Is the manual transmission dying?

[Popinski]

I talked to a Dutch, Spaniard, and a German at a local coffee shop last afternoon. We talked about our favorite cars. All three said that the manual transmission is dying, Europeans never liked the Automatic and that Europeans love the semi-automatic "paddle-shift" transmission.

Honestly, I can't stand Automatic or Semi-automatic. Driving doesn't feel right without the manual transmission.

I just want to know all of your thoughts on this. Obviously Auto-transmissions are king in USA and Canada.

 

[mrcoolguy]

I love manual transmissions. But yeah, most people I know are not into shifting gears and rather just drive automatics. I wish more people drove stick! It seems that every other other country than the US stick is more pro "stick"!

 

[Colt45ws]

Fine with me.

 

[rjacket]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
I talked to a Dutch, Spaniard, and a German at a local coffee shop last afternoon.


Ok, hands up if you thought this was the beginning of a joke.

 

[wirelessF]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: Popinski
I talked to a Dutch, Spaniard, and a German at a local coffee shop last afternoon.


Ok, hands up if you thought this was the beginning of a joke.


I had to check if it was under the Humor section.

Trucks hardly come with M/T's anymore. My 2004 F250 was the last of the heavy duty trucks to have a manual transmission. Newer models with the new engines and such just got rid of them. Then again, carrying a full load in the bed in parking lot traffic say good riddance.

 

[Stu_Rock]

wirelessF: 2012 Dodge 2500/3500 with Cummins and MT.

 

[3311]

I rented a car for my inlaws when the were visiting from Poland a couple of years ago and my father inlaw, 70 years old, had never even seen an automatic much less driven one. He actually asked if we could take it back and get a manual. He was shocked when I told him I doubted if they even rented cars with manual transmission and very few cars here had them.

 

[ueberooo]

Originally Posted By: rjacket
Originally Posted By: Popinski
I talked to a Dutch, Spaniard, and a German at a local coffee shop last afternoon.


Ok, hands up if you thought this was the beginning of a joke.


Lol, nice going Popinski!

Sometimes I'm afraid manual is suffering a dangerous decline in popularity. I sure hope they still make them for a few decades.

I may never have used a paddle shift, but have driven autos that have a manual option (push the auto shifter in the left rail and use it as a up-down paddle); this was in a circa 2003 volvo. It's nothing like stick, you get no road feel and connection with the gear you're in and the speed range you're going. It's barely usable; but I have used it on occasion to do slight engine braking going down longer stretches of hills.

 

[FowVay]

Where on EARTH are you drinking coffee?

 

[Burt]

I was pleasantly surprised with how many calls I got when I sold my 6 speed manual Maxima. Many young men want a stick because what's old is new again.

 

[Astro14]

Part of the issue is emissions and CAFE certification. If the driver can select the gear manually - there is a wider range of operating conditions that have to be accounted for in the engine management software. An auto can be programmed to eliminate several operating circumstances (like engine braking, or low throttle, high vacuum, high RPM) that cause emissions to increase or mileage to decrease...so it costs extra $$ to program and certify a manual here...and if there is no demand...

 

[dwcopple]

Maybe in the lazy USA, but when I went to Mexico last June, the taxi vans and Sentra taxis were all stick shift. I'd prefer one but wife says "no way".

 

[UNC151]

Unless something has changed in the recent past, (at least for trucks) automatics have higher towing capacities than manuals.

 

[Donald]

In the US with our traffic in and around cities, an automatic is just plain easier. Also its hard to shift if you are combing your hair or using the cell, doing your makeup or reading the paper, watching the car's performance on your OBDII scanner (BITOG members), etc while driving.

Cursive writing and wrist watches are also on the way out.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

As someone who learned to drive on a real manual (non synchronized) transmission, and someone who has had my share of manual transmissions, I've never quite understood the chest thumping that goes on whenever manual transmissions are mentioned. I personally don't care either way, but if manual transmissions in cars and trucks were to go the way of the Pallid beach mouse I'd never miss it.

