| Re: Whoever is not fit to drive stick, should ride a bike
On 9 Feb 2007 08:33:46 -0800, "donquijote1954"
<nolionnoproblem@hotmail.com> wrote:
>On Feb 6, 12:36 am, "Fred G. Mackey" <nos...@dont.spam> wrote:
>> Bill Baka wrote:
>> > The automotive engineers know this but they are paid to shut up and
>> > design cars that sell. Joe Consumer does not want to have to downshift
>> > to pass someone. That gives the somewhat slow Joe a sense of power under
>> > the hood, which in turn sells cars.
>>
>> I'm no expert on cars, engines, or transmissions, but I do miss my old
>> car with the 5-speed manual transmission.
>>
>> I saw nothing wrong with downshifting to get a little more acceleration
>> - make that a LOT more. The car I drive now is similar in many respects
>> - better in quite a few, but the fact that it's automatic offers me few
>> advantages beyond being able to drink coffee while in stop and go traffic.
>>
>> That wasn't a problem when I had a manual transmission - I learned to
>> drink my coffee between shifts.
>
>Ban automatic cars (except for the handicap) and the stupid and
>dangerous will go the way of the dinosaur. Whoever is not fit to drive
>stick, should ride a bike --or ride the bus. One-speed bikes should be
>all right though.
I've always preferred manual but they really are impractical in the
big city. Plus, I managed to break an ankle in 1997 while at a big
getaway with about 50 people (I landed very awkwardly from my mountain
bike). Only one person out of those 50 could drive my car home. My
next car was automatic.
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