Cars

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

Meh to throttle response...have to get the turbo spooled up before you're making any kind of decent power.

Not really true when you're using a Kenne Bell, Eaton or other roots type SC. Present day turbos spool much quicker than earlier versions. Even with centrifugal blowers not boosting at lower RPMs low end throttle response is desirable...to me.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Cars

Not really true when you're using a Kenne Bell, Eaton or other roots type SC. Present day turbos spool much quicker than earlier versions. Even with centrifugal blowers not boosting at lower RPMs low end throttle response is desirable...to me.

I'm not talking supers, and the engines I'm talking about have pretty large framed turbos.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

I'm not talking supers, and the engines I'm talking about have pretty large framed turbos.

I was merely talking about throttle response not necessarily being of no importance, or negligible to everyone. Apologies if that opinion is unwelcome in a discussion where throttle response was mentioned.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Cars

I was merely talking about throttle response not necessarily being of no importance, or negligible to everyone. Apologies if that opinion is unwelcome in a discussion where throttle response was mentioned.

You are very right, and one of my pet peeves. Most normals cars have to deal with it- supercharged, properly turbo charged, or even N/A.

Why one makes an example of a boosted oil burner is beyond me.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Cars

Spark plugs are for *******.

 

[jerphisch]

Re: Cars

I have no idea what you guys are talking about as my knowledge of cars ends at checking the oil, but I always have driven a manual, and will make my kids when they are old enough. I think it keeps you more involved in driving then an automatic does, and would guess that you would see a lot fewer accidents if everyone drove a manual.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Cars

I have no idea what you guys are talking about as my knowledge of cars ends at checking the oil, but I always have driven a manual, and will make my kids when they are old enough. I think it keeps you more involved in driving then an automatic does, and would guess that you would see a lot fewer accidents if everyone drove a manual.

IMHO, that depends on the driver. If they can handle a little multitasking, manuals are fine. If they get distracted easier, a short attention span may make the shifting distracting. It can take a while to get so used to it that it's second nature.

For most, I agree that it should be better. But it's better if the drivers get rid of the rest of the distractions anyway.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

There are those who simply can't operate a manual in addition to many who just have no interest in driving one.

 

[DrDemento]

Re: Cars

IMHO, that depends on the driver. If they can handle a little multitasking, manuals are fine. If they get distracted easier, a short attention span may make the shifting distracting. It can take a while to get so used to it that it's second nature.

For most, I agree that it should be better. But it's better if the drivers get rid of the rest of the distractions anyway.

Could not agree more-distractions while driving cause such a great share of the accidents. I have always felt that the driver's should just have to focus on one thing-driving and watching the road. All the little bells and whistles on cars are fine but often very distracting to the driver. Driving a manual transmission is great and affords considerable car control especially in inclement weather-but you do need to use two feet and two hands to drive and lots of people are too busy with cell phones, GPS, radio and climate controls.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Cars

Could not agree more-distractions while driving cause such a great share of the accidents. I have always felt that the driver's should just have to focus on one thing-driving and watching the road. All the little bells and whistles on cars are fine but often very distracting to the driver. Driving a manual transmission is great and affords considerable car control especially in inclement weather-but you do need to use two feet and two hands to drive and lots of people are too busy with cell phones, GPS, radio and climate controls.

You just have to learn to drive with your knees, and use the clutch at the same time, or in the right vehicles, shift without the clutch (my truck sucks for meshing gears, so synchros are a godsend). I drive with my knees pretty often, works well when the roads are relatively straight.

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Cars

There are those who simply can't operate a manual in addition to many who just have no interest in driving one.

How is it that none of these people who "can't" operate a manual happen to be born in Europe? Can't = too lazy to learn.

 

[bigblue_dl]

Re: Cars

How is it that none of these people who "can't" operate a manual happen to be born in Europe? Can't = too lazy to learn.

I took "can't operate a manual transmission" as meaning they only have 1 leg or something like that. Any able bodied person can operate one, most people here just won't operate one.

