YOUR VIEWS
WRITE TO autocar@haymarket.com
Use your left foot
In response to Andy Armstrong’s view that the manual gearbox should have been ruled extinct long ago (4 May): what complete nonsense.
I can only assume that Andy has never enjoyed the tactility and pure pleasure of a well-executed heel-and-toe downshift or the complete control that a manual gearbox allows. For me and I’m sure anyone who seriously enjoys the art of driving, a manual will always be as important as engine note and the handling of any great drive.
I agree that for the daily grind a good automatic is preferable, but I will lose a second or two over a lap and half a second from 0-60mph every time if it means I can enjoy a great naturally aspirated f lat six or V8 with a precise manual ’box.
It will be a sad day when we’re all forced into fast but soulless singlespeed milk f loats. Enjoy every last mile, you stick-shifting legends, for our time is coming to a sad end.
Kerry Giddings Bewdley, Worcestershire
Hitting the roof
Surely I can’t be the first driver to discover that if I want to go electric, I will need to forego a sunroof? In spring, summer and early autumn, a wide-open sunroof is my must-have. Air-con is only for winter demisting or motorway driving on a hot day.