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The Future Of The Manual Transmission

5809 messages,  Last post on Dec 03, 2009 at 12:30 PM

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#31 of 5809 We can complain. by boaz47 Mar 14, 2005 (8:53 pm)
And we can find any number of reasons to praise the manual but truth is people in the US prefer Automatics 3 to one. It is simply pure business. In our state it is the EPA as well. Manuals are not rated as high in the clean department. Can we guess why? Because you can't control the driver and where he shifts. But we all know this and we all wish there was a way to reverse this. I have two manuals and a Automatic. The F-250 is an automatic as are most trucks sold today. The Automatic comes standard on anything with a tow package.   I have said it before and I believe it will prove to be true that the only hope for the manual is the computer sequencial shift. That way the whole transmission can be under warrentee. The clutch and pressure plate are not covered under most standard warrentee.   Do I like manuals? Yes. Would I jump ship for a paddle shifter? A real one? In a heart beat. With the move towards traction control and some of the other automatic systems heal and toe may soon become a thing of the past. I read a review on the Porsche GT3 last year and you couldn't heal and toe it because as soon as your foot touched the break it cut back on fuel delivery. There is hope but with every new generation learning to drive on automatics there will be fewer willing to take the time to learn to drive a manual. That will make fewer manuals on the used car lot and the spiral will continue. I can't see how the trend can be reversed. Unless Nippon can take the manufacturer leaders hostage and force them to his will.
#32 of 5809 boaz by nippononly Mar 14, 2005 (8:57 pm)
you read my mind!
#33 of 5809 boaz by davem2001 Mar 15, 2005 (6:52 am)
exactly - I think the clutch pedal will eventually disappear... "sports" cars will have paddle shifers..."normal" cars will have autos (or maybe CVTs)   You have to realize, the opinions of people in this type of forum are a tiny minority out in the real world.. I'd bet 8 or 9 out of 10 people prefer an automatic and can't even drive a stick.
#34 of 5809 All I know is by callmedrfill Mar 15, 2005 (7:09 am)
Manuals will be around for as long as I will (at least another 30 years), if not in new cars, used.      I will ALWAYS have a handshaker. ALWAYS! I will find the last one on Earth, and guard it with my life.      Because the people are weak, and easily led, changes nothing. My die has been caste.      Maybe I should start a driving school? I will carry the flag for purist everywhere, and protect the Holy Grail.      DrFill
#35 of 5809 davem by nippononly Mar 15, 2005 (7:23 am)
"I'd bet 8 or 9 out of 10 people prefer an automatic and can't even drive a stick."   I bet you're right. I am in an office of around 100 people. I did a parking lot survey, and couldn't find any stick shifts except my car and one other truck guy like me who also has a stick shift 4Runner. But his other "car" is a motorcycle, so I am not that surprised.   And this included a couple of sporty cars, including an RSX and a Mustang, both automatic, and a couple of BMW 3-series. Certainly 90% of the cars in our parking lot are offered as a manual, but nary a one of the ones in our lot is so equipped.
#36 of 5809 yeah by davem2001 Mar 15, 2005 (7:33 am)
It might take another 20,30 years but I would bet that eventually a car with a clutch will be an anachronism like a roadster with side curtains. It's becoming more and more of a "niche" offering.
#37 of 5809 hmm by seminole_kev Mar 15, 2005 (8:05 am)
well I just bought a manual because I missed it so much.   Really the manufacturers are part of the problem when the only stick equiped models will always be the most absolutely stripped model on the floor.   If you do that with any option or choice, you're going to help kill it as well. Hell my previous car was an auto simply because I couldn't find a stick in the 5-door version at all and the few 3-doors I found where just stripped down completely. I thought I could live with the automatic......just couldn't do it. Finally traded it away.   The point is they even got me into an automatic (if only for awhile) because of the really, REALLY crappy availability of sticks. I know all they care about is the bottom line, but it does stink.
#38 of 5809 seminole by davem2001 Mar 15, 2005 (8:15 am)
It's sort of a chicken vs. the egg thing - does the lack of availability drive down demand, or does the lack of demand drive down availability?
#39 of 5809 davem by seminole_kev Mar 15, 2005 (8:37 am)
well in my case, it definetly caused it. I can't imagine I'm the only one that said "Well there's no way I can get this car remotely the way I want with a stick.....so I guess I'll get one of 30 they have the way I want with a slushbox".   Now I'm certain that the majority of drivers do in fact want automatics, but a good chunk still would like to row their own gears........in a properly equipped car.
#40 of 5809 The manual transmission can and by iluvmysephia1 Mar 15, 2005 (8:41 am)
must not die!   Driving an automatic now would be like being forced to listen to Frank Sinatra tunes over and over again, when I have so much classic rock at my easy disposal in cassette tape form. Really!

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