Just heard on TV news that Manual are now just about

[M-technik-3]

Extinct! In 1985 Manuals made up 27% of transmissions sold, and last year it they were down to 7.25%.

Manual that is pathetic. Glad my kids know how how to work a manual shifter.

[Holland]

This is sad news.

[Philipangoo]

Great now young hooligans will be less likely able to steal my car.

[RickSloan]

there are 10 cars in my driveway...

5 of them are manual, 2 of the autos are bmw's and have 5 speeds in the garage that will have manuals put in in the spring

the other manuals are 2 e30's, an e24, a suburu legacy wagon and a honda civic.

the autos are an f150, an old toyota carolla, and a camero...

but all the dailys are sticks!

[RainierHooker]

That sucks, but I wonder how much that percentage would be if they polled the rest of the world and not just the US...

[M-technik-3]

Be surprised to know how many rentals in EU are now autos as well, from just a few years ago when most were manuals.

[yert315]

That sucks, but I wonder how much that percentage would be if they polled the rest of the world and not just the US...

I was thinking the same thing

[dashboardmonkey]

that sucks, but I will keep my 5 speeds

[Rodoni]

did our 5 speed e30s just increase in value? I think they did! Woot! Fuck the autotragics!

[kishg]

did they count automated manuals (dsg, dct, smg etc) as manual or auto?

[pureaudio]

I believe it. New car shopping right now and each kind of car I have looked at the dealership have had either 1 in a manual or none at all.

[McGyver]

did they count automated manuals (dsg, dct, smg etc) as manual or auto?

i would guess autos cuz almost every new car has some sort of goofy shifter.

[RickSloan]

they probably consider anything without a clutch to be auto

[browntown]

Our son in 11, and already starting to say things like "when I'm sixteen, I'd like to get a bmw too"

Then I smack him, and tell him he'll be lucky to have his mom's Honda CR-V and that is IF my 401k maintains its value.

But it did get us thinking that it is fairly unlikely that people in his generation will ever learn to drive a manual unless their parents are enthusiasts. In a way it makes me sad, but it also means he'll be less likely to sneak the e30 out of the garage.

[ak-]

Great now young hooligans will be less likely able to steal my car.