How many Americans under 21 drive manuals anymore?

(2011-10-27 14:25:05) 1. skater983 Says: I go to a high school with about 200 people including staff. Out of all of them I am the only person except for my basketball coach who drives a manual car. Is it really that uncommon in America for kids to get manuals? My first car was a manual and I never want an automatic now.2. Frank Says: As the performance and efficiency of automatic transmissions has improved, manual transmissions are increasingly rare.

In many cars (including many very high performance cars), the closest you'll get is an automatic with a manual selector. But see my source. Manuals are still available if you want one.

Many people do like to keep what they first learned on, especially if it gives them a sense of connection with the car.

But in terms of performance, a modern peformance automatic transmission will outperform a manual because it shifts faster than a human can, so you'll see true manuals more on nostalgia-cars like Camaros than on high-performers like an Audi R8 or pretty much any of the exotics.3. Andy L. Says: Not many people at any age drive manual transmission.
Advantages: Price is cheaper, some people consider it more fun to work the gears, repair and maintenance costs are lower, a little better MPG on highway driving
Disadvantages: Much harder to re-sell, takes more hand and foot action vs automatic, typically not as good mpg in city driving unless a perfect shifter, roll at traffic lights on incline, bad shifting can ruin the transmission.

Manual transmissions are going obsolete slowly especially in the USA. Currently in USA, about 90% of cars sold are automatic and 10% are manual and the number continues to drop.

With the continuosly variable transmission, Nissan Senta 2011 2L gets better mpg than with its 6 speed manual in average use.
CVT Automatic 27 City 30 Combined 34 Hwy
Manual typical driver 24 City 27 Combined 31 Hwy
It is about $1000 for the automatic and the resale starts $1000 higher and keeps a spread of difference. 5 years is about 65000 miles and typically the gasoline savings pays for the difference. The manual is more expensive to own for this car.4. Super_GREG Says: i suspect,..........not very many5. Jared Says: Frank raised good points.

I have to add that driving a manual or as many call it "5-speed, or straight shift, etc.." is much more than just performance vs economy.

The connection and feel one acquires driving a manual is a totally different experience than even a tectronic shifter, much less a pure automated shifter (automatic).

In my case I , by choice, chose my first car to be a manual, and every car since then. I am 30,.. it wasn't that long ago that I was looking at my first car. Point I raise is that it wasn't like I had a majority of manuals available for sell verse automatics. When I was looking at cars the availability of manuals was just as it is now. Found mostly in sports cars, and many of those had automatics.

Which leads me to..

The fact is driving an automatic is 'easier'. It requires less effort, it requires less thinking, it requires less 'training'. For MANY people an automatic prevents accidents. Imagine, a clutch, shifter, deciphering gear for the split second, texting, and so on.. it doesn't all mesh well. (Although most manual drivers will tell you and show you that they are so adept and 'used to' driving a manual that they can do 5 other things while driving.. and its true).

So Automatics are merely convenience which most Americans (and people in general take). It is that simple.

Yes, it is cheaper to produce a manual, but not so much that it makes it worth it to push them on people.

I personally think and know from experience manuals are more reliable (if the operator can drive) and gives one more control of the vehicle. Letting the engine brake saves pad life... shifting at your own points allows for speed/acceleration OR economy behind even what a computer would do.

Bottom line, if you like to drive a manual then you are superior to automatics in *almost* every way. The man in the box.. (automatics) will always beat someone manually shifting (if the automatic is tuned properly).

To the OP: You will likely get an automatic at some time,.. but you will also likely at some point get a sports car with a manual to utilize as well. ;) Tag: How many Americans under 21 drive manuals anymore?