The Manual Transmission Isn't Going Just Yet

"Vicente Esteve" (vicente-esteve)
10/04/2014 at 12:05 • Filed to: Manual

We car enthusiasts, clench to the manual transmission as lunatic women clench to the 70% discounted Blu-Ray DVDs on black friday, ready to break the neck of anyone who even dares look at the apparatus. The manual transmission has become one of things we hold dear to our hearts, not because it is technically superior, but because for us it's just right. It's as if you had the choice between using an app to make it sound as if someone just farted or using a true Woopie Cushion. The app may produce a clearer sound, a louder racket, have an array of styles of farts, but in the end the simplistic and charismatic woopie cushion will always bring the happiest smiles. Thats how I see the manual transmission, and I know a lot of you do as well. Not as something technically superior to the automatic, but something that brings satisfaction and emotion to each of us within. That is also why year after year the fright of seeing it go increases as well as hope in people to keep buying them. But don't worry, because the manual transmission isn't going just yet nor in a good amount of time.

First, we have to see the reason why people dislike the manual transmission, and why the automatic received so much popularity. For me, its 2 things: Convenience (Laziness) and reluctance of people to learn (Laziness). Yes, I know that an automatic is way more comfortable when there is traffic, and I know it is easier to park a car when you only have to deal with 2 pedals, or you may suffer from a medical difficulty that forbids you from driving stick. All of these are facts that made people transition to automatics, but they are also the reason why manuals have been improving (And will keep improving). Automakers have always tried to manufacture a lighter clutch, and a more effortless gear change as years go by. They have always kept trying to make driving stick in those situations easier for the driver. If they would have kept the granite clutches of old, and the ungodly rigid gear changes then people would have really walked away from the manual transmission. But, as the automatics, the manufacturers are seeing ways of making your life less of a chore while driving a manual. Therefore, they are still trying to make it enjoyable to consumers and keeping it alive.

As well as a more enjoyable operation, manual transmissions have also been part of most of the innovations that automatics get. I realised this in my Golf. Innovations to make you save fuel, and make driving less complicated are still being implanted in the manual transmission even though they harder to execute than in automatics.

Radar Guided or Adaptive Cruise control? The Dodge Challenger Hellcat with a manual has it. And yes, it is harder to design how a cruise control will function without the ability to change gears by itself.

Start/Stop System? It looks very simple in an automatic car. Your foot on the brake puts it on, and lifting said foot will turn it off. But in a manual as it is in my Golf? You have to put it in neutral, the clutch has to be depressed, can't do it in a hill, and if the car starts creeping above 2mph it starts.

What about fuel economy? The Corvette has the gear lockout feature (which is annoying). Cars such as the Honda fit are being added a sixth gear, and gear ratios are being designed so that manuals still offer competitive fuel economy to the automatic alternative.

Park Assist? Automatics and manuals have them. I have it in my car, and although it is a bit more complicated, they went to the effort of actually making it available.

Sport mode/Button? In an automatic it increases gear "ferocity", and although it doesn't affect the manual gear changes, they do make other aspects of the car customisable for the driver.

Launch Control? Manuals have them, starting from one of the first in the Cobalt SS to the very advanced system in a new manual BMW M3.

Rev/Match? This only the Nissan 370Z and C7 Vette I'm aware has it, but it is another innovation that makes it more enjoyable for the user and proof that engineers are still trying.

Ease of Use? Clutches are getting lighter then ever, gear changes as effortless as they can be.

Cost? Most manual transmissions are the base models, so they are more reasonable compared to the automatic counterparts if you are in a tight budget. But, what we also love, is the availability of a very well equipped car with a manual. And, I'm not only talking about the Germans, the Fiesta offers its Titanium with manual, Chevy offers the Spark LTZ with a manual, as well as pretty much any Volkswagen.

And, the most important thing of all? Demand. Demand is what makes things either arrive or leave, and although the demand for a manual transmission in the US is as scarce as albino crocodiles a lot of other places around the world still want them. See every Latin American Taxi or civilian car, it comes with a manual. See the availability of the manual transmission in cars sold in the UK or Spain or Germany, pretty much every model can be equipped with it. A lot of markets embrace the manual transmission so much that car makers can't just cancel it. And, even if it is only 7% of buyers in the U.S. the number will (Slowly) keep climbing.

