellers.... NOT sports machines.
A guy named Chuck at work had a Sporty but I never rode it. Only had my Honda for a year till a guy coming the other way in a Ford Torino made a left turn in front of my face and ruined my whole day and the next 3 months. After recovering from that was when I took up flying Cessna 150's out of Essex Skypark. My family thought I had a Death Wish but for a few years those were some of the best times of my life. But Girls will hop on the back of your bike in a NY minute, planes, not so much, Crap! Just drifted away from that hobby too after a few years. Oh Well... Back then the VA would pick up the tab on private lessons along with almost anything else imaginable, that stopped years ago. I should have but never took advantage of but oh well......... Superbikes were a LOT of fun, glad I got my "big one" out of the way early on.... on my face, side, behind, arms... road rash sucks!
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Post by pickle20 on Nov 29, 2018 12:12:59 GMT -5
I had several chances to drive the old "automatic stick" that VW offered in the Beetle and other models. It had an electric clutch attached to the stick. No clutch pedal. All you had to do was move the stick a little, and the clutch would engage, then you would shift. Don't rest your hand on the stick, because it would remain in neutral. Don't let your leg hit the shifter, because it would go into neutral. It also took a moment to engage neutral before you could shift, so no fast shifts. A great example of over-engineering a simple car, and answering a question, no one asked. I drive stick, the wife doesn't and never wanted to learn. She has a VW Eos. It has the DSG transmission which is a clutchless manual-trans. Costs a ton to replace the fluid. But it does shift like a manual when you shift yourself. It's a nice compromise when I drive it. Otherwise, just give me the real thing.
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Post by apexbud on Nov 29, 2018 14:05:38 GMT -5
I had several chances to drive the old "automatic stick" that VW offered in the Beetle and other models. It had an electric clutch attached to the stick. No clutch pedal. All you had to do was move the stick a little, and the clutch would engage, then you would shift. Don't rest your hand on the stick, because it would remain in neutral. Don't let your leg hit the shifter, because it would go into neutral. It also took a moment to engage neutral before you could shift, so no fast shifts. A great example of over-engineering a simple car, and answering a question, no one asked. I drive stick, the wife doesn't and never wanted to learn. She has a VW Eos. It has the DSG transmission which is a clutchless manual-trans. Costs a ton to replace the fluid. But it does shift like a manual when you shift yourself. It's a nice compromise when I drive it. Otherwise, just give me the real thing. The DSG trans is not bad, but I agree with you, I prefer a stick
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