Quote:
Originally Posted by ermax
In the past people wanted a manual for these reasons and in this order:
More fun
Faster shifts
Better gas mileage
Today:
More fun
.
|
You left off what is probably the primary reason for MT vs AT selection in the past.... Cost and Availability. I can tell you that every car purchased by my parents and grandparents were purchased with low cost in mind. They would only pay for an AT if it was the only transmission available on the car, or they were buying used and buying the first car in their price range.
Many vehicles did not have available auto transmissions at one point as well.
More Fun and Faster Shifts would have only been for enthusiasts, it would never enter the "general buying public's" thought process.
Fuel economy is valid.