The manual transmission hasn't been left by as an after thought. It has been constantly improved, constantly engineered around it, and constantly innovating itself for the buyer. Automakers still give a damn about it, and still are willing to sell their products with them because a lot of people still want them. And, although numbers are low, they have been increasing as more cars come available with it. The ST brothers, the FR-S/BRZ brothers, the Miata, the Luxury sedans, the odd sports cars such as the M6 or the Aston Martin Vantage, the Porsches, The base Pickup trucks, some Crossovers, every one of them keep the manual transmission alive and us enthusiasts happy. So don't worry, because as they keep revamping the good old woopie cushion, they will keep it in existence for time to come. Long live the manual!

DISCUSSION (100)

Gated Manual > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:08

Kinja'd!!!

Gated Manual!!!

Nibby > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:08

DAT PHAETON'S GATE

Vicente Esteve > Gated Manual
10/04/2014 at 12:11

I knew everyone would love it! Also, check out that the controls for the door mirrors are right above it. So odd.

 V8 Rustler > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:14

Kinja'd!!!

Manual Transmission Phaeton? WANT

Vicente Esteve > Nibby
10/04/2014 at 12:16

ITS GLORIOUS

You could only get it with the V6

Vicente Esteve > V8 Rustler
10/04/2014 at 12:17

This photo was chosen to attract the most attention. I cant think of a cooler car with a manual.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:27

I think it's mainly a culture thing. People here (UK) often don't even consider that automatic is an option. Many just drive manual because everyone else does, the same way a huge amount of people drive auto in the US because it's the norm.

Vicente Esteve > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/04/2014 at 12:29

Exactly, and it all helps with demand of the transmission.

DoYouEvenShift > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:33

Kinja'd!!!

Heres a 96 Impala SS that came into my shop. T56 swap.

Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell. > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:33

Yep, whatever fills the used car market is what people buy as a first car. Then they carry that preference and buy more cars with that option, perpetuates the popularity of that transmission.

Axial > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:38

*Sees list of advanced 23rd century tech in cars*

*Looks at own car*

I don't have any of that...

Vicente Esteve > DoYouEvenShift
10/04/2014 at 12:38

Holy crap! Did you get to drive it?

Vicente Esteve > Axial
10/04/2014 at 12:39

What car do you drive? I mean, even if we don't have any of it, its good news for manual transmissions as a whole.

Vicente Esteve > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/04/2014 at 12:39

Fine by me!

DoYouEvenShift > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:41

I did! I didnt drive it hard, customers car. Just drove it up and down the road. But it was nice. Also had an SCCA sticker on it.

Axial > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:41

I actually lied, I have cruise control. No idea if it works, but it's there.

Oh, 1990 Corvette. VTEC LT5, bishes!

Vicente Esteve > DoYouEvenShift
10/04/2014 at 12:43

Thats just awesome! Hate the stereo though.

Vicente Esteve > Axial
10/04/2014 at 12:45

Cool! I also never use cruise control. In Mexico, its almost impossible due to traffic, and uneven roads.

DoYouEvenShift > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 12:48

Agreed. I hate the way aftermarket head units look.

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 13:06

Manual Phaeton, hell yes.

In the United States at least, the manual transmission is dying there's no doubt about it.

Vicente Esteve > DoYouEvenShift
10/04/2014 at 13:22

I know right! I would buy a used original head unit from ebay 100% of the time.

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
10/04/2014 at 13:27

What keeps it from dying is manufacturers. They are still offering a good chunk of cars.

DoYouEvenShift > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 13:30

Kinja'd!!!

Heres a 69 Camaro thats in my shop right now. These head units are nicer. Sadly this car is autotragic, not manual.

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 13:33

I sorta see it, but there still seems to be a general downwards decline in the amount of cars that are available with one.

Take Mercedes in the US market currently for example, there is no longer a single manual to be found.

Or the current gen S3/A3, Still comes up dry. And with the bottom of the line Audi A3 not having a stick, I'm getting a sinking feeling that the redesigned A4 isn't going to have one either.

Vicente Esteve > DoYouEvenShift
10/04/2014 at 13:34

Thats a nice head unit, mixed old and new.

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
10/04/2014 at 13:35

I get it, but at the same time there are cars starting to offer it. Like the Chevy SS

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 13:41

Yeah, some car manufacturers are starting to open their horizons a little bit more and some are starting to close their horizons. The Chevrolet Colorado also has a manual available, which was a nice touch but I think that it's only available on the bottom two trim levels or something like that.

