Could auto-loving America be the market that saves the manual?
That the humble three-pedal manual gearbox is on the automotive endangered species list is not in doubt. The increasing availability of alternative transmissions - particularly DSG-style dual-clutch gearboxes - in cars in all market segments is making sure of that. But a revival of the manual-shift transmission could be on the cards, and from an unlikely source, as sales in the US of manual cars have nearly doubled this year.
Rise of the machines? PDK faces fightback
In 2011, just 3.9 per cent of passenger vehicles sold in the US were equipped with a manual transmission, and yet so far in 2012 almost seven per cent of cars sold have been good ol' stick shifts according to US automotive experts Edmunds.
Conventional wisdom has it that three-pedal manual box is in severe decline, particularly at the performance end of the market. We've seen BMW moving in this direction even with the previous-gen E60 M5, and it's likely that even the bastion of hardcore driving pleasure that is the Porsche 911 GT3 could become a PDK-only affair in the future.
But while European enthusiasts appear to be relatively meekly accepting this change, it looks like it isn't washing in the US of A. In fact, if this year's sales trend continues it'll be the biggest year for manual gearbox cars as a proportion of vehicles sold since 2006, albeit quite a way of the 25 per cent market share manual cars held 20 years ago.
Still, it could be that the US has a particularly strong appetite for manual cars, especially fast ones. It is after all the only market that got a manual E60 M5, a trick that looks like being repeated by the latest F10 version of BMW's super-saloon.
Are the English really that stupid to think that Americans don't buy manuals? Go on any American car related website, open your eyes!
It's not that the English are that stupid.
It's that the facts above show less than 4% of cars sold in the USA last year were manuals.
Yet that's still probably well into the millions, & that only reflects new cars, not used car purchases. Believe me, the Americans love manuals as much as we do.
Yet that's still probably well into the millions, & that only reflects new cars, not used car purchases. Believe me, the Americans love manuals as much as we do.
That's true, but it's impossible for there to be more manual cars out there, than were sold new in the year they were made. Americans have always favoured auto boxes over manuals.
I'm not insinuating that no-one over that side of the pond drives manual cars, but you've wandered into a thread showing that very few cars bought are manual, and argued with that fact?
Yet that's still probably well into the millions, & that only reflects new cars, not used car purchases. Believe me, the Americans love manuals as much as we do.
That's true, but it's impossible for there to be more manual cars out there, than were sold new in the year they were made. Americans have always favoured auto boxes over manuals.
I'm not insinuating that no-one over that side of the pond drives manual cars, but you've wandered into a thread showing that very few cars bought are manual, and argued with that fact?
Personally, I couldn't care less.
I'm not sure you could call 3.9% of car sales in the U.S. as "very few cars" & that figure has already more than doubled for this year.
Probably shows like 'Top Gear USA' doing their bit to convince them that 'sticks' are cool, rather than actual choice!
Exactly what I was thinking. I watched one the other day and they were testing modern incarnations of old muscle cars. One of them was having a go at his car as it wasn't a 'stick shift'. I've not heard many Americans class a manual as an advantage on a car.
Exactly what I was thinking. I watched one the other day and they were testing modern incarnations of old muscle cars. One of them was having a go at his car as it wasn't a 'stick shift'. I've not heard many Americans class a manual as an advantage on a car.
I, American, am in a bind. We (my wife and I) need to replace our Legacy wagon with something else sufficiently roomy to carry our two small children, as well as transport occasional livestock on our small farm. I've been trying to convince the wife of the appeal of old E-class wagons and Volvo 940s, but she'll not be seen dead in a codgermatic.
As we're not in a position to buy the 6-speed Cadillac wagon, we have few choices: Another Subaru (likely not, as this one has been awful); used Mazda5s and Honda Elements.
Exactly what I was thinking. I watched one the other day and they were testing modern incarnations of old muscle cars. One of them was having a go at his car as it wasn't a 'stick shift'. I've not heard many Americans class a manual as an advantage on a car.
It was Tanner Foust though who was complaining, I'd be surprised if the drifter/race driver didn't want a manual.
they're also envious of all the hot hatchbacks we get.
