I don't want to drive a manual transmission anymore

As someone who holds a C1D driver's license, I used to feel a little superior to those who could only drive automatic vehicles.

After all, automatic transmissions often don't meet your needs in many situations, especially when overtaking or driving on hilly roads.

Moreover, a manual transmission lets you better appreciate that a car is actually a machine, and when used correctly, it gives you a more united feeling with the car.

Unfortunately, it has become very difficult to buy a manual transmission car for personal use, and you can't find manual options when renting a car.

Because I couldn't get one, I have always maintained my respect for manual transmissions.

Until I drove one.

A few days ago, I had the chance to go on a road trip with a manual transmission car from over a decade ago. Although I hadn’t driven a manual since getting my license, thanks to my experience with motorcycles, I managed to get the car moving.

Driving on the highway was not too challenging, with only a little jerkiness when switching between first and second gear. I attributed this to unfamiliarity with the car and the good sound insulation, which made it hard to gauge the engine's RPMs.

However, the real challenge with manual transmissions is in crawling, reversing, and especially on slopes.

For those who have forgotten or don't know how to drive a manual transmission, here's a brief explanation.

A manual car has three pedals: clutch, brake, and accelerator. The right hand is responsible for the gear stick. The clutch disconnects the engine from the drivetrain, allowing you to change gears to achieve the appropriate torque and RPMs.

When starting, you need to gradually release the clutch while simultaneously adding gas. Unlike a driving school car that has been adjusted, if you release the clutch too quickly, the car will stall due to high resistance. This is a safety feature. Novices often struggle with the clutch-gas coordination, leading to the car jerking forward and stalling, which spectators can see.

As mentioned, I often ride motorcycles, so clutch-gas coordination isn't a problem for me, even on slopes.

Starting on a slope is considered the most difficult basic skill for manual transmissions. As previously mentioned, you need to release the clutch while adding gas to start, but on a slope, you don't have a third foot for the brake, causing the car to roll back.

Therefore, to start on a slope, you need to follow these steps:

1. Press the brake and clutch;

2. Shift into first gear;

3. Pull the handbrake;

4. Place your foot on the accelerator and gradually add gas;

5. Maintain a certain RPM while slowly releasing the clutch and the handbrake;

6. Once the clutch is fully released and the handbrake is down, the car has successfully started.

If you release the handbrake too slowly, the car will stall; if you release the clutch too quickly, the car will also stall; if you don't give enough gas, the car will again stall.

Although this process is tedious, it's not too difficult. However, on a congested mountain road, it's easy to forget you're on a slope and about the handbrake. Especially after stalling with the car behind honking, I forgot the car could roll back.

So, I rolled back and shattered the right side mirror.

This is when I recalled the benefits of automatic transmissions: you don’t need to coordinate the clutch and gas when crawling, just light braking will do; starting on slopes is easier too—just release the brake and press the gas pedal, thanks to the anti-rollback feature; gear changing is also smoother.

If before I believed manual transmissions were cumbersome but fun to drive, now I revise that to: manual transmissions, at least for cars, are not fun to drive most of the time.

The main source of driving fun comes less from gear changing hassles and more from the readily available acceleration provided by ample power.

And motorcycles can give you all that fun.

1. Motorcycles have manual transmissions with each hand and foot having specific functions;

2. You can feel the engine’s vibration, temperature, and sound more directly, appreciating the machine's charm;

3. You can feel the outside temperature and the wind from the speed;

4. They are powerful, easily outpacing most household cars on the street. A $10,000 motorcycle can easily surpass a 5-million-yuan sports car, at least on the street; on the track, it might lose.

After this uncomfortable road trip and breaking the side mirror, I no longer have any expectations for manual cars. If the Ford Focus RS stops production, so be it. Cars are better off as mere transportation tools, while motorcycles can be the toys.