Sad days for manual enthusiasts

"David E. Davis" (imnotdedyet)
09/13/2020 at 13:51 • Filed to: Save the manuals.

It’s sad to learn two more cars are no longer available with manual transmissions. The Genesis G70 Sport and Honda Accord. I get that it’s tremendously expensive to test cars that you’ll sell 5 of but it doesn’t diminish the disappointment.

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That is all

DISCUSSION (18)

dogisbadob > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 14:03

so sad :(

The Accord was the last midsize sedan with the manual.

CB > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 14:07

While it sucks, I was never going to buy one, and clearly no one else was going to either. Enthusiast echo chambers strike again.

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 14:08

Apparently the G70’s manual sucked, but very sad to see the Accord manual go (I had a ‘91). That said, the modern car is very big compared with mine (like an older 5-series manual at this point) . Hopefully the Civic will keep it for a long time.

boredalways > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 14:12

This sucks, but understandable. Never understood why Hyundai/Kia never offered the manual on the TTV6. Maybe they have a dual clutch ready for MY22? As for the Accord, wasn't a manual available recently for their V6?

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com
09/13/2020 at 14:14

It’s my personal taste, but everything that I’ve driven made in the last 10 years or so with a stick has felt like garbage. Clutch pedals are either super heavy short travel “sporty” or have no feel at all, shifters are all pretty much little baby throws with gates too close together. I haven’t driven a manual accord, but I would guess it’s about the same.

feather-throttle-not-hair > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 14:19

Kinda considered a manual g70, but I couldn’t with the 4-banger. If the v6 had gotten the manual it might’ve been what I went with. Lord knows it would’ve provided a lot more peace of mind (and been less expensive) than the BMW I ended up getting instead.

foghat1981 > boredalways
09/13/2020 at 14:43

Yup - you could get a V6 6MT in the coupe up through 2017.

They announced the manual Accord ending a few weeks/months ago. My son is 14 and for a few years now I had a plan to get a new Accord 2.0T with 6MT when he’s about 16 and give him my car. Still is in the cards, but I’ll have to find a clean 3-4 year old one rather than brand new :(

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/13/2020 at 14:50

Last non-Toyota sticks I remember driving was an A4 Avant and a Forester XT. The A4 had smooth throws but the pedal had no feedback and a loathed it. The XT was STI'd by which I mean I think various things were tinkered with, including the grab point of the pedal being 1mm above the floor. The throws were longer (which I prefer). Ultimately I couldn't imagine driving either daily.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo
09/13/2020 at 14:58

I’ve been conditioned to like long throws and long pedal travel. I don’t really care so much for the “the shifter is bolted straight into the transmission!” feeling I have in my Miata and Audi.

themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles > CB
09/13/2020 at 14:58

I mean, when the same dozen people all claim to want to buy a hundred different cars but bitch about ebay prices for trim pieces for their 25 year old shit can, it’s pretty obvious that there is zero reason to cater to them.

Shift24 > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 15:39

They haven’t made a manual Accord since last December.... and that probably includes the 1.5t manual which starts at $2 6k and roughly 200hp

https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a33336428/honda-accord-manual-transmission-discontinued/

davesaddiction @ opposite-lock.com > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/13/2020 at 16:09

Not to mention “rev-hang”...

subexpression > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 16:10

Considering what the target market is for the Accord in the US, I find it surprising that they didn’t drop the stick-and- clutch transmission at least 1 0-15 years ago. It never even occurred to me that they’d still offer one (not that I’m in the market for an Accord or a stick shift ).

Similar feeling on the Genesis. The primary target audience isn’t taking a G70 to the track. They’re cruising in to the office, probably during rush hour traffic.

DipodomysDeserti > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker
09/13/2020 at 17:33

What have you driven? WRX’s, Jeeps, and BMWs have all pretty much had the same manuals for 15 or so years and they’re still fun. I had a brand new manual Polo and Corolla in Ireland last year and their manuals were also fun. Still much more fun to drive than autos.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > DipodomysDeserti
09/13/2020 at 17:59

I haven’t sat in a manual WRX, Jeep, or a BMW. I’ve (admittedly briefly) driven a few Mazdas, some Hyundais and Hondas, and a couple VWs, plus a Focus ST. As far as I know, they’re all hydro clutches and cable shift, and all of them have pretty short throws on the shifter with goofy clutch feel . It’s faux-sporty. I don’t like it.

I’ll add that the last time I drove an automatic car was like... January? And that was a beat 11 year old Focus, so that doesn’t count. The last thing before that was probably my mom’s F30 335, and I found the auto in there pretty intuitive to drive. I haven’t driven a manual one of those to compare though. But in general, I think most new cars are junk. Most old cars are junk too, though. The good stuff is too expensive, and the people who buy the good stuff get automatics since manual transmission kind of suck in general.

I like driving stick, but whenever I get a “real” car, it’ll probably be something with a dual clutch.

Urambo Tauro > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 18:09

It’s hard to be mad at automatics for having improved so much. But I still kinda miss the days when manuals held so many clear advantages over them. The only advantages left are, what, weight and mechanical simplicity?

Cash Rewards > themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
09/13/2020 at 18:15

Hey, my shit can is only 20 if we go by the build date

gmctavish needs more space > David E. Davis
09/13/2020 at 18:54

Maybe if automakers could make a modern manual trans not suck, more people would buy them. I’ve onl y driven one modern manual, but it was one that I’d heard very positive reviews about, and it was completely terrible. I thought I’d be one of the people that bought a new manual trans at some point, but now I don’t think I will be