Manual Transmission Pricing Are Going Up in the US – Will MINI Follow?
Cars Direct has a great piece on a trend we all new was eventually coming. Automakers are beginning to position the manual transmission as a premium option or worse, limiting it to higher-end configurations or models.
The all new Mazda 3 is a great example of this. While it starts at $21,895, the only way to get the manual is move up to the $28,395 Premium hatchback — a $6,500 step up in price. The previous generation Mazda 3 Sport offered a manual for as little as $20,240. That’s a $8,100 premium for someone looking to upgrade.
The Hyundai Elantra and Honda Civic hatch also are following this trend of recasting manuals as premium, sport oriented options. Then there’s the entire BMW brand which has committed to the manual but for only the M brand. The standard “Series” cars have sadly (and systematically) eliminated all manuals from their line-up with the exception of the 2 Series and the 4 Series coupe. And the latter will go all automatic when the new generation drops late this year. That means if you want a manual 3 or 4 series you’ll need to step up to an 70k M3 or M4.
The State of the Manual Transmission in MINIs in the US
Luckily MINI USA is bucking this trend. In every the lowest price “Classic” configuration of every MINI mode you can get a no-cost manual transmission (with the exception of the hybrid). In talking with MINI USA recently they reinforced their commitment to the manual transmission and are in fact leaning in to it as a differentiator they have with the rest of the marketplace.
That said there will be some bad news later this year when the upgraded 302 hp JCW Countryman and Clubman arrive as automatic only. And are sources are will resolute that the 2020 GP will indeed be automatic only.
Still we have to appreciate what we have with these cars. For 22,600 you can get the excellent F56 Cooper with a manual and plenty of standard equipment. There are plenty that will say other cars offer more for the money but in our minds it’s the best small hatch on sale in the US at that price. And being able to get a manual makes it even more sweet.
<p>Just a thought, as I have no figures to back this up:</p>
<p>You’re a manufacturer, and only about 10 – 15% of your hatchback-model sales are manual transmission. Most of your cars are leased, because that’s what most people tend to do these days.</p>
<p>A few years from now you have a bunch of these cars coming back, including 10 – 15% manual. So, about 85% of your lease-returns are automatic, but more importantly, they tend to be better equipped cars. On the pre-owned side, having some well-equipped manual trans cars next to the automatics might make them an easier sell, and therefore why the manufacturer requires they have premium features.</p>
<p>Brian, the latest numbers I found online were from 2016 and it showed that about 1/3 were leases. Leasing may be trending up but I find it hard to believe that it has increased that much.</p>
<p>As I said – I had no numbers to back up my thought. You’re right – more research indicates that leasing is not as prevalent as I thought. That said, I do still think that the saleability of a car at lease-end, or after a few years as a trade-in, is a consideration when manufacturers plan out their packaging.</p>
<p>I cannot speak for others, but maybe in MINIworld, manuals are not the oddball hot-potatoes they are in most of the rest of the industry? I know that all 3 of my MINIs were manuals, that were otherwise quite loaded with options, including my 2018 Countryman S All4 MT.</p>
<p>The cost of coal also climbs up in price when coal plants are moth balled and coal suppliers begin to close shop.</p>
<p>it’s time to get over the manual transmission…. it is all but dead…. we race with autos now. manuals are too slow and outdated. yes they feel cool…. but has the time come?</p>
<p>No, it isn’t. No, it hasn’t.</p>
<p>No way are the clunky, jerky automatic transmissions of today better than the Getrag manual. NEVER!</p>
<p>As a fan of manual trans, we have to recognize that MINI manual transmission are far from perfect 😉 So goodbye with not much regrets</p>
<p>What’s wrong with MINI manual transmissions?</p>
<p>For instance gear switching is not exactly fluid between some gears, and generally is not very fast compared to good manual trans (Miata, Porsche, Honda…)</p>
<p>I don’t have experience with a Porsche or Miata, but I’ve always felt that the limit on shifting speed in a MINI has been my own dexterity, not the transmission. And I don’t think I’m particularly slow.</p>
<p>As a “manual or die” kind of driver, I am actually encouraged by this news. For many auto manufacturers the manual was only available on the lowest optioned version of the vehicle, hence forcing you to choose between a manual and a properly equipped vehicle. One of the things I love about MINI from day one was the fact that they did not do this and to this day give you an enormous freedom on how to configure. By removing the manual vs.options issue, I think this is a better scenario, even though potentially overall manual vehicle cost goes up. Hopefully MINI stays loyal to the manual transmission option, and those customers that only drive that way!</p>
<p>MINI has already abandoned us manual transmission lovers on the Countryman. I too am fine with the more options w/manuals. I just hope MINI brings back the manual to all vehicles instead of removing it from more & more models.</p>
<p>The manual is available in all Countryman with the exception of the hybrid. In fact I have a manual JCW Countryman sitting in my driveway right now.</p>
<p>It wasn’t for a good while. Manual was only available on the All 4. Glad to see they brought it back</p>
<p>Cooper S Countryman still doesn’t show manual transmission as an option.</p>
<p>It’s available to order – we’ve confirmed.</p>
<p>good to know ty</p>
<p>My current 2013 Countryman is ay 70+k and doing great but if and when I need to replace it I think I might consider the 4 door hardtop with JCW tuning option and six speed—That looks like a very nice option as new countryman is too big & heavy for me</p>
<p>Actually, we are paying $2k more for a manual than we did before they changed to the new package based options. Previously, the manual was the base transmission offering, to get an automatic it was about $2k more. Now both are offered at the same price. So, my new build with the same options as my last one will cost $2k more. What I would like to know is how this will effect the trade in/resell value of a manual transmission down the road. Will it be worth less than an automatic version of it’s counterparts.</p>
<p>I think this move to include manuals only on sports models makes sense. I don’t have numbers, but I would assume that the manual trans take rate on sports models is higher than on base models. Someone looking for a cheap car probably isn’t looking for the sporting feeling of a manual trans. This is my assumption for the North American market anyway.</p>