Does Manual Transmission Exist Anymore

You can get every trandmission except Manual transmissions!
They gots Auto, Autostick, SMG, Manumatic, F1. But getting a REAL transmission seems like buying a Bee Gees album.The PT Cruiser for 2005 had a nice price cut. Now you can get the car for a base sticker price of under $14000, with manual transmission! Great! Only one thing. You can only get two options, and YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED to get A/C (Automatic transmission required). Now SOME manufacturers will tell you people don't want manuals any more.

 

Well, they should last several decades longer in Europe than here, so there'll always be the option of importing a transmission from there. Except on expensive cars, anyway. Even exotics are starting to lose them.
My family has manual transmissions because we've always had to buy old, cheap cars, and automatics start shaking, stuttering, and dying at that age. But now I'll never switch; I could fall asleep in an automatic. It's just no fun at all. And sure, a DSG might be faster (I could shave a couple of seconds off my commute!) but I'm speeding everywhere as it is.

 

Other than Mercedes, a lot of the German auto manufacturers still have manual transmissions. Porsche is starting to dwindle down and put their PDK systems in cars. But BMW probably has the most models available with a manual transmission. The thing is, most dealerships in the United States do not put stick shifts on the lot, so they have to be ordered. All of the high-performance vehicles like the M3, M5, and M6 have the option to add a real manual transmission as opposed to their M Drive/SMG transmission.

 

Thanks a lot! It's always nice to get a warm welcome to forum. And it's always good to join a car forum!

 

In 3rd world countries like mine, manual transmission cars are still pretty common, since automatic cars are a lot more expensive than manual cars.

 

Possibly I'm getting this wrong, you're talking about cars that have no manual shifts? That's what manual transmission means? Why don't they?!

 

What are you talking about OP?! Manual cars are quite common in Europe!! Specially in places like the Netherlands, most dribers (if not all) drive manual cars. In my country there are more automatic cars than there are manuals.

 

Of course stick cars still exist, otherwise my brother would have nothing to drive to work anymore. He's one of those self proclaimed "elitist" that thinks that people that can't drive a stick are newbies and don't really know the true meaning of driving.

 

The joy of driving any car with an automatic is tenfold better in a similar car with a stick. Straight up. Yes, automatics are much easier to learn, and autos (and variatnts) have come a long way, but for true driving, the feel of a stick and clutch is necessary, along with the control it gives you.

I've never had a new car (my truck is 21 years old, and our car is 10), but I know when I kept up with Car and Driver, it seemed like manual was available less and less each year. Wouldn't surprise me if they soon become only available in the US by special order or after market mods.

 

Don't mistake, I've got nothing against stick drivers as I also have a stick shift license. I understand the sentiment that driving a stick shift gives the kind of adrenaline and control that autos don't have. I was pointing out that my brother is a stick fanatic. As for me, I prefer to switch between a manual and auto car.

 

I have always been in love with old cars, not necessarily cheap, but really old, so until now I'm realizing that manual transmission is in extinction process!

 

Don't know about that, it's still mainstream in my country, I am not seeing being extinct anytime soon, but who knows, if the technology is realiable and cheaper maybe they replace it.

 

Yes, but when will electric cars arrive here in power? So far the models out there are super expensive, they don't come to the common citizen.

 

It's sad for me too. You don't feel like you're actually driving the car anymore, you just press the pedal and turn. Soo boring!
I honestly hope a manufacturer starts producing a model that's purely manual. Screw efficiency and what not! I want to have fun when I'm driving!

 

I think the problem is that most people think a manual is too hard to use. They don't bother trying to learn because they're too lazy.