Audi waves goodbye to manual transmissions in the U.S.
08-17-18, 03:20 PM
#1
Audi waves goodbye to manual transmissions in the U.S.
2019 Audi A4 and A5 are now automatic-only
Start waving goodbye to the last manual transmissions available at your local Audi dealership. With the imminent arrival of the 2019 A4 sedan and A5 coupe, the option to shift for yourself will no longer be possible in any Audi vehicle sold in the United States. From the most miserly version of the A3 sedan, to the mighty mid-engine R8 sports car, every Audi sold here will now automatically be fitted with, well, an automatic gearbox.
Audi offered a six-speed manual in the 2018 A4 and A5 with Quattro as a no-cost option, but both are going auto-only with updates planned for 2019. This sad news has been reported by a number of outlets, including Car & Driver, which stated only 5 percent of all A4 buyers chose the manual versus the automatic.
For fans of manual transmissions, there is still hope. As we recently pointed out in this list of every new car available with a manual gearbox, there's still plenty of options out there (though the field is definitely shrinking).
Luxury brands like BMW, Cadillac, Genesis and Porsche still offer manual transmissions in the United States — though Porsche limits them to its sports cars. Most recently, the new Genesis G70 offers a six-speed manual coupled to a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends all its power to the rear wheels.
It wasn't long ago — two years, in fact — when we were wistfully discussing the benefits of opting for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or traditional six-speed manual in the 2018 A5 coupe. For the record, the automatic was slightly quicker in the run from 0 to 60 mph, with a time of 5.6 seconds, versus 5.7 seconds with the manual.
Sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story, though. R.I.P. Audi manual gearboxes.
Audi offered a six-speed manual in the 2018 A4 and A5 with Quattro as a no-cost option, but both are going auto-only with updates planned for 2019. This sad news has been reported by a number of outlets, including Car & Driver, which stated only 5 percent of all A4 buyers chose the manual versus the automatic.
For fans of manual transmissions, there is still hope. As we recently pointed out in this list of every new car available with a manual gearbox, there's still plenty of options out there (though the field is definitely shrinking).
Luxury brands like BMW, Cadillac, Genesis and Porsche still offer manual transmissions in the United States — though Porsche limits them to its sports cars. Most recently, the new Genesis G70 offers a six-speed manual coupled to a 255-horsepower turbocharged four-cylinder engine that sends all its power to the rear wheels.
It wasn't long ago — two years, in fact — when we were wistfully discussing the benefits of opting for the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic or traditional six-speed manual in the 2018 A5 coupe. For the record, the automatic was slightly quicker in the run from 0 to 60 mph, with a time of 5.6 seconds, versus 5.7 seconds with the manual.
Sometimes numbers don't tell the whole story, though. R.I.P. Audi manual gearboxes.
08-17-18, 03:22 PM
#2
Lexus Champion
Sales will plummet. By 12 cars.
08-17-18, 03:28 PM
#3
That made me lol 
It's not surprising, just a sad day for enthusiasts. But as much as I appreciate the 'art' of rowing your own gears. I personally never want to own a manual, especially living in the Bay Area. Learned on a '93 Accord. I'm happy I know how to drive stick, but I love just to put it in drive these days hah
It's not surprising, just a sad day for enthusiasts. But as much as I appreciate the 'art' of rowing your own gears. I personally never want to own a manual, especially living in the Bay Area. Learned on a '93 Accord. I'm happy I know how to drive stick, but I love just to put it in drive these days hah
08-17-18, 05:03 PM
#4
The pursuit of F
^^^ Was wondering the same thing 
What percentage of sales were manual? I recall for the 2IS, it was a meager 5% at some point.
