Is the Manual Transmission Dying Out?

3506string · #1 12-09-2009, 07:57 AM

I recently suffered what would be considered catastrophic engine failure on my first car a 1998 Pontiac Grand am GT 2.4. 5 speed. I know its not exactly a hot rod but I absolutely love this car and had it for 6 years. I've wanted a stick far as long as I can remember and this car made me fall in love with the manual transmission.

So understandably I don't want to throw much more money into a 11 y/o car with 160,000mi so I've been looking into some new cars. To my surprise its hard as heck to find a decent standard car. My dad and went to some dealerships i told them i was looking for a moderate powered V6 or larger displacement I4 and must be a standard. EVERY single place we went showed me cars and when I looked inside I see a automatic shifter. Of course I respond this isn't a standard which was met by "oh but you can shift this car manually"

This of course led to an entire spill about tiptronic, automatic clutches, and a whole bunch of other stuff I don't want to hear about. By the time we got to the third dealership I had to state "I am looking for a car with a clutch pedal" The standards they did show me were like 1.8 and 2 liter engine compacts or trucks or said that I would have to custom order one.

I didn't realize manuals were that much of a rarity this days. So as automatic technology improves do you think that manuals will eventually die out?

Lady Kayri · #2 12-09-2009, 08:04 AM

I have driven manual shift cars for years as well, mostly because they used a lot less gas than automatic. That's no longer true. Plus I've known several people with manual shift vehicles who had problems when they broke bones in limbs and couldn't shift very well. So I ended up going to automatic when I bought my van in 2005. Seems like a lot of other folks are making similar decisions.

playinpearls · #3 12-09-2009, 08:04 AM

i would hope not cause they are especially fun in faster cars....but even ferrari is going to paddle shift tranmissions without clutches...

Mark Latimour · #4 12-09-2009, 08:04 AM

Not in Europe, where you are considered strange (or American) if you drive an automatic transmission.

In terms of clutchless manuals, there is a big difference between Ferrari and Maseratti style clutchless manuals than "tiptronic" autos which still use an automatic transmission. I love the feel of the regular manual, but I doubt anyone on the planet could shift as quickly as a Ferrari clutchless manual. Just ask the drivers of their formula 1 cars.

XtreO · #5 12-09-2009, 08:08 AM

No. Not here at least. Manual makes driving less monotonous and makes accelerating much more fun.

jfenderp · #6 12-09-2009, 08:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 3506string

So as automatic technology improves do you think that manuals will eventually die out?

I think that they will for the type of car you are looking at. The majority of people would rather drive an automatic. The cars that you saw that DID have the manual transmissions are the one's that they will continue making with that option.

tink9975 · #7 12-09-2009, 08:09 AM

manual trans in the states now tend to be either entry level vehicles or higher end sports cars. Its very hard to find a decent commuter car that has a manual and any sort of options. Its very sad. If you dont mind used, set up alerts at Carmax for the type of car you want with a manual transmission and they will email matches to you. Its how I found my 5 speed Passat.

drteeth · #8 12-09-2009, 08:13 AM

Well in Europe manuals are pretty much the norm.

Phalex · #9 12-09-2009, 08:29 AM

I wanted a manual when I bought my latest truck. It was a special order kind of thing, so I said "screw it".

I think people are too lazy to bother to learn how to drive a manual these days. They're on the way out.

varunkapahi · #10 12-09-2009, 08:56 AM

wow! 99% cars here are still manual. i dont know whats "tiptronic" but i cant imagine a world with no manual cars

Hollow Man · #11 12-09-2009, 09:10 AM

I bought a manual car last year ('09 Volvo C30), and I love it, even living in/around DC. But they are definitely more of a novelty item than the standard now. It's easier to find manuals in vehicles that are also sold in Europe.

And whoever said that they're more commonly found in lower-line cars and high-end sports cars is right. When I was looking for my car, I looked at the Nissan Altima... had a manual version, but as soon as you added any options/packages worth having, it immediately made the car automatic. VW seems to have several models that still offer it though.

Good luck to the OP... sticks are getting harder to find, but they're still out there!

Pilgrim · #12 12-09-2009, 09:13 AM

To the OP - look at imports. US manufacturers assume their customers are too lazy to drive sticks. Also, automatics allow for final drive ratios which improve gas mileage, and that's an area of great emphasis now.

But if you want a sedan with a stick, look for a used BMW or Audi and you'll be in heaven. A used BMW 3-series is one of the most fun drives on the planet, and to be honest, even though I'm not a domestic car basher, either BMW or Audi is about 3x as much car as a Grand Am. You will feel the difference the first time you hit 30 MPH.

kaputsport · #13 12-09-2009, 09:22 AM

I recently purchased a 2001 BMW 540i with a manual 6 speed manual transmission.