But with my B5 A4, when I was searching for the car, the overwhelming majority of cars that I was finding were equipped with a manual transmission. Out of the about 20 B5 A4s on Craigslist that I looked at within the two months about 15/20 of them had manual transmission on them.

But then iI started looking for B8 A4s on Craigslist about 3/20 of them have a manual transmission and I feel that it doesn't just apply to that one particular car either.

The Transporter > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 13:56

Kinja'd!!!

Why didn't they just put reverse here?

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
10/04/2014 at 15:07

I get it, and yes, there are a lot of tendencies. Also, if you try and look for other sporty hatchbacks like a Veloster or a TC, they will most likely come with a Manual. There are trends obviously.

Also, I have finally found a way I can retrofit LED Headlights in the Golf!

Vicente Esteve > The Transporter
10/04/2014 at 15:09

I think it is because it start the cycle by going backwards, then to first, then second up to 7th. If it was first, second, third... Seventh THEN backwards it would be weird. VAG has done Reverse like that since the Beetle, and I prefer it that way.

Axial > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 15:38

I don't use it simply because I can get better fuel economy with my foot.

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 17:42

Awesommeeee! You need a europlate also!

What's her name?

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
10/04/2014 at 17:55

Haha I have already ordered the plate!

I havent named her, and plan to do a post about it

jkm7680 > Vicente Esteve
10/04/2014 at 17:58

Haha, Niiiiice.

She needs a great name! My car is just known as "car" right now.

Vicente Esteve > jkm7680
10/04/2014 at 18:16

My parents are also urging me to put a name. But I dont know!

savagecabbage > Vicente Esteve
10/05/2014 at 11:26

"Doge challenger hellcat"

Much Horsepower, So Fast, Wow

RazoE > Vicente Esteve
10/06/2014 at 09:47

Traffic isn't bad at all. I spent 5 hours in traffic on the 405 on Friday in 104 degree heat and it was fine. I've been driving manuals for 10 years in Los Angeles traffic. It isn't that bad, get over it! Save Manuel and his fancy transmissions.

Stef Schrader > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 02:20

cc: PORSCHE

AHEM

PORSCHE

I don't even need lots of techno-gadgetry with a third pedal, but it'd be cool if you put those in the hoon-cars.

Vicente Esteve > Stef Schrader
10/07/2014 at 07:23

They put it in the Cayenne and Panamera. To me, thats a sign they are still trying!

Kinja'd!!!

Bouowmx > The Transporter
10/07/2014 at 07:25

According to the following C&D article, which sources Porsche, it's tradition.

http://www.caranddriver.com/features/a-tal…

Bruce Pearl Necklace > The Transporter
10/07/2014 at 07:27

Reverse close to first also makes 3-point turns and parking lot scenarios way easier...

Arbiter01 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:27

"ready to brake the neck" Please don't Brake your Breaks! Gotta love English.....so many words that sound the same that are different.

graham > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:27

I would have to agree on all of your points except for cost. For example, when I ordered my 2012 BMW E91 Touring with a 6MT, it effectively cost me $1200. That's because BMW included the automatic as standard equipment that year, and also increased the base cost of the car by $1200 (the cost of the automatic) and the manual became a "zero dollar" option. Still, a small price to pay for having a BMW M-Sport wagon with a 6-sp manual—and no iDrive :)

YvesW > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:27

The new MINI Cooper S with manual also has Rev/Match. I think the cheapest car in production with that system...

Eric Sundell > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:28

This article gets it right! Autotragics are JUNK. Give me a real transmission any day. Everyone's life (except for disabled people) would be better with a manual transmission.

Vicente Esteve > Arbiter01
10/07/2014 at 07:28

English is my second language :p. Fixed it!

Michael J Posner > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:29

I love manuals too, and have owned a plethora, but after I test drove an M3 w/dct I was hooked. In my view it is the best of both worlds, the control of a manual with better performance and more precision. Plus two hands on the wheel. After leaving my last dct for another six speed, I decided 6,000 miles in to go back to a dct.

Vicente Esteve > graham
10/07/2014 at 07:31

NICE. But, I don't get it. You have the cost of the automatic defaulted in the build, THEN the manual is a no-cost option, as any other option would be?

