Why are there not many manual transmissions?

[Blkcloud]

We have been searching for a Jetta tdi with the 6 speed manual transmission.. Have found a couple but they are like finding hens teeth.. Have there been issues with them or is everyone just preferring the automatics? Thanks!

 

[dropnosky]

We have been searching for a Jetta tdi with the 6 speed manual transmission.. Have found a couple but they are like finding hens teeth.. Have there been issues with them or is everyone just preferring the automatics? Thanks!

Manuals are becoming outdated as automatics in all their forms are surpassing their efficiency.
As a lover of manual transmission, thats sad to me, but as a realist its simply the writing on the wall.

Find one and hold on to it!

 

[Drivbiwire]

Because the DSG is more efficient and shifts better than a driver can....that is directed at those who row gears, most haven't a clue as when to properly shift a TDI engine, but the DSG does.

 

[pparks1]

On the Passat front, if you want anything other than base SE trim, you won't be able to get a manual transmission. People want these other features, these other features also help with resale value of the car, and buyers down the road are more likely going to want an automatic transmission. So, even if you don't prefer the DSG, some manual drivers accept it for some of the reasons mentioned above.

My previous Passat was a 2002 fully loaded GLX, with 5 speed manual. My current 2013 Paasat TDI is an SE, with sunroof and Navigation, with the DSG.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk

 

[South Coast Guy]

Again? Is this the beginning of hundreds of posts touting the advantages of a DSG over manual over DSG. ENOUGH ALREADY.

 

[murphyslaw]

I prefer the 6MT over DSG because of the service requirements. All of my other rigs are MT's anyways. I looked for over a year for a used sportwagen with an MT. finally decided to use the 15k I had to buy a used rig, as the down for a new one. Had to special order it. Only rigs the dealer had on the lot or on the way were DSG. I test drove a sportwagen tdi with dsg and it felt weird. They were even going to give me a better deal but I said no I want the MT.

 

[hex_915]

They're out there, dealers only stock a few at a time. Heck if you can't find one you can buy mine!

 

[turbobrick240]

They're out there, dealers only stock a few at a time. Heck if you can't find one you can buy mine!

It took the dealer a little while to find the my car in a manual. Most of the golf tdi's came with either a dsg or sunroof or both. The manager at the dealership admitted to me that he had a dsg tdi and didn't like the way it shifted/engaged from a stop.

 

[2011tdiproject]

I also chose the manual in my golf tdi over the DSG due to simplicity, but do regret that decision. The DSG drives better because it does not lose boost between shifts, and is clearly a technological advancement over the old manual. Yet you can't buy an MK6 Golf R with a DSG in America. Talk about stupidity on VW's part. The Golf R is about a full second faster with the DSG.

 

[turbobrick240]

I don't know if they ever revised the dsg gear ratios, but the 2010+ mt had much taller gearing than the dsg, and gave significantly better fe at highway/interstate speeds.

 

[panthers89fan90]

Why is everyone concerned about how quick it shifts or how much faster a DSG is. Since when is your VW a capable race car? Accept the fact that it will never be more than a fun, economical, car to drive. I love my 03 TDI 5-speed. It has great acceleration and pretty good mpg as well. Speed is overrated in America because our speed limits limit the potential of anything faster. My .02. Your experience may vary.

 

[fxk]

The fact is manuals don't sell in US. Folks generally want autos. Then the dealer does not order as many manuals. Those few sell quickly, and then automatics. Sales are then low on manuals, so they order fewer yet.
There are many vehicles produced overseas with good manual transmissions that sell there. The makers just don't import them.
In 15 years, we'll be having the same remorse from us luddites that we can't get anything but a self-drive car. Oh for a car I can drive instead of the personal taxi we now have. But self drivers are safer, fewer accidents, you can get your work done during the commute, and they're so much more efficient. Why would ANYONE want to actually drive their car anymore?

