The manual transmission penalty
- Standardshifter
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The manual transmission penalty
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
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
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
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.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
Your Peons still get der bells mit der vistles when they buy Amish.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
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.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.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
Wooden bee an Amish Buggy F N it weren't plain, right?
'08 Jeep Liberty 6-Speed MT - "Last of the Mohicans"
Re: The manual transmission penalty
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.AHTOXA wrote: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.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.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
Yes, I agree. Most automakes still outfit their subcompacts with manual trans as "poverty spec" but there are changes that the market is seeing.
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- six
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
Haha, "Poverty Spec"
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.
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.
Re: The manual transmission penalty
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.six wrote:Haha, "Poverty Spec"
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.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
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.
- six
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
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.Shadow wrote: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.six wrote:Haha, "Poverty Spec"
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.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
Interesting. For 2012 year, the push button start was not available on manual transes for Kia - only on the autos.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.
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- potownrob
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
things are different in canadaAHTOXA wrote:Interesting. For 2012 year, the push button start was not available on manual transes for Kia - only on the autos.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.
ClutchFork wrote:...So I started carrying a stick of firewood with me and that became my parking brake.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
It is possible.
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Re: The manual transmission penalty
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,
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
"I'm in Park and I'm not letting this vehicle move until I'm good-n-reddy!"
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
"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"