I mean, I'm not getting the auto so, you should decrease the price by $1,200

Vicente Esteve > YvesW
10/07/2014 at 07:31

Got it. I like the new Cooper, not a lot of people do now.

classbutnostile > The Transporter
10/07/2014 at 07:31

Also, gating from 5 to 7 ro 6 to 7 (the trans does not allow 1-4 to 7 shifts). I use 7 cruising on freeways almost every time.

Vicente Esteve > Eric Sundell
10/07/2014 at 07:32

Haha, im not saying a manual transmission is technically superior. BUT, it is my transmission of choice! And I think a lot of accidents could be prevented by it.

Vicente Esteve > Michael J Posner
10/07/2014 at 07:34

Yes, I have read a lot of people who tried DSG/Paddles/DCT and they come out impressed. Im not saying they are worse transmissions, just a different experience altogether. But in the end, and M3 is an M3!

44444444444 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:36

Hell, I just purchased a V70r 6 speed manual (I love the spaceball!)... 300HP, AWD, WAGON.

Kinja'd!!!

Vicente Esteve > 44444444444
10/07/2014 at 07:38

Thats EPIC! More Picture please!

44444444444 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:39

I just found a stock picture of what my R is...

pip bip - choose Corrour > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:40

Kinja'd!!!

i approve this message!

d3v > The Transporter
10/07/2014 at 07:41

Probably so that you can accidentally jam the car in reverse from 7th gear. Also, doglegs are hella sexy..

duurtlang > RazoE
10/07/2014 at 07:41

I've spent 13 hours in my (manual) car last Sunday. 850 km German Autobahn trip with many 1 hour a piece traffic jams which mostly meant shifting in and out of first gear. An automatic transmission would've been more comfortable during these grueling jams, but I certainly wasn't cursing my manual at all.

d3v > 44444444444
10/07/2014 at 07:43

Is it brown and diesel?

DoctorNine > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:44

Wow. I missed this on Saturday, but what a great assessment of The State of the Manual!

Hats off to you for that one.

Kinja'd!!!

duurtlang > graham
10/07/2014 at 07:45

In Germany , home of BMW, a manual is standard in a 3-series Touring and a regular automatic is a €2150 ($2700) option. The sports auto box adds another €310 ($390).

A manual is only not cost effective in the US due to supply. If supply is kept similar (like in Germany) the manual is far cheaper.

kaheff (L20E) > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:48

I am by no measure a manual evangelist, but this is a very well written piece.

graham > duurtlang
10/07/2014 at 07:54

Yes, no argument there...in the US making the auto "standard equipment" and the manual an option is basically a marketing ploy. Apparently most US consumers were aghast at discovering the automatic was a $1200 option when most others include it as standard equipment.

Shaggy > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:54

"Radar Guided or Adaptive Cruise control? The Doge Challenger Hellcat with a manual has it."

Dogecoin strikes back!

Kinja'd!!!

typhoon5000 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:55

Yea, I didn't know they ever made one!

FlyingV > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:55

Really? What about a brown diesel station wagon?! Right?! Am I right guys?! Right??? Guys??!

tekkblade128 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:57

Kinja'd!!!

This should make a comeback.

boxrocket > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:57

It is greatly reassuring when companies start adding manuals to their lineup, especially to the point where it comes out a little later than the autotragic just so they "get it right". Case in point: Mazda3 2.5L manual.

VivaLaManual > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 07:59

Almost every mark 7 GTI on the lots in America is a DSG.

Land_Yacht_225 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:01

Is that manual Phaeton a real thing? Like factory real?

gometz > 44444444444
10/07/2014 at 08:01

Awesome! I might end up buying a 2001 V70 next week. 115k, $3k. Seems to be a good deal to me.

StevenG > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:01

The Holden Commodore has had a manual for a long time.

ApolloX75 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:04

My hunt for my Camaro was made seriously challenging because I wanted a V6 with the six speed.

It was worth the effort. In a fifth gen Camaro the manual V6 comes with a posi rear end and better gearing.

The cruise control does have a few quirks though.

kniga > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:05

It shouldn't cost too much to offer a new car with manual transmission, if the same model is sold elsewhere.

Tomek G > jkm7680
10/07/2014 at 08:05

I have B6 with manual and love it, and was looking to pick avant, they do not even offer it in manual anymore. The old cars you see are probably left overs in hands of enthusiasts or long-term owners. Manual transmissions can last longer and are more fun. I would consider getting automatic only if it is DSG, car has a fifth door, S in its name and doesn't have bloated body (SUV)

funksion49 > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:06

it's a good thing Oppo does not have to be objective. This editorial would fail miserably in it's blatant bias.

