The manual transmission penalty

All the news that's fit to shift.
User avatar
Standardshifter
Site Admin
Posts: 869
Joined: Tue Jan 07, 2003 11:23 am
Cars: 2005 Legacy GT, Buell
Location: Boston, MA
Contact:

The manual transmission penalty

Post by Standardshifter »

Manuals are having a bit of a resurgence, especially in cars that are in the fun-to-drive category. Looking at you BRZ/FRS...

However, there are plenty of drivers that want manuals in other types of cars, and in particular, subcompacts. Once regulated to a short option list, the US subcompact class is starting to punch above its weight in terms of features. Not surprising for any Europeans that read this forum, but it is a relatively new trend here in the US. However, all is not perfect. The standardshifters out there are usually limited in their options. No heated and cooled seats for you! The following blog post is from Subcompact Culture-The small car blog:

"Those of us who want a car with a manual transmission are often penalized by not being able to get other options we want. As if those of us who want to row our own gears don't want some of the other niceties found on different trim levels that are only available with an automatic."

"But for us—a household that only buys manual transmissions—we're often relegated to specific options, trim levels, and packages because we want to row our own gears. I suppose it's part of the plight that is being a die-hard stick shifter. "

http://www.subcompactculture.com/2013/0 ... ar+blog%29
-Standardshifter
Shifting the Standard of Automotive Websites
User avatar
Shadow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3384
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:51 am
Location: New York

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by Shadow »

I agree that can be an issue for stick-shift subcompact buyers. It's too bad they don't offer all the bells & whistles on their manual trans models, although that seems like it might defeat the purpose of buying a low-cost small car. Gotta step up to a more expensive car if you really want a stick and all the great options.
Image
Rope-Pusher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 11607
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
Location: Greater Detroit Area

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by Rope-Pusher »

Your Peons still get der bells mit der vistles when they buy Amish.
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
User avatar
AHTOXA
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 14693
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
Location: Irving, TX

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by AHTOXA »

Shadow wrote:I agree that can be an issue for stick-shift subcompact buyers. It's too bad they don't offer all the bells & whistles on their manual trans models, although that seems like it might defeat the purpose of buying a low-cost small car. Gotta step up to a more expensive car if you really want a stick and all the great options.
The Sonic can be had with a manual in the highest trims including LTZ and RS. MyTouch, nav, heated seats, etc. There are no option limitations for manual Sonics. The Soul that I had, however, was different. You could not get the top trim level in a manual - entry and mid-level only.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
Rope-Pusher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 11607
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
Location: Greater Detroit Area

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by Rope-Pusher »

Wooden bee an Amish Buggy F N it weren't plain, right?
Image
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
User avatar
Shadow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3384
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:51 am
Location: New York

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by Shadow »

AHTOXA wrote:
Shadow wrote:I agree that can be an issue for stick-shift subcompact buyers. It's too bad they don't offer all the bells & whistles on their manual trans models, although that seems like it might defeat the purpose of buying a low-cost small car. Gotta step up to a more expensive car if you really want a stick and all the great options.
The Sonic can be had with a manual in the highest trims including LTZ and RS. MyTouch, nav, heated seats, etc. There are no option limitations for manual Sonics. The Soul that I had, however, was different. You could not get the top trim level in a manual - entry and mid-level only.
Now if only all automakers would do the same....then there would be no reason for subcompact buyers to complain. Unfortunately, the vast majority of subcompact cars don't offer all the bells & whistles when equipped with a manual transmission. I think that was the point of the blog in the first place. I'll also take it a step further---more and more stick shift cars are only offered with the "weak" engine. That isn't always the case though. If I remember correctly, the Honda Accord Coupe can be had with the V6 and a stick, although if you want the sedan, I believe you're forced to buy the 4-banger if you want to row your own gears.
Image
User avatar
AHTOXA
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 14693
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
Location: Irving, TX

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by AHTOXA »

Yes, I agree. Most automakes still outfit their subcompacts with manual trans as "poverty spec" but there are changes that the market is seeing.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
User avatar
six
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 4674
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:45 pm
Cars: 2015 Chevrolet SS 6MT
Location: California, U.S.

