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Visitors to the upcoming Los Angeles Auto Show will see supercars, hoverboards, self-propelling luggage and all manner of new transportation options.
But they'll be hard pressed to find a clutch pedal or a stick shift. Available in nearly half of new models in the U.S. a decade ago, the manual transmission is going the way of the rumble seat, with stick availability falling to about a quarter this year.
Once standard equipment on all motor vehicles, preferred for its dependability, fuel efficiency and sporty characteristics, the four-on-the-floor is disappearing from major car manufacturers' lineups — and subsequently from the sprawling auto show's floors.
Consider, too, that electric vehicles don't even have a transmission.
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The Disappearing Stick Shift: Less Than 3% of Cars Sold in the U.S. Have Manual Transmissions
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Life is to you a dashing and bold adventure.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 18 2016, @04:37AM
Italian cars usually have smaller oil galleries (warmer climate), and require more of a warm-up before the oil is circulating fully.
The more you know, the less you look like an envious ass.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 18 2016, @05:11AM
Yeah, pity that it was in a garage in warm climate place, few Km away from Italy itself... and only happens when someone is looking. Nevermind that modern cars are designed to start moving as soon as possible, or some seconds in the case of diesels.
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Friday November 18 2016, @05:56AM
Oh, please, explain that to my wife. Her car is never ready to move for at least two or three minutes.
Me? I stick the key in the ignition, turn it, put the car in gear, and immediately raise a cloud of dust. I'm usually slowing down to go through town before the heater begins to blow warm air. Every minute spent polluting the air in the driveway is a minute of wasted fuel. Not to mention, a minute of wasted time!
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday November 18 2016, @02:47PM
You should really give everything about 15-30 seconds after you start before you beat on the darn thing.
(Score: 2) by Grishnakh on Friday November 18 2016, @05:21PM
What is it with women like that? WTF are they doing in there anyway? Messing around with their makeup or something?
(Score: 2) by tangomargarine on Friday November 18 2016, @06:17PM
My folks have Hispanic neighbors who like to warm them up their vehicles for literally a half-hour in the winter.
"Is that really true?" "I just spent the last hour telling you to think for yourself! Didn't you hear anything I said?"