Discussion
All the chat on "electric Aston Martin" actually made me think about something else. Currently Manual AMs such as DBS (The proper ones no the Mercedes ones) and V12Vs command a much higher residual for the manual variants. I was looking at DBS prices and there are very few manuals available. It occurs top me that I imagine most people on here will have a "manual license" but people learning to drive today are learning in electric cars and this will become more and more common. There is no such thing as a manual electric car, so what happens in a few years time? Will younger people even be allowed to drive a manual car? I can see in a couple of decades time its possible that nobody under the age of say 30 would have the manual entitlement on their license. Could this mean a change in direction of premium for the manuals? Likely we will all be too old to drive one anyway!
Good point. No. You can't drive a manual car unless you have passed a test in a manual car. In the UK anyway.
Quite right too. We're used to manual cars now but remember the first time you drove one?
The multitasking logistics we do in a tricky situation is actually quite impressive. Steering, braking, clutching and changing gear in quick succession.
Quite right too. We're used to manual cars now but remember the first time you drove one?
The multitasking logistics we do in a tricky situation is actually quite impressive. Steering, braking, clutching and changing gear in quick succession.
How does it work in, say, the USofA where manuals are much rarer? Just one test, I imagine but be interested to know. Maybe the future here, when manuals are oddities for strange people who spend their weekends in their own garages with OIL and stuff!!
Those converting cars considered classics today to electric are retaining the manual gearboxes, I understand? So the 'best' (or 'worst?') of both worlds??
I must say I am thinking that I will not buy another manual, a least as long as I have my current old-fashioned cars (that is not pejorative, I like that!) and the alternatives are so good now. Heresy or resignation perhaps. My electric Zero motorcycle has no gears and is fabulous to ride, more brain-space to focus on leaning, grip and balance.... and my last servicing bill was £38 at the dealer!
Those converting cars considered classics today to electric are retaining the manual gearboxes, I understand? So the 'best' (or 'worst?') of both worlds??
I must say I am thinking that I will not buy another manual, a least as long as I have my current old-fashioned cars (that is not pejorative, I like that!) and the alternatives are so good now. Heresy or resignation perhaps. My electric Zero motorcycle has no gears and is fabulous to ride, more brain-space to focus on leaning, grip and balance.... and my last servicing bill was £38 at the dealer!
For any of us who live long enough when IC cars are been banned from roads, there might be cheap DB4 or DB5s available, just to enjoy looking at.
Classic car popularity seems to some extent, to by linked to buyer age. People like the cars they can remember as youngsters. I understand this aspect is already begining to be reflected, with less demand and falling prices of pre-1940s cars.
In the US, you take a driving test with whatever car you bring (or provided for you; states have different requirements) and receive your license. There is no separate endorsement for manuals. You do need a separate endorsement for motorcycles however (not sure if that is even needed for some states).
DB9VolanteDriver said:
In the US, you take a driving test with whatever car you bring. There is no separate endorsement for manuals.
In reality "driving stick" is something our transatlantic cousins abandoned many decades ago. They do, however, still make high torque manual boxes for their sports cars whereas pretty most European manufacturers have either given up or are in the process of giving up. TheRainMaker said:
If ICE is banned, most will be converted to EV, not much point in having them if you can't use them.
Doesn't Prince Charles have one?
Doesn't Prince Charles have one?
It was converted to run on Dutchy of Cornwall wine, or so the story goes. Bit difficult to understand how it works.
Think his troublesome son and 'I'm in charge' daughter in law, drove away from their wedding in an electric car. Not an Aston Martin, but a Jaguar E-type.
voram said:
In reality "driving stick" is something our transatlantic cousins abandoned many decades ago. They do, however, still make high torque manual boxes for their sports cars whereas pretty most European manufacturers have either given up or are in the process of giving up.
Reality is often too complex to boil down to blanket statements.Did you know that BMW produced a manual version of the previous gen M5 because of pressure from American customers? I don't believe it was offered for sale anywhere else.
No question, the torque converter automatic has long been the favoured transmission in North America, but I don't think the sales of manual transmission cars sold in Europe/UK have been terribly healthy for a number of years now.
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