 

[Ol'Rattler]

I think mostly because most Americans are retards. To me, the complexity and the potential for stupid expensive repair costs make a DSG a no deal for me.

There are just a boat load of of cars that would be so much better if they were offered with a MT.

 

[Tdijarhead]

The fact is manuals don't sell in US. Folks generally want autos. Then the dealer does not order as many manuals. Those few sell quickly, and then automatics. Sales are then low on manuals, so they order fewer yet.
There are many vehicles produced overseas with good manual transmissions that sell there. The makers just don't import them.
In 15 years, we'll be having the same remorse from us luddites that we can't get anything but a self-drive car. Oh for a car I can drive instead of the personal taxi we now have. But self drivers are safer, fewer accidents, you can get your work done during the commute, and they're so much more efficient. Why would ANYONE want to actually drive their car anymore?

Unfortunately I think you're right. For illustration purposes let me put it this way. How many of you would drive a car regularly without an airbag or functioning airbag system? Or without an abs system or functioning abs system? Why not? Because, you say" its not safe" ?

There never used to airbags or abs systems in cars.

Same reasoning for the coming self drivers.

 

[1854sailor]

again? Is this the beginning of hundreds of posts touting the advantages of a dsg over manual over dsg. enough already.

^^this!^^

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Huh? makes no sense. what does a M/T equipped car have to do with airbags? The biggest reason for automatic/DSG cars is the retardation of American drivers.

 

[n1das]

It's also about emissions, emissions, emissions. Performance and MPGs be d@mned. A car manufacturer can play games with transmission shift points in an automatic for reduced emissions to help meet standards under various driving conditions. It's harder to do that with a manual transmission because of how the car can be driven "improperly".

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Again? Is this the beginning of hundreds of posts touting the advantages of a DSG over manual over DSG. ENOUGH ALREADY.

Wow, who really cares? This is a public forum and you have the right to post what ever you want. If you only have 2 brain cells to rub together you are welcome here.

 

[South Coast Guy]

Why is everyone concerned about how quick it shifts or how much faster a DSG is. Since when is your VW a capable race car? Accept the fact that it will never be more than a fun, economical, car to drive. I love my 03 TDI 5-speed. It has great acceleration and pretty good mpg as well. Speed is overrated in America because our speed limits limit the potential of anything faster. My .02. Your experience may vary.

Why do some of the posters here chip their cars and replace the shifting mechanish with faster ones?

 

[South Coast Guy]

Wow, who really cares? This is a public forum and you have the right to post what ever you want. If you only have 2 brain cells to rub together you are welcome here.

I have one less now.

 

[1854sailor]

Wow, who really cares? This is a public forum and you have the right to post what ever you want. If you only have 2 brain cells to rub together you are welcome here.

Why not just use the search function? Believe it or not, someone started ANOTHER cold air intake thread a couple of days ago…

 

[panthers89fan90]

.

Why do some of the posters here chip their cars and replace the shifting mechanish with faster ones?

I'm glad you asked good sir. I have an answer. Car tuning is popular to make a fun car even more of a blast to drive. If you notice, a lot of people that posted before me said how much quicker the DSG is... Not how much more fun the DSG is. There is no limit to how much fun or how economical a car can be. There is, however, a limit to how fast you can go. What's the point of buying a Lambo and going 45 or 55 mph? You know? If you buy it for speed, you buy it for the wrong reasons. Speed kills my friend. If you buy it for fun, I'd say you made a good decision.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

Why not just use the search function? Believe it or not, someone started ANOTHER cold air intake thread a couple of days ago…

Sure, also there is a sticky on the subject but It's not up to me on what folks post about. some of the best learning experiences I get on Fred's are from folks that don't have a clue.

