And not just an automatic transmission, but a CVT that needs to fake 7 speeds with paddle shifters ... yuck. There are excuses for using an automatic, however. A friend has a 1932 chopped and channeled coupe, 350 CID Chevy with 2 4 bbl carbs and an aluminum case PowerGlide.

Why a 2 speed 'Glide, Art?

The last thing I need is a positive shift!

 

Those 7 fake gears actually work well going down steep grades when "S" mode alone is not aggressively slowing the vehicle enough. I don't use the paddle shifting much otherwise.

 

My 2016 has a 5mt, and the 5th gear is geared perfectly for the highway. Of course, things are a little slower in Japan, so I imagine it's not perfect in the states.

My feelings on the subject is that I like the manual transmission half the time, but the other half is tired of the busyness of it all.

I did see a couple high school kids looking through my window the other day, and they were talking about how cool it is because it has a manual. That's something I wasn't expecting, to be honest.

A 6 speed would be too much. As it is, it's a 4 speed with an overdrive. I just wish the first gear wasn't a granny gear.

 

In the states, 1st is Granny, 2nd useful, 3rd more useful, 4th almost OD but very useful, 5th OD useable, 6th 2nd OD not far enough from 5th.

Now I'll be 76 Sunday, have an artificial right foot and NOT looking to be Walter Mitty. I just like the light touch of the clutch and an extra level of security, however small. Most people in the states don't know how to drive a manual transmission. The only trouble I've had with a transmission was in a Chevy Laguna Estate Wagon. It ate 2 Turbohydromatics. Got rid of it before it ate the 3rd.

 

So, what exactly is a granny gear, and how should I employ it if I've never knowingly used one before?

 

So in this context, the "Granny first" is a gear that is too low to be needed for starting...second gear would do just as well.

 

I've not used the term "granny gear", but 1st will not even get me through an intersection before I have to shift to 2nd. This is too short. I should be able to use 1st to get to the other side of the street before shifting to 2nd, all without revving the engine in 1st.

 

Actually a granny gear is a reference to large trucks and tractor trailers. It is a very low gear to geat a heavy load started from a dead stop. The Fit, being a light car, does not need a manual transmission with a gear that needs to be higher to allow a higher speed before shifting to 2nd. If you have a 6 speed Fit, you have no choice, 2nd isn't going to move the car off well enough.

 

I'm very happy with the Fit's manual gearing. Where I still mess up at times after 2 years of having it, is that the throttle is so sensitive and I have to remember to start easy on it at first. Hope all keeps going well for the '15 EX Fit because I plan on keeping it a LONG time and really like its features.

 

Here's a real granny low shift knob. Note that "Low" does not count as one of the three driving gears.

 

Low trade in value, dealing with clutch in traffic,poor gear ratio,s 4th, 6th, to close,lower gas mileage,wife won,t drive manual,and kids can't . Other than that I really like a manual.