Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Manual Transmissions Back On The Rise

5:21 PM  , ,  16 comments

Source: zeocars

If you thought manual transmissions were dead (Well...in the US), think again! Numbers from car pricing website Edmunds report that 6.5% of new vehicle sales had a manual transmission. That statistic was the highest since 2006, although, the statistic also reported that 10% fewer new car models offered them in the last five years.

Why the increase of vehicles with manual transmissions? No one exactly knows, not even the automakers. A change in consumer behavior? Possibly. The increasing demand for manual transmissions surprised automaker Ford, as they reported that their Focus model received double the original prediction, which is now at about 10%.

As the future comes, we won't know if manual transmissions will be able to survive any longer, as the automatic transmissions grow increasingly dominant. One way to help the survival of the manual is to use it, by learning how to drive a vehicle with a manual transmission.

16 comments:

  1. skyMay 1, 2012 at 5:54 PM

    Now that I learned to drive with manual transmission, I prefer cars with manual transmission =P

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  2. BaurMay 1, 2012 at 6:27 PM

    They are old school but I do like the new shift technology that is coming out that allows for cars to shift in like milliseconds

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  3. The HorrorGamesMay 1, 2012 at 6:41 PM

    I first learn to drive manual, no big deal, just practice!

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  4. DWeiMay 1, 2012 at 7:08 PM

    I can sort of drive stick, just not very well.

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  5. Sub Radar (Mike)May 1, 2012 at 9:13 PM

    Driving manual feels like you're truly driving... automatic almost feels like cheating after awhile.

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  6. ShawMay 2, 2012 at 12:45 AM

    ahhh I can't drive stick (or at all for that matter ^_^)

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  7. Random BloggerMay 2, 2012 at 1:53 AM

    If you learn to drive with manual transmission it'r much more easy to switch to automatic

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  8. BartMay 2, 2012 at 3:37 AM

    ive noticed that the plant has been pumping out slightly more manuals lately.

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  9. RMay 2, 2012 at 5:29 AM

    Interesting post, thanks for sharing!

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  10. MichaelMay 2, 2012 at 10:48 AM

    Pretty interesting stuff, I wonder why the sudden change in demand.

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  11. BaurMay 2, 2012 at 12:03 PM

    Well I can see that in an STI but not a honda civic lol

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  12. LuigiMay 2, 2012 at 5:26 PM

    Ugh, fear of driving shift still gets me!

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  13. Tom BadguyMay 3, 2012 at 12:15 AM

    Manual is definitely the way to go.

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  14. SMMay 3, 2012 at 12:47 PM

    manual to automatic is easy
    may be price

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  15. BaurMay 3, 2012 at 4:19 PM

    Manuals are cool but a pain in traffic

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  16. UbiquitousMay 7, 2012 at 9:00 PM

    So I wonder how many 6.5% is exactly, I personally love the manual transmission especially in a truck. I remember felling like automakers were trying to faze out the manual but this is definitely good news for me. Good post man

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