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Stick Shifts Popular Again

USA Today -- Americans have a growing crush on manual transmissions.

To be sure, the percentage of new vehicles with stick-shift gearboxes remains a small slice of the new vehicle market, because most of today's models don't even offer manuals.

But the first quarter this year manuals were in 6.5% of new vehicles sold, and that's getting close to double each of the past five years. It's also highest since 7.2% in 2006, according to Edmunds.com.

That high "take rate," as the industry calls it, is even more impressive because just 19% of the 2,360 different models on sale offer manuals,

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Submitted Apr 30, 2012 By: PlanoLogic

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doctorindyj Champion Author Santa Fe Posts:3,453 Points:839,810 Joined:Nov 2009	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:58:29 PM Ignore doctorindyj Report Abuse To each their own.
johnd900 Veteran Author Massachusetts Posts:475 Points:192,305 Joined:Jan 2012	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:34:36 PM Ignore johnd900 Report Abuse Fews years back I bought my 2000 Maxima, very hard to find a stick with leather interior. Went with the leather over the stick because then I drove in a lot of traffic. Now I don't drive in traffic, next ride will have a stick.
carranco Champion Author Georgia Posts:1,027 Points:269,015 Joined:Dec 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 11:51:50 AM Ignore carranco Report Abuse Now that automatics have caught up on MPG, I would never go back.
db60 All-Star Author Indiana Posts:982 Points:211,255 Joined:Oct 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 7:30:09 AM Ignore db60 Report Abuse Yes! I learned to drive with a manual tranny.
badbonita Champion Author Syracuse Posts:6,224 Points:1,353,710 Joined:Jul 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 7:22:42 AM Ignore badbonita Report Abuse I loved having a manual tranny.
bluestang96 Veteran Author Ohio Posts:268 Points:107,865 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 6:31:35 AM Ignore bluestang96 Report Abuse Nice
335d1 Champion Author Virginia Posts:2,381 Points:759,045 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 6:12:48 AM Ignore 335d1 Report Abuse Makes sense. More fun to drive as long as your commute isn't in bumper to bumper traffic.
bicycle1966 All-Star Author Akron Posts:605 Points:402,590 Joined:Jul 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 6:06:34 AM Ignore bicycle1966 Report Abuse I like having a manual, though my new car didn't come with one. It has one of those "automatic" manuals that you can shift without a clutch, but it just isn't the same.
epf Champion Author Grand Rapids Posts:6,334 Points:1,891,355 Joined:May 2004	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 4:44:07 AM Ignore epf Report Abuse We love a manual transmission.
eric2theem Sophomore Author Riverside Posts:105 Points:30,155 Joined:Mar 2012	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 3:06:37 AM Ignore eric2theem Report Abuse i stay awake and aware in a manual car. Love me a manual tranny!
heydano67 Champion Author California Posts:1,666 Points:358,410 Joined:Feb 2012	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 2:31:27 AM Ignore heydano67 Report Abuse Not dealing with traffic jams any longer makes my manual a joy to drive.
leraar2 Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,764 Points:787,680 Joined:Mar 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 2:16:15 AM Ignore leraar2 Report Abuse automatic transmissions are always reactive, "behind the curve". with manuals, you can shift BEFORE the maneuver. and if you know how to drive manuals properly, you DO get better mileage.
eromitlab Champion Author Huntsville Posts:7,311 Points:1,451,160 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:30:02 AM Ignore eromitlab Report Abuse I'm secure enough in my masculinity to have my gears shifted for me.
el_fr Champion Author Massachusetts Posts:3,337 Points:744,700 Joined:Apr 2011	Message Posted: May 1, 2012 12:28:03 AM Ignore el_fr Report Abuse Excellent news
kitty1750 Champion Author Kitchener-Waterloo Posts:2,199 Points:470,675 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:59:30 PM Ignore kitty1750 Report Abuse Only thing I didn't like about the manual tranny in my CRX was bumper to bumper traffic in the city at rush hour. Very hard on the clutch.....in, out, in, out.....
Bussman Champion Author Dallas Posts:5,518 Points:1,359,960 Joined:Nov 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:54:45 PM Ignore Bussman Report Abuse Love driving my VW Jetta TDI with a manual transmission.
bl626 All-Star Author Toledo Posts:824 Points:242,355 Joined:Feb 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:47:24 PM Ignore bl626 Report Abuse stick shift were also more efficient, but now with 6 speed auto transmission it's hard to beat. I really like having a clutch and it's been a few times I've had to push the old gall down the hill to get her started... try that on an automatic!
VDubBill Champion Author Jacksonville Posts:3,765 Points:1,262,370 Joined:May 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:41:23 PM Ignore VDubBill Report Abuse Just imagine that you used to have an automatic transmission only restriction placed on your license if you didn't take the driving test with a stick.
spotterjoe Rookie Author Nevada Posts:83 Points:17,720 Joined:Apr 2012	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:35:09 PM Ignore spotterjoe Report Abuse The "average" kid today can't even drive a stick because they learned on an auto
Jeff4U Champion Author Atlanta Posts:8,754 Points:1,852,370 Joined:Nov 2004	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:34:40 PM Ignore Jeff4U Report Abuse Stick shift cars have recently been reported to have caused problems during several carjacking attempts. In one case, they couldn't manage to exit the gas station parking lot. Incidentally, that car happened to have a baby in the back seat who keep mumbling something about investing at E-Trade.com
Ahking Champion Author Orange County Posts:3,507 Points:603,450 Joined:May 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:16:05 PM Ignore Ahking Report Abuse oh, it's just people trying to save money. you may also find more people opting for convertibles because they can save money getting a tan without going to the tanning salons.
jrschl Champion Author Louisville Posts:2,967 Points:681,065 Joined:Jun 2011	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:15:57 PM Ignore jrschl Report Abuse Depends on the type of car, as if it is a fun experience. Wrangler or Porsche...yes, Saturn....no.
must87searcher Champion Author Maryland Posts:8,980 Points:1,780,260 Joined:Apr 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 11:12:58 PM Ignore must87searcher Report Abuse Autos with manual transmission are sure cheaper, and that this one important thing for a number of buyers. Knowing how to use a manual can also provide a driver too loose the limit of vehicles they can drive dealing with the transmission. I know some who just don't understand how too use manual, and they would be stuck still if they had to drive one that did.
PlanoLogic Champion Author Texas Posts:1,748 Points:1,546,270 Joined:Apr 2006	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:49:10 PM Ignore PlanoLogic Report Abuse Agree! (and save about $900 off the sticker)
NHLiveFree Champion Author New Hampshire Posts:11,092 Points:1,622,370 Joined:Jun 2008	Message Posted: Apr 30, 2012 10:41:28 PM Ignore NHLiveFree Report Abuse You tend to pay much better attention to your driving and it's also fun.