280hp, 320 lb/ft torque, 4 doors, fully loaded. ultra comfortable, every power option for $10,500 with no trade in.

If you can find one, get one. Gas milage suffers a bit, but in reality, the V8 under the hood makes you forget about that. I average 22 mpg, highway and city on a daily basis.

If you are looking for something a little smaller, look at an E46 chassis 3 series, 199-2005. These cars have sport packages, manual, 2.8 or 3.0 liter inline 6s, very reliable, and beautiful to look at.

People are normally surprised to find out you can drive a Loaded BMW for less than the cost of a new Kia...

Phalex · #14 12-09-2009, 09:25 AM

Does your BM'er speak German?? A buddy of mine had an older BMW, and every time he hit a pot hole really hard, it would say something in German. It was just a glitch in the electrical system I'm sure, but it was funny!

dangnewt · #15 12-09-2009, 09:32 AM

As the quality of automatics improve, the number of cars with them goes up. There will always be a performance gap between the two but as the gas mileage gap shrinks, that just leaves performance as the sticks advantage, and there are plenty of lazy folks like me, that drive in hilly and/or city conditions that value convenience over performance.

monzamess · #16 12-09-2009, 09:40 AM

For many cars offered in manual and automatic, the auto gets the same or better mileage. When a computer is controlling the shifting, they can do that. Sometimes it goes even further the other way, like the shift lockout installed on 6-speed Camaros in the 90s, which forces a shift from 1 to 4 under most driving conditions to satisfy emissions regulations. (luckily that was easily disabled)

Sometimes an unexpected manual offering comes along (like a Mazda 5, the only minivan you can get with a stick in the US) but for bread-and-butter cars they're only to be found in the low-end stripped models.

pbasswil · #17 12-09-2009, 09:52 AM

It took me a while to get fully comfortable with a stick, but now I just love it -- I feel totally involved in driving.

I habitually downshift to slow down, and being a _very_ gentle driver to start with, my brakes last around 90,000 km! (56,000 miles) So far no problems with the transmission from all the down-shifting -- easy-does-it all the way.

I drive to save gas and pollute the least, so I'm perfectly content with a modern little 4 cylinder. The odd time when I really need to boot it it's a blast to be able to downshsift, floor it and make that sucker scream -- even in town!

pw (Montreal)

ryco · #18 12-09-2009, 09:58 AM

I love manual trannies. Feels like you're much more a part of the driving experience.

My last Chev S-10 was an automatic and I was always over-riding it. Wanted my new truck, a Toyota Taco, to be a 5 speed manual 4x4. Found out they discontinued manuals in the early '00s. So I had one built down at the local shop. Love it!

I will say automatics are the way to go in the big city (especially Seattle!) where ya end up in heavy traffic. But when I moved to the country, the manual is the only way to go!

My Chevy dealer said the reason the GM stopped putting manuals in their S-10s with the 4.3 L engines was people were tearing up the rear end in 'em. I believe it - those were punchy little trucks.

Mark Latimour · #19 12-09-2009, 09:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pbasswil

It took me a while to get fully comfortable with a stick, but now I just love it -- I feel totally involved in driving.

I habitually downshift to slow down, and being a _very_ gentle driver to start with, my brakes last around 90,000 km! (56,000 miles) So far no problems with the transmission from all the down-shifting -- easy-does-it all the way.

I drive to save gas and pollute the least, so I'm perfectly content with a modern little 4 cylinder. The odd time when I really need to boot it it's a blast to be able to downshsift, floor it and make that sucker scream -- even in town!

pw (Montreal)

You might want to check out the cost of a new clutch compared to that of new brake pads!

Dr. Cheese · #20 12-09-2009, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kaputsport

I recently purchased a 2001 BMW 540i with a manual 6 speed manual transmission.

280hp, 320 lb/ft torque, 4 doors, fully loaded. ultra comfortable, every power option for $10,500 with no trade in.

If you can find one, get one. Gas milage suffers a bit, but in reality, the V8 under the hood makes you forget about that. I average 22 mpg, highway and city on a daily basis.

If you are looking for something a little smaller, look at an E46 chassis 3 series, 199-2005. These cars have sport packages, manual, 2.8 or 3.0 liter inline 6s, very reliable, and beautiful to look at.

People are normally surprised to find out you can drive a Loaded BMW for less than the cost of a new Kia...

As a former BMW owner, they are wonderful cars until you need to fix them. I dang near maxxed out my Visa fixing my Beemer. I got a Toyota and never looked back.

That said, good luck with your 540i.