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Date:         Fri, 11 Sep 2015 11:53:31 -0700
Reply-To:     eve Appleton <appleton_eve@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         eve Appleton <appleton_eve@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Automatic vs Manual trans. ( Friday )
Comments: To: "mcneely4@COX.NET" <mcneely4@COX.NET>
In-Reply-To:  <20150911124650.V061O.32821.imail@eastrmwml114>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1

I have to agree with Chris, though i do wonder if even then I'll let go of the knob. They'll have to cremate it with me. But then i grew up in Europe where automatic transmission was considered a luxury for fat wealth. (please don't take offense)  i never touched an auto transmission until the age of 35 when i came to America. It's my personal opinion, learning to drive stick should be manditory to getting a license. (That n parallel parking.) Auto is just too easy and convenience corrupts the mind. Taught to drive by fighter pilots n precision race car drivers, as hyperdriving prius' wizcock thru rush hour traffic, lane changing with just inches to spare; proving displaced sense of self importance and questionable understanding of the Prius purpose (to wit, both slam to a snail's pace two car links ahead), i think of my teachers' words, "U won't find a race car driver speeding in traffic. We leave that to the race track."  And one might ask, "Why r all race cars manual?" Hmmm...  Personal opinion again, still,  auto transmission is for those who don't really enjoy the art of driving; the sensuous feel of motor in hand; the calming affect of focus to which one becomes part... U won't c a manual driver primping or texting at 35 or 65 mph.  Not even with voice activated technology. Drive time is their's, alone. Even with passengers present.   U will find them seemingly blended as one with their car; a satisfied grin on their face; they more then person, but also machine; feeling every vibration; planning every maneuver; hearing only their own thots despite surrounding chatter. (That's right lovers. If u want to be heard, save it for when they're out from behind the wheel.)  Manual driving for the truly initiated is better then sex. (And often lasts longer.)  Purpose aside, I'm so sorry to hear u've been forced to surrender ur manhood to the world of automaton, though commendable retrieval is attempted  thru exercises of auto manipulation futility. We learn from everything so all is not lost. Still, u haven't convinced me. Here's to many happy returns. In joy, eve Sent from Yahoo Mail on Android From:"Dave Mcneely" <mcneely4@COX.NET> Date:Fri, Sep 11, 2015 at 9:47 AM Subject:Re: Automatic vs Manual trans. ( Friday ) The only two automatic transmissions I've had extensive experience with are: 1.  The 1965 Ford Falcon my wife had when we married.  I hated it, having been used to manual transmissions.  It jerked and lurched when it changed gears, and would not downshift on a hill without stomping on the accelerator, then I would have to back off, resulting in the vehicle lurching forwarding then seeming to bog down again as it inappropriately  upshifted.  I never learned to get it to shift smoothly and maintain speed in that circumstance. 2.  My current Toyota Prius, with continuously variable transmission and dual electric/internal combustion power.  It is extremely smooth, but of course is no "performance" vehicle.  The only problem with the transmission I have experienced is that the constant speed device caused it to downshift on hills to a very low gear ratio.  That also caused over consumption of fuel.  Once I learned to drive without that, I found I could maintain speed on hills without it, and without the transmission downshifting so far.  I started getting much better highway gas mileage then.  Of course, sometimes I "hypermile" with the Prius, if I am alone and there is little traffic.  I don't do it with my wife in the car because it annoys her.  I can get 65 mpg highway if I can hypermile for most of a 250 mile trip.  That is measured by miles driven and fuel used, not the digital readout on the dash. David McNeely


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