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End of the manual transmission?

foxnews.com -- Go to any given dealership with 100 new cars.

On average, just four of the 2012 models will have manual gearboxes.

The trend of the vanishing third pedal is nothing new, notes The Detroit News.

Even a decade ago, just 8.5 percent of 2002 models were manuals. The paper’s own automotive reporter even confesses she never learned to drive a stick shift until it essentially became a job requirement.

It’s more than a little contradictory to automotive reviews (including many you’ll read here) extolling the pleasure of enthusiastic driving with a true manual gearbox. Likewise, purists gravitate to manuals for tackling their favorite twisting road or occasional track day. It’s the original form of in-car connectivity.

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Submitted May 02, 2012 By: Timberline

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DanMtz Champion Author Oakland Posts:3,335 Points:1,239,425 Joined:Oct 2009	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 8:10:11 PM Ignore DanMtz Report Abuse It's true. Ask ten people under 30 if they can drive a stick shift. I'll set the over/under at 2.5.
me2002 All-Star Author Toledo Posts:763 Points:319,205 Joined:Dec 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 7:14:45 PM Ignore me2002 Report Abuse obvious
DesertRat2011 Champion Author Riverside Posts:3,594 Points:480,945 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 10:47:24 AM Ignore DesertRat2011 Report Abuse I bought my used 2002 VW TDI Jetta with a stick because of the better mpg's. Also they last longer and are cheaper to repair than an automatic.
bicycle1966 All-Star Author Akron Posts:605 Points:400,240 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 7:15:28 AM Ignore bicycle1966 Report Abuse I like manuals. I'm sure people with manuals still text, though.
Vette1967 Champion Author Albany Posts:5,947 Points:1,272,000 Joined:Jun 2009	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 12:57:27 AM Ignore Vette1967 Report Abuse If all cars had a stick shift, maybe texting while driving would be discouraged.
el_fr Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,317 Points:740,700 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 12:50:43 AM Ignore el_fr Report Abuse Sticks are the way to go
mpg611 Champion Author Cleveland Posts:2,306 Points:564,870 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 3, 2012 12:13:48 AM Ignore mpg611 Report Abuse Manual transmission wont be going away anytime soon. Matter of fact Id love to see more vehicles with manual transmission.
lesndave Champion Author Texas Posts:3,017 Points:697,155 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 11:26:55 PM Ignore lesndave Report Abuse Sticks shifts coming back, and now this.....?..,,,
kenji554 Champion Author Charlotte Posts:1,216 Points:510,125 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 11:18:58 PM Ignore kenji554 Report Abuse 5, 6, 7 speed manual transmissions in new cars now.
alterman156 Champion Author New York Posts:7,465 Points:1,552,775 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 11:13:01 PM Ignore alterman156 Report Abuse They're should be more cars with manual transmissions.
esq262 Champion Author Asheville Posts:2,877 Points:643,515 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 9:12:48 PM Ignore esq262 Report Abuse You don't see them now except on sports cars.
blupupher Champion Author Houston Posts:3,523 Points:743,820 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 8:49:20 PM Ignore blupupher Report Abuse one article says more common, one says less common.
TomT2Lee Champion Author Cincinnati Posts:5,342 Points:1,593,455 Joined:Sep 2005	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 8:47:06 PM Ignore TomT2Lee Report Abuse I hope not.
cyclonePC Rookie Author Pennsylvania Posts:19 Points:7,075 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 8:24:13 PM Ignore cyclonePC Report Abuse nooo. don't take em away.
PCWHIZ All-Star Author Denver Posts:573 Points:436,800 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 7:22:20 PM Ignore PCWHIZ Report Abuse I don't think manual transmissions will ever go away.
gasokie Champion Author Oklahoma Posts:3,442 Points:1,323,805 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 6:57:43 PM Ignore gasokie Report Abuse So far, my nostalgia for the stick shift is overwhelmed by my laziness and desire for easy driving and long lasting automatics.
BuckyTJones Champion Author Salt Lake City Posts:4,932 Points:967,950 Joined:Mar 2010	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 6:53:52 PM Ignore BuckyTJones Report Abuse Wow, didn't I just read that stick shifts on coming back in popularity? Starting to feel bi-polar.
Alaydown Champion Author Los Angeles Posts:5,093 Points:819,320 Joined:May 2007	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 6:47:52 PM Ignore Alaydown Report Abuse Stick shifts are not worth it anymore. Automatics are very smooth and perform much better than manuals. It is funny how your two articles are opposites -- which is the real story? My personal opinion is that stick shifts are ancient technology and headed for the museums. They are painful to drive in stop and go traffic.