 

[Ol'Rattler]

I'm glad you asked good sir. I have an answer. Car tuning is popular to make a fun car even more of a blast to drive. If you notice, a lot of people that posted before me said how much quicker the DSG is... Not how much more fun the DSG is. There is no limit to how much fun or how economical a car can be. There is, however, a limit to how fast you can go. What's the point of buying a Lambo and going 45 or 55 mph? You know? If you buy it for speed, you buy it for the wrong reasons. Speed kills my friend. If you buy it for fun, I'd say you made a good decision.

No, speed does not kill. the difference in how fast you are going compared to how fast traffic is moving is what kills. With this driving thing you have to be 100% aware and apply common sense to what you are doing.

 

[M. Tummi]

I don't know if they ever revised the dsg gear ratios, but the 2010+ mt had much taller gearing than the dsg, and gave significantly better fe at highway/interstate speeds.

They did not. Here are the gear ratios for the 2015 Jetta TDI:

I am not sure how much this affects ultimate fuel economy numbers. I know that my 2012 Jetta TDI manual sits just under 2,000 RPM @ 70 mph, while my cousin's 2009 Jetta TDI SportWagen DSG is at around 2,300 RPM going the same speed.

I would drive a manual even if the gear ratios were the other way around, and the DSG had the higher final drive ratio. It's way more fun.
_________________

Edit: Found this handy chart on the forums. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3850559&postcount=5

 

[panthers89fan90]

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No, speed does not kill. the difference in how fast you are going compared to how fast traffic is moving is what kills. With this driving thing you have to be 100% aware and apply common sense to what you are doing.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VzC0aAP9Ey0

Watch this and tell me again how speed doesn't kill. Many people have died or have been seriously injured from not following the speed limits. It was a single vehicle crash.

Skip to 1:10 and watch from there.

 

[turbobrick240]

They did not. Here are the gear ratios for the 2015 Jetta TDI:

I am not sure how much this affects ultimate fuel economy numbers. I know that my 2012 Jetta TDI manual sits just under 2,000 RPM @ 70 mph, while my cousin's 2009 Jetta TDI SportWagen DSG is at around 2,300 RPM going the same speed.

I would drive a manual even if the gear ratios were the other way around, and the DSG had the higher final drive ratio. It's way more fun.
_________________

Edit: Found this handy chart on the forums. http://forums.tdiclub.com/showpost.php?p=3850559&postcount=5

It's notable that 6th gear in the dsg is barely taller than 5th gear in the 2010+ 6MT. I also prefer my 6MT. Much more engaging to drive.

 

[scooperhsd]

Speed doesn't kill , in and of itself. What killed them was the very quick decceleration to zero. F=MA .

 

[IndigoBlueWagon]

Because the DSG is more efficient and shifts better than a driver can....that is directed at those who row gears, most haven't a clue as when to properly shift a TDI engine, but the DSG does.

Perhaps this is true, but DSGs are programmed to meet the manufacturer's goals. Perhaps a '15 Golf with DSG gets better fuel economy by shifting from first to second at 1800 RPM when accelerating moderately, but it's annoying because the engine feels like it's lugging (even if it isn't). And sport mode in the DSGs I've driven goes too far in the other direction, holding lower gears when I would have shifted.

The problem I have with automatics is that the shift programming often doesn't match what I'd like the transmission to do. I get reasonably good FE in my TDIs, so I do have a clue about when to shift. I would simply prefer to decide for myself.

I've been casually looking for a new car since mine are all getting old, and I've made the decision that I will not buy any car with an automatic. In fact I'll give up on diesel before I give up on a manual transmission. Shortens the list of options.

 

[fxk]

I own a manual car and enjoy driving it, and IMNTBHO, having the manual box keeps me more involved in the driving process. Yeah, I know I don't shift on the highway.

At slow speeds and traffic, I can declutch and pretty much stop what I'm doing faster than I can hit a brake. Lifting throttle is not enough.

My other car has a DSG. Nice car, nice transmission.

It is amusing how heated this thread has become.

For God's sake, people, lighten up. I seriously doubt anything said here will change a[n] intractable position.