I don’t get why people have got so hung up on this, the car Morizo RR is a homage to the rookie racing car that Morizo drove at the Nurburgring 24hr which used the DAT box and won its class.
The same car was used in super Taikyu and the rear engined 4 cylinder also uses the DAT box so I think that is proper enough.
Now you might have a preference but that’s no different to picking a colour of the car you buy.
Wow, hit a nerve, didn’t it?
An automatic is not a proper gearbox for most enthusiasts and it never will be. Doesn’t matter if it’s quicker on paper, quicker on lap times, or if Morizo himself says it’s great. That’s not what people mean when they talk about a proper gearbox.
This has been argued to death for decades. It’s not about numbers, it’s about engagement. A manual is part of the experience. You’re doing the work. You’re involved. That’s the whole point.
As long as manufacturers keep offering both manual and auto in the same model, the manual will keep being seen as the “proper” gearhead choice because it’s the more engaging one. I could’ve used a different word than “proper,” sure, but the idea doesn’t change. In enthusiast circles, manual is the default answer.
And nobody is saying you should be forced into buying a manual. Autos have plenty of valid reasons. Traffic, convenience, consistency, whatever. It’s not about one being morally correct. It’s just that one is seen as the enthusiast pick by most people.
The market proves it. Manuals hold value because demand is higher. Look at older cars where both existed. The E46 M3 6MT are selling for double the price of the SMG. Yes, double. That’s not because SMG is “fine,” it’s because people don’t want it. When the GR Yaris is done, the same thing is going to happen.
So yeah, for cars like this, most people who actually care will call the manual the “proper” gearbox.
Or is the word “proper” canceled now too? Should I say the manual “identifies as” the proper gearbox so that feelings aren’t hurt?
