Being an old fashioned boy,I still like the option of buying a high-end performance car with an actual clutch. It appears the manual shift performance car is going to be a thing of the past. Now most performance cars have the multi-speed,paddle shift F1 type shifters and the basic 6sp manual is relegated to the lower powered introductory cars.
These new trannys may be more advanced and superior in every way,but sometimes you just want an old fashioned clutch. Anyone else feel this way? Or do I just need to get with the times?

 

I've been saying the same thing. Even Honda has decided that manual transmissions are a thing of the past, and has made it near impossible to find what you want on the lot with a stick.

Fortunately, BMW still offers plenty of manual trannies on most of their products, and because you can order them however you'd like, you end up with the colors and options that you want, not what the dealer thinks would be easiest to sell to the average Joe.

edit: Oh, and you don't need to get with the times. You need to help those of us that are fighting to keep manual trannies available. Every chance you get, support and educate people on the many benefits of the manual transmission.

 

Manual tranny = motorcycle.

Auto tranny = scooter.

Motorcycles may be more fun, but people like the functionality of a scooter.

 

So if some people like the scooter, does that mean everyone should?

 

No. I have two motorcycles and no scooter.

I'm just saying that, for practicality and functionality, an auto tranny does it's job well.

Not that a manual tranny is not practical nor functional. It's just that for most people, the auto tranny is more practical and more functional.

 

Go to Europe...

All they have are standard transmissions...with a few *rare* auto transmissions at the local car rental agency.

 

Which is very cool.

My uncle did Euro delivery of a 5 Series last summer, and said that he even saw a manual-tranny'd A8. How cool would that be?

 

Those auto manufacturers with the image of "fun of driving", "driver involvement" and "performance oriented" will always have products with that 3rd pedal available. Look at BMW, Honda, Porsche and Lotus.

 

mmmmm honda manuals are so precise.... those are my favorite manuals...

 

In Mexico, sticks are big kings, though more and more autos are coming down in price.

 

That's only the case because generally manual tranny cars get better fuel economy if driven cautiously and because they're cheaper. With astronomical tariffs and taxes on cars there people will do anything to get a cheaper car.

Almost no European car had air conditioning either until about 5-10 years ago, now most do because it's become cheap and in general prosperity has improved in Europe.

 

All the cars I've owned in the past were all manual transmission. My last being a Cobra with a stage 2 clutch and short shifter. I got so tired of this dreaded CA traffic that I called it quits and bought the GS. I have no regrets so far, but when I'm older, I'd like to have a few cars to serve different purposes in my stable.

 

this is what I see would happen 10 - 15 years from now. Traditional auto transmissions will be replaced by CVTs. Manual transmissions will be replaced by AMTs (single or twin-clutch).

 

I was worried about the manual tranny 10 years ago, but not anymore. Used to be, you could only get a manual on a base econobox, a base pickup, or a sports car. Now there's hot hatchbacks from manufacturers besides honda, lots of "sporty" but not "sports" cars, plus companies like BMW, VW and Audi which offer stickshifts on nearly their entire lineup. And since 2000, Lincoln and Cadillac have both introduced their first manuals in over 50 years. Pretty much every manufacturer now offers a stick in at least one model. Just like RWD, the manual transmission is experiencing somewhat of a small renaissance.