Will this be a good decade for car enthusiasts? (huge list of cars)

[whaap]

It's certainly going to be a good decade for this enthusiast. I'm all set.

[Pforwell]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Full electric vehicles no, the motors are too torquey (chews up gears) and their efficiency is not very speed dependent, the most speeds you will "need" is 2.

The best we can hope for is a CRZ like drivetrain with a little more excitement from the engine. Dunno about other people, but I'd be down for that.

I mean synthesize. Not actually using a gear system, but a computer system too simulate the feeling of a manual. While Electric motors are extremely torque ridden, they are also way easier to control using a computer. It may not be actually varying the RPM of the motors, but simulating it, to create the feeling of a manual transmission. No gears necessary.

That being said, I'm not totally sure that would be worth it. I just think that if a company wanted to, I believe it to be possible.

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by Pforwell

I mean synthesize. Not actually using a gear system, but a computer system too simulate the feeling of a manual. While Electric motors are extremely torque ridden, they are also way easier to control using a computer. It may not be actually varying the RPM of the motors, but simulating it, to create the feeling of a manual transmission. No gears necessary.

That being said, I'm not totally sure that would be worth it. I just think that if a company wanted to, I believe it to be possible.

That would be called going slower. lol.

[RaceR]

Did some minor changes..
-Added BMW 2-series and Mazda RX-7. Possible RX-7 already have a thread.

2-series will probably be reveled late autumn next year.. Rumored to be available in Gran Coupe (4-door). Coupe, convertible and as an M2 (coupe). Maybe even some sort of hatcback/wagon style as well!
The modern day E46 in terms of size?

[SupraLove]

I'm not too hopeful. With ICEs and traditional transmissions slowly but surely fading away, and the NHTSA's overreaching unconstitutional freedom-limiting vehicle laws being passed more and more every day... The future seems like a limbo for enthusiast vehicles.

That said, the FR-S is proof that a modern sportscar can offer pure, unadulterated driving thrill. I guess we'll have to see.

[SupraLove]

Originally Posted by serialk11r

Only way to vote is with your money on a new car... Porsche made a ballsy move with their new manual Carrera, I just hope most buyers are actually choosing that option!

Anyways, regarding the fuel efficiency thing, they really need to start specifying shift schedules for the EPA tests, and writing instructions into owner's manuals to dispel some of the "lugging" myths.

There are places besides the U.S., you know. In Germany, manual rules the road. That's the only reason Porsche decided on the 7-speed. Had the rest of the world moved to DCTs, they would only have used the Porschedoppelkuplungsgetriebe. :wink:

But the thing is, the rest of the world really has not moved to autos. In most of Europe, manuals rule. I doubt the trend will change too much -- by 2020 perhaps 50% of cars in Europe will be manual, and that's still a sizeable chunk.

But if manuals disappear entirely from existence in America, I'm moving to Europe. I can't live without that round, H-imprinted movable knob in the center console.

[Wes B.]

Originally Posted by SupraLove

There are places besides the U.S., you know. In Germany, manual rules the road. That's the only reason Porsche decided on the 7-speed. Had the rest of the world moved to DCTs, they would only have used the Porschedoppelkuplungsgetriebe. :wink:

But the thing is, the rest of the world really has not moved to autos. In most of Europe, manuals rule. I doubt the trend will change too much -- by 2020 perhaps 50% of cars in Europe will be manual, and that's still a sizeable chunk.

But if manuals disappear entirely from existence in America, I'm moving to Europe. I can't live without that round, H-imprinted movable knob in the center console.

Or, you can just build your own car in America...

[serialk11r]

Originally Posted by SupraLove

There are places besides the U.S., you know. In Germany, manual rules the road. That's the only reason Porsche decided on the 7-speed. Had the rest of the world moved to DCTs, they would only have used the Porschedoppelkuplungsgetriebe. :wink:

But the thing is, the rest of the world really has not moved to autos. In most of Europe, manuals rule. I doubt the trend will change too much -- by 2020 perhaps 50% of cars in Europe will be manual, and that's still a sizeable chunk.

But if manuals disappear entirely from existence in America, I'm moving to Europe. I can't live without that round, H-imprinted movable knob in the center console.

I wonder what will happen in Europe though, automatic transmissions are getting more and more gears, and I feel like even Europeans are warming up to them (Jeremy Clarkson I think doesn't complain about automatics much lol limited data set). In Asia I'm pretty sure automatics are seen as a luxury feature and thus are attractive. The fact that now they are getting more gears than manual transmissions means they also outperform manuals, which doesn't help the cause.

I suppose one good feature of manual transmissions that is more difficult to achieve with an automatic is start stop systems. An auto can employ start stop but there will be some lag since there is no gear shift selector or clutch pedal to let the car know when to start up again, and if it requires one to shift to neutral to achieve, then I bet most drivers won't bother with it. Whereas with a manual transmission you can have the engine fire up as soon as the clutch is depressed, or when clutch is depressed and shifter is put into gear, and it would not affect driveability.

It would really suck if manual transmissions died out, we just have to keep praying that more companies make brave moves like the manual CRZ and manual 911 etc. and offer manual transmissions even when there is little incentive to do so. I also hope that they start paying attention to specifying special shift schedules on performance cars with manual transmissions to improve the EPA test numbers. If the EPA numbers look higher, then more people will consider buying the manual transmission for fuel savings, whereas the way things are going now, people look at the automatic and think "well it'll improve my gas mileage so I'll save money in the long term".

[880]

Originally Posted by TuxedoCartman

Funny you should mention the bold part above: I feel the same way about most of the FR-S/ BRZ owners on this forum. It's a great car, and I like it and all, but when I hear people going on and on about "how great the driver feedback is" or "how there's an endless amount of grip with these cars", I have to wonder just what else they've driven. But maybe that could also be because I had my driver's license before most of these kids were born... so could you define "modern" cars?