Quote:
Originally Posted by wpoll
Back when I leant to drive, everyone learnt on a manual - automatics were as rare as rocking horse s**t and usually in high-end luxury models.
My first car didn't even have synchro-mesh between 2nd and 1st, so you had to stop to change down to first or double-clutch the change.
Ironically, 40 years later I drive a car that has a ZF 6HP26 auto, which doesn't like changing from 2nd to 1st while moving... Dunno what that says about progress...  |
Bad part now is a new clutch and pressure plate for a bmw cost the same as a replacement automatic transmission and requires the same effort to swap them
Not to mention the banjo lever action on a bmw's shifter isn't going to hold up well to a newbie learning to shift gears for the first time. Expect a few wrecker trips or a call from the kid where they are stranded from the shifter not doing anything when moved
My first was a celica manual but like anyone else with stories of learning to drive a manual on Japanese cars they were top loader transmissions. You could grind on them all day with no damage and the shifters are practically indestructible within reason.
You can pop the shifter linkage off a bmw if you are rough with them.