Neuk_
Honorary Master
Most warranties only cover clutch and related parts for 6 months as it is a wear and tear item. A maintenance plan would cover a clutch and related parts if within usage limits.
-
Join the MyBroadband community
South Africa’s biggest forum. Discuss, discover, and connect with thousands of members.
-
Question of the Day: Did you buy your last car with cash or on a finance plan?
Manual vs Automatic
- Thread starter DrewChan
- Start date
Most warranties only cover clutch and related parts for 6 months as it is a wear and tear item. A maintenance plan would cover a clutch and related parts if within usage limits.
Neuk_
Honorary Master
A luxury car wouldn't have a clutch.
My 2002 Mondeo's clutch generally cost 10K every time I replaced it, thanks to a stupidly expensive dual-mass flywheel.
Define luxury car? A Bugatti Veyron has a clutch, well a clutch pack since it uses a dual clutch transmission.
Good point!
In the USA I believe there were more EVs sold than manual cars (both only a few percent)
Does anyone know what the percentages are (manual vs auto) in RSA?
This thread has opened my eyes though, some auto gearboxes are actually manual, electronically controlled
In the USA I believe there were more EVs sold than manual cars (both only a few percent)
Does anyone know what the percentages are (manual vs auto) in RSA?
This thread has opened my eyes though, some auto gearboxes are actually manual, electronically controlled
Fair enough. I didn't realise the distinction.
A bit tongue-in-cheek; a traditional manual gearbox. It's hard to find anything badged as "luxury" that doesn't have some form of automatically-controlled transmission.
pinball wizard
Honorary Master
So, how long did you have it that you replaced the clutch more than once, and why did you drive it like a box?
Neuk_
Honorary Master
I think Porsche is one of the last to hold out on manual transmissions but those were in their 911 GT3 's and are hens teeth. You are right that most high end, luxury cars have some form of automatically controlled transmission, whether it is a traditional torque converter type gearbox or a dual clutch transmission.
Geoff.D
Honorary Master
One of the issues with those old beetles was NOT the clutch per we but the spiggot bearing which used to leak and let the oil get onto the clutch plate.
I mastered the art of removing a beetle engine in 20 minutes. A special cradle trolley, pull the whole engine and gearbox, change and clean the clutch in 10 minutes engine back in 20 minutes, whole job over including packing away the tools in an hour.
I mastered the art of removing a beetle engine in 20 minutes. A special cradle trolley, pull the whole engine and gearbox, change and clean the clutch in 10 minutes engine back in 20 minutes, whole job over including packing away the tools in an hour.
Last edited:
Neuk_
Honorary Master
My dad tells stories of him and friends pulling engines out of friends Beetles and hiding them
I remember when we pulled the engine on our '66 Bus, it was four bolts, accelerator cable and fuel lines so it was quick and easy. My Type 3 was more of a ball ache though with the dual carbs and access not as easy as the Bus but still far easier than more modern cars.
Geoff.D
Honorary Master
Afterwards, I found it easier to remove the entire engine to change the sparkplugs instead of grovelling around trying to see where to put the plug spanner. 
Modified my two beetles so that the back bumper and rear panel was removable. Did the same with morris minors. Support the engine on a trolley, remove the front of the car and push the car out of the way.
Modified my two beetles so that the back bumper and rear panel was removable. Did the same with morris minors. Support the engine on a trolley, remove the front of the car and push the car out of the way.
I sold it at 13 years old with 344000km on it. I drove it for 9 years, mostly doing 2 to 2.5 hours of stop-start traffic every weekday covering only 40km. I think I had 3 clutches due to wear, and one because the clutch actually sheared off.
Link to Daily Maverick article, with some local stats
/file/dailymaverick/wp-content/uploads/alok-sharma-9wrFaeqMJBg-unsplash.jpg)
www.dailymaverick.co.za
Manual cars still seem to be in the majority in SA, but will gradually become increasingly rare.
Are modern automatics more fuel efficient than manual?
Are manual cars still a thing? Is there even a future for the old gear stick?
