End of the manual transmission?

Fox News ^ | May 02, 2012 | Thomas Bey

[Sopater]

Go to any given dealership with 100 new cars.

On average, just four of the 2012 models will have manual gearboxes.

The trend of the vanishing third pedal is nothing new, notes The Detroit News.

Even a decade ago, just 8.5 percent of 2002 models were manuals. The paper’s own automotive reporter even confesses she never learned to drive a stick shift until it essentially became a job requirement.

It’s more than a little contradictory to automotive reviews (including many you’ll read here) extolling the pleasure of enthusiastic driving with a true manual gearbox. Likewise, purists gravitate to manuals for tackling their favorite twisting road or occasional track day. It’s the original form of in-car connectivity.

[Sopater]

My heart... it's breaking. :-(

[Sopater]

I’d take a classic Chevy muscle car (i.e. 1971 Camaro) over anything off the production line these days anyway...

[MrNJ]

Hold on, let me check something
.
.
.

Yep, just as I thought, mine is still there.
:)

[newfreep]

I have NEVER owned an automatic.

This means WAHR!

[Gay State Conservative]

Life's too short for stick shifts.My car has an “automatic manual” (my term) which allows me to downshift on a steep downgrade,for example.And I don't even use that.

[brivette]

I owned a 6-spd chev corvette for a number of years.

[EyeGuy]

You don’t really have full control of that internal combustion engine, unless you’re working a stick.

[Jack Hydrazine]

WAHR! It’s fantastic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EVESMxs4rbA

[Yo-Yo]

Car and Driver's Save The Manuals! website.

[ZirconEncrustedTweezers]

I’ll stick with my 1991 Mazda Miata, with its honest-to-goodness H-pattern five-speed gearbox, three-pedal layout and total lack of driver aids (not even ABS). Unless someone wants to give me a new Boss 302...

[central_va]

2 reasons.

1. Planned obsolescence. Transmission are "maintenance free" now,meaning you can't easily change the fluid or even check the level-no dip sticks anymore! What this does is cause an owner to make a tough decision at around 150K miles as whether it is worth rebuilding the tranny. The rest of the car COULD go another 150K but who knows? A planned consumer dilemma and screw job. A manual transmission could theoretically last for ever, maybe even longer than the engine which today with modern syn oils are almost bullet proof.
2. The need for hands free driving....

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Me too. It will be a sad day when I buy an automatic. Another sign that our civilizaton is on the brink of collapse.

[aomagrat]

The last car I owned with an automatic transmission was a 1971 Pontiac Firebird. I traded it in 1979. I haven’t owned a vehicle with an automatic transmission since.

[Huskrrrr]

I drive a 2004 BMW 325i with a manual. I got a great deal on this car, drove it off the lot, seems no one was interested in a manual BMW but me. I’ve been driving manual transmission cars for 30 years. Can’t imagine a world w/o 5 speed manuals.

[Drill Thrawl]

Since manuals are more fuel efficient you would think there would be more.

[Red Badger]

Fugeddaboudit......I’ve seen this same story written over and over about every ten years or so...........

[Charles Martel]

The manual transmission made a significant comeback during the 1980s and '90s - so much so that now, classic vehicles from the '60s and earlier are being fitted with overdrive manual transmissions from that period.

I'm glad that the manufacturers are finally building worthwhile automatics, but I really don't see the charm in those flappy paddle gearboxes. I guess if I'm going to initiate a gear change, I'd rather not feel the computer getting in the middle of it.

[certrtwngnut]

I would not own my 03 Mach 1 if it did not have a stick.
I would not own my 65 Falcon Sprint w/302 etc. if it did not have the 4 speed.
I would not be building a 66 Mustang notchback w/281 32 valve if it did not have a 5 speed.
But that’s just me, old & out of touch.

[mo]

Sounds like those black box thingys don’t work too well with a manual...probably RPM issues between shifts and all that....

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2874826/posts

[eyedigress]

Even my 1979 RX-7 was sweet with the gears. 4bbl with an Otto engine. I gave it to my good friends in the desert 15 years ago.