2015 Mazda3 Sedan & Hatch - 2.5 Liter "S" Model with Manual Transmission

[nate0123]

I've never driven an automatic car I could tolerate. I sit in traffic almost every time I drive, and never once have I thought "this would be better in an automatic." I don't want ANY delay when I need to make a quick move for a lane change, pass, etc.

Injury is the only reason I can imagine ever buying an automatic in the future. And now that I've taught my BF to drive a MT, I may never need to!

 

[brandini]

That's the thing about the new auto, it's not disconnected from the wheels even when shifting, so there's none of that spin-up where the torque converter has to fling fluid for a bit before you get additional torque transference. It's quite nice in use, and I'm coming from a Mazdaspeed Miata with the world's stiffest engine mounts..

 

[nate0123]

Sounds like something to look into if I'm ever injured.

 

[concept]

In either standard or sport mode, the auto trans will downshift faster that you can, every time. You really never need to worry that the delay will prevent you from squirting into an open spot. That may have been true, 40 years ago, but not any more.

 

[nate0123]

Don't talk down to me. It was true on my 2010 Mazda3 2.5 automatic that was made less than 40 years ago.

 

[concept]

I'll bet my old. 89 MX6 GT with auto tranny would smoke your present day manual trans 3, and my new 3 would do the same. I'm talking reaction time, specifically.
The kickdown speed is directly related to the speed at which you push the gas pedal, vs the speed at which you push in the clutch, shift gears, and step on the gas pedal.
I've been driving manual and auto-trans cars since 1974 and like you, I'll probably have at least one manual trans car until I physically can't drive one, but at the same time, I'll always have an auto car, which is far better when stuck in a traffic jam, which occurs often in big cities like San Diego.

 

[nate0123]

You've missed the point. I don't have to use the clutch or shift because i have already anticipated wanting to change lanes, so I'm already in a gear that will give me instantaneous power when i push the throttle.

 

[brandini]

You've missed the point. I don't have to use the clutch or shift because i have already anticipated wanting to change lanes, so I'm already in a gear that will give me instantaneous power when i push the throttle.

Well this is just wrong.

Anticipation means you did something ahead of time, meaning you changed gears just in case... and you can do this with the manual mode on the auto anyway.

Moot point.

 

[magnumP5]

I won't even attempt the manual is better than auto argument as it's not valid anymore. It used to be the manuals got better fuel economy, but not anymore. Nowadays the main reasons I prefer manual transmissions are cost and weight and I imagine within the next few years weight won't even be an issue anymore. Specifically with the 3 the manual option saves you $1050 and 54 lbs. Personally, I'd take that over the extra 2 mi/gal, but that's me. I'm happy having my near 30 year-old 5MT "fun car" while daily driving a 6AT "brick with wheels."

 

[nate0123]

Well this is just wrong.

Anticipation means you did something ahead of time, meaning you changed gears just in case... and you can do this with the manual mode on the auto anyway.

Moot point.

Not so fast. Auto in manual mode, around town, feels very awkward. Feels strange to be, for the most part, telling the auto to do what it can figure out on its own. But to need to be in manual mode in case I want to make a quick move without delay - not the way most people would use an automatic.

Where I used the manual mode more was on hilly, curvy back roads or highways where you want to hold a gear due to grade or for engine braking. These are not concerns around town.

These are all subjective criteria, of course. What makes me happy won't make everyone else happy, and vice versa.

 

[concept]

When I'm driving on the highway in the fast lane, I wouldn't be doing so in 3rd gear unless I were entered into some kind of Cannonball run. Typically, if there is a slow-moving vehicle in that land, I MAY downshift, but only if the adjacent lane were tightly packed. Even so, I'd have to push in the clutch, downshift, and hit the gas pedal. Having an auto in my 3 makes downshifting so much faster. As I mentioned, earlier - just stomp of the gas pedal and rocket forward.

