The manual transmission is turning into the ultimate anti-theft device!

I gave up my 330i, it was great while it was newer and fun as hell to drive with the 6-speed manual. Often have to slow down to merge with highway traffic as you could easily be doing 80+ on nearly any on-ramp if you wanted to. Hugged the road like it was glued to it, with the manual you could whip around highway 180s & 270s on the outside lane while the meat head muscle cars on the inside bobbed and weaved trying to catch up.

Good times but this is all evidence that the days of the manual tranny are very numbered. But don't worry, in another 50 years people won't even drive their cars anymore, so it wont really matter.

Already bought my last manual performance car because death is coming to the manual in general. My AWD manual is turbocharged and has no driving nannies so it was time to buy. I want to shift myself, it’s more engaging and I don’t want computer aided driving of any sort because it’s more expensive to fix out of warranty or repair if in a wreck.

In a decade or so there won't be many people that will know how to drive a manual transmission.
A lot of the wussy kids now don't even care about getting their drivers license. Back in the dark ages when I was a kid we couldn't wait to take drivers ed and get a license. I guess if you are planning to live with your parents until you're 35 it doesn't matter that much.

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Originally posted by GWbiker:

quote:

Originally posted by LS1 GTO:
New drivers with rich parents, are not being taught how to drive a manual.

So much for a cheap[er] form of theft deterrence.

THIS....

and a $500-$1000 hit on trade in time, due to car having a manual transmission.

That’s not universally true. Porsche’s with manuals do not seem to have less value than a comparable PDK equipped car.

I imagine if I was an urban dweller with a nasty commute, I would begin to question the value of a 6 speed MT, but a touring car...? Refer to Alan’s post:

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Originally posted by Balzé Halzé:
Some of you guys Just. Don't. Get it.

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Originally posted by kz1000:

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they're faster.

That's not the point. More control & enjoyment.

I understand your point and agree, but we're not millennials who can't drive manual transmissions.

All they can do is flip floppy paddles.


RMD

Pretty weak BMW....Pretty weak.

So there is always VW and .... ?

Oh well. Before long they'll try to delete the steering wheel, too. Robots only.

I've been looking at 2003 M3s lately, and RS6s from the same era, for a ballsy daily driver.

I don't need a brand new car. I doubt I'll ever buy another new one from anyone.

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I suppose that some guys are unhappy because they can’t buy cars with non-synchronized transmissions nowadays.

And do clutchless shifts without a grind!

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Originally posted by 220-9er:
In a decade or so there won't be many people that will know how to drive a manual transmission.

What you mean to say is there won't be many Americans that will know how to drive a manual transmission. We're pretty unique in this regard. In Europe, more than 80 maybe even 90% of the cars on the road are manuals. The manual transmission car is not going anywhere anytime soon. It just is in this country...which is a god awful, crying shame.

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Originally posted by 46and2:
I don't need a brand new car. I doubt I'll ever buy another new one from anyone.

Same here.

Some snowflake tried to convince me that a green car would save me money, that if I drove 12,000 a year it would save me $1K a year.

My car was paid off and only worth about $5K. New green car she was touting was $25K base, so it would cost me $20K if I sold my car and bought this green thingy.

So it would take me 20 years to recoup the investment, likely more considering I maybe drive 6K a year. That logic didn't seem to make sense to her.

If manuals were selling, they'd continue to offer them, would they not? Kind of the same reason Ford is going to all these wanna-be SUVs "crossovers."

I bought a Golf R this summer with a 6MT and absolutely no "nanny" options. I love to drive and fear for the future of driving.
I really despair when I see the Nissan ads where people push a button during normal driving situations; like passing trucks or a construction zone, so that the car will take over and drive for them. I have been driving for 40 years now and never realized how many times I put my life at risk by driving through a construction zone or passing on a multilane highway.

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Originally posted by kxc223:
I bought a Golf R this summer with a 6MT and absolutely no "nanny" options. I love to drive and fear for the future of driving.
I really despair when I see the Nissan ads where people push a button during normal driving situations; like passing trucks or a construction zone, so that the car will take over and drive for them. I have been driving for 40 years now and never realized how many times I put my life at risk by driving through a construction zone or passing on a multilane highway.

Doesn’t it come standard with ABS, traction, and stability control? I know with the MK7 Golf R you can completely turn them off but they are still there.

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Originally posted by kz1000:

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they're faster.

That's not the point. More control & enjoyment.

And not mechanical wallet draining nightmare when the go kaboom.

Two of my cars are manual so I get it but we are in the minority. The manual transmission is going the way of the 8-track before long. Maybe if EPA guidelines were lightened up they would stick around some. In Europe owning any car is an incredibly expensive proposition for most folks. Small econo boxes with manual transmissions are the norm for fiscal reasons as much as for cultural. They also have less restrictions on emissions in some regards.

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Originally posted by bcereuss:
Guess I'll be happy with my Civic Type "R" as it ONLY comes with a six-apeed manual!

Thread drift.

Type R? One of the few cars that I’d want to buy. How were you so lucky? Much over MSRP?

The military went to auto trans years ago. I won't say why but one can probably guess. Poor parenting has played a part too. I have 2 grandsons that don't know what a clutch is much less how to drive one. Their father never taught them. But they can play the Hell out of a video game. Whoop-de-doo. I learned on a 1951 Mack hauling hay when I was 14 years old. BTW my 1970 Chevelle has a 4 speed trans. Love to drive it.

They also don't require crank starting anymore. I mean, I get it, but for all the reasons stated, the "standard" transmission is a dinosaur.

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Originally posted by x0225095:
Pretty weak BMW....Pretty weak.

So there is always VW and .... ?

Mazda, Subaru (for now), Honda, Hyundai (surprisingly), Porsche, Chevy, Ford, Jeep

This message has been edited. Last edited by: tigereye313,

quote:

Originally posted by Russ59:

quote:

Originally posted by bcereuss:
Guess I'll be happy with my Civic Type "R" as it ONLY comes with a six-apeed manual!

Thread drift.

Type R? One of the few cars that I’d want to buy. How were you so lucky? Much over MSRP?

MSRP + cost of (minimal) dealer add-ons. Was lucky enough to find one 110 miles away. Actually did most of the deal via text; they asked how I wanted to pay; said I planned on writing a check. Initially wanted $3.5K over MSRP; I said I understand; I’ll keep looking. Two days later agreed to MSRP. Picked it up 6 days later.

It’s the first (true?) sports car I’ve had.