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Why so few economy cars with manual tranny?
Have you ever noticed how nearly impossible it is to find one of these vehicles with a stick? Frankly, I don't understand why they're so rare. These are precisely the vehicles you want equipped with a manual tranny. In a vehicle with as little spare power as these have, you want as much power being transferred to the drive wheels as possible, and that's accomplished with a manual. Sticks are also more fuel efficient, which is the main reason for these vehicle's existance, isn't it?
I realize more people prefer automatics to manuals, but I don't believe the numbers are nearly as overwelming as is the ratio of autos to manuals produced. I believe if the auto makers built more, they'd sell more. The only reason I believe they don't sell is because they aren't available.
When I bought my Corolla stick, it took me 2 months to find it, and even then I was dam lucky to be the first person who called the very honest and decent previous owner because 2 people had offered her the full asking price between the time I called and the time I was able to go look at it. She turned them down because she promised me first chance because I was the first caller. Lucky for me she did.
Granted, this was a used Corolla, but even if you log onto autotrader.com and look for new Corollas and Yaris' with manuals, they're extremely hard to locate without having to travel long distances to get one.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I probably wouldn't own one of these cars equipped with an auto. Manual tannies last longer than autos, they're more fuel efficient, and they're just plain more fun to drive. And yet Toyota (as well as others) have decided they're only going to put a manual tranny in 1 out of every 10 (or fewer) of their vehicles that are available with manual trannies. I'm not following their logic, and frankly it makes me pretty dam upset! Does this thinking make any of you throw up your arms and say what the he11!
I realize more people prefer automatics to manuals, but I don't believe the numbers are nearly as overwelming as is the ratio of autos to manuals produced. I believe if the auto makers built more, they'd sell more. The only reason I believe they don't sell is because they aren't available.
When I bought my Corolla stick, it took me 2 months to find it, and even then I was dam lucky to be the first person who called the very honest and decent previous owner because 2 people had offered her the full asking price between the time I called and the time I was able to go look at it. She turned them down because she promised me first chance because I was the first caller. Lucky for me she did.
Granted, this was a used Corolla, but even if you log onto autotrader.com and look for new Corollas and Yaris' with manuals, they're extremely hard to locate without having to travel long distances to get one.
If you haven't figured it out by now, I probably wouldn't own one of these cars equipped with an auto. Manual tannies last longer than autos, they're more fuel efficient, and they're just plain more fun to drive. And yet Toyota (as well as others) have decided they're only going to put a manual tranny in 1 out of every 10 (or fewer) of their vehicles that are available with manual trannies. I'm not following their logic, and frankly it makes me pretty dam upset! Does this thinking make any of you throw up your arms and say what the he11!
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Comments
The second reason is because fewer and fewer people know how to drive a stick, and the number of people who can will continue to decrease. So why stock something that most cannot drive?
Third, I think Toyota (and others) are only making manuals to advertise a low price - then, when the person comes in to buy, they decide to spend that extra $1,000 for an automatic.
MPG is only better by 1-3, so this is not too much of an issue anymore, but the manufacturers get to advertise their higher manual MPG, not the autos.
Bottom line: Toyota and the others make more $$ by selling autos, because that's what "we" want. If you really want a stick, order one. It will take longer, but is it worth the wait? I think so.
Finally, although a FEW people disagree, MOST people, including you, recognize that manuals are more reliable, even if you have to replace a clutch. And SOME people think manuals are more fun to drive!
Also, look at Toyota's target market for these cars - young people that probably cannot drive a stick. The other market is older people, and this group probably has driven a stick long ago, but has no desire to any more.
2006 Corolla LE Manual.
Driving from Telluride to Denver -- 322 miles, I used exactly 7 gallons. 46 mpg on the dot. I had one adult passenger and luggage. Speed ranged from 50 to 80, averaging 70. Maybe there was a tailwind. I doubt the total elevation lost of 3000' made a difference.
I love this car!
Back to the autos vs manuals thing. Do more people want autos than manuals? Sure, but I don't think the ratio is 100 to 1. I would say 2 or 3 out of every 10 people would buy a stick if there were more available, but because they aren't, they settle for an auto. The 100 to 1 ratio of autos to manuals typically seen with the Corolla is your auto makers hard at work taking away our choices. They only want to provide what the majority wants, and they expect the rest to compromise.
that being said, i guess i was extremely lucky to find my manual yaris hatch. it was litterally rolling off the truck when i got there back in, eh, i guess april or so, and i picked it up immediately.
btw, is there anyway to check, via vin number or something, what number in the production line my vehicle is? i really have to believe that its one of the first 500, maybe even 100
And yep, the dearth of a manuals is due to the greater profit in autos (cost, economy of scale on the supply chain) and the lack of demand in the U.S. Most of us Americans are too dang lazy to drive a stick. It's fine with me that our stick was passed over on the lot for a few days-- the thing is a blast to drive.
Perhaps there is something to them not selling. Again, perhaps on an LE model, they would sell better, just reporting my findings on the SE 4cyl model
It's kind of one of those chicken and egg things. People don't have to learn anymore, so they don't. Then the demand drops, so they make fewer and people have even less reason to learn.
I think it's a real shame.
We simply had to dump our 1991 Midnight Black Jetta (Lucy)... The end was defined by the moment I stepped on the clutch, and the pedal basically crumbled to the floor. I hooked up a bungee to operate the clutch. After a day or two, I began to wonder about the consistency of other components of the vehicle...
There were two 2006 Corallas on the lot sixty days ago. One, an automatic -- spoiler, fog light automatic S, and a "non-silly blingy" LE stick. Love at first sight for the latter.
Lucy II is White, which is great. She's reminiscent of my Super White 1991 Tercel, the first "aerodynamic" Toyota design (some folks wondered if it was a Benz at the time!). It was also the first to sport the double-hoop logo (ye-ha).
However, I really did like the color of that S...um, I would say bal*sy blue, but evidently it's "Indigo Ink Pearl".
I wonder what the ratio of Corolla LE's are auto v manual?
Holy crap, please tell me you live in Canada.
$18K. All the options add up.
Lowest price I've found around town is 15K out the door with tax tag and title. Only option is a cruise control.
I'll happily pay $500 for a plane ticket to save $4K
Thanks.
It's a simple fact that nobody in Mass is looking for a stripper, standard tranny Corolla....and the dealerships have a really hard time moving them. It's worth it for them to take a loss on the car just to get it off the lot, so they can fill that spot with a more profitable model.