 

[Chibana]

The fact is that modern, WELL-PROGRAMMED, automatic transmissions are far superior from every performance perspective. That's why all full-on race cars use them, and it's why many of the expensive sports car manufacturers now use them exclusively. The only reason to buy a manual transmission today is for the fun factor, and I am not saying that's not a valid reason. There's no way I would trade my manual transmission RX-8 for an auto, even with the best programmed, paddle-shifted automatic. However, trying to argue from any kind of performance perspective that a true manual is better than a (again, well-programmed) auto is just plain clueless.

 

[brandini]

A manual in a slow car is a great thing, you feel more connected. But a great auto/DSG in a car with some power relieves your mind of a bit of concentration you can put towards that next apex.

 

[nate0123]

I guess I've only ever had slow cars

 

[concept]

Natalie, let me ask you this:

Let's say you had a 3-car garage and your Miata took up one of those. You want a nice highway cruiser to add to your stable for a long commute. Plus, you'd like a truck for hauling stuff from Home Depot and furniture stores. Would you really have 3 manual transmission vehicles? That's what it looks like from your posts. It makes perfect sense to drive a manual Miata (Both my sister and I have NC Miatas.), but why apply the same reasoning to a car or truck that has a different purpose?

...just askin.....

 

[magicka]

Would you really have 3 manual transmission vehicles?

I would, all other things being equal. I don't have any hate for automatics, but I do prefer to shift myself. With my current commute and the lack of traffic jams, I have no problem driving the MS3 as a daily. My project Audi is a manual as well. My Tundra is an auto, but I absolutely would have bought a manual had one been available. I enjoy driving 3-pedal vehicles. In a truck or a big cruiser, the type of transmission isn't going to be a deal breaker for me, but I will not have an auto in a sporty car. The advances in autos over the last few years are impressive, but I will trade 1-2 EPA MPG for the increased fun factor. Performance stats (quicker to 60, faster shifts, etc.) don't matter either, honestly. If I'm on a track, it's for fun, not profit. I'm not a good enough driver to make use of the extra few milliseconds a dual-clutch auto box will save me over a manual.

 

[magnumP5]

Natalie, let me ask you this:

Let's say you had a 3-car garage and your Miata took up one of those. You want a nice highway cruiser to add to your stable for a long commute. Plus, you'd like a truck for hauling stuff from Home Depot and furniture stores. Would you really have 3 manual transmission vehicles? That's what it looks like from your posts. It makes perfect sense to drive a manual Miata (Both my sister and I have NC Miatas.), but why apply the same reasoning to a car or truck that has a different purpose?

...just askin.....

The response to this is going to be good...

I would, all other things being equal. I don't have any hate for automatics, but I do prefer to shift myself. With my current commute and the lack of traffic jams, I have no problem driving the MS3 as a daily. My project Audi is a manual as well. My Tundra is an auto, but I absolutely would have bought a manual had one been available. I enjoy driving 3-pedal vehicles. In a truck or a big cruiser, the type of transmission isn't going to be a deal breaker for me, but I will not have an auto in a sporty car. The advances in autos over the last few years are impressive, but I will trade 1-2 EPA MPG for the increased fun factor. Performance stats (quicker to 60, faster shifts, etc.) don't matter either, honestly. If I'm on a track, it's for fun, not profit. I'm not a good enough driver to make use of the extra few milliseconds a dual-clutch auto box will save me over a manual.

Personally I dislike driving large vehicles with manual transmissions. My old Tacoma is about as big as I'd ever want. To me the whole purpose is the "feel" and you certainly don't get that with trucks and other large vehicles.

 

[nate0123]

Natalie, let me ask you this:

Let's say you had a 3-car garage and your Miata took up one of those. You want a nice highway cruiser to add to your stable for a long commute. Plus, you'd like a truck for hauling stuff from Home Depot and furniture stores. Would you really have 3 manual transmission vehicles? That's what it looks like from your posts. It makes perfect sense to drive a manual Miata (Both my sister and I have NC Miatas.), but why apply the same reasoning to a car or truck that has a different purpose?

