Nope. I think you missed the point ixeo, it's not about shifting faster, it's about shifting feel
. I just love the mechanical feel of depressing the clutch pedal, slotting the gear through the gates and releasing the clutch while judging the biting point, then flooring the throttle again, gear after gear. Also, THAT feeling, the satisfaction that I get after executing a neat heel-and-toe is intoxicating. Just like eating a tasty meal, eating it yourself is more rewarding than a having other person putting it in your mouth. The taste is still the same. I don't really know how to describe the feeling. These are among the little things that I enjoy in my life at the moment. But well, one man's meat is another man's poison I guess.
More accurately, you enjoy the pleasure of driving it yourself, shifting it yourself. Interacting with the car. Rubbing a stick, and pushing it into gear while depressing the clutch. I prefer rubbing boobs, but that's me, driving an automatic allows me to do so since I don't have to keep rubbing a stick.
Depends what I am eating la. If I am eating grapes, I prefer having a babe in bikini peeling it and feeding me, versus me eating it myself. But if eat KFC I prefer to eat it myself and lick my own fingers.
That's why if I were to ever own a Lotus, it'll be a stick. 99% of the girls don't really want to be in a Lotus. I wouldn't want to daily drive a Lotus as well. But most other cars, I'd probably go with automatic due to my daily commuting needs.
Did you try the semi auto mode/paddle shift? If so, how was it?
Yes, I did, but I feel it was unnecessary, if you want to hold gears the new Mazda 3 GVC model got a sports model toggle, and if you toggle it, the car will keep it in high RPMs (peak power band). If you floor it, it downshifts very quickly for you.
Frankly speaking, the car designers these days are very smart. They don't give you what you want, they give you what you need with some of the elements that you want. Mazda 3 is a passenger car first, sports car second. For those who wanna be "sporty" but need the practicality.
But HONESTLY, manual cars will eventually die out. Cause the younger generation will not have any exposure to it, and gearboxes like the ZF 8 speed exists. Plus with the move to EV, it won't have any gearbox anyway.