Don't dismiss the manual transmission just yet. Sales of cars with stick-shift options are increasing. Data indicates that 1.7 percent of cars sold last year were manuals—a rise from 0.9 percent in 2021. And this trend doesn't appear to be slowing down, especially with the WRX. Subaru confirmed to Kelley Blue Book that 83 percent of Subaru WRXs sold in America this year came with a six-speed manual transmission. This is an increase from Subaru's 2023 data, where 79 percent of WRXs sold had manual transmissions. This suggests more buyers are choosing to shift their own gears, which is great news.
Earlier this year, we inquired with every automaker offering manual transmissions about the number of buyers opting for three pedals. The WRX led the pack with the highest manual take rate. Only its sibling, the rear-drive BRZ, and the multi-million dollar Pagani Utopia came close. Additionally, only two other cars—the Mazda MX-5 Miata and the John Cooper Works Mini—surpassed the 50-percent mark. It's important to note that not all automakers provided exact figures, so there could be more cars with high manual take rates.
This is positive news for enthusiasts. Just a few years ago, it seemed the manual transmission might vanish from affordable sports cars. While manual transmissions are becoming less common in budget commuter cars and trucks, performance cars from brands like BMW, Chevy, Subaru, and Toyota are keeping the manual dream alive. As long as buyers continue to show interest, the manual transmission should have a promising future.
Source link: https://www.motor1.com
