End of Stick Shift? - Page 2

Farfromovin · August 3rd, 2012, 07:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by TDIJetta99

So far I'd say about half of the cars I work on have manual transmissions.. 3/4 of those manuals are TDIs though..

Side note.. I have driven a VQ35/6-speed Nissan and it put a huge evil grin on my face when I got into the throttle.. It made me giggle hahaha.. holy crap that car was fast for a completely stock car.. I want to drive one with 8 psi being fed to it via a supercharger..

Great, my wife's is an auto. Now I just gotta wait for that tranny to start slipping so I can "repair it " to a 6spd and accidently force 8psi into it while its down for surgery

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

supton · August 3rd, 2012, 07:51

AW4 is the Toyota A340, which was used behind a number of Toyota RWD/4WD automatics.

PDJetta · August 4th, 2012, 17:34

I remember when U-Haul rental trucks were equipped with manual transmissions. Its been so long I can't remember how many gears, but I think 4. I enjoyed shifting those without using the clutch. And I did not clash the gears either.

I also remmeber in the 1980 taking a tour in a motor coach (tour bus) that had a manual transmission.

--Nate

hevster1 · August 5th, 2012, 05:11

One of my all time favorites was the Toyota Cressida 5 spd. I also loved the original 85 MR-2.
Currently 2 out of 3 are stick, not to mention the Motorcycles of course.

bhtooefr · August 5th, 2012, 06:40

Although, Honda's even working on DSG motorcycles.

AlcoC420 · August 5th, 2012, 06:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbocharged798

Even VW is fading them out. Last time I checked my local dealer's web site, ONLY 1 out of some 8-10 TDIs were manual. Pretty disappointing.

We were fortunate to find our JSW on a local (U.S.) Dealer lot. My wife and I drive nothing but manual transmissions (we just enjoy it) and have had to otherwise special order every vehicle we have owned because of it. We plan our purchases, so don't mind the wait.

It's tough finding family cars like our JSW manufactured with a manual transmission option. Thankfully VW, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia and a small handful of others haven't forgotton that some Moms and Dads still enjoy rowing a gearbox.

yo2001 · August 5th, 2012, 07:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlcoC420

We were fortunate to find our JSW on a local (U.S.) Dealer lot. My wife and I drive nothing but manual transmissions (we just enjoy it) and have had to otherwise special order every vehicle we have owned because of it. We plan our purchases, so don't mind the wait.

It's tough finding family cars like our JSW manufactured with a manual transmission option. Thankfully VW, Subaru, Hyundai, Kia and a small handful of others haven't forgotton that some Moms and Dads still enjoy rowing a gearbox.

Same here on us luck into getting a manual trans on our JSW. In our stable we have, mk4 golf w/ 5 speed, now JSW w/ 6 speed, 1977 Chevy 3/4 ton truck w / 4 speed on the floor, and 74 Datsun 260z... Manual as well. We like to shift.

Subaru are switching to cvt trans now and dropping the manual trans. At least in Japan.

VWBeamer · August 5th, 2012, 09:14

manual, diesel, wagon and AWD. Must have for next car. I'm waiting..

German_1er_diesel · August 5th, 2012, 10:20

Easy... if you move to Europe.

turbofan · August 5th, 2012, 10:22

I really don't feel like it is the dealerships' fault. These days, at least for VW dealers, the dealer doesn't really select which cars they get -- VWoA decides for them. Also, dealers don't care what people buy, onoy that they buy. I don't understand why some people think that dealerships have this hidden agenda to remove fun from the lives of the general populace. They only care about making money, and if you want to buy a manual transmission city bus they won't stop you as long as they make a commission.

I do believe, however, that it is the fault of the manufacturers in conjunction with the general populace. The manufacturers would rather not build and engineer a car that will sell in small numbers, so they stop. The trend towards more automatic vehicles is not due to the manufacturers' unwillingness to build them but because of people's unwillingness to buy them. Greater congestion and, probable a larger factor, greater indifference towards driving involvement (it's gotta he awfully hard to talk on the phone and do your makeup while driving if you have to shift too! Or eat a hamburger and shave...). People want cars to be comfortable, make them look good, and get them from.place to place. Add the fact that many new cars achieve greater fuel economy numbers with their automatic transmissions and it is very obvious why manuals are on the decline.