Indeed, they are, but no, they are not coming with us to the future. If the increasingly competent automatics don’t annihilate the manuals, the electric vehicle will.…
www.dailymaverick.co.za
Manual cars still seem to be in the majority in SA, but will gradually become increasingly rare.
Are modern automatics more fuel efficient than manual?
The Voice
Honorary Master
Certainly not more fuel efficient, no, but definitely on par in most cases. Exception would be CVTs which are pretty much designed around getting the best efficiency.Link to Daily Maverick article, with some local stats
Are manual cars still a thing? Is there even a future for the old gear stick?
Indeed, they are, but no, they are not coming with us to the future. If the increasingly competent automatics don’t annihilate the manuals, the electric vehicle will.…
Manual cars still seem to be in the majority in SA, but will gradually become increasingly rare.
Are modern automatics more fuel efficient than manual?
ToxicBunny
Oi! Leave me out of this...
On par on paper yes.. In reality they probably are more efficient.. Most people can't really drive a manual in the efficient band for the engine whereas the auto will spend more time in the efficient band.
Agreed. The average driver is not very good at picking the most efficient rev range. And also, many modern autos are running 10 gears, making it much easier for the engine to be kept in the optimal range, vs 6-speed manuals.
Neuk_
Honorary Master
There are other factors as well to consider, such as when a vehicle is stationary, the number of idiots I see riding their clutches still amazes me. I can only assume these are the same idiots that then complain about fuel consumption and how often they have to replace clutches. Having said that, I notice people doing it in 'automatics' as well, like dual clutch transmissions which will have the same effect but possibly a costlier clutch change. Around town, a manual will be more efficient than a torque converter based automatic though, there is no way around the pumping/fluid efficiency losses but on the open road it should be fairly even.
FiestaST
Honorary Master
Mercedes-Benz Gives Up On Manuals: Report
It truly is a dark day for American luxury car buyers. First, we lost the Jaguar XE and XF Sportbrake, and now Mercedes-Benz executives have reportedly determined that the development of manual transmission in its cars is too expensive, so the company won’t make any more. The Mercedes manual is dead.
Automotive journalist Greg Kable tweeted a quote from Marcus Schaeffer, the current boss of Mercedes-Benz research and development, claiming cost-cutting measures led to the decision to ax the stick:
jalopnik.com
It truly is a dark day for American luxury car buyers. First, we lost the Jaguar XE and XF Sportbrake, and now Mercedes-Benz executives have reportedly determined that the development of manual transmission in its cars is too expensive, so the company won’t make any more. The Mercedes manual is dead.
Automotive journalist Greg Kable tweeted a quote from Marcus Schaeffer, the current boss of Mercedes-Benz research and development, claiming cost-cutting measures led to the decision to ax the stick:
Mercedes-Benz Gives Up On Manuals: Report - Jalopnik
It truly is a dark day for American luxury car buyers. First, we lost the Jaguar XE and XF Sportbrake, and now Mercedes-Benz executives have reportedly determined that the development of manual transmission in its cars is too expensive, so the company won’t make any more. The Mercedes manual is...
jalopnik.com
The Voice
Honorary Master
Bought a Mazda3 automatic 2 months ago, and have to say it's the best decision I've ever made. After getting used to my left foot not doing anything anymore, driving became bliss surprisingly quickly, especially in traffic where all I need to control movement is the brake pedal. Don't think I'll ever go back to manual!
Did you get the new version? How is it ?
Rouxenator
Dank meme lord
I have no reservations that automatics are the future. Considering all the driver aid systems coming onboard a self shifting powertrain becomes a requirement. Drivers also tend to "forget" how to drive manual once they switch. I remember growing up my grandma could only drive automatic, since my folks sold the Kombi in 2006 my mom only drives auto. I doubt my wife will have a pleasant drive in a manual after she got the auto Astra in 2014.
However the slick shifts and short throws of this angry stick with it's ability to let me decide how much of that 132kw under my right foot is put to the tarmac - always puts a smile on my face.
However the slick shifts and short throws of this angry stick with it's ability to let me decide how much of that 132kw under my right foot is put to the tarmac - always puts a smile on my face.