Chris Harris’s Neo-Manualism
Unlike the U.S., most automobiles in Europe sport a manual gearbox. Historically I’m not sure why this is the case, but it may have something to do with the price of gas and the fact that auto trannies used to be less fuel efficient than manuals. Or perhaps, it’s an item on the option list that European consumers always overlooked because they mostly get bottom-level cars with minimal features. If anyone knows, please enlighten me.
In any case, this means that I have spent 14 of my 16 driving years playing with the joystick. It also means that the rarity of manual transmissions in the U.S. has made their drivers some of kind a special breed; car enthusiasts. Does this mean that to be a good petrolhead someone should only drive stick? Not at all, but that highly-coveted bond between man and machine is mainly attainable through the visceral feeling of a manual gearbox. Don’t get me wrong, the DCTs and PDKs of the world make for fantastic transmissions, but few enthusiasts would ever switch (back) to automatic.
These people are not only a special breed, but apparently an endangered species. According to various sources, only **5%** to **10%** of all cars currently sold in the U.S. come with a manual transmission. And while we’ve been singing the praises of the stick on MotoringFile for as long as I can remember, we can’t ignore the fact that the manual gearbox is close to retirement, or is it?
In his latest [post](http://jalopnik.com/rejoice-the-manual-has-been-saved-1688464485) for [Jalopnik](http://www.jalopnik.com), Chris Harris speaks of a neo-manualism:
As the motorcar enters the post-manual-transmission epoch, I predict something bizarre happening: the re-emergence of the manual transmission. I’m not taking the piss. It’s going to happen. This strange confluence of events will hereby create a neo-manualism to run in parallel with matters post-manual. When cars and the language of literary theory collide the terminology goes haywire. It causes a fracas.
Harris predicts that the manual transmission will continue to thrive in its own special way, but at a certain cost, literally:
In the neo-manual phase, the stick will become the chronograph to the digital watch of the early 1980s – not as technically good on an Excel spreadsheet, but way more desirable. And capable of supporting a premium price.
Harris believes that up until recently it didn’t make business sense to the “sales dudes” to continue offering a manual option for free. But they may have found a way to make this work, and keep us happy, by charging a hefty premium for a stick shift.
Based on the rest of the post, I think his argument sadly holds true for supercars. It doesn’t really matter for appliances (e.g. Toyota), because I bet that 99.9% of their buyers don’t care for a manual transmission. Could neo-manualism affect cars like the MINI Hardtop, the Golf GTI, or the Focus RS? It’s hard to say, but it wouldn’t be the first time “sales dudes” came up with a money-grabbing scheme (e.g. $750 for enhanced Bluetooth). And for any “sales dude” reading this post, “Magic Lever Package” sounds pretty good to me; $2,500, ding!
In the meantime, let’s reflect on this doctrine with yet another beautiful car review that only Harris has the recipe for.
<p>Speaking as an Englishman, I was taught to drive a manual… In fact, if you chose to learn in an automatic equipped car you cannot drive a manual unless you take your test again.</p>
<p>And yes, the fact automatic options are usually 1000’s of extra pounds, marks, francs, etc it makes economic sense to pick a manual.</p>
<p>Same rule in France.</p>
<p>and same in Germany. Maybe another reason why US=automatic : Because here are so many stop signs, it’s simply very much more comfortable to have an automatic. In Europe road “design” is much more with main roads and side roads that have to yield and right-before-left rule. My Mini in Germany has manual, mine in the US has automatic (F56, Sport, which is great!)</p>
<p>Not only is there a purchase cost factor, but historically an automatic was heavier and delivered lower MPG. The high cost of fuel here means smaller engines are more prevalent. A small car with an automatic used to be counter-productive.</p>
<p>Now technology has advanced to the point where small cars can have automatic transmission with increased fuel benefits, we may see a change, but I should think it will take a generation or two before it becomes the norm.</p>
<p>I learned to drive using a manual (VW Bug) and have, by choice, always driven cars equipped with them.</p>
<p>the manual is going the way of the Dodo for two reasons:</p>
<p>1) new computer controlled transmissions are more efficient than manuals.</p>
<p>2) Take rate on manual is so small that pretty soon, it won’t make sense to have the supply chain in place for the few manuals, no matter the cost.</p>
<p>There are two possible areas where the manual may live on: Ultra-cheap compacts (think low cost third world transportation, the Tata motors of old) Ultra expensive exotics, if the owners demand it. But by looking at the trends of the hypercar market, this one probably won’t have legs.</p>
<p>Really, we’re in a transition period. Any performance drivers knows that the new transmissions are better at shifting than a manual, faster at shifting than a manual and protect the car more than a manual. Really, if lap times are you goal, there is no reason to have a manual. BUT a lot of sporting drivers LIKE to drive manuals. Those of us in this camp are an ever smaller number. As the number in this camp decreases, pretty soon it will all be moot.</p>
<p>Then, the only way to soldier on will be to drive old cars. Sad but true! If you like tuning carburetors, you’ve been SOL for quite a while. If you like double clutching with syncroless transmissions, you’ve been SOL for quite a while. Same will be true of manual transmissions. This time Chris Harris is just wrong. He WANTS to see a way for the manual to live on, but this isn’t it.</p>
<p>I have to admit that when the JCW was made available in an automatic transmission I felt betrayed by MINI. The dealer who broke the news to me said: “But it has paddle shifters!” I responded: “So?”</p>
