Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Location: West Los Angeles and Rancho Palos Verdes
13,583 posts, read 15,649,867 times
Reputation: 14046
Advertisements
I've looked at several articles that list every single 2024 manual available for sale in the U.S., and the list is somewhat depressing in how limited it is. I wanted a simple, small, European sports car, and I can't find anything other than premium cars with stickers at least $75K, and probably with clutches too heavy for everyday city traffic (my current manual is a wicked little lowered Abarth 500 -- they look way cooler lowered -- and that little pocket rocket only has around a ten pound clutch because the car is so tiny). So, perhaps I'll keep driving her, as well as my auto Mercedes, until I can get just a regular BMW 2 series or something else with a sticker under $50K and that doesn't have a clutch too heavy for city driving, if that will be possible in the next few years due to a greater desire for manuals due to younger generation's interest. Hmmm...
It will cost more to buy a car with manual than ever before. With almost all normal cars moved to CVT or auto, the only cars with stick will be high sports cars. Even BMW recently made the announcement that manuals are gonna be gone even for most of their M performance cars also.
Manuals have been on the decline long before that.
That anyone is surprised hasn't been paying attention.
That said, I miss them too. I sometimes have dreams that involve driving a manual in some point during the dream.
I don’t think it’s political per se, but the regulatory climate just isn’t friendly to a great many things which enthusiasts want. It’s expensive to certify a second powertrain, and it’s far easier to pass with some type of automatic where the engineers have the ability to program in the emissions and fuel economy benefits they desire. Meanwhile the marketing teams like to tell you about how some automated manual is faster, glossing over the fact that while I’m getting passed by a PDK Porsche, I’m actually still having more fun.
If you need an excuse to be responsible and not buy a car, you should wait for the manual resurgence.
If you want to buy a car, you should either get the new M2 or buy a used car with a manual.
Find something used (and fun) that you can keep on the road for the 50+ yrs you'll be driving.
Not too hard to do.
Buy a manual now, or forever drive a slush box.
Find something used (and fun) that you can keep on the road for the 50+ yrs you'll be driving.
Not too hard to do.
...
If you decide on a keeper... buy the replacement hoses, and plastic exterior parts while still available. Store as a museum would! (Temp, humidity, dark, sealed....)
Who would want one? Never would want it with my traffic.
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
