Why a Stick Shift Defines the Driver

I'm a manual guy ... but not by choice vs. price. I do get to drive a lot of the new Ferrari's and I freely admit that I love the paddles... they are fun and easy to use. I find its also easier to concentrate on track with paddles - and I'm faster.

same in real traffic, - either in Auto or with paddles its just easier, and generally smoother.

I have a 328, and to me its completely natural to shift... but its no where as powerful as a 488 or 812... if you had that much HP and had to shift & down shift - I just don't think its really that practical or easy or safe.

watching Senna at Monaco in 88 - 91 is amazing but most people are not Senna, and those engine that buzzed up to 16K RPM got rebuilt almost every time out... that does not happen in real life.

I'd take a paddle shifter car any day... I'm saving my pennies for a 458... its just a great car, and the paddles make that much easier to go fast.

when you get into a car of my vintage - it is part of the allure of mid 80's Ferrari's... to master the gated shifter... I do agree you have to be a much more competent driver to manually shift gears, and be smooth, but it does not mean one is better or worse than the other.

Having done both, I'm with Mr. Ferrari... the best Ferrari is the next one.... cant go back!

 

Bingo.

My proof is simply this. Many current Formula 1 drivers purchase off-team cars with paddle shifters. (i.e. Lewis Hamilton and his LaF)

I would be hard pressed to say the LaF is any 'less' of a car because of it does not have a manual or that Hamilton is 'less' of a driver when he's cruising around in it because it's not a stick.

This is coming from a guy that's driven stick since I was 16 and prefers them to non-stick.

 

Oh they have been done

http://www.carbuzz.com/news/2016/4/29/Why-Aren-t-There-More-Ferrari-Restomods-7733226/

 

that's not really the same thing IMO.

there are plenty of 308s with the 3.4 conversion and big brake/wheel/tire kits. none that I'm aware of that have been completely reengineered the way a Singer is.

you have to see a Singer in person to understand it, they transform a 911 into something completely different. even stuff like the wiring harness and brake lines are beautifully prepared

 

No, but I have an avatar for ya . . .
Image Unavailable, Please Login

 

While we're complaining about what cars *don't* have, ...

Where are the flying cars that fold up into a briefcase?

 

So where are you having a ton of fun? You know they have laws against having too much fun. [emoji6]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

but that far beyond a normal restomod. i thought thats what you were referring to

 

They are only broken laws if caught

 

Stereotypes wouldn't be stereotypes if they were not true. Most of these comments are spot on lol.

 

Nice post!

Maybe you are right but I don't know. On average they allotted ~4 coupes per state each year of the production run. Is that way too many? To me it's enough to allow the die hards access to one and the owners access to spare parts but "way too many"? I don't agree.

Same here, what's the point? It's faster? And? Did the speed limits change and I missed the memo? Don't you dare take away my mastery of a complex contraption or the glorious feedback, total control of the entire exchange of engine power to asphalt and feel for your statistics....EVER!

In other words, "Do not make me obsolete with system nannies and over-rides! I got this!

 

I would disagree. Take the 288 GTO

I would be happy to defend a Silver 288 GTO as being a real "Ferrari", even though it was released post 69'. Yes, it's a turbo V8 instead of a V12. Don't care if its Mobil instead of redline inside and I wouldn't hesitate to drive it if it's last belt change was 3 and a half years ago or only has Veglia analog gauges. If the previous owner drove it 1,000 miles a year or 5,000 - I would be hard pressed to judge their enthusiast bonafides either way.

 

I guess it's funny that I described pretty much what I have, albeit with less HP. What I wish the 355 had though was a new engine (that didn't have heat issues) and electronics, a stiffer chassis, better brakes, better ventilation/A/C and a top that goes up and down easily like a 360/430.

 

This F1 vs Stick. It's an American thing, the rest of the world really is not bothered much either way mostly.

Maybe it is because many of you perhaps grew up around automatic transmission and it was mainly racing cars that had a manual?

Though I only started driving in 1980 I mostly only ever drove MT cars. Autos were only Jags and Rollers.
My second car was a crappy three speed auto that I admit I hated.
Being British or European and having drove manual cars most of my life I really, really enjoy F1.
The only F1 I have driven in anger was an Selespeed Fiat (think F355 F1) and a Gallardo E-gear (I think it is called). I loved them both, that kick in the back when you nail it an change, I could do that all day.

