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Originally Posted by VPSuchin No hard feelings, but I have always wondered why every single car forum has these condescending gatekeepers who seem to project this idea - "You are not a true enthusiast unless you drive a rear wheel drive, manual transmission, high performance sports car"
But, this attitude makes one think...Where do you draw the line? Does someone who drives an SUV because they have kids not a "Car guy"? What about FWD? So someone who drives an Automatic Golf GTI not a real "Car Guy?" The Nissan GT-R doesn't even come with a manual transmission. So is the person who drives one a wannabe? What about electric cars? Tesla P90D owners? There are people in this very forum who drive all kinds of vehicles automatic or not, car or SUV, who can be considered hardcore car guys. |
I'm fully agreeable with CHOICE whether it be vehicle shape or transmission choice. I get it. However, on a car forum the reason people will question you is not on the basis of a single post, but on your online persona. That's where you draw the line. On another post you recommended to another member based on the
assumption that driving in Michigan would require him to have an AWD vehicle. That and other examples make me question why you care about driving feel or anything remotely concerned with driving pleasure. Driving a vehicle with a man pedal is all about passion. Just as a disclaimer, I've been a fan-and-owner of FWD Hondas. They're driver cars not just because of manual transmission but because of the package - light weight, steering, engine
and the ability to shift on demand rather than by some map engineered for a 50th percentile average driver and fuel efficiency. That's the difference. The P90D is
not an enthusiast car by any stretch. It is a poseur car that has bragging rights for straightline acceleration. And I'm fully on-board with progress and technology. If you could drive your computerized GT-R the way it should be driven, then no, it's not a wannabe car. Otherwise, you may as well cruise in a Maxima, the g-forces won't upset your tummy.
To summarize, Yes! As a car guy, I love manual.
I do manual everything.
My car is manual, my toothbrush is manual, even my manual is manual
I don't grudge you your choice. Your needs dictate what you buy afterall. As you said, some folks buy SUVs (when they should buy minivans if they were car guys - again, coz of weight, practicality, etc etc) and so on. But it's a stretch to believe automatics are somehow the enthusiast choice for a G37 when obviously my comment pained you to respond.
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Originally Posted by navin_bhp Why do you think these cars have paddle shifters / sport/ sport+ modes? I think people who desperately want to look like a car guy buy stick shifts. When you evolve you will find out that there is nothing you cannot do with a automatic car that can do with a stick shift. Come on man not everyone here is wealthy enough to get a track car and a street car. |
Define 'these'. For the Ferraris and other high end exotics that have paddle shifters, let me tell you why they do. The kind of person that buys them has an average age of 55 and up. They're not looking to look like retards when shifting gears manually because (a) the power levels of those cars would require some smooth rev-matched shifting knowledge and (b) violent neck-snap gear changes of a manual vis-s-vis a torque converter could upset their co-passengers. But most importantly, if you've owned a paddle shift car, you'd know it gets boring pretty quick. After the initial euphoria and novelty wears off, most folks put it in auto mode and can't be bothered to shift. i.e., they don't use the paddles.
Regarding multiple driving modes - I do think they're marketing gimmicks - and I was there in the room when an OEM's VP made it happen for a midsize sedan sport version. If I'm buying an M5, I either want to cruise and save fuel or I want to go fast. I don't see the point of an 'eco' mode that's somehow mapped differently from Normal (is it going to make my bum move more than Comfort?) or a half-assed Sport that's different from Sport+/Race.
Some reading :
Chris Harris 'Saving The Manuals' on Jalopnik