jimgraham Champion Author Akron Posts:10,348 Points:1,975,130 Joined:Oct 2007	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 6:44:25 PM Ignore jimgraham Report Abuse 3 of our daily drivers are 5 speed manuals. I really prefer them to the automatics. However - the new 6 speed dual disk transmissions are great - -and the new Auto-Stick automatics are really really great! If I were to buy a new car (ain't gonna happen) that new 6 or 8 speed auto is what I would buy. As long as it had a very long warranty..
07skydriver Champion Author Ohio Posts:3,238 Points:979,065 Joined:Feb 2009	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 6:41:03 PM Ignore 07skydriver Report Abuse If you really have to drive a stick they will always be available on sport models or special order.
uatide13 Rookie Author Alabama Posts:23 Points:13,490 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:59:13 PM Ignore uatide13 Report Abuse Never had one don't know if I'll miss it
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,492 Points:600,445 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:49:48 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse Then it may become a new status symbol.
Buckeyee Champion Author Maine Posts:4,581 Points:895,005 Joined:May 2010	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:47:48 PM Ignore Buckeyee Report Abuse I won't be sorry to see them go.
Jeff1944 Champion Author South Dakota Posts:4,212 Points:1,069,730 Joined:Jan 2010	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:47:39 PM Ignore Jeff1944 Report Abuse Every kid should learn on a manual transmission!
playtimeCLE Champion Author Cleveland Posts:8,540 Points:1,540,375 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:37:42 PM Ignore playtimeCLE Report Abuse Manuals & automatics both have there place. I presently have one of each. & like them both in there own ways.
bruin19MD Champion Author Maryland Posts:1,052 Points:161,510 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:28:21 PM Ignore bruin19MD Report Abuse Hope they stay around
PathfinderSC Champion Author South Carolina Posts:9,496 Points:1,826,640 Joined:Mar 2008	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:14:43 PM Ignore PathfinderSC Report Abuse Loved a stick when I was young, But now will stay with AUTOMATIC
2011370Z Champion Author Phoenix Posts:5,865 Points:678,930 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:14:39 PM Ignore 2011370Z Report Abuse I wanted a stick in my Tundras but they weren't available with the V8. I love driving my 370Z withe the 6 speed stick.
BigTruc All-Star Author Memphis Posts:947 Points:776,740 Joined:Jul 2004	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 5:04:52 PM Ignore BigTruc Report Abuse You really feel the road with a stick shift.
gbs1 Champion Author Minnesota Posts:1,981 Points:738,150 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:58:27 PM Ignore gbs1 Report Abuse I prefer automatics.
Dphillips720 Champion Author Michigan Posts:1,400 Points:528,625 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:52:47 PM Ignore Dphillips720 Report Abuse LOVE EM HOPE NOT
Lugi1967 Champion Author Ohio Posts:4,768 Points:998,245 Joined:Jun 2010	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:45:02 PM Ignore Lugi1967 Report Abuse All things change
carrek Sophomore Author Seattle Posts:230 Points:188,525 Joined:Aug 2005	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:36:53 PM Ignore carrek Report Abuse I like my manual transmission. I wonder if manual transmissioins last longer than automatic transmissions?
orphancarguyPE Champion Author PEI Posts:3,821 Points:730,015 Joined:Jan 2011	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:27:02 PM Ignore orphancarguyPE Report Abuse The nice thing about learning to drive a manual transmission and doing it competently, is that you are much more connected to what the car is actually doing by feedback, and you learn to anticipate or predict when you might have to downshift just by looking at the road ahead of you. After a while, it becomes second nature, you never have to look at the gearshift lever, and you don't have to "think" about it at all. People who drive manuals tend to be less likely to panic in a skid on ice, for example, because the first move is always to put in the clutch and that alone usually will end the problem.
djwhit Champion Author Ohio Posts:2,987 Points:1,203,480 Joined:Jul 2009	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:24:03 PM Ignore djwhit Report Abuse WELL THAT COULD BE...........
GatorGuy Champion Author Columbia Posts:2,220 Points:1,202,985 Joined:Jan 2009	Message Posted: May 2, 2012 4:22:43 PM Ignore GatorGuy Report Abuse I actually prefer a manual transmission, but computerized transmissions are getting so good at shifting for increased mileage you can almost lose efficiency by shifting yourself these days.