So I have a manual 5 speed Alfa, manual 5 speed 360 and a auto 5 speed Mercedes and love them all for their own characteristics.
I do mostly wish I had bought an F1 360.

Agreed.

 

An older guy I know, early hot-rodder, long-time Ferrari owner, told me a story about his Scuderia. He said if you're on the track, you can go flat into a corner and the car will not only save your ass, but take you through the corner at as close to F1 speeds as you're ever likely to get. I can see this being beneficial to someone learning to race. You get to experience that the car is far better than you. You just need to trust the force, Luke. But for the rest of us, what's the point?

 

I'm not surprised this is another "a Florida man" article given how crazy this is: How a Florida Shop Made the Manual GT3 RS Porsche Wouldn't

As we has discussed on the forums here a few times, the hard part is the software and not hardware. Thankfully the 911R was made so they pulled the software (partially) from that to make this work.

It will be harder to make it happen in a Ferrari, but not impossible imo. It would be cost prohibitive unless you're a Sultan.

 

Ferrari would reduce their sales if they only offered a stick shifter as a large percentage of their buyers are not coordinated enough to drive one with a stick shifter. From my own observations of whom is driving Ferrari's these days: 1) Old guys putting around that couldn't afford the car until they were too old to really enjoy it. 2) 16 year old Chinese kids that have no clue how to drive anything and dangerously race around . 3) Rich housewives going to Starbucks. The 30 - 50 year old REAL enthusiasts that grew up experiencing many cars and know how to use a stick shift seem to be a rare breed.

 

What a crock! So somebody over 50 is not a "REAL enthusiast"? I am over 60 and I think I still can "really enjoy it" (and I think I probably could kick your butt when it comes to shifting having had to double clutch non syncros for most of my formative years)!!!!

Sounds like you think everybody over 50 should be put out to pasture. Hope they never put you in charge.

 

It comes down to cost.

The take rate for a manual is abysmal despite what supposed 'real' enthusiasts declare. When you have only 5% of folks that would opt for a manual, it doesn't make financial sense for a small company to provide it. The issue/question has been answered many times by Ferrari and Lamborghini.

Porsche can do it since they sell more cars in ten days than Ferrari sells a whole year, not to mention owned by the world's largest (or second depending on who you ask) automaker and its supply chain, R&D, and development perks.

Way different economies of scale.

 

You are wrong about old guys putting around to old to enjoy it,at least from what I have seen, they are smarter and wiser than the punks that crash and burn into light poles out of control backwards lol, they know when its right and appropriate to rap it out hit it hard when no ones around not getting in trouble, don't need an audience lol.

 

Who said anything about -only- offering a manual trans? No one.

 

Who said anything about over 50? I'll be over 50 next year.....lol.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong but 15% of 430's were sold with a stick shifter? Still a small percentage. That is my point.

 

Last 430 rolled out the factory almost a decade ago. 15%, 10%, 5% (doesn't matter) - we all know what the trend line has been since 10 years ago.

I would argue if the 488 were offered in manual today, you would see no more than a 2-3% take rate. Bean counters have deemed it not financially viable and it doesn't matter as long as that take rate is below a certain threshold.

The most notorious example was when the California came out, only 2-5 (Depending on who you ask) ordered it with a manual transmission.

This is a great article from R&T discussing manual transmissions with exotics.

I detest this thread topic because it's been discussed endlessly and has entered P&R territory and folks that try to stake a position are bordering on dogma and religion.

You like a stick and F1 sucks? (more power to you)
You like F1 and stick sucks? (more power to you)

Want Ferrari to start making a manual for your car? If you give them enough money - they will do it for you (just ask the Sultan of Brunei)...end of issue.

 

Dealers were actively discouraging the order of non-F1 cars starting with the 360. That only 15% was immune to the browbeating by the 430 shouldn't be a surprise.

Just a little of my own experience:
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific/507393-message-ceo-ferrari-manual-transmission-2.html#post144367924

http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/ferrari-discussion-not-model-specific/269029-will-shields-ever-go-out-fashion-4.html#post139281041