{"id":6297,"date":"2021-03-16T06:09:10","date_gmt":"2021-03-16T06:09:10","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/routehunters.co\/?p=6297"},"modified":"2021-03-17T03:19:26","modified_gmt":"2021-03-17T03:19:26","slug":"confessions-of-a-manual-gearboxed-car-user-in-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/routehunters.co\/?p=6297","title":{"rendered":"Confessions of a Manual-gearboxed car user in 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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I drive a car with a manual gearbox<\/strong>. In 2021. This is my brief on what it feels like to drive a manual car in this decade.<\/p>\n\n

Dude why a manual?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

The car in question is a 2014 Peugeot 208 GTi<\/strong>. The car came with only a manual gearbox. I was in my late 20’s and was a bachelor so my left hand was<\/strong> always accustomed to……. shifting gears.<\/p>\n\n

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When you’re young-ish, most of us want something flashy, and for some of us something that’s seemed like a ‘macho’ choice<\/strong>. Commuting 100km per day in absolute standstill traffic<\/strong> was no biggie. Adding a clutch pedal to the mix<\/strong> meant you get bonus points to commitment. And you can call your friend that had no option<\/strong> but to drive an automatic, but just as enthusiastic as you, but since he bought an automatic he tries hard to make it work, a female cat<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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Like all motoring enthusiast ‘youth’s’ I blew most of my paycheck on this car because it was one of the last brand new manual’s<\/strong> produced. And nothing else mattered. Because ‘real men drive manuals’ <\/strong>right?<\/p>\n\n

Is it as bad as they say?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

In short, yes.<\/strong> Especially when you go from single to dating. While others who drive automatic get to hold their partners… hands, you are still grabbing stick<\/strong>. While she has her hands free to text someone else. And since you are nervous in impressing her, that never-have-i-ever gear grinding takes place<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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When I bought the car I was a reasonably built late 20 year old. Today I’m a mid 30’s father of two with an ever growing belly. That knee cap that coped for years with 100km stop and go traffic <\/strong>is now clinging on to its quadriceps for dear life<\/strong>. It’s a hard life.<\/p>\n\n

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But stickshift beats auto’s anytime right?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=DjAja74gDr0&t=24s<\/div>\n
*SPOILER ALERT* That time when a less powerful automatic hot hatch clocked a faster lap time than the 2 other manual hatches……<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Of course, that’s why manual’s right? Or so was the idea<\/strong>. Automatic’s have come a long way since then. Simply put, no 6 speed manual box in the world<\/strong> can answer a 7 speed double clutch or the 8 speed torque converter box<\/strong> you get in today’s cars. All they have to do is press the accelerator and they are gone<\/strong>. While you are still at 3rd gear with intensifying Eurobeat<\/strong>, unaware you are unable to catch up.<\/p>\n\n

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At least it will save me fuel right?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

Wrong again! The age old 4 speed gearboxes<\/strong> were the ones that consumed more fuel<\/strong> due to their weight and lack of gears to spread the torque band effectively.<\/p>\n\n

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Todays automatic gearboxes are far more efficient than before.<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

Today however most torque converter automatic’s have a minimum of 6 forward gears, and going up to 10 speeds <\/strong>in some cases. Manual gearboxes, except for some Porsche’s stop at 7 speeds. They are far more efficient<\/strong> at clocking better consumption.<\/p>\n\n

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Karamjit Singh approves modern dual clutch gearboxes!<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

And to add insult to injury, not even Karamjit Singh can match the shift speed of any automatic or dual-clutch gearboxes<\/strong> with more than 6 forward gears.<\/p>\n\n

But…. manual’s are cheaper!<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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Until you have to change your clutch. This particular car’s clutch kit, including labor\u00a0 set me back 4 digits<\/strong>. I managed to coax my clutch for about 156,000km<\/strong>. Some clutch surfing superhero’s fry their’s at just 70,000km<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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Automatic gearboxes require maintenance too, like the Double clutch gearboxes clutch pack<\/strong>, and the ATF replacement with transmission filter<\/strong> for the torque converter kind. However without the human factor involved in inflicting wear, they are pretty consistent<\/strong> about when they require replacements.<\/p>\n\n

What’s the point of a manual?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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There is, and its a big one. You are driving. It’s the last piece of technology which reminds us that a car was a purely mechanical device<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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Our steering system is electronic, brake’s are modulated by ABS, engine’s drive by wire, but with a manual gearbox, you are totally in control<\/strong>.\u00a0
When you drive a manual car you cannot be fiddling with your touchscreen<\/strong>, try to send a voice note on Whatsapp<\/strong>, or check your WeChat<\/strong> feed.<\/p>\n\n

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And also the gloves too<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

You have to commit to driving and driving only<\/strong>. Sit in the wrong gear the car either revs too high or shudder. You are constantly working<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

So I pay to do work with a manual?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n

No matter how sophisticated the dishes get in a fine dining restaurant<\/strong>, the satisfaction of having some finger lickin good action at your local KFC is priceless<\/strong> (not paid by KFC in any way).<\/p>\n\n

Likewise, no matter how high tech and efficient the automatic gearboxes get, it cannot replace the satisfaction of shifting your own gears<\/strong>. Not because its efficient, not because its fast. Because its, fun<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

How fun?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n
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Route Hunters<\/strong> document the best driving roads in Malaysia<\/a><\/strong>. You know what all these roads have in common? You can have the same fun out here in a 50hp car or a 500hp car<\/strong>. Add a manual gearbox<\/strong> into the mix, your fun level multiplies enormously<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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Because out here you are only thinking about driving<\/strong>. Nothing else matters, not the girlfriend, the job, the bills. Just you, your car and the open road<\/strong>. And since a manual gearbox is as involved as you can get<\/strong> with driving, without requiring a racing suit<\/strong>, its the best option out here.<\/p>\n\n

\"Route\n
Downhill towards Raub from Fraser Hill<\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\n

And since you have no talent scouts or sponsors waiting<\/strong> at the end of any Malaysian touge roads, it makes more sense to go for involvement instead of outright speed<\/strong>. Remember these are public roads and not race tracks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

So what you’re saying is?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n

I still am very much in love with my 208 gti<\/strong>. Its an amazing hot hatch with an extremely talented chassis, which require commitment to get the best out of it. Having the manual gearbox just makes the experience a whole lot more rewarding and engaging. And the 100 odd Peugeot GTi owners in the country<\/strong> will agree with me.<\/p>\n\n

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In fact most of them have a hard time finding a replacement to the 208 GTi<\/strong>, simply due to the manual gearbox factor. This manual car is pretty livable with on a daily basis, except during extremely bad traffic. But this kind of traffic is going to be hell in any car.<\/p>\n\n

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Out on our amazing B roads though, I would’t want to be in any other car<\/strong>. Dropping the gears for the corner, heel-and-toeing on the way down, nailing the apex, and shifting at the right torque sweet spot is endless fun<\/strong>. I’ve driven 1200km in this car on B-roads over a weekend straight and still couldn’t get enough<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n

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The manual transmission as a technology is outdated. Bobby Ang is right about that<\/strong>. However, there’s no replacement to involvement. That’s why some modern performance cars are still being offered with a manual option<\/strong>. It’s no longer the only way, but for the brave, its a rewarding one.<\/p>\n\n

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We love you Bobby! <\/strong><\/figcaption>\n<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

I drive a car with a manual gearbox. In 2021. This is my brief on what it feels like to drive a manual car in this decade. Dude why a manual? The car in question is a 2014 Peugeot 208 GTi. The car came with only a manual gearbox. I was in my late 20’s 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