Saving the Manuals

About four years ago Car and Driver started a campaign to save the manual transmission from going into extinction.  The campaign has gotten some traction, and there is a lot of discussion going on about this.  Manuals are particularly becoming rare here in the United States, for probably a lot of reasons:  convenience, our love of cell and texting, eating breakfast on the way to work (most of us drive everywhere anyway), and whatever else we do in our cars.    

So there are a number of people thinking about ways to keep manual transmissions in production and available to North American drivers.  Over at godsavethemanuals.com you can buy T Shirts, wristbands, and all kinds of stuff devoted to this cause. There is a facebook page at www.facebook.com/SaveTheManuals.  And there is yet another discussion at www.thesmokingtire.com/2014/save-the-manuals/.

Porsche manual lovers tend to see themselves as "purists" - those who will only drive a stick-- not too long ago 911's came only with a stick and no automatic option-- and tend to like the traditional Porsche attributes of the rear engine and other trademark features.  Many view the 911 as the only true Porsche, although things are changing as technology advances and some folks are softening their once hard core views on what a real Porsche is.  A few years ago The Globe and Mail did a nice piece on the new Panamera, calling it the car the "Porsche purists hate to love." To me its a weird looking vehicle but nevertheless popular.

Personally, I'm clinging to my stick and clutch, because there's just something that feels so damn good about it. Perhaps its because there is something of an art to driving a manual where you have to engage all your limbs, hands, and feet.  Once you become intimate with your 911 (or your BMW, Audi, or whatever sports car you drive) you begin to feel when you need to shift, and don't even necessarily look at the RPM gauge.  For some, maybe it feels like you're more in control of what you can do with the car, and this is what it's like to really drive one of these things.  Plus I refuse to text in the car unless I'm parked or a passenger; texting and driving is a fool's game, and I discourage it.  As they say, it can wait.