<p>I think it has to do with roads, in the US it’s mostly highways and huge distances, not so in Europe. Also motorsport, in the US rally is almost non-exciting. Rally in Europe is a serious thing for automakers. And all this before the huge traffic jams, not fun driving in a LA traffic jam with a manual.</p>
<p>I greatly prefer a manual transmission but when I bought a car a year ago, I went for an automatic transmission (with paddle shifters) because I was having chronic pain in my left knee, and I suspected it was either caused or at least not helped by the constant use of the clutch with that leg. Since I switched to an automatic the pain has gone away, but at the same time I’ve lost a certain je ne sais quois when driving (and btw a big FU to spellcheck for what it just tried to do to my French).</p>
<p>I’d like to think MINI will be one of the stalwarts in offering manual transmissions as long as I’m on this earth.</p>
<p>This is the so-called je ne sais quoi as you said, that makes me choose the manual transmission
A reason could be the acceleration feeling, each time you gear up : on a automatic transmission it is sadly linear…</p>
<p>I think the thing for me — and I’m a musician — is that there is a physicality about a manual transmission where you never have to keep track of what gear you are in. Like playing an instrument, you just know exactly where you are from the physical training from shifting over and over again; whereas with an automatic with paddle shifters, I practically have to count out loud to myself to keep track of what gear I’m in.</p>
<p>Exactly, another reason 😉 even if today, the current gear is displayed whatever transmission you deal with</p>
<p>All I know is I took my R56 to the local hand car wash, and they had to push my car out of the bay because none of the employees knew how to start the car, never the less drive it out of the car wash.</p>
<p>In Italy, those that drive automatics are called “handicapped”.</p>
<p>That’s pretty much the thought and mentality in most of Europe. Or that the person is old/elderly. I don’t agree with their mentality.</p>
<p>with the birth of the autonomous driving car, will it matter?</p>
<p>This topic of Manual vs Auto (or similar) has been floating around MF for many years. (on other sites too). When compared to past pieces on this subject, this one ok.</p>
<p>In my exprieience, I have found that “enthusiasts” (regardless of Car Brand) have kind of a snobbish attitude (not kind of, they do have one) towards people who drive cars with Auto’s. That is the part that I’ve always found negative. Passionate enthusiast look down and often belittle those that don’t drive a manual.</p>
<p>For me, I feel, drive what you want. You want a manual, great – go have fun. You want and Auto, great, go have fun. It’s not for me to tell a person he/she isn’t this or that or less than or not a car person because they drive one or the other type of trans.</p>
<p>Who cares!</p>
<p>There are certain things you just can’t pull off easily with an automagic.</p>
<p>If you want to drift in a Countryman ALL4 automatic, you need to constantly whack the paddles down to override shifts at the limit. Most cars will just ignore you in this situation, and you’ll find yourself snapping straight (or in the other direction) after the shift.</p>
<p>When this sort of behavior from a gear box prevents you from driving the way you want to, it becomes a problem. That</p>
<p>The sport auto in my F56S in ” S/Manual ” mode will stay in gear</p>
<p>I’ve been driving since I was 16 in 1956 here in the US. My parents had a car that was an automatic…a huge ’50 Lincoln that weighed over 2.5 tons. I wanted to learn to drive a manual so I took 3 lessons via AAA before passing my driving test.
I’ve owned 19 cars over the past 58 years….11 manuals & 8 automatics. Most of the automatics were larger family cars. All the manuals were smaller sport and or work commuters…which included 2 ’52 XK120 Jags, ’65 Sprite, ’58 Porsche, ’60 Renault Dauphine (ugh!) ’72 Honda Z600 Coupe, ’79 Civic, ’08 R56S & ’12 R58JCW. (some used some new). The manuals ranged from 3 speed (Renault) to 6 speed…(2 MINIs).
After my 2 previous manual MINIs, I decided to change to the auto/paddle shifter for my latest F55S 4 door. Why? to combine driving convenience & ease in traffic but still with the MINI fun factor. Also, the fact that today’s autos are much more efficient compared to manuals than in year’s past was part of my decision making.
I</p>
<p>Gabe, anything new from MINI/BMW on the 8/9 speed automatics yet. I really thought that MINI’d use the factory F series JCW to introduce it. The new automatic just might keep me into automatic, but not the six speed. I cuss mine in the R59 every day. I know they’ve supposedly improved the Aisan transmission, but……</p>
<p>I drove a R56S with auto (loaner car) and really disliked it. But, when I test drove an F56S with the sport auto, I was totally surprised. For me the tranny is great. I have an Audi A7 with the ZF 8-speed and that transmission is quicker and smoother, but the 6-speed auto in my new MINI is really fun in manual mode, especially the downshifts. In both up and downshifting, the shifts are quick. In my ’12 R56S manual in S mode, the smog control wouldn’t let the engine RPMs drop fast enough for fast shifts. There is no way anyone can shift the new cars with manuals faster than the ’15 sport auto. And the gearing is much better. First through fifth match the engine’s torque characteristics much better. Sixth is what my old ’12 needed for good cruising mileage.</p>
<p>I have to grant it, t hat I haven’t driven a F56 with the new, improved Aisin transmission. I was really hoping, my next year this time, that the 9 speed Aisin transmission would be out so that I could give it a look. If it is half as good as the reports that Gabe gave it previously, then I’d probably give it a try and make my wife happy. She doesn’t like manual transmission or me driving with one. But then again, she’s never driven the r59 with the automatic. When we go anywhere, I drive, that’s just the way it is.
Guess that I’ll have to bug my local MINI dealer for a test drive in a F56 S, then the JCW when they start arriving in probably, June.</p>