Gonemad > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:06

Don't fool yourself. Here in Brazil, most people embraced the auto. The ones that choose stick can't afford the auto in a new car, and don't want to buy used cars.

The same goes for taxi cabs. I use taxi cabs every now and then and they hated those semi-automatic "Tiptronic" thingies from Volks because it ruins the clutch faster than them. Those cabbies with proper autos, with torque converters, a la Toyota Corolla, don't want to go back. One of them complained his car got a ruined clutch at 50.000km or 31.000 miles. Some of them that love stick embraced the semi-auto instead, where they can still force an engine braking going downhill, or a more prompt kickdown response when passing. Or a forced overdrive when coasting.

Not to mention prices. By that metric, lots of people still buy cars that don't have A/C, because it is US$ 2.500 cheaper in average. Some models were banned in the rest of the planet because they lack ABS and airbags and were still sold here, which ended last year, with the ban in selling new cars without said ABS and bags.

There were even some exotic experimental Fiat Palio models with the regular stickshift, but no clutch pedal, a few years back. No sell.

Manuals are over, price permitting.

Tomek G > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/07/2014 at 08:08

Plus cars are much more expensive, so automatic transmission option is unnecessary cost.

I remember in seeing Audi A4 in EU with handle-rolled windows and hubcaps on wheels.

jkm7680 > Tomek G
10/07/2014 at 08:08

I'd take the DSG in the GTI, but that would be a stretch.

But it does seem that most of the remaining B5 cars with manual transmission were owned by enthusiasts, mine was extremely clean and obviously had a caring first owner. The second owner was meh, and I'm pretty meticulous about my car.

It's also a great feeling shifter, the throws are very smooth and short.

kniga > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:09

The main point of having the manual transmission is to be able to select the gear you want to be in. Once you accept this as the goal, there is no reason to sticking with the old school manual shifter, instead of semi-automatic or paddle shifters and DSG, other than "I enjoy rowing the gears like a truck driver". All the top forms of motorsport have switched to semi-automatics of some kind, and for a good reason: they work faster.

flyingstitch > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:12

Typo alert: Doge Challenger Hellcat. But first, someone needs to Photoshop this concept immediately.

TheExplainer > Twingo Tamer - About to descend into project car hell.
10/07/2014 at 08:13

Having learned to drive in the UK, I think the cultural issue is this: a manual is most likely to be found in a small, cheap, low-power car, where you need a stick to row it along effectively. In the US, you can get a big, cheap car with a bigger engine, so you can get away with an auto, but in Europe and a lot of the ROW, your first car is likely to be manual.

Jerk Dently > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:13

I'm a manual fan.

I think that going forward there should be two types of cars - fully automated self-driving and manual.

fink stinger > DoYouEvenShift
10/07/2014 at 08:14

Wow! T56, black carpet, annoying aftermarket stereo, Bonneville seats. Almost a spittin' image of mine (except for the animal cracker bags):

Kinja'd!!!

The T56 swap is a lot of work, but SO worth it in these cars. That single change makes it feel like the car just lost 500 pounds.

Jalopinator > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:15

That's because it would throw off the center of gravity if they were mounted on the driver's side.

Resulting in massive understeer when going left, and massive oversteer when going right. Trust me my roommates almost an engineer.

DipodomysDeserti > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:17

Which they said originally wasn't going to come with a manual here.

JeepJeremy > Axial
10/07/2014 at 08:18

This is how I felt after riding in my coworker's brand new FX4 F150. It was like a starship compared to my wrangler. My Jeep is like a relic of the ancient world!

LordRichards > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:18

Test drove a 328i Auto with flappy paddles. Not bad but it creates a layer of separation between you and the car. Performance was good but engagement and connection was way down. No thanks.

Driving a manual is one of those "know you are alive" things; like the tingle from diving into cold water, the light of an early morning and a smile from your child.

Have always had manual cars, never owned an auto. As long as my left knee works, it'll stay that way.

Damasconian > Vicente Esteve
10/07/2014 at 08:20

Great post - I agree! But I just got a new M4 (yes, with a manual) and it does not have launch control. That's only on the DCT models. Launch control is standard with all manuals though......my left leg does the work instead of a computer.