Venting about the stick

[Jegan_V]

It seems the US options for manual transmission is even less than over here. I was initially going to suggest Mazda CX-5 only to find out we get it on the base model but the US is strictly automatic. That said, this is not a surprise, the CUV/SUV demographic overwhelmingly buys automatic and the business case for them is probably as bad as the minivans where its extinct.

Currently in North America the only readily available manual transmission cars are all the mainstream sports cars, compact class(including hatchbacks) and subcompact class. They're being squeezed out of most of the other segments or outright gone. Even over in Canada, Subaru was the last automaker here to offer their entire lineup with manual transmission and that is no longer the case with the 2018 Legacy and Outback no longer offering it.

Take rates for manuals in other segments even where they're still numerous is probably low as well. All the inexpensive sports cars are likely the only ones left where the ratio between auto and manual is relatively balanced to ensure the manual's survival. Yet even for compact cars like my sister's 2017 Impreza, other than hers I've yet to see another manual transmission one.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Cole

I understand that plenty of people who buy trucks buy them as a status symbol, but I'm not one of them.

Cool. Just kinda crazy how much the American, utility truck has turned into a luxury item, even losing a manual transmission as well. It is just funny too because I live in Santa Rosa California, which is full of hick trucks that are lifted with pipes going out the top of the cab and huge mud tires, and when I see them I always think of videos like these:

[Cole]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Cool. Just kinda crazy how much the American, utility truck has turned into a luxury item, even losing a manual transmission as well. It is just funny too because I live in Santa Rosa California, which is full of hick trucks that are lifted with pipes going out the top of the cab and huge mud tires, and when I see them I always think of videos like these:

Again, cool story I guess?

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Cole

Again, cool story I guess?

Yea I thought it was.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Jegan_V

It seems the US options for manual transmission is even less than over here. I was initially going to suggest Mazda CX-5 only to find out we get it on the base model but the US is strictly automatic. That said, this is not a surprise, the CUV/SUV demographic overwhelmingly buys automatic and the business case for them is probably as bad as the minivans where its extinct.

Currently in North America the only readily available manual transmission cars are all the mainstream sports cars, compact class(including hatchbacks) and subcompact class. They're being squeezed out of most of the other segments or outright gone. Even over in Canada, Subaru was the last automaker here to offer their entire lineup with manual transmission and that is no longer the case with the 2018 Legacy and Outback no longer offering it.

Take rates for manuals in other segments even where they're still numerous is probably low as well. All the inexpensive sports cars are likely the only ones left where the ratio between auto and manual is relatively balanced to ensure the manual's survival. Yet even for compact cars like my sister's 2017 Impreza, other than hers I've yet to see another manual transmission one.

You can get a base model CX-5 with a manual. I haven't personally SEEN one, but it is supposed to be available.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

You can get a base model CX-5 with a manual. I haven't personally SEEN one, but it is supposed to be available.

My original gripe included a SUV with a stick and awd. While the list for SUVs that come with a manual is small, the list is even smaller of those that also come with awd, and even smaller still of vehicles that come with a stick, awd and can come in the highest trim.

For SUVs, the list of manual, AWD/4wd seems to be the Subaru Forester, the Subaru Crosstrek and Jeep Latitude. If we expand the list to trucks then there are several more available models. If we expand the list to cars then there are even more models (because of sports cars), probably more models than the trucks and SUVs combined.

Manufactures have figured that people who buy manuals are saving money on the extra cost of an automatic transmission, so they probably aren't interested in the extra cost of AWD either. At least this is one reason why manuals dominate in Europe--not having to pay a premium for an auto.

[Summerwolf]

I understand your original post... i also included more options as well. I was simply commenting back to the other poster.

[Jegan_V]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

You can get a base model CX-5 with a manual. I haven't personally SEEN one, but it is supposed to be available.