For a toy car, i.e. the RC F, I would have preferred a manual, but never for daily driving. Horrible GTA commute lengths and traffic... https://globalnews.ca/news/4287922/t...north-america/
What percentage of sales were manual? I recall for the 2IS, it was a meager 5% at some point.For a toy car, i.e. the RC F, I would have preferred a manual, but never for daily driving. Horrible GTA commute lengths and traffic... https://globalnews.ca/news/4287922/t...north-america/
08-17-18, 06:57 PM
#5
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
High horsepower and bigger cars basically suck with a stick unless there's no one else on the road and they offer no benefit on highway.
the only fun cars with stick are light roadsters
the only fun cars with stick are light roadsters
08-17-18, 07:31 PM
#6
The pursuit of F
08-17-18, 09:56 PM
#7
Lexus Test Driver
Not a bad idea. No road moves here in Los Angeles, so there's no loss.
So does this now save Audi money by not offering that extra option? One less thing to design, test, certify, and build. Should equal cost savings, yes? (we'll probably never see it)
So does this now save Audi money by not offering that extra option? One less thing to design, test, certify, and build. Should equal cost savings, yes? (we'll probably never see it)
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08-18-18, 05:48 AM
#8
Lexus Fanatic
Some drivers still like V8 muscle-cars with traditional sticks, but they tend to have stiff, heavy clutches, skip-shift mechanisms in the lower gears for fuel economy, and can be a PITA to drive in stop and go traffic. They are obviously designed for younger people who don't have arthritis or stiff knees.
Last edited by mmarshall; 08-18-18 at 06:19 AM.
08-18-18, 06:19 AM
#9
Lexus Fanatic
On the original topic, some enthusiasts might miss them, but I agree that eliminating manuals in the U.S. is probably a good business move. Today's multi-speed automatics, in many cases, are more flexible than manuals, provide as good or better MPG and performance figures, and are much easier to drive in heavy stop and go traffic. Almost no one I know still prefers to row his or own gears, especially here in the D.C. area, with traffic and congestion that, in some ways, is comparable to Los Angeles.
08-18-18, 02:08 PM
#12
Lexus Fanatic
iTrader: (20)
Some drivers still like V8 muscle-cars with traditional sticks, but they tend to have stiff, heavy clutches, skip-shift mechanisms in the lower gears for fuel economy, and can be a PITA to drive in stop and go traffic. They are obviously designed for younger people who don't have arthritis or stiff knees.
she has a bad knee from a prior car accident (not in the challenger and not because of bad driving before anyone asks), and doesn't like driving her stick much these days and borrows her guy's auto charger when her knee's bothering her.
08-18-18, 03:55 PM
#13
Lexus Fanatic
yes i know a younger lady who drives a stick dodge challenger with 6.1L engine. she has a bad knee from a prior car accident (not in the challenger and not because of bad driving before anyone asks), and doesn't like driving her stick much these days and borrows her guy's auto charger when her knee's bothering her.
she has a bad knee from a prior car accident (not in the challenger and not because of bad driving before anyone asks), and doesn't like driving her stick much these days and borrows her guy's auto charger when her knee's bothering her.
Can she afford to replace that MT Challenger? If so, you might offer to help her find a new one that is easier for her to drive (I'd probably help her myself if I was in her area). With the currently-depressed sedan and coupe market, some good deals might be had...though SRT models, in particular, are often in strong demand, and aren't exactly given away.
08-18-18, 05:00 PM
#14
Unless there's some emission-control reason (and I don't think that's the case) then it's just adherence to the law of supply and demand. Apparently most people don't want them.
Perhaps the issue is similar to purists complaining about power steering taking away "road feel" 60 years ago. Time marches on. Still, I love manual shifters.
I can recall ten years ago that I was trying to find a manual car in order to teach my young daughter. Even then, rental-car companies no longer had them.
Perhaps the issue is similar to purists complaining about power steering taking away "road feel" 60 years ago. Time marches on. Still, I love manual shifters.
I can recall ten years ago that I was trying to find a manual car in order to teach my young daughter. Even then, rental-car companies no longer had them.
08-18-18, 05:04 PM
#15
Lexus Test Driver
