Guygeo
Well-known member
Sad but true...
http://jalopnik.com/the-manual-transmission-is-dying-and-its-all-our-fault-1789087773
1st Gear: Manual Transmissions Are Going Quickly. Dammit.
Dammit dammit dammit. The manual transmission—the joy of car enthusiasts around the world, is dying. We knew this, of course, but now we were reminded again by The LA Times, who says less than three percent of cars in the U.S. come with a stick and a clutch.
It’s apparently all our fault, because we, Americans just not buying any of them. And in terms of vehicles offered with manuals, The LA Times shows the numbers are equally as bleak, saying:
In 2006, 47% of new models offered in the U.S. were available with both automatic and manual transmissions, according to a study by Edmunds.com. By 2011, that number had dropped to 37%. This year, the number has fallen to 27%.
The site rounded up brands that don’t offer a single manual, and that includes Mercedes, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Volvo, Lexus, Chrysler and Buick.
They talked with KBB’s senior analyst Karl Brauer who said:
It’s a disgrace...Yes, it’s more troublesome and expensive for the automakers. But it’s completely inexcusable that Ferrari doesn’t even offer a manual.
Damn right it’s a disgrace! Especially when you look at other countries around the world. The LA Times did just that, saying:
Edmunds senior analyst Ivan Drury said fewer than 3% of current U.S. car sales are manual vehicles — compared with 80% in some European and Asian countries, and down in the U.S. from 7% in 2012 and 25% in 1992.
And, in the most depressing thing you’ll read all day, the article ended with this line:
“That number is never going to go back up,” Drury said. “The trajectory is down, headed for zero.”
I’m crying.
http://jalopnik.com/the-manual-transmission-is-dying-and-its-all-our-fault-1789087773
1st Gear: Manual Transmissions Are Going Quickly. Dammit.
Dammit dammit dammit. The manual transmission—the joy of car enthusiasts around the world, is dying. We knew this, of course, but now we were reminded again by The LA Times, who says less than three percent of cars in the U.S. come with a stick and a clutch.
It’s apparently all our fault, because we, Americans just not buying any of them. And in terms of vehicles offered with manuals, The LA Times shows the numbers are equally as bleak, saying:
In 2006, 47% of new models offered in the U.S. were available with both automatic and manual transmissions, according to a study by Edmunds.com. By 2011, that number had dropped to 37%. This year, the number has fallen to 27%.
The site rounded up brands that don’t offer a single manual, and that includes Mercedes, Ferrari, Lamborghini, Alfa Romeo, Volvo, Lexus, Chrysler and Buick.
They talked with KBB’s senior analyst Karl Brauer who said:
It’s a disgrace...Yes, it’s more troublesome and expensive for the automakers. But it’s completely inexcusable that Ferrari doesn’t even offer a manual.
Damn right it’s a disgrace! Especially when you look at other countries around the world. The LA Times did just that, saying:
Edmunds senior analyst Ivan Drury said fewer than 3% of current U.S. car sales are manual vehicles — compared with 80% in some European and Asian countries, and down in the U.S. from 7% in 2012 and 25% in 1992.
And, in the most depressing thing you’ll read all day, the article ended with this line:
“That number is never going to go back up,” Drury said. “The trajectory is down, headed for zero.”
I’m crying.