I don't think they will go away forever. But I think their availability will continue to decrease.

kjclow · August 5th, 2012, 10:59

I think that it also has a lot to do with who taught you to drive. When I was growing up, it was a sign of prosperity to be able to afford a new car with an automatic. We had a couple of old Volvos that were manual but those were in the scrap heap before I learned to drive. Only cars we had were autos. My wife taught me how to drive a manual with a 67 ford 2 door fairlane or 500 with a three on the tree. My first stick was our 82 subie that we bought as our wedding gift. From 90 - 2000, we only had autos but then bought the beetle, which I used to teach my oldest to drive. She is now driving the 03 passat with a 5 speed. I am starting to teach the youngest to drive my 07 canyon with a 5 speed stick.

MrMopar · August 5th, 2012, 13:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbofan

Also, dealers don't care what people buy, onoy that they buy. I don't understand why some people think that dealerships have this hidden agenda to remove fun from the lives of the general populace. They only care about making money, and if you want to buy a manual transmission city bus they won't stop you as long as they make a commission.

Dealers only care that people buy = they stock what sells.

Manual transmission = hard to sell to the average Joe

If you want to buy a manual transmission they are kinda jerks about trying to get you one. I want to trade my tiny crackerbox Hyundai Accent for a VW Jetta S with a manual transmission but none of the VW dealers near me have one that I can test drive. They WILL NOT order one unless I'm willing to commit to buying with a large deposit. I don't know that they would be able to keep my deposit if I did follow through but decide not to buy, but that is where we sit. They WILL NOT get one for me to test drive.

Turbojäger · August 5th, 2012, 15:23

Clearly there aren't massive amounts of people who want a car with a manual trans, but I feel like those who do REALLY want one, and are often disgusted and take their business elsewhere when they are informed that a non-slushbox model isn't available.

Hell, make it an option, just like the auto tranny is currently. I know the philosophy there is that an automatic transmission costs more to build, along with the outdated tradition of always having the auto the option, but when you build and sell way more of them than manuals... wouldn't keeping the manual as an option make more sense than doing away with it altogether?

I also hate the way that the American car-buying philosophy has negatively impacted the buyers ability to really get what they want, a manual transmission being a perfect example. Dealerships want to sell what they have on the lot, and that suits most people's needs because (apparently), Americans often buy cars on a whim after dropping by at a dealership. You hear this a lot, however nobody I know personally has ever done this...

Related to that, I do remain hopeful that my generation's tendencies (I'm 24) will help to change this. We research exactly what we want online, for the best features and price, and we're used to waiting a week for it to show up on our doorstep.

Additionally, we haven't yet amassed the financial resources of previous generations, and likely never will. There are fewer jobs available, those jobs pay less and are less secure, the cost of living and buying things will continue to rise, and many in my generation are starting out in life upwards of $20,000 in debt. We'll buy fewer new vehicles, and likely be much choosier about those we do buy.

Those factors lead me to believe that the American car-buying experience will eventually HAVE to become more of an order-based one, because the new generation of consumers will demand it, and there won't be enough people who can afford to impulse buy a car, at least not in the "normal car" price range, whatever that winds up being.

Back to the original topic: My girlfriend just bought a Fiat 500 Sport 5 speed. Long live the 3 pedal (and the cute girls that drive them)!!

jkowalski · August 5th, 2012, 16:50

No manuals because how is the typical fat American supposed to have a double Whopper in one hand, his large Coke in the other, his cell phone pinned against his ear, AND be bothered to do something like shift?

*I love my manual.*

adimex · August 5th, 2012, 16:50

Manual = less maintenance/failure. Clutches aren't that bad to change.

Auto = more maintenance required (dsg maintenance is a rip off) and more prone to failure. If they break, usually more expensive to fix than replacing a clutch.

Therefore it is in the best interest for dealers/auto makers to sale something that will return some money in the end.