Capt Slow wrote: In reply to alfadriver: I am not trying to say that there is a lot of demand. I am trying to say that the demand that exists currently comes from people who want to have a manual and would be willing to pay a little extra to get one.
And I'm saying that THAT demand isn't high enough, or not willing to pay enough for new cars to sustain all but a few niche products with manuals.
There is so much I could say, but I agree with you guys.
All I got to say is, some say, it makes you go faster because you don't have to take your hands off the wheel. Why are we so damned obsessed with going super fast? I mean that's what makes driving and racing so damn awesome. Clutch in, select/slam/grind/miss gear, clutch out while matching gas, that's what i'd rather see and do.
I mean, that's what made racing what it was, like early 90's BTCC, probably.....wait no, was and still is the best racing there ever was IMO but they had many different gearboxes with shifter setups and that's what makes it cool.
These new cars that you just have to flick your middle finger, rubbish!
Why are we so obssessed with going super fast? The years and cars we think of as legends in motorsports or the best era in the series, were all slower than what the new cars are! So screw super fast, bring back 3 pedals, a steering wheel with no buttons, and having to man handle the car around the track instead of bitching about getting a tad out of shape and loosing grip and every car being the same.
In reply to alfadriver:
And the other problem with some of the niche vehicles is that they have moved or are moving away from manuals.
No more manuals for Ferrari
No more manual for the GT-R
No manual for the LF-A
No manual for the SLS
Anyone who builds a cheap niche car will follow the luxury car makers in due time. How much longer until VW drops the manual completely for DSGs?
Realize I'm speaking about the US market here.
In reply to NickF40:
I've been saying this for a while about WRC. They have flappy paddles with a giant brake handle between driver and copilot. It would definitely be more interesting if they were rowing through the gears, jammin on the e-brake, and trying to listen to their copilot.
That's why I enjoy amateur racing, because it's challenging.
Ranger50 wrote: But that would require my local dealer to HAVE one of those particular models....
All manufacturers can have vehicles ordered from them, or brought over from another dealership. I've even done it myself. You don't have to buy a car off the lot (the funniest thing I've never understood is why wouldn't you want to buy a car ordered the way you want?)
There are so few manuals here in the US because our people are Bob Costas. Can't have their coffee too hot. Gotta have a smartphone so they can text or watch movies rather than watch where they are going. Can't be bothered with having to actually pay attention to their driving; it's just too inconvenient.
Having said that, the Trooper is an automatic (as was the Rodeo before it) because slushboxes are rated for higher tow capacity than doglegs. (That's old time car salesman talk. 
)
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to NickF40: I've been saying this for a while about WRC. They have flappy paddles with a giant brake handle between driver and copilot. It would definitely be more interesting if they were rowing through the gears, jammin on the e-brake, and trying to listen to their copilot. That's why I enjoy amateur racing, because it's challenging.
EXACTLY! I'm with you 110% on that one. Oh, and it's called rally in the 70's and early 80's haha I can only imagine the "trying to hear the co-pilot too" in a Stratos
scardeal wrote: . You don't have to worry about stalling or rolling backwards on hills. You don't have to do the clutch dance in stop and go traffic.
my AT Suby rolls backwards on steep hills much more easily than do either my CRX SI or my Integra... both 5 sp manuals... go figure...
Nashco wrote:Keith wrote: Apparently something like 98% of new Cummins engines are attached to automatics. I'll have you all know that my new truck is an exception. So I've done my part to keep the manual transmission alive!You must be talking about little trucks. REAL trucks (the ones where the Cummins engines are the SMALL ones) come with a lot more than 2% manual trans.
My mistake, the number is "85-90%". Taken from this article. The actual quote is "According to Cummins, 85 to 90 percent of its engines are built for automatic applications."
http://www.dieselpowermag.com/features/dodge/1011dp_how_its_made_cummins_6_7l_engine/photo_18.html
Strizzo wrote: a lot of it depends on where the vehicle is sold. there's a manual option on the xterra and frontier, but the majority of them were sold in CO and UT. was like pulling teeth trying to find one in houston, and i finally settled for the auto. when i'd tell the sales guy what i wanted, they'd say "why ya want a manyal? and what are you gonna use a 4x4 for around here anyways?"
I had the same issue when looking for my last daily driver. I was looking for an 02-03 Maxima SE with a 6-speed and I think one salesman called the car a 'mythical unicorn.' I passed on the maxima and hard just as hard a time finding a six sped F-body. I'd say the ratio was about 10 to 1.
