RIP: EV's outsold manual transmission cars in the US last quarter

[Kaido]

That's what some manual fans seem to forget: many of the reasons for using a manual have disappeared.

Faster? Nope. More efficient? Not anymore. More control? Some autos have a pseudo-manual mode that works just fine. More reliable? Well, an EV will definitely be more reliable. The appeal of a manual now boils down to "I prefer the feel of a stick shift."

I would also add:

1. It's more fun to drive stick-shift, if you enjoy driving

2. It's more engaging, especially on long commutes, because you have to pay a bit more attention to driving

I wouldn't say that manuals are necessary more reliable than automatics at this point, despite the added complexity of automatic transmissions...just about any multi-speed or CVT transmission you get these days is going to be pretty dang reliable. The industry has done a fantastic job of getting vehicles into the "reaches 100,000 miles without really breaking too much of anything" zone.

 

[CZroe]

I would also add:

1. It's more fun to drive stick-shift, if you enjoy driving

2. It's more engaging, especially on long commutes, because you have to pay a bit more attention to driving

I wouldn't say that manuals are necessary more reliable than automatics at this point, despite the added complexity of automatic transmissions...just about any multi-speed or CVT transmission you get these days is going to be pretty dang reliable. The industry has done a fantastic job of getting vehicles into the "reaches 100,000 miles without really breaking too much of anything" zone.

Tell that to a Nissan owner.

 

[Kaido]

Tell that to a Nissan owner.

My family has a lot of Nissans (mostly CVT's) & have had good success with them. But it's like anything, there's a percentage with issues. My buddy is on his third Jeep Grand Cherokee transmission already (then again, they're known for problems). My manual clutch blew up a couple thousand miles ago (12-month-old vehicle) & had to be replaced entirely, so they're not bulletproof either, unfortunately!

 

[sze5003]

In the US it's tough to find manual transmission cars. You almost have to go with the barebones Honda or Toyota. Unless you find a BMW or audi that has manual, it may as well be kind of old and not new as not many manufacturers make manuals now.

One of the reasons I went with the Mazda 6 was because I could get the touring version (leather, side mirror sensors, display, and good audio with manual 6 speed ) whereas other cars when you go up in trim levels those trims don't come in manual transmission.

I don't have plans to change this car yet but I remember looking at model 3's. Sat in one and wasn't impressed with the interior. Felt cheap for the price you are paying and the giant tablet in the center was nice but that's all there was going for it. Not to mention if you want leather seats and power driver's seat it added +5k to the price..oh and do you drive more than 200 miles in a week? Well then pay another 5-6k for the long range battery.

When all said and done the model 3 configured how I would need it came out to close to 50-60k minus taxes and all that.

Not to mention if you don't live in a house where you can install a charger, you basically have to plan your days around the car and when it can be charged. In my area there are a few charging stations but every time I drive by, they are always taken.

 

[Midwayman]

I am planning to go to an electric car from my current manual one

I'm really hoping for an EV that can do highway driving at least. Telsa is close. Needs work on the fallback though. I want to be able to sleep, etc.

 

[Commodus]

I would also add:

1. It's more fun to drive stick-shift, if you enjoy driving

2. It's more engaging, especially on long commutes, because you have to pay a bit more attention to driving

I wouldn't say that manuals are necessary more reliable than automatics at this point, despite the added complexity of automatic transmissions...just about any multi-speed or CVT transmission you get these days is going to be pretty dang reliable. The industry has done a fantastic job of getting vehicles into the "reaches 100,000 miles without really breaking too much of anything" zone.

I'm actually not so sure about the enjoyment part. Certainly in urban commuting it can be a bit of a hassle when you're just trying to get to work. But to me, the big deal is that dual-clutch autos and EVs have their own thrills. I've only been in EVs briefly, but that wave of torque is something else.

I will agree that manual is more engaging on long rides, although if you're driving a Tesla, you don't have to be quite so engaged in the first place.

 

[snoopy7548]

What's stopping them from making a manual electric?

 

[Kaido]

What's stopping them from making a manual electric?

People have done conversions, there's just no market for it. You get a faster car with a single-speed transmission, plus the opportunity for self-driving features.

 

[NutBucket]

Right. The point of a transmission is to keep an engine in it's relatively narrow power band. Electric doesn't have that problem.

 

[Zorba]

One reason manuals are going away is safety and automated driver assist technology. Much harder to manage auto emergency braking and adaptive cruise with a manual. AEB is almost if not totally essential for a five star safety rating, which everyone wants now. I know some dont like them, but the one driver assist technology I am completely sold on is adaptive cruise control.

As far as EVs go, if I ever buy another new car, I would very seriously consider a hybrid. Pure EVs, I am not sure are there yet, in terms initial cost, range, and charging infrastructure.

I love the AEB on my Subaru Legacy, but most of the time I turn off ACC. One it beeps at you all the time, but my real issue is it slows you down gradually enough that you don't notice and nothing jumps out at you to let you know it slowed you down. I can be cruising behind a slow ass for a mile before I realize I've slowed way down. I don't understand why it beeps every time it sees or loses a car in front of me, but can't have a light that it is slowing me down. I've had this issue with rental ACCs too.

