EVs are even better - you’re fully in control of the power, without an engine and transmission imposing a bunch of limits and power bands based on engine RPM and vehicle speed.
You actually get the experience that automatic transmissions promise but fail to deliver. If you want power, press the pedal. If you want more power, press the pedal more. That’s it. No power fade, surges, hiccups as it shifts, etc.
I prefer a manual to an automatic, but they’re both obsolete. Electric motors just do as they’re told.
Last time I tried an electric, there was a 0.5s lag between me stepping on the pedal and motor starting to spin. I got used to it pretty quick, but on that first intersection I did not feel especially in controll of the whole situation.
The brake in my wife’s ICE car takes that long to disengage after I take my foot off the pedal at red lights. Incredibly distracting for me, as someone who is apparently very “in tune” with the car I’m driving. I didn’t notice it during the test drive, but we didn’t stop at many red lights that day. When I first noticed it, it caused a brief moment of panic - “What’s wrong with the car?!” I’m kind of used to it now, but it still takes me out of any good mood I was in about driving that car. When I take my foot off the pedal, I expect the brakes to release at that moment, not a bit later.
And this isn’t the brake hold feature that lets you remove your foot from the brake pedal. I rarely use that. It’s just a lag between taking my foot off the pedal, and the brakes releasing. Most people never notice it, I’m sure, but it bugs me.
In general that car feels like there’s a computer between you and the road. Everything is so muted, then it does things like the brake lag to remind you that it’s in control and you’re just making suggestions.
Eh, not really. For context, I switched from a hybrid manual to an EV last year. The EV, despite being more expensive, 8 years newer, and much more sporty (in terms of design and marketing) is not nearly as much fun IMHO. If you want a fun car, get a little coupe or hatchback with a manual, doesn’t even need a lot of power. If you just want to go fast in a straight line, get an EV.
EVs are even better - you’re fully in control of the power
Nope. You put your foot on the pedal, and the computer decides how fast you want to go. Put your foot on the brake, and the computer decides how hard you want to brake. All your controls are filtered through the computer. If the computer and I disagree, the only thing I can do is push my brake to floor, which engages the physical brakes using a traditional brake boost system, and fight the power steering motor for control of the front wheels, since there is a physical connection there.
In a manual, your control of the engine is much more direct (although mine did have throttle by wire), as well as your control of the transmission and brakes (when compared to an EV).
Honestly, if my wife did not absolutely dog on my CRZ for years, I wouldn’t have switched (yet). That being said I do like having a car she can drive and I can “fuel” it up just by plugging it into a standard wall outlet.
EVs are even better - you’re fully in control of the power, without an engine and transmission imposing a bunch of limits and power bands based on engine RPM and vehicle speed.
You actually get the experience that automatic transmissions promise but fail to deliver. If you want power, press the pedal. If you want more power, press the pedal more. That’s it. No power fade, surges, hiccups as it shifts, etc.
I prefer a manual to an automatic, but they’re both obsolete. Electric motors just do as they’re told.
Last time I tried an electric, there was a 0.5s lag between me stepping on the pedal and motor starting to spin. I got used to it pretty quick, but on that first intersection I did not feel especially in controll of the whole situation.
The brake in my wife’s ICE car takes that long to disengage after I take my foot off the pedal at red lights. Incredibly distracting for me, as someone who is apparently very “in tune” with the car I’m driving. I didn’t notice it during the test drive, but we didn’t stop at many red lights that day. When I first noticed it, it caused a brief moment of panic - “What’s wrong with the car?!” I’m kind of used to it now, but it still takes me out of any good mood I was in about driving that car. When I take my foot off the pedal, I expect the brakes to release at that moment, not a bit later.
And this isn’t the brake hold feature that lets you remove your foot from the brake pedal. I rarely use that. It’s just a lag between taking my foot off the pedal, and the brakes releasing. Most people never notice it, I’m sure, but it bugs me.
In general that car feels like there’s a computer between you and the road. Everything is so muted, then it does things like the brake lag to remind you that it’s in control and you’re just making suggestions.
Easily, the most erudite description of the point I’ve read so far. 🤌🏼🤓
Eh, not really. For context, I switched from a hybrid manual to an EV last year. The EV, despite being more expensive, 8 years newer, and much more sporty (in terms of design and marketing) is not nearly as much fun IMHO. If you want a fun car, get a little coupe or hatchback with a manual, doesn’t even need a lot of power. If you just want to go fast in a straight line, get an EV.
Nope. You put your foot on the pedal, and the computer decides how fast you want to go. Put your foot on the brake, and the computer decides how hard you want to brake. All your controls are filtered through the computer. If the computer and I disagree, the only thing I can do is push my brake to floor, which engages the physical brakes using a traditional brake boost system, and fight the power steering motor for control of the front wheels, since there is a physical connection there.
In a manual, your control of the engine is much more direct (although mine did have throttle by wire), as well as your control of the transmission and brakes (when compared to an EV).
Honestly, if my wife did not absolutely dog on my CRZ for years, I wouldn’t have switched (yet). That being said I do like having a car she can drive and I can “fuel” it up just by plugging it into a standard wall outlet.
those ev motors are torquey and for some people fun is acceleration