The manual transmission is not dead....yet

I prefer a manual mostly for reliability, they can technically last forever in most cases as long as you aren't abusing the $@&% out of it and changing out the MTF every ~50K miles or so. Yeah you'll need a new clutch every 100K or so, but that's better than replacing an auto at 150K miles for $3,000.

jjtheprince said:

I prefer a manual mostly for reliability, they can technically last forever in most cases as long as you aren't abusing the $@&% out of it and changing out the MTF every ~50K miles or so. Yeah you'll need a new clutch every 100K or so, but that's better than replacing an auto at 150K miles for $3,000.

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The Si is only my second car with a manual, but I'm not so sure this is true after my issues with a 2011 Mazda3 6 speed. Replacing the transmission (which I had to do twice in 40k miles) costed me $3k one time (partial replacement), $5k another (full replacement). I didn't pay those amounts because I negotiated with the dealer but it was frustrating.

I'll admit I learned manual on the car, but I definitely didn't abuse it. I read that there is an issue with that particular transmission, and that it goes out every 30k miles or so.

I think in most cases you are right but I hesitate from telling people it is always the cheaper option after my experience.

ablueSI said:

The Si is only my second car with a manual, but I'm not so sure this is true after my issues with a 2011 Mazda3 6 speed. Replacing the transmission (which I had to do twice in 40k miles) costed me $3k one time (partial replacement), $5k another (full replacement). I didn't pay those amounts because I negotiated with the dealer but it was frustrating.

I'll admit I learned manual on the car, but I definitely didn't abuse it. I read that there is an issue with that particular transmission, and that it goes out every 30k miles or so.

I think in most cases you are right but I hesitate from telling people it is always the cheaper option after my experience.

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That really surprises me I had 10 Mazda 3 6 speed manual with 120k on it and never had a lick trouble from it. Also my Mazdaspeed Protege I had before it I never had any mechanical issues what so ever and I dogged the shit out of that car.

amirza786 said:

For sure MT is a theft deterrent, many of the younger generation car thieves don't know how to drive a manual. There a younger engineer at my work, late 20's, drives a Lexus IS300 F Sport. Smart kid. A group of us went to lunch, he saw my manual and said "last time I saw one of those was in Gramps car". Made me feel really old

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There seems to be almost outright resistance to acquiring or learning any mechanical skills today, nobody seems to to be able to do anything without a YouTube video. Notice this especially in my job as a Gunsmith, lots of people seem afraid to dissemble anything because they might fail. They'd rather pay me to do it. Kinda sad IMHO

Davsonamission said:

That really surprises me I had 10 Mazda 3 6 speed manual with 120k on it and never had a lick trouble from it. Also my Mazdaspeed Protege I had before it I never had any mechanical issues what so ever and I dogged the shit out of that car.

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Interesting - I guess I was unlucky or far worse at manual than I thought, hah. Good to hear others did not have the same issue. It was a mess and is part of the reason I got my Si.

I do miss the 3 from time to time.

Only auto I will drive is the PDK transmission in these 911 Porsches. That is a bad ass transmission and very precise. I still would rock a manual 911 or cayman. I been driving manual since i was 13. Older brother 1989 5.0 GT Mustang.
if they stop making manuals then i am driving this one forever. I still gotta cop my NB Miata (all jokes welcome) for my time capsule car and autox.

ablueSI said:

Interesting - I guess I was unlucky or far worse at manual than I thought, hah. Good to hear others did not have the same issue. It was a mess and is part of the reason I got my Si.

I do miss the 3 from time to time.

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https://www.carcomplaints.com/Mazda/MAZDA3/2010/transmission/

You just bought a vehicle with tranny defects from the manufacturer. Early model Nissan 350z's had bad trannies too I believe, it's a pretty rare thing though. Honda manuals have been very solid over the years though it seems.

manuals in some cases are still better than some automatic/CVT cars. First are gear ratios. Manual cars wether it’s sporty or not have more aggressive gear ratios. Second, CVTs gearing is focused on saving gas and have this weird lag when going full throttle causing poor acceleration. Last is the durability. Manuals just straight up last longer than most automatics and are easier/cheaper to fix.

PhilF said:

There seems to be almost outright resistance to acquiring or learning any mechanical skills today, nobody seems to to be able to do anything without a YouTube video. Notice this especially in my job as a Gunsmith, lots of people seem afraid to dissemble anything because they might fail. They'd rather pay me to do it. Kinda sad IMHO

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The problem is they're given a choice lol... if you give a kid a manual car for their first car and tell them to learn or not drive they will learn.... or at least I did way back when XD

I want to drive manual for as long as I can but when I bought my Si just last year I realized there really aren't that many cars with an MT. For example I really like the Audi 3 series and was checking them out online and none of them come with an MT. When I'm at the end of my lease for my Civic Si in 2021 I feel like there will be even less cars with an MT. Not sure what I am going to do

TheComebackKid said:

I want to drive manual for as long as I can but when I bought my Si just last year I realized there really aren't that many cars with an MT. For example I really like the Audi 3 series and was checking them out online and none of them come with an MT. When I'm at the end of my lease for my Civic Si in 2021 I feel like there will be even less cars with an MT. Not sure what I am going to do

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the longevity of the MT will depend on Sedans and hatchbacks still being around. Both Honda and Toyota have reported sales being down in their car segments (Camry, Corolla, Accord, Civic etc.). If people continue to mover over to crossovers, SUV's and trucks, the manual will become more scarce

I bought my SI Sedan (RED) in April of '18. My thought at the time was this may be the last car I ever buy (I'm 67). I wanted a MT because of the new super complicated auto transmissions repair or replacement costs.
With a MT I might need a clutch someday, but in all my years of diving MT's, I've never busted one. Clutch, yes, I've replaced a few clutchs, both cars and bikes (mostly bikes). To replace a auto trans on my Acura TL, was
$6000.00. Not to mention all of the pre mentioned perks to a MT. I love it.

MIKROMO said:

To replace a auto trans on my Acura TL, was
$6000.00. Not to mention all of the pre mentioned perks to a MT. I love it.

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Yikes! That's a lot of $$$

Every time I drive an automatic, I feel something is missing. Sometimes as I come to a stop i’ll slam my left foot to the floor board, and think “oh $41t”, I’m not driving my car. Then, I get into my car and it feels like home again.
I hope manual transmissions continue to be made.

So ATs are so great these days but can they take as much abuse as a manual? I wouldn't trust a supposedly maintenance free transmission on something other than an appliance of a car like a Corolla.