The 'Death Of The Stick Shift' Is Almost Here For Americans

Heat84 · 2026-07-25T00:54:59+00:00

https://m.slashdot.org/story/456332 I’ve never driven stick myself. I’ve never needed one. I’m neither a race car driver nor a trucker and I live in South Florida. The only hills here are overpasses. Does a stick get better MPG’s? My sister is one of the weirdo Americans who prefers a stick. Although she hasn’t driven one in 10 or 15 years. I didn’t realize Mustangs were only stick. I don’t understand how there are automatic semi tractors. In some of the situations I’ve seen them in, I don’t know how you can use an automatic transmission. Maybe it’s only for local hauling? Are truckers ashamed to drive a tractor with an automatic transmission? Is it like a male biker riding in the bitch seat? Here’s a comment from the article. Is that how the automatic transmission in a tractor works that enables it to work as good as a stick?: It’s more than that. Modern automatics are equivalent. You can use the controls to switch into manual mode and then push the knob up and down to manually shift. All that we lost is having to use a clutch. I’m been driving manuals for 40 years. I’ve tried the modern automatic’s manual mode. I find it to be functionally equivalent, it solves the same problem, it allows me to fine tune things. This personal appraisal was immediately apparent from the first couple rentals or loaners that had automatics with a manual mode. Do you Canadians say manual transmission instead of stick?

Sparkchaser

Somewhat-Reticent it’s intuitive

Our newest car is a 5 yo CRV, My wife does (did!) most of the driving until she broke her wrist. I was copilot and operated the center panel. Now, I’m driving and realizing that it’s dangerous. It’s very difficult to do anything, A/C radio, etc. without taking your eyes off the road.

It also has a lot of blind spots. You pretty much can’t see any of the 4 corners of the car but the backup camera does give you a good view of what you just hit.

robxr4ti

real_aurgathor actually it’s rapidly becoming the car industry telling people what they will buy such as the cameras that will watch people driving. NO CONSUMER asked for this “feature”. Lastly the technology is both ridiculously expensive to buy and repair.

takeahike

Sparkchaser

Does your (IIRC) Honda CRV have blind spot vehicle approaching warnings? My 2023 Subaru Forester has that that are incorporated into the side view mirrors that blink when applicable, although I’m pretty certainly that that was included in a safety option package that it came with. It has that and vehicles behind you warnings and that the car in front of you has pulled away from a light notices also. It’s also supposed to stop on its own if you forget to hit the brake, but I would never try to test that. We wound up with Subaru instead of yet another Honda with this last purchase (have already had four Accords, so enough!).

Somewhat-Reticent

robxr4ti NO CONSUMER asked for this “feature”.

No need: insurance (& other) firms will buy access to the data.

Sparkchaser

takeahike Does your (IIRC) Honda CRV have blind spot vehicle approaching warnings?

About the only thing that works as I think it should is the warning of a car approaching from the left lane on a 4 lane highway.

When backing up, it rarely sees a person. Sometimes it sees a vehicle approaching. Problem is the vehicle might be 100′ away. Something close and it’s a bit blind. You’re never sure so you just do it the old fashion way.

We get several warnings that we don’t know what or why. There may be no one else around.
It’s really at the point where you ignore it because you don’t trust it.

Somewhat-Reticent

Something close and it’s a bit blind.

Just like speed monitor alerting signage at schools here. ( Distracting is OK? )

It’s really at the point where you ignore it because you don’t trust it.

Only if you can DIY 100%?

dave

robxr4ti NO CONSUMER asked for this “feature”.

It’s a hack on a misfeature. The misfeature is the provision of screen-based car controls, not to mention an entertainment system in the dashboard. The screen encourages not paying attention to driving. The hack is to detect you not paying attention to driving.

I’m not convinced it’s the car industry driving (haha) the hack; I think it’s governmental highway safety advocates. In isolation it’s defensible, but a better solution is to outlaw the use of screens to control essential vehicle functions. IMO the only use for a screen in a moving vehicle is for navigation displays.

Somewhat-Reticent

IMO the only use for a screen in a moving vehicle is for …

… use by passengers, angled so driver isn’t distracted,
or a ( not‑the‑driver ) navigator.

robxr4ti

dave the same government that outlaws cell phone usage because it’s too distracting allows touch screens. Says enough about their motivation.

robxr4ti

Sparkchaser my favorite is my Mazda giving me an object alert when I make the same right turn with a stationary street sign on the corner..

Somewhat-Reticent

robxr4ti outlaws cell phone usage

Except for when required for a job, i.e. law enforcement, taxi, …
(Instead of requiring providers to use half-duplex when driving)

Sparkchaser

We have a law in PA that you can’t have phone in your hand. “As a primary offense, drivers can be stopped by police if they have a mobile device in their hand while driving.”

The other day a on coming car drifted into my lane to where I had to hit the breaks. She was on the phone. Not sure she even noticed what she did. 😠

Somewhat-Reticent

Sparkchaser “Hands‑Free” voice controls reduce safety of such rules.
Full‑duplex conversation ( often arguing or hard‑selling ) distracts drivers.

ugly95

robxr4ti the same government that outlaws cell phone usage because it’s too distracting allows touch screens. Says enough about their motivation.

That’s a facile comparison.

Cellphones usage is outlawed for the same reason that reading a book while driving, or shaving, or doing makeup, or playing video games is outlawed. Because it is distracted driving.

Touchscreens are not outlawed for the same reason that dials and buttons are not outlawed. Because they control vehicle functions.

Touchscreens are certainly more complicated to use compared to physical dials, sliders, and buttons, which can cause drivers to look away from the road more. But it’s not in the same category of cellphone usage.

Somewhat-Reticent

ugly95 Anything that takes driver attention away from driving
and awareness of environment is not worth the ‘convenience’.
( for split hairs, some recommend coconut and argan oils )

egeezer

ugly95 Touchscreens are certainly more complicated to use

I don’t like touch screens either. I prefer controls I can feel without looking down. Maps on touch screens that require looking down at the screen are distracting. I have a Garmin GPS dash mounted where it’s within my peripheral vision. The same for my dashcam with lane departure and close object warning.

Everyone who knowsme knows I don’t answer my phone while driving. My Garmin displays the caller and text messages so I can see who called and make a stop if needed. I also don’t do speakerphone.

taraf

egeezer I don’t like touch screens either. I prefer controls I can feel without looking down. Maps on touch screens that require looking down at the screen are distracting.

Good news, then: auto manufacturers are getting that memo. With the help of China having already adopted rules that require physical controls and the EU debating adopting the same rule. They’re also requiring physical door handles.

egeezer

taraf They’re also requiring physical door handles.

That should be a requirement here too.

ugly95

Somewhat-Reticent Anything that takes driver attention away from driving
and awareness of environment is not worth the ‘convenience’.

I agree. There is finally starting to be some pushback on touchscreen controls through regulation. But, some customers think it is cool, and on the manufacturing side it is easier to implement than running all kinds of wiring to various physical knobs, sliders and dials.

But, even having a passenger in the car with you and talking to them is going to be something that will distract you from driving.

Somewhat-Reticent

ugly95 something that ~~will~~ may distract you

As in many things, don’t enable.

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