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I Can Drive a Stick Shift

In Britain this isn't particularly remarkable.

Automatics I suppose must be fine for long straight roads but in the real world in civilisation...

...well it's like comparing Baby's First Hammer with a proper tool kit.

I think like a lot of things in the modern world (ok automatics aren't exactly new, but still... they're more common than they used to be), we're so happy to sacrifice convenience for experience.

Driving around a busy, hilly town is a pain...but I think you feel much more connected to your car with a manual gearbox.

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everready · 51-55, M

Not to mention, I have had to use the gear-box for braking when my brakes failed. You can't do that in an auto!

MethDozer · M

@everready Yes you can. You can engine brake with an auto.

everready · 51-55, M

@MethDozer Well, the autos that were around when I had to do it couldn't. I guessed they have got better over the years

MethDozer · M

@everready No, that's why we have 2nd and 1st lock on them. Many even 3rd gear. You just shift them down into the fixed gears. Not really much different than doing it in a manual just people don't use it or realize it as much

Teggy

@MethDozer facts

wildbill83 · 36-40, M

@everready engine braking is largely dependent on engine size/rotating mass, gearing, etc.

If anything, older stuff had better engine braking than modern cars

MethDozer · M

@wildbill83 Manifold pressure and engine compression plays a big factor too.
The missing factor in comparing older and newer cars is the mass of the vehicle. While there is less mass in the engine to retard the speed of the vehicle during engine braking there is also a greatly reduced amount of mass in the vehicle itself so less momentum to overcome as well. So if the engine is well mated to the vehicle it is most likely a wash.

wildbill83 · 36-40, M

in other words; small/light engine + high gear ratio = poor engine braking vs large/heavy engine + low gear ratio = good engine braking

MethDozer · M

@wildbill83 Not quite. It depends on the package (Gross mass ) that is being slowed down. It's a simple concept.

wildbill83 · 36-40, M

@MethDozer nope; simple concept for mechanic/engineer and anyone who understands basic physics and gear ratios... which I am and do... 🙄

MethDozer · M

@wildbill83 Then you should know the smaller mass of the vehicle would help balance out the braking effect of the vehicle. The extra engine breaking in the bigger and higher compression engines would be going towards stopping the increased momentum from the increased mass of the vehicle itself. Just as the decreased engine size would be braking a greatly reduced gross vehicle weight on a smaller newer car. It's not much different than weight to power ratios for accelerating a vehicle.

You present it as all things equal, but they aren't. The vehicles have gotten smaller and lighter with the engines, which means the ability of the vehicle hasn't changed much. We don't compare bicycle brakes to motorcycle brakes either. You're making a similar comparison.

Teggy

🍿 😁 this is great