 

[IronWing]

I just can't think of a reason I'd go out of the way to get a manual again. Manual sucks in urban traffic, neutral in long haul driving where you're parked in high gear most of the time anyway, and sucks off road. They're fun for such a narrow range of driving conditions that so rarely come into play that it seems pointless. Still sucks that people who want them can't get them though. Paddle shifters are okay but I'd rather have a shift lever where one can jump down more than one gear at a time. With modern transmissions having so many gears, one has to shift down quite a few to get the engine braking one desires. I guess that is one place a manual would be mo better.

 

[ondma]

I love the AEB on my Subaru Legacy, but most of the time I turn off ACC. One it beeps at you all the time, but my real issue is it slows you down gradually enough that you don't notice and nothing jumps out at you to let you know it slowed you down. I can be cruising behind a slow ass for a mile before I realize I've slowed way down. I don't understand why it beeps every time it sees or loses a car in front of me, but can't have a light that it is slowing me down. I've had this issue with rental ACCs too.

I feel totally different about Adaptive Cruise. Each to his own I guess. I do wish you could turn off the beeping when another car comes in and out of range, but otherwise, i love it, and to me it is the best feature of the Eyesight package. It just makes freeway driving so much less tiring. As for slowing you down, I dont understand that as a problem. That is the point of adaptive cruise anyway, isnt it? All you have to do is move to a lane clear of traffic, and the ACC will automatically speed you up to match your set speed or the speed of the traffic in that lane.

Edit: AEB is great also. It probably saved me from one accident in the year I have had the car (2019 Impreza.)


Edit 2: There is a setting buried in one of the menus you access using the buttons on the left of the steering column to adjust the volume of the beeps, but you cant turn them off entirely, unfortunately. I tried it once, and could not tell much difference, and it may go back to the default level every time you restart the car,

 

[Zorba]

I feel totally different about Adaptive Cruise. Each to his own I guess. I do wish you could turn off the beeping when another car comes in and out of range, but otherwise, i love it, and to me it is the best feature of the Eyesight package. It just makes freeway driving so much less tiring. As for slowing you down, I dont understand that as a problem. That is the point of adaptive cruise anyway, isnt it? All you have to do is move to a lane clear of traffic, and the ACC will automatically speed you up to match your set speed or the speed of the traffic in that lane.

Edit: AEB is great also. It probably saved me from one accident in the year I have had the car (2019 Impreza.)


Edit 2: There is a setting buried in one of the menus you access using the buttons on the left of the steering column to adjust the volume of the beeps, but you cant turn them off entirely, unfortunately. I tried it once, and could not tell much difference, and it may go back to the default level every time you restart the car,

Of course ACC is supposed to slow you down, but most of the time on the highway I'd just move over instead of slowing down. My problem is ACC operates so smoothly it takes me a while to realize it's slowed me down and I need to get over. I wish it'd turn the speed readout red or something so it was obvious, or only beep if it's slowing you down.

So I go back and forth on using it, sometimes I love it, others not so much.

AEB just gives me a lot of piece of mind.

 

[ondma]

Of course ACC is supposed to slow you down, but most of the time on the highway I'd just move over instead of slowing down. My problem is ACC operates so smoothly it takes me a while to realize it's slowed me down and I need to get over. I wish it'd turn the speed readout red or something so it was obvious, or only beep if it's slowing you down.

So I go back and forth on using it, sometimes I love it, others not so much.

AEB just gives me a lot of piece of mind.

I cant figure out either why the car beeps when a car in front of you goes out of range. It does make more sense for some sort of warning when a slower car comes into range and the ACC slows you down. Overall though, you still have to pay full attention to the traffic. It is just that you dont have to keep your foot on the gas, so you can rest your legs in different positions.

 

[Johnmcl7]

In the US it's tough to find manual transmission cars. You almost have to go with the barebones Honda or Toyota. Unless you find a BMW or audi that has manual, it may as well be kind of old and not new as not many manufacturers make manuals now.

One of the reasons I went with the Mazda 6 was because I could get the touring version (leather, side mirror sensors, display, and good audio with manual 6 speed ) whereas other cars when you go up in trim levels those trims don't come in manual transmission.

It's getting increasingly hard to find manuals here in the UK as well with more and more moving to automatic, it's a Mazda6 2.5 I have now but if I want the new Mazda 6 2.5 it's auto only. Similarly a Skoda Superb with the two litre turbo is also auto only and looking at the second hand Skoda Octavia VRS's it's around 65/35 split in favour of automatics.

Personally I don't want or need an automatic as I rarely drive stop start in traffic and I don't want to pay the price premium nor do I want the increased complexity, some of the bills for VW DSG problems can be eye watering. I usually buy cars at around 3-4 years old and keep them five years so there's no manufacturer warranty, one of the reasons I chose the current Mazda6 was that it was unusual to get a decent sized estate with a simple petrol engine after having issues with my last diesel which are now increasingly complex. I'm not saying an auto is going to fail but given I don't want or need an auto paying more for one that's more complex than a manual doesn't make sense.