I have no problem with people not wanting to drive one, but I do think that everyone should have the ability to drive one, in case the need arises.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Cars

How is it that none of these people who "can't" operate a manual happen to be born in Europe? Can't = too lazy to learn.

autos are a lot more popular in Europe than you apparently think they are. Percentage grows every year.


edit- btw, why do we think people who don't want to drive manuals are lazy? Do you use natural gas to fire your home? does that make you lazy that you don't use wood that you cut down yourself? Do you not use a typerwriter instead of a computer to write stuff? E-mail over letters? Why do you even drive when you can walk?

There are a lot of people out there who have no interest in driving cars- it's an appliance that 1) give them an appearence and 2) moves them from A to B. Some of us think it can be entertaining, so we add items like manual transmissions. Some go further than that and drive cars like Lotus 7's or Arial Atoms where you are exposed to the world when you drive. Some even go so far to buy a race car with their own money to drive on the track.

People are different. Auto vs. manual can not be applied to all equally.

Besides- there are people who are missing limbs. Kind of hard to use a clutch when you foot is gone. I wouldn't call them lazy.

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Cars

I have no problem with people not wanting to drive one, but I do think that everyone should have the ability to drive one, in case the need arises.

This. After my son got his license & was more comfortable driving we borrowed an in-laws car so he could learn. When he asked why I told him at some point he will have a friend who is too drunk to drive & you will need to know how to operate a manual.

 

[St. Clown]

Re: Cars

This. After my son got his license & was more comfortable driving we borrowed an in-laws car so he could learn. When he asked why I told him at some point he will have a friend who is too drunk to drive & you will need to know how to operate a manual.

Teach him using a manual transmission in a truck. Cars generally have much more forgiving clutches than trucks do. I was in for a bit of a shock when I went from driving my 84 Datsun Sentra to my 88 Bronco II. I realized then how much more on the ball I had to be when shifting in the killer SUV; my friends' trucks were much the same as my Bronco 2 I later learned. Then I had a 90 Probe, and again had an easy clutch. I'm now in a 2000 Altima, and again it's an easy clutch.

 

[Craig P.]

Re: Cars

What makes a clutch "easy"?

 

[Greyeagle]

Re: Cars

Teach him using a manual transmission in a truck. Cars generally have much more forgiving clutches than trucks do. I was in for a bit of a shock when I went from driving my 84 Datsun Sentra to my 88 Bronco II. I realized then how much more on the ball I had to be when shifting in the killer SUV; my friends' trucks were much the same as my Bronco 2 I later learned. Then I had a 90 Probe, and again had an easy clutch. I'm now in a 2000 Altima, and again it's an easy clutch.

He learned on my sister-in-law's Suburu which has a very tight clutch and requires a lot of "touch", not only when starting between 1st & 2nd as well. Later drove a brother-in-law's Ford Ranger. Completely different feel and he adapted quite quickly so I am not too worried about him.

My daughter just got her license....this could be a more difficult teaching situation.

 

[alfablue]

Re: Cars

What makes a clutch "easy"?

IMHO, feel.

A heavy but numb clutch is no better than a light, numb clutch. (aka big truck vs. small modern car)

it was a lot easier teaching Mrs Alfa to drive an Alfa vs. a Honda. She picked it up a lot quicker. Now she can drive anything. One of the cars you raced (a Mustang, right?) had one of the easiest to feel clutches i know of. No idea how that happened....

 

[LynahFan]

Re: Cars

What makes a clutch "easy"?

The physical distance that the pedal moves between fully disengaged and fully engaged. The shorter the distance, the touchier it will be and the more skill it takes to ease it in gradually enough not to stall/jerk.

Edit: also, the stiffness of the spring in the clutch pedal. The more pounds of force you have pushing back on your foot, the harder it is to control the motion of your foot through the engagement zone.

 

[brookyone]

Re: Cars

What makes a clutch "easy"?

I think usually it's the difference in pedal feel. Used to drive a wrecker with a ceramic clutch plate. I didn't care for that. Gave your leg a pretty good workout.