Manual transmission may become extinct

Experts warn that along with rare species in the animal world, the stick shift may go the way of the dodo pretty soon. A story in the Detroit News says that by 2012 only six percent of cars sold in North America will be equipped with stick shift. The story points to increased traffic, multi-taskers on cell phones and even new technology like auto-sticks and gas saving variable valve timing all as reasons fro the decline. The trend is even hitting Europe but on a much slower scale. They're expecting to sell automatics in only15 percent of their cars. There are some interesting anecdotes about those that can and can't drive stick. One even details an automotive journalist who couldn't drive a Dodge Viper because of its stick shift, sad.