Death of Manual Transmission ETA????

[deadheadskier]

When do you anticipate this happening? Sure seems to me that manual transmissions will eventually be a thing of the past. I think it's sad.



The inspiration for this thread was today's release of the 2011 Hyundai Sonata Turbo. Very impressive numbers on this car. 274 horsepower, 269 lbs of torque, 34 MPG on the Highway. For reference, I drive a 2007 Sonata with a V6 that has 235 horsepower, 226 lbs of torque and I get 29ish MPG on the Highway. Pretty substantial improvement and I might be wrong, but I don't think there's a sedan on the market today that produces as much power with as good of gas mileage as the 2011 Sonata Turbo.

I was disappointed to read there will be no manual transmission offered in the Turbo. Not surprised as there was no manual offered in the V6. I bought it over a manual 4cyl due to some features I wanted that were only available in V6. That said, it bummed me out when I bought my car that I couldn't get a manual transmission.

Today's release led me to do some research. There are hardly any medium-large sized sedans being offered today with an available manual transmission. I thought this was specific to American and Asian cars, but even German automakers appear to be phasing out manuals. Even Audi got rid of the manual transmission in the A6 following 2004. The current S6, which is a 'sports sedan' is only available in an automatic.

I didn't check Mercedes, but it would appear that the only option out there for a mid-large size sedan is a BMW 5 series. WAY, WAY above my pay grade.

As hard as it is to say without getting laughed at as a Hyundai owner, I'm a bit of driving enthusiast. I LOVE driving my wife's manual Mazda3 Hatchback. That said, we want to have at least one larger car for multiple people transport.


Anyone else think it's totally lame that there are so few cars being offered today with manual transmissions?

[Euler]

I agree. When we bought our 2009 Forester one big reason why we picked it over the RAV4 and the CRV was that those two vehicles were not offered in a manual transmission. My wife and I both love to drive a stick shift, so choosing the Forester was easy.

[marcski]

Yes. But I don't think its the death of the manual transmission...like you said its more in the mid-full-sized classes. And, its just a reaction to the American market. Fat and lazy. I am most likely going suby for my next vehicle as you can still get them in sticks.

[Paul]

They can have my stick-shift when they pry it from my cold, dead hand.

[bvibert]

Anyone else think it's totally lame that there are so few cars being offered today with manual transmissions?

It's wicked lame, and pisses me off. What's worse is the people that try to tell me that automatics with the manual selection mode (tiptronics and the like) are just as good as driving a stick shift.

[RootDKJ]

Forget the stick shift...

[deadheadskier]

Yes. But I don't think its the death of the manual transmission...like you said its more in the mid-full-sized classes. And, its just a reaction to the American market. Fat and lazy. I am most likely going suby for my next vehicle as you can still get them in sticks.

and therein lies the rub. Only Subaru I've ever driven regularly, a 2004 Legacy Wagon, was easily the biggest piece of crap I've ever had to suffer through. So, so bad, that it would take an act of god for me to ever consider the manufacturer again.

Do the higher end model Suby's still offer a manual? Almost all other Asian manufacturers do offer a manual, but only in the bottom of the barrel entry models.

[wa-loaf]

Anyone else think it's totally lame that there are so few cars being offered today with manual transmissions?

Totally sucks. Seems like there might be a market soon taking european manuals and converting them for the us market.

Side note: My wife insisted on driving a manual. One of the reasons I fell for her in the first place. No one I've dated so far can even drive a stick. Still looking for a hot, skiing, stick shift driver ...

[deadheadskier]

It's wicked lame, and pisses me off. What's worse is the people that try to tell me that automatics with the manual selection mode (tiptronics and the like) are just as good as driving a stick shift.

I've had that option on the 2000 Audi automatic A6 I drove for a year and I have it on my Hyundai.........think it's totally lame and don't use it.

I haven't tried the new 'paddle shifters', but would imagine they're equally as lame.

[roark]

No offense, as a Hyundai owner (for the next couple days anyway, the econobox is already sold but I don't see the new Sonata (certainly a nice car, and bang for the buck a solid buy) only being offered in an auto as any nail in the coffin. Hyundai still isn't a market maker. Driving enthusiasts still prefer manual - the difference is it will only be available in driving enthusiast autos. The family sedan doesn't fit that category.