Me too.

 

Many times offering a manual transmission is as much about marketing as it is satisfying a demand. Cadillac acknowledges that they don't sell enough M6 CTSs to make it worthwhile, but they do it for credibility purposes. I wouldn't be surprised if it's the same for Mazda and maybe Nissan.

 

I can tell you first hand that Caddy made at least one CTS sale because of the M6 offered.

Also, I think that if Cadillac wants to have a chance of being taken seriously in Europe, they know they need to offer a manual box.

 

I didn't say they made no sales because of it

IIRC they initially projected a 5% take rate on the M6 but the actual numbers were significantly below that. To their credit, they stuck with it.

 

All I know is BMW makes a lot of manual 3 series. Don't beleive me? check cars.com for used 325/330's

 

Yes, BMW does. And Subaru makes a lot of WRX manuals, and Mitsu makes a lot of Evo manuals. However, BMW's direct competition do not make a lot of manuals. For them, it's about image.

Try looking for Mercedes C-class manuals, Cadillac CTS manuals, Lincoln LS manuals, or Pontiac G6 manuals on cars.com (note cars.com and not in your own driveway, z284ever) and let us know how you make out. Add it a check of the IS300 for good measure.

The way I see it is this. GM knows they'll lose money on a V6 manual, but that they need to option to be taken seriously by the cognoscenti. So we have the CTS manuals and some G6 manuals, but they don't need a manual on every G6. I think they'd be better advised to make the K&N, dual exhaust 270hp 3.9 M6 a low volume RPO than to bother with a 250hp 3.6 M6

 

Oh, and Z28x, check for Acura TL manuals too.

Which brings me to my next question. How many people really want a high torque FWD manual? I mean, torque-steer, wheel-spin (or blinking/bucking traction control) city!

For a G6/Altima/TL/Maxima/etc. V6 with 250 lb.ft. torque, just give me an auto. The Mazda 6 gets a pass, because it only has about 200 lb. ft. of torque.


Might as well get the terminology correct...
s/high power FWD/high torque FWD/

 

Actually, the manual trans CTS is in the garage, next to the manual trans Camaro. It's the manual trans SVT Contour that's in the driveway.

 

Just to add fuel to the fire, I remember reading that some of the BMW's (3 series or 5 series ? I can't recall exactly) were delayed stateside because they were working on the manual versions for the US. Seems the Euro's prefer the auto.

 

It depends on the country. In several, the auto approaches the same take rate as in the U.S. In others (I recall Italy being on this list), lots of manuals are still sold.

More powerful engines and better automatics make the auto more palatable, and distracting things like cell phones make the manual less desireable. Of course, the hardcore manual maniacs (I won't name names ) will always still prefer the manual.

I have both types, and must admit that there are times when the manual transmission can be very annoying. I think my current manual (2002 Suzuki Grand Vitara) will likely be my last, barring something unforeseen changing my mind (like a great deal on some manual car, or a change of heart).

I'd never buy a powerful FWD manual. Even the automatics I've driven are reduced to hopeless wheelspin and massive traction control intervention on even relatively light throttle openings. Then there's the fun of torque steer, which seems to vary a lot from model to model and on individual cars within a model. I recall the first C&D test of the current Acura TL, where they said that the torque steer bordered on dangerous. Of course, on the vtec.net website, the Honda-fans blamed it on "typical C&D anti-Honda anti-FWD bias". But apparently, there are a lot of variables like alignment, tire wear, etc., that make it better or worse. All of which means that you won't really be able to tell from a test drive. So get an automatic, so that you can hold on with both hands.