Modern manual transmissions don't exactly take a lot of skill to drive-even my wife drives a manual transmission Subaru every day, and she's certainly no driving "enthusiast". I'm sure there will always be a few manufacturers catering to the niche market that thinks driving a manual is something special or somehow sets them apart. But for normal, everyday drivers I suspect the manual will soon be a rare option. And I don't have a problem with that.

 

[sciphi]

There will always be some folks who want a manual transmission. I put my money where my mouth was with a new car, and got a manual. I enjoy driving it, and the fuel economy benefits.

The issue is that many makers put the manual onto the base car, and then do not allow any options to be added to the MT version. Hyundai is notorious for this.

Not everybody who wants a MT in a car wants a stripped-out base version!!!!

 

[thr_wedge]

Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
As someone who learned to drive on a real manual (non synchronized) transmission, and someone who has had my share of manual transmissions, I've never quite understood the chest thumping that goes on whenever manual transmissions are mentioned. I personally don't care either way, but if manual transmissions in cars and trucks were to go the way of the Pallid beach mouse I'd never miss it.

Modern manual transmissions don't exactly take a lot of skill to drive-even my wife drives a manual transmission Subaru every day, and she's certainly no driving "enthusiast". I'm sure there will always be a few manufacturers catering to the niche market that thinks driving a manual is something special or somehow sets them apart. But for normal, everyday drivers I suspect the manual will soon be a rare option. And I don't have a problem with that.


+1

I feel the exact same way. I had been driving a manual since I learned to drive. I have driven good manuals and poor manuals. I can shift smooth or fast. I think every down shift I did was a heel-toe just to practice my rev matching. I would equate the skill of driving a manual transmission to the skill to making a cup of coffee or brushing your teeth.

I certainly wouldn't put driving a manual anywhere in the "me so special" category, unless you were bragging about that cup of joe you made today.

I bought my first automatic 6 weeks ago. I am not even sure I would even buy a manual again.

 

[PF52]

Originally Posted By: Popinski
Driving doesn't feel right without the manual transmission.


I tend to go back and forth. I'll drive an automatic for a few years, then the next one will be a manual. The one after that, an automatic. Driving is driving.

 

[IndyIan]

Originally Posted By: 2010_FX4
Unless something has changed in the recent past, (at least for trucks) automatics have higher towing capacities than manuals.

Any idea why this is? Are they just worried about dummies burning the clutch on the boat ramp? Or just want to sell the automatic?
I tow a wee bit more than the Tracker is rated for and its only really possible with a manual. I can figure out how much HP is required to maintain speed, then I pick a gear that will allow the engine to provide it. Simple, with no torque converter slip or hunting for gears everytime the throttle twitches....

I guess at some point the automatics are getting smarter and will hold gears and lock the TC in every gear, but its still not as good as a driver who can see the road ahead.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: thr_wedge
Originally Posted By: Pop_Rivit
As someone who learned to drive on a real manual (non synchronized) transmission, and someone who has had my share of manual transmissions, I've never quite understood the chest thumping that goes on whenever manual transmissions are mentioned. I personally don't care either way, but if manual transmissions in cars and trucks were to go the way of the Pallid beach mouse I'd never miss it.

Modern manual transmissions don't exactly take a lot of skill to drive-even my wife drives a manual transmission Subaru every day, and she's certainly no driving "enthusiast". I'm sure there will always be a few manufacturers catering to the niche market that thinks driving a manual is something special or somehow sets them apart. But for normal, everyday drivers I suspect the manual will soon be a rare option. And I don't have a problem with that.


+1

I feel the exact same way. I had been driving a manual since I learned to drive. I have driven good manuals and poor manuals. I can shift smooth or fast. I think every down shift I did was a heel-toe just to practice my rev matching. I would equate the skill of driving a manual transmission to the skill to making a cup of coffee or brushing your teeth.

I certainly wouldn't put driving a manual anywhere in the "me so special" category, unless you were bragging about that cup of joe you made today.

I bought my first automatic 6 weeks ago. I am not even sure I would even buy a manual again.


Absolutely! As someone who grew up driving nothing but stick shifts it does not require much "skill".

"me so special"... LMAO!