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by six »

Haha, "Poverty Spec" :lol:

Classic!

The situation is reversed when it comes to the car I have, the Acura CL. Although it's 10 years old, the manual can only be had with the highest trim, the Type-S.
Image
2015 Heron White Chevrolet SS Sedan 6MT
User avatar
Shadow
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 3384
Joined: Fri Jan 21, 2011 8:51 am
Location: New York

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by Shadow »

six wrote:Haha, "Poverty Spec" :lol:

Classic!

The situation is reversed when it comes to the car I have, the Acura CL. Although it's 10 years old, the manual can only be had with the highest trim, the Type-S.
That may be true, but there is no such thing as a poorly-equipped CL. If I remember correctly, the only option on those cars was navigation, right? I'm pretty sure that everything else was standard on those cars.
Image
DKaz
Senior Standardshifter
Posts: 522
Joined: Sun Feb 08, 2009 1:25 pm
Cars: Mazda3, Matrix, R3
Location: Coquitlam, BC

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by DKaz »

You can get a fully loaded Rio5 SX and Accent GLS hatch at least in Canada (that I know of) with stick. Push button start, auto climate control, and all that.
09 Mazda 5 GS 6MT - His
12 Mazda 3 GS-L Skyactiv 6MT - Hers

ImageImage
User avatar
six
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 4674
Joined: Thu Mar 16, 2006 4:45 pm
Cars: 2015 Chevrolet SS 6MT
Location: California, U.S.

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by six »

Shadow wrote:
six wrote:Haha, "Poverty Spec" :lol:

Classic!

The situation is reversed when it comes to the car I have, the Acura CL. Although it's 10 years old, the manual can only be had with the highest trim, the Type-S.
That may be true, but there is no such thing as a poorly-equipped CL. If I remember correctly, the only option on those cars was navigation, right? I'm pretty sure that everything else was standard on those cars.
Yeah, nav was the only option with the 2003 model year CL. What I was talking about, which is pretty unrelated to the topic at hand, was that the manual was only available on the Type-S, and not on the "weaker" base CL. If you wanted a manual on the weaker engine, and can't afford a Type-S, you were out of luck. A complete flip-side to the topic at hand, though.
Image
2015 Heron White Chevrolet SS Sedan 6MT
User avatar
AHTOXA
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 14693
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
Location: Irving, TX

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by AHTOXA »

DKaz wrote:You can get a fully loaded Rio5 SX and Accent GLS hatch at least in Canada (that I know of) with stick. Push button start, auto climate control, and all that.
Interesting. For 2012 year, the push button start was not available on manual transes for Kia - only on the autos.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
User avatar
potownrob
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 7833
Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 11:35 pm
Cars: '17 CX-5 GT
Location: Dutchess County

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by potownrob »

AHTOXA wrote:
DKaz wrote:You can get a fully loaded Rio5 SX and Accent GLS hatch at least in Canada (that I know of) with stick. Push button start, auto climate control, and all that.
Interesting. For 2012 year, the push button start was not available on manual transes for Kia - only on the autos.
things are different in canada
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
User avatar
AHTOXA
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 14693
Joined: Sun Dec 23, 2007 6:31 pm
Cars: '19 4RUNNER TRD ORP
Location: Irving, TX

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by AHTOXA »

It is possible.
'19 Toyota 4Runner TRD ORP
'12 Suzuki V-Strom 650
Rope-Pusher
Master Standardshifter
Posts: 11607
Joined: Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:44 pm
Cars: '08 Jeep Liberty
Location: Greater Detroit Area

Re: The manual transmission penalty

Post by Rope-Pusher »

Remote start and/or push-button start are just begging for some way of knowing that the car is not in gear and most Amish,
Image
being rather tight-lipped, are not inclined to let it be pubic knowledge. Slushboxes, in contrast, would just as soon shout it to the rooftops
Image
"I'm in Park and I'm not letting this vehicle move until I'm good-n-reddy!"
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
Post Reply