...just askin.....

Hi, I'm Nathan. Nice to meet you. (drinks)

I have a rowhouse in the city, don't have a 3-car garage, and my commute is precisely two miles, but for the sake of the hypothetical, I'll humor you.

If I had a "highway cruiser" it would definitely be a manual. Really, is there anything sexier than a nice, powerful sedan or wagon with a manual? For this hypothetical, let's say I would have a RS4 or CTS-V wagon with MT. Absolutely no way I'd consider buying an automatic in this case.

The highway cruiser described above would likely be as practical a vehicle as I would ever need. Furniture stores deliver, and I don't often buy huge things from Home Depot. If I do, they have pickups and vans for rent by the hour. But, let's say I did buy a truck. My roommate in college had a RWD Dakota with a 5-speed manual. With the lower ride height of the 4x2, it was a pretty stable, yet tail happy truck that was easily controllable with the MT, and was pretty fun to tool around town in. It could carry mulch or plants or anything else I could conceivably need. This or something similar with a MT would be my choice.

And, no I'm not just saying that. I really have no patience for automatics in any kind of vehicle. Maybe if I drove a city bus? (dunno)

 

[concept]

I would, all other things being equal. I don't have any hate for automatics, but I do prefer to shift myself. With my current commute and the lack of traffic jams, I have no problem driving the MS3 as a daily. My project Audi is a manual as well. My Tundra is an auto, but I absolutely would have bought a manual had one been available. I enjoy driving 3-pedal vehicles. In a truck or a big cruiser, the type of transmission isn't going to be a deal breaker for me, but I will not have an auto in a sporty car. The advances in autos over the last few years are impressive, but I will trade 1-2 EPA MPG for the increased fun factor. Performance stats (quicker to 60, faster shifts, etc.) don't matter either, honestly. If I'm on a track, it's for fun, not profit. I'm not a good enough driver to make use of the extra few milliseconds a dual-clutch auto box will save me over a manual.

....so if your grandfather left you his perfect-condition 72 Monte Carlo, you'd rip out the auto and install a manual? How about a Toyota Sienna for the kids? - manual trans?
I recently had 2 sports cars with manual trans, but the constant clutch-pushing gets old, especially when you're stuck in traffic, daily. You obviously do not have that problem, so I understand your thoughts.

 

[concept]

Hi, I'm Nathan. Nice to meet you. (drinks)

I have a rowhouse in the city, don't have a 3-car garage, and my commute is precisely two miles, but for the sake of the hypothetical, I'll humor you.

If I had a "highway cruiser" it would definitely be a manual. Really, is there anything sexier than a nice, powerful sedan or wagon with a manual? For this hypothetical, let's say I would have a RS4 or CTS-V wagon with MT. Absolutely no way I'd consider buying an automatic in this case.

The highway cruiser described above would likely be as practical a vehicle as I would ever need. Furniture stores deliver, and I don't often buy huge things from Home Depot. If I do, they have pickups and vans for rent by the hour. But, let's say I did buy a truck. My roommate in college had a RWD Dakota with a 5-speed manual. With the lower ride height of the 4x2, it was a pretty stable, yet tail happy truck that was easily controllable with the MT, and was pretty fun to tool around town in. It could carry mulch or plants or anything else I could conceivably need. This or something similar with a MT would be my choice.

And, no I'm not just saying that. I really have no patience for automatics in any kind of vehicle. Maybe if I drove a city bus? (dunno)

Sorry, Nathan about the name error.
Can you see yourself driving a Mercedes S550 with manual trans?

If so, you'd have to pay someone at least $20,000 to install a manual in a luxury cruiser like the MB. Is that what you'd do? Big. heavy cars and manual trans just don't go together, at least to me. It's like putting 20" wheels and tires on a Miata - just not right.