Do you miss manual transmissions?

I think you mean eCVT in HSD but not the belt/chain driven mechanical CVT.

 

You mean the eCVT, electronically (no mechanically) controlled variable transmission. Prius ICE is fully throttle most of the time due to Atkinson cycle. It just changes engine RPM per your foot demand.

At 65 mph, RPM can drop below 1,200 RPM as per video. I put it on cruise control at 65 mph.

[ame=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=3834454834833982503&hl=en]Prius e-CVT in action: A view of gas engine RPM at 65 MPH.[/ame]

 

I always had manual transmission. When I got my Prius I kept wanting to reach for the clutch. But the Prius is such a pleasure to drive; I do not miss shifting.

 

This is not always true anymore.
Honda Fit automatic gets better gas mileage than the manual.

If you had the Lexus GS 450 h, you'll have the six-stage Sequential Shiftmatic.
TOYOTA: News Releases

Ken@Japan

 

I borrowed the neighbour's CRV last weekend to pick up a doghouse. (No, not everything fits in a Prius.) When I first got in I said "Oh look. It's a stick. This is gonna be interesting." It was sorta fun in a retro way, but I'd take an HSD any day. Unless of course I'm driving a sports car on a twisty road. Or a motorcycle.

 

I had a BMW318i [E46] before my Prius. It had a manual transmission and my leg used to get sore from pressing the clutch in city traffic. It was a pain....literally. In a fast little sports car a manual transmission is always fun though.

I prefer automatics cause most of my driving is city.

 

...like Betamax and orange melamine counter tops

 

yeah I really do honestly. Like everyone says, you become one with the car.

sadly the only manual I had was my first car which I wrecked in 1997, a Ford escourt..nothing fancy..but it was fun to drive.

had auto since.

still looking to get a motorcycle soon for weekend fun.

the prius is a fun car no doubt, but don't compare to shifting through gears in something that is loud and obnoxious

 

I used to have a Honda CR-X with a 5 speed manual, and a Jeep C-J5 with a 3 speed manual, both on the floor. I drove them alternately, driving the Honda mostly to work and the Jeep on weekends and during bad weather. Reverse on the Jeep was in exactly the same position as first on the Honda. That can be interesting, but it's amazing how well people adapt to little things like that.

I really enjoy driving a manual transmission, and miss it sometimes, but it doesn't make me wish that the Prius had one. For me it's like wearing dress clothes: I enjoy getting all dressed up on occasion, but I don't want to be forced into it on a regular basis.

Tom

 

The Prius is the first car I owned without manual transmission, and I thought I'd miss it but I don't. What I do miss is the emergency break in the middle.

It's also the first car I owned with automatic windows, and I DO miss my manual windows. Open the door, roll down the window to cool off the car, then get in and start it. Now it's open the door, get in to turn on the engine so you can roll down the window and OH MY GOD HOT HOT HOT. Also, I'm still not used to roll up the window THEN turn off the car, so it's turn of the car, oh wait, I forgot to roll the windows up, re-start the car, roll up the windows, THEN stop the car.

 

The Japanese Prius power window works within 45 seconds after power-off.
Is the US Prius different?

Ken@japan

 

Yes, the power windows work after the car is shut off...
Or, at least they do for my '08 -- though it seems like only 30 sec.

 

Works on mine - I quite like that feature. I haven't timed the 45 seconds, but I don't know why it would be any different.

 

The Prius is more of a "sit-in-traffic" car rather than a canyon carver, and the 6-sp manual in my other car is super frustrating to drive in traffic. However, if everyone had manuals I think that following distances (and other good driving habits) would increase on a whole.

 

I had the same thought about the brake when I first test drove a Prius, but since then I've come to like the parking brake right where it is. It doesn't take up space in the console area, is easy to use, and in an emergency it is easy to put a lot of force on it.

Tom

 

That is so true. I hate when people stop prematurely at traffic lights and then creep forward 10 seconds later. I hate using up the clutch just to inch forward. On the other hand if I don't then I look like a jackass leaving such a large gap in front of me.

 

I enjoyed driving a stick until I had to have reconstructive surgery on both feet. I now have implants in both heels that were designed to hold the tendon in place while it grafted back onto the bone. It kinda took the fun out of pushing in the clutch to shift. I'm now REALLY enjoying my prius.

I just took a trip that in my old truck would have taken half a tank to make. The Prius is still registering a full tank. Did I mention how much I'm loving my Prius?

 

Oh, I realize that. But often it's "shut off engine, change sunglasses to normal glasses, get change for parking meter, check list, grab whatever items I'm supposed to bring with me, try to close window, curse window, turn on engine, close window."