Did I read that right?!

[OldGuyPete]

So I go and play on the Chevy.com site. And what do I notice. The 1500 W/T comes standard with an automatic transmission?!?!?

 

No more manual trans? A pickup truck that you can't order with a manual trans?

 

What the heck is up with that?!?

[Bogle45]

Ya. I have heard about this and seen a couple 07s with the "manual". The new manuals consist of the original automatic shifter with two buttons near the end to shift up and down manually.

[RyanZ71]

Its the way it is now, more and more auto makers are no longer offering manual trannies, in particular on trucks.

[pm26]

This pisses me off to no end. Is this country becoming so fat and lazy that nobody can shift gears anymore?

 

If you go to any new car dealer int he US and look at economy cars, you'll find 100 of them with an auto transmission and 2 with manual. Sometimes none at all with manual. It should be the other way around.

 

When I was in Brazil several years ago, they did not have a single vehicle at this rental agency in Rio with an auto transmission. Everything manual. A car rental place! Sorry lard asses, you do not want to shift gears, no car! Walk! At least somebody has the right attitude. You want to save fuel - here is a manual transmission vehicle!

 

I am a manual transmission guy and I love the control I get with a manual transmission. I was pissed that GM did not offer a crew cab pickup with a manual, and you cannot even get the 5.3 engine with a manual transmisission on any version.

[whmayhew]

If you drove a tractor trailer you would appreciate the automatic at the end of the day.

[OldGuyPete]

pm26,

 

Exactly! And what really surprises me is that - ok - some cars that girls drive, I can understand autos. But a friggin' pickup truck? Come on now GM!

 

One day when people realize the fuel economy of smaller diesels with manual trans (50-60 MPG) only then might they understand.

[pm26]

If you drove a tractor trailer you would appreciate the automatic at the end of the day.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I believe you, and you are right - there are good reasons why some vehicles should have an auto transmission. If you drive a UPS truck all day long in stop-and-go traffic, and constantly have to look at the map to find the addresses you need, you definitely would prefer an auto.

 

But, I am tired of the auto industry catering to lazy people in the US and systematically eliminating manual transmissions from the line up. For example, Nissan Maxima dropped the manual transmission option for the '07 model year. I have a '99 Maxima with a 5 speed manual and love the car. Now I cannot replace it with another new Maxima with a manual tranmsission.

 

When I was in Australia several years back, they had all kinds of small effficent turbodiesel SUVs with manual transmissions. Toyotas, Nissans, even Landrovers! All very fuel efficient. Why is it that I cannot buy one of these here in the US? Because most US customers want leather seats with heaters, memory heated steering wheel and mirrors, built-in-navigation system, auto transmission, 10 Big Gulp size drink holders, 2 DVD players, and 4 built-in cellphones so they can yak constantly while driving? And watch movies and fiddle with the navigation system while driving to make the roads "safer" for the rest of us? What about others who do not care for all this BS and want to use such a vehicle for what it was really designed and intended to be used for, like off-roading?

[OFF-RD]

I agree...it's sad. Ford did it with the new F-150 back in 2004. People made such a fuss that they brought back the manual for 2005...but only on the V6 models. Now Chevy is doing the same thing.

 

Pretty soon Dodge will be the only real truck left. Manual trans, four wheel disc brakes, etc. It's just very sad that you are forced to take the luxury options on work vehicles nowdays.

[OldGuyPete]

Well, thank goodness. I'm not the only one!

[redvett]

When only 2% of the entire production is manual transmissions its going to be dropped. GM & other MFR's will discontinue an option at about 4-5%.

[SoCalChris]

Perhaps it's only 2% because they only offered it on a small portion of their models? I'm also guessing that they push the automatic transmissions because it allows them to mark up the price of the vehicle by over $1,000, and most people will happily pay that instead of special ordering a vehicle without it, and having to wait.

 

I have always preferred manuals, it's what I learned on. My Silverado has a manual, I'm sad to hear that I won't be able to get a new one with a manual in the future.

[OFF-RD]

Problem is, that 2% of people who order manual trannies NEED it or want it for serious reasons. So when they don't offer it anymore, guess what? Those people are looking for a different brand. There goes your sales of thousands of units per year. I think they should keep it as an option regardless. We're not talking about special cupholders or something like a fancy stereo system here. We're talking about a KEY mechanical option on a truck. I just think it's sad...

[azchevy]

There was an article on cnn about how only 11% of new vehicles purchased are manual transmission and they predict by 2010 that the manual will go the way of the dodo due to lack of demand

[95Sierra2500]

If the manual goes away, I'll be importing my vehicles from Austrailia or some other land where manuals are still valued. It's truly sad how lazy America has gotten.

[Wingnut]

If the manual goes away, I'll be importing my vehicles from Austrailia or some other land where manuals are still valued. It's truly sad how lazy America has gotten.

 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

 

 

I don't think it has anything to do with lazy.

 

I think it's got everything to do with the fact that (for the most part) automatic transmissions do a better and more efficient job at moving cars and trucks around than manuals do. Sure, a few people can get better mileage or drive through the 1/4 a hair faster with a stick, but truth be told...Autos are 10x more consistant in every aspect (including towing) for more than 95% of the population, and to finish that statement, refer to redvett's post above. Not to mention they're lasting longer than ever before.

 

And this is coming from a guy who would kill a dozen baby seals in front of PETA headquarters by slowly stabbing them up with a rusty piece of broken rebar to have a 5 or 6 speed manny tranny in his truck. Even a manumatic would be better.

 

Oh, it's also coming from a guy whos truck is in the shop with a blown transmission.