Only reason I say that is I don't see it here.

https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/cx-5/specs

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Jegan_V

Only reason I say that is I don't see it here.

https://www.mazdausa.com/vehicles/cx-5/specs

I think Summerwolf was correct about last year’s model or the year before.

https://jalopnik.com/mazda-will-no-l...not-1793140532

[Impureclient]

Originally Posted by Irace86.2.0

Like I said, I am a fan of the connection, the ease of service and decreased problems and simplicity that comes with a manual transmission.

That's a joke right? The Issues/Warranty/Recalls/TSB section is always full with people having issues with their manual transmissions. It's pretty much the reason I believe I made the better choice because I hate dealing with repairs on a new car after reading so many people complaining of their manual trans. issues. You can literally check right now and almost half the first page is manual transmission related problems. I mean I get the whole "better in sync with the car" thing but decreased problems is not a reason to get a manual. Burning clutches, synchro issues, weird noises, gears grinding, etc...no thanks.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

That's a joke right? The Issues/Warranty/Recalls/TSB section is always full with people having issues with their manual transmissions. It's pretty much the reason I believe I made the better choice because I hate dealing with repairs on a new car after reading so many people complaining of their manual trans. issues. You can literally check right now and almost half the first page is manual transmission related problems. I mean I get the whole "better in sync with the car" thing but decreased problems is not a reason to get a manual. Burning clutches, synchro issues, weird noises, gears grinding, etc...no thanks.

No joke. Autos have more moving parts so they suffer from more issues. Autos require regular fluid services. Autos are electronically controlled so they can have electrical related problems. They go into limp mode with the smallest problem. They have gear engagement issues. They can have shifting or gear selection problems. They seem to often be less robust to power.

Majority of manual transmission problems are user error issues or aftermarket installation woes. Considering 3% of cars sold in America are manual, I’m not surprised people have problems knowing how to drive them.

[Summerwolf]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

That's a joke right? The Issues/Warranty/Recalls/TSB section is always full with people having issues with their manual transmissions. It's pretty much the reason I believe I made the better choice because I hate dealing with repairs on a new car after reading so many people complaining of their manual trans. issues. You can literally check right now and almost half the first page is manual transmission related problems. I mean I get the whole "better in sync with the car" thing but decreased problems is not a reason to get a manual. Burning clutches, synchro issues, weird noises, gears grinding, etc...no thanks.

Thats because people are trying to "drive the car the way it should be" since obviously 99% of this forum is told they don't know how and just need to drive over 4500 rpm all the time to avoid the torque dip.

This transmission isn't the strongest by any means, but its definitely robust enough for a lot of users.

[Irace86.2.0]

Originally Posted by Summerwolf

Thats because people are trying to "drive the car the way it should be" since obviously 99% of this forum is told they don't know how and just need to drive over 4500 rpm all the time to avoid the torque dip.

This transmission isn't the strongest by any means, but its definitely robust enough for a lot of users.

Exactly. I’m not surprised that a budget sports car has user error problems with the transmission. For many this is their first manual and first car, and they don’t know what to do or expect. They miss shift and grind gears. They may ride the clutch and burn it out. They buy aftermarket lightweight flywheels and 4 puck clutches then complain how their racing clutch setup sucks in traffic and chatters.

Outside of changing the clutch when it goes at 120k miles (+ or -), the manual should be problem free. I have yet to have a problem on any of my manuals, nor has anyone in my family. I can’t say the same for autos.

[ermax]

Originally Posted by Impureclient

That's a joke right?

Not a joke at all. Manuals are very simplistic. Clutches wear out but at 100k+. This car does have a crap throw out bearing (which has been revised in 2017). But these are very simple fixes. I read one thread where some guy said his would grind but that was because he would push it lightly towards a gear and then back off and then push it back in. This isn’t how your supposed to drive. Doing crap like that defeats the syncros and will obviously grind into the gear.

Have you ever looked at the service manual for a manual vs an auto? The manual will be about 5mm thick and the auto will be 5cm thick.

If you don’t flat shift every day and don’t ride the clutch then a manual will be rock solid. If you learn how to double clutch you can increase the life even more.