Filed under: Etc.
Automatics to exceed manuals worldwide in 2007
Here in North America, you have to look really hard for a manual transmission in anything other than a sports car or econobox. We love our automatic trannys here, mostly because they're easy to operate and they tend to work better in traffic than a manual. Heck, an awful lot of people under age 40 don't even know how to drive a stick. In 2007, worldwide automatics will finally out-number manual transmissions. It has been that way here in North America and Japan for a very long time, but now in countries like China and India more and more drivers can afford an auto trans. Traffic is also more congested in those countries too, with more cars on the road.
In Europe, manual-shift automatics are aiding the transition away from manuals. They're sure to become more popular here in the US as well, which will cut down the amount of sticks in sports cars. The proliferation of CVTs, which get lower HP vehicles off the line a bit quicker than the standard automatic are helping the transition also. The writing was on the wall the minute you could get exotic European sports cars with paddle shifters.
[Source: Just Auto]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Nick 8:04AM (2/12/2007)
Mein leiben! Der fershtunkener Amerikaners are too lazy to shift and drink their Starbucks at the same time. Achtung!
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Wilhem 8:27AM (2/12/2007)
Fahrfegneugen! Liederhosen! Der Nicken (#1) is der sausagefesten weinerschnietzel. Taken der long walkenheimer off der shorten bridge. Schnell!
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akintz 8:29AM (2/12/2007)
I think it's a sad trend... though I can understand it in major cities and with a lot of traffic. But when I bought my car almost 2 yrs ago, a manual transmission was the first thing on my list. I wouldn't even look at any auto or auto-stick-type of vehicles.
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lazy bum 8:44AM (2/12/2007)
I'm a Swede and I drive a manual by choice, not because I'm cheap.
Also, I agree with comment #1! ;)
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White Goodman 8:52AM (2/12/2007)
I think the more important question is: Who cares?
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Stphane Dumas 9:21AM (2/12/2007)
with the increasing popularity of automatic transmissions, could we see the return of the push-button transmission who was offered at Chrysler from 1956 to 1964? ;-)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sD4Zpq7L6sY
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Michael Karesh 9:30AM (2/12/2007)
Is VW's DSG considered a manual or an automatic?
Moving off-topic, notice the location of the window and mirror switches in the new Pontiac G8. I sat in the car, and they're actually easy to reach there:
http://www.truedelta.com/blog/?p=36
But I still suspect people will complain about the location.
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Mike 9:35AM (2/12/2007)
People buy what they want. It's got nothing to do with whether or not YOU think a manual or automatic transmission is better.
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Phelix 9:44AM (2/12/2007)
I care. Manual transmissions are half the fun of driving to me. If people aren't buying them, they'll fade away. Of course, people don't really drive for fun anymore either. The more people see their cars as appliances, the more autos we'll see. Bummer.
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S K 9:47AM (2/12/2007)
It is really ironic that in America where traffic density is among lowest in the world people prefer automatic transmissions over manual. It is a lot of fun to drive a manual trans in light traffic and on american highways you hardly need to change gears.
Automatics are inherently more suited to Asian countries because of very high traffic density and mostly stop and go traffic situations. Moreover traffic is of heterogenous nature unlike the US where you find only cars/pickups on the roads.
Unfortunately automatics cost more to own and give lower fuel economy (which is critical in Asia due to high fuel prices/lower incomes). To get the same accelration out of a automatic you need a bigger engine which further lowers fuel economy. However VWs DSG seems to be a perfect fit for Asian countries or any place on the earth with high traffic. The DSG is supposed to give better fuel economy and acceleration as compared to a manual !
And you can go from fully automatic to changing gears with your fingertips. I believe that it will be seen in many more cars in the future.
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judd 10:00AM (2/12/2007)
I own both manual and DSG and I will have no regret if it all goes to a DSG type transmission. With cars going to even more gears, you bet it's going to have to go that way. Good luck finding the right gear on an 8 speed manual transmission!
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Tim UF 10:11AM (2/12/2007)
S K :
go spend some time in the rush hour gridlock in miami, LA, Atlanta, Houston, or any of the other metroplis's here in the states. We might not have traffic density through out the country (Montana, Wyoming, Dakotas) but there are places where i would get weary of driving a manual... like stop-n-go on I-5 in LA... or stop n go on the florida turnpike and I-95 leaving miami at about 4pm on a weekday.
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DC 10:31AM (2/12/2007)
I'm sure Automated Manuals like the ZeroShift will quickly grab a huge chunk of the market, for good reason.
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Pelotudo 10:51AM (2/12/2007)
IN response to Nick (comment 1) I am an American who has the rare talent to a) drive my A4 5-speed and b) drink my Starbucks (short Drip) and deal with ridiculous morning traffic here in NYC. Every single car that I have ever owned has been manual transmission and will continue to be so. It stinks that the new G35 is NOT a manual AWD - you need AWD in NYC in winter!.
Tschüss,
Martin
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chuck goolsbee 11:05AM (2/12/2007)
You can have my stickshift, when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!
Yes, I live in a rural area, but I also commute *through* (in just "into") Seattle and Everett WA, every day. This metro area is consistently ranked in the top-5 worst for traffic congestion in North America.
http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0855647.html
All these people saying autos are "required" for traffic are just lazy.
--chuck
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godda9u 11:06AM (2/12/2007)
#15, so you were that guy that sits on the left lane going 55mph in the morning while i pass by on the HOV lane. good thing i car pool
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S K 11:07AM (2/12/2007)
# 12 , i have diven a stick in NYC, Houston, Philly and DC. The traffic is nothing compared to driving in any Asian city.
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Howard Kerr 11:35AM (2/12/2007)
The car is a little over 100 years old. It took nearly 50 years of that time before automatic transmissions, as we know them today, to become even an option on cars. (It was still possible in the mid '50s to get a Cadillac with a manual transmission.) Now we know they may soon disappear, thanks to CVTs and DSG-type transmissions.
As someone who learned too drive on a car with a "three-on-the-tree" I mourn the loss of CHOICE we have given up. BTW, having driven/owned a nearly equal number of cars with manual or automatic transmissions, I prefer the manual for it's responsiveness (the same car with an auto feels like it's carrying a few hundred extra pounds) but have to concede the automatic has it's virtues.
To the poster who says manuals get better gas mileage...you better go look at some of the numbers. Those cars that still allow the choice are getting economy numbers with their automatics that are almost identical to their manual numbers.
To the poster that looked for a manual pickup truck, you can find them with domestic V8s but they have to be special ordered (I know both Ford and Chevy offered them in '06) and you wind up getting the CHEAPEST specification. In other words, it's a true "work truck".
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MikeW 11:41AM (2/12/2007)
ZeroShift is DOA for the general automotive market, their solution to the large positive/negative torque impulse-open the clutch, that defeats the purpose of the overrunning system.
Fine for the motorcycle market, especially with the 'back torque limiting clutch' and chain/belt drive, and cush sprockets.
Double Clutch Transmissions, like VW's DSG, can be (and are) programmed to transition gears, no more 'shifts' in the traditional sense. With different programming (sport mode, or Manumatic mode) it can shift like a traditional manual (clutch out, clutch in)
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G.D.G 11:53AM (2/12/2007)
I have been shopping over the last several weeks for a left over new 2006 or late model used 1/2 ton pickup and I was very surprised how few manual transmissions are available. Most if they have them are only on the smallest V6 engine. Dodge is the only one that has a manual for a V8, which is what I ended up purchasing. The new 2007 Chevy and Toyota 1/2 pickups do not even offer it as an option. To quote Dr. Seuss "What a shame, what a shame, What--A--Shame!".
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