Why nobody talks about how much better old manual transmissions feel

I was helping a buddy swap a clutch on his 1990 Miata last weekend, and I got to take it for a test drive after. That 5-speed with the worn shifter bushings still felt way more connected than my 2019 Civic Si. It got me thinking back to when I drove my dad's old 1986 F-150 with a 4-speed and a granny low. Modern shifters feel like stirring a bowl of oatmeal compared to those cable or rod setups from back then. Has anyone else noticed this or is it just me being nostalgic?

2 comments

Log in to join the discussion

Log In

2 Comments

barbara3992mo ago

See, I actually prefer the newer setups - my Subaru's shifter feels precise and tight compared to the sloppy throw in those old trucks I learned on.

6

the_david2mo ago

Nothing like that notchy feel you get from a fresh linkage, makes a world of difference.

7