jimmyb

I'm too lazy to look it up but using M-B to justify automatics is probably wrong. I can't remember the last M-B to offer a manual, but's it's been a LONG time. I don't think the SLK was ever offered with a manual. The SL....who knows but it's been decades. The McLaren was never offered with a manual that I can remember.

Sadly, actual manual transmission BUYERS is a lot smaller group than internet manual transmission supporters. If everyone that claims to love manuals actually BOUGHT manuals, Ferrari would still offer them, Corvette wouldn't be running 78% automatics (based on 2017 numbers) and Vipers would still be in production.

ShahulX

Yea I bought a manual C7 GS a few months back... I work for Mercedes as a Sales manager and my daily is a Benz, but my fun car and track car is a manual always (except the nissan gtr for a couple years)

Mercedes did offer a manual SLK up until last year btw..

I think they just didn't see the business case...most peple want autos

wera78

well its 3 am, I've read entire post and I'm ready to throw my worthless opinion in. LOL
I think the obvious reason so many are autos is technology has evolved and it is better all-round for many reasons and most people these days look at it as a hassle to drive a manual. My last vette was a c5 auto and it was fun and all that. My friend who ordered a 17' gs was told he would have to wait and extra 3-4 months to get one so he opted for the automatic. I think the manufactures these days look at manuals as out dated and a hassle on the production lines more than anything?

All that BS been said. I've owned several vettes all have been automatics , I always thought of the corvette as a mans driving machine you get in it start it up and take off enjoying the whole experience of what a corvette was made for to do. Looking for a new vette a couple of years ago , I bought a 2011 ZR1 and it was a manual only car my dream car. When you drive this car you know why it was only made with a manual transmission. You are truly one with the car that's the real corvette driving experience, please don't take it away, Yours Truly

2K3Z06

All the top level racing series haven't had manuals in decades.... They are ok for fun and nostalgia. But come on, if you want a truly fast car. forget the manual. last century technology.

buy an old 6o's vette with a manual and drum brakes and bias ply tires.... and just pretend your the ultimate driver........ lol

CloudLS9

Why stop with an automatic transmission. Internal combustion engines and cars you have to drive with your hands are getting technologically dated too. Why not just get a Tesla EV with auto-pilot?

I'm sure a computer can drive a car better than a human can, but it all just feels ... Un-American.



No thanks. Give me a good ol' fashioned manual transmission and an open road please.

SBC_and_a_stick

The driver(you) are also last century technology.

Are you going to pay to watch AI driven electric cars on a racecourse?

The trick is to pick the technology that is the most fun yes. If you think drum brakes are more fun that disk then go for it. I won't judge you for it. But if you ever show up with an autonomous electric car and stroll down the paddock thinking you are hot **** than I reserve the right to laugh my *** out.

So yes, I took great pleasure hanging with a prototype car at Laguna Seca last saturday in my H-pattern manual Ariel Atom. And yes, I also took great pleasure in hanging with a Radical when driving the H-pattern C7 Z at Thunderhill 2 mile. It is fun to engage your mind and body to the extent of hanging with sequential driven machines. If you don't see the beauty and fun in that I think you are the one that's not having fun.

Yes, racing is for wining. That's why I see very little reason in watching pros race. I drive myself and try to have fun.

What on earth are you going to "win" with an automated production car that's worth anything? What are you going to win that others can't win using the same automated technology?

saplumr

Properly adjusted.

02FireHawk555

I don't even want a Mid engine C8. Just give me a old pushrod V-8 (no DOHC) that I can throw a big nasty cam in to get the sound I want. It's got to be a Manual or they can just keep it because I won't buy one.

I can't stand driving any automatics it's boring to me. Even in traffic I'd rather drive a manual and I've dealt with DC area traffic for years. I boought a Dodge Durango a few years back and hate driving it even to work with a automatic.

LightningBolt

I know the AT's can shift more/better/faster, but that's not why I drive a sports car. I drive a sports car to have fun. Shifting gears is a part of the thrill for me.

Someday cars will all be self driving and be better/safer than error prone humans. That doesn't mean riding in one will be more fun, though. My sports car ownership stops with the last manual. Then I'm switching to Uber.

JerriVette

Manuals will continue on corvettes. Porsche learned its lesson...

I want a dual clutch automated manual in the rear mid engine c8 but I'm convinced a manual will continue to be offered.

For now I'll keep my manual c6 z51.

The A8 I drove didn't convince me t torque converter is as direct feeling as porsches PDK which impressed me ..although the Porsche itself didn't...

conceptmachine

Ill buy the auto. Easier to drink my coffee while driving

saplumr

HUH! Seems pretty boring.

JoesC5

Somehow I believe that driving an AMG GT R, with it's DCT, around the Ring in 7:10 would not be boring. In fact, I bet you would be white knuckled.

Same goes with driving it to the Golden Corral for the Early Bird Special.

saplumr

If you drove that every day you "possibly" could be correct but of course you don't. We drive some vehicles for pure fun whether it be daily or whenever we want. So I'll stand by my statement for now....autos are boring.

LT1 Z51

Mid-engine will not have a manual.

jimmyb

^^^^^
I agree. With C7's running 80% Auto these days, it makes no sense for GM to go through the time and expense to do a 3 pedal mid-engine. FWIW, if the C7 offered a DSG instead of a TC auto, I think that percentage would be even higher in favor of automatics. I am a manual fan (all my Corvettes including my current C7 have been manuals), but the market (that's us) has spoken, and the market wants automatics. As far as Porsche is concerned, their auto/manual takeaway is not as high (last I saw Porsche is running 73% auto/27% manual). The very public outcry over the last GT3RS being available with DSG only is interesting. The upcoming car will have a manual as a no-cost option (DSG standard), it will be interesting to see how many ACTUALLY order the car with 3 pedals.....
Ferrari forums (don't you love the internet) are littered with folks bitching about lack of manual availability, but when you COULD get a 3 pedal Ferrari (the 430), 90+% ordered the F1 auto. So much like the Viper, folks LOVE to talk about it, but NO ONE actually BUYS it.

PS. Assuming the mid-engine is Auto only, this will be yet another thing for haters to pile on GM about. I can hear it now: "Tadge sold out....doesn't he understand what WE want?"

jimmyb

White knuckled because it's the Nurburgring. Not because of the transmission. Christian Gebhardt (the guy that did the 7:10 in the M-B) left the car in AUTO, he didn't even use the paddles. In his 7:13 run in the C7 Z06, he HAD to shift (it was a manual).

E.T.D. Corvettes

I'm 100% confident the ME will have a manual transmission offering.

jimmyb

^^^^^

Hmmmm.....

LT1 Z51

Must be a hell of a manual to handle all that torque.