NickF40 wrote:SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to NickF40: I've been saying this for a while about WRC. They have flappy paddles with a giant brake handle between driver and copilot. It would definitely be more interesting if they were rowing through the gears, jammin on the e-brake, and trying to listen to their copilot. That's why I enjoy amateur racing, because it's challenging.EXACTLY! I'm with you 110% on that one. Oh, and it's called rally in the 70's and early 80's haha I can only imagine the "trying to hear the co-pilot too" in a Stratos
Honestly I have lost interest in most professional motorsports. Any jackhole can virtually get in a pro-car and "race". It just isn't exciting anymore.
Yup, nailed right in the skull on that one and that's the sad truth
and that right there is what I think with Ken Block...
WRC isn't challenging because of a sequential box? Any jackhole can go pro-racing?
Do some of you guys think about what you type before you hit enter?
Like alfa said, most here constantly complain about lack of manual transmissions, cool new lightweight cars, versatile cars (quick hatchbacks), etc etc...........but you refuse to buy new cars.
I'll continue doing my part though, bought a Speed 3 last year, and as soon as we get the FT-86, the speed 3 will get traded in.
Also, why all the faux rage about Auto's in appliances and DD-type cars? OMG my van isn't a standard!!!!!!
I loved that my old monte carlo beater was an automatic. Being stuck in traffic, slipping 1st gear for miles on end is annoying.
In reply to z31maniac:
You are absolutely right, I am a weird person for wanting a stick in everything. I admit it. I am also a rare crazy person, so companies probobly won't make new cars for me (though i did recently buy a stick shift in a new car). Also, my auto-rage isn't faux-rage. It's real, crazy person rage. get it right . Oh and ask me again in 20 years and i'll probobly be driving a slushbox minivan. I know it'll happen.
And +1 against WRC not being challenging. I'd say it doesn't matter what they shift with, going that fast so close to a tree-of-death is pretty difficult! Sequential boxes don't give them magic grip or autopilot. I don't want one in my street car, but I still think Ken Block is an awesome driver.
...and Ken Block isn't competitive in WRC (yet), the other guys are that good! It's definitely challenging.
It was fun to watch the drivers stir the gears a few years back, but I don't think the switch to flappy paddles made WRC any less compelling to watch.
In reply to z31maniac: First off, I said it would be more interesting IF they were rowing gears.
And my comment about anyone being able to race nowadays stands. It's seems like there is more involved with looking good than having talent. There is nobody who stands out of the crowd in any motorsports I watch right now.
Also I have no problem with Ken Block. I think he's pretty awesome myself
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote: In reply to z31maniac: First off, I said it would be more interesting IF they were rowing gears. And my comment about anyone being able to race nowadays stands. It's seems like there is more involved with looking good than having talent. There is nobody who stands out of the crowd in any motorsports I watch right now. Also I have no problem with Ken Block. I think he's pretty awesome myself
http://forums.beyond.ca/showthread.php?s=&postid=3600468#post3600468
Mr. O'Neil himself says he loves the flippy paddles on a stock Evo. Makes me wonder about a Ralliart in PGT in Canada... oh wait a minute, the EVO X is allowed in PGT now, silly me (I'll stop my rant there).
hotg54b wrote: How many people actually know how to drive manuals? Ask around you'll be surprised how many can't drive stick.
me me me. my daily driver is a chevy 3500 with a 4 speed manual. i'm sick of shifting pulling a trailer uphill and losing my momentum so i am putting in an auto. 
if i could afford a new vette it would definitely be a manual. having an automatic in your corvette is kinda disappointing unless you are on a long road trip. if i were to get anything manual again i would prefer to do my own clutching and shifting and not have flappy paddles like most of the new "manuals" have
I would like to contradict myself earlier. I mentioned I don't want a sequential box in any of my cars. The grumpy old geezer in me is stubborn and doesn't want to give up my 3rd pedal and stick, but the skeptic in me wants some evidence. I've never driven a twin clutch equipped car, but it can obviously be done right. I probobly won't like it more than a stick, but i could probobly live with it. My hatred for torque converter automatics will not die, and I am quite happy they seem to be disappearing in favor of sequential boxes. I read somewhere the new Focus will only be in 6 speed manual or 6 speed twin clutch auto. It's lookin up, they still offer a stick, and the auto is the good kind. perfect. Now if only the 'manual' mode on the twin clutch box is actually manual, and doesn't decide to shift or not when you didn't make the choice.
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