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The issue isn't consumer demand but rather dealer demand. US franchise new car dealers live and die by inventory turn rates. Due to the way that floorplan finan
by nradov 1y ago
The issue isn't consumer demand but rather dealer demand. US franchise new car dealers live and die by inventory turn rates. Due to the way that floorplan financing works they can't afford to have a car sit on the lot for months. Most customers who would prefer a manual transmission will take an automatic for a good price, but customers who want an automatic won't take a manual at any price. Thus except for a few sports cars, dealers are almost never willing to order manuals from the manufacturer.
In some other countries the new car sales system is a little different with more consumers wanting to custom order the car they want, then wait for it to be built. In the US, many mainstream brands won't even take custom orders anymore.
- Fezzik 1y agoFor new cars I believe it is nearly 100% consumer demand. I’m a manual fanatic (currently shopping for my dream 93/94 Supra) but the tech for automatics is just too good now. Assistive cruise control doesn’t even work with manual transmissions and I don’t know anyone that wants to buy a new car that doesn’t have that technology. Also, the gas mileage is better, the wear-and-tear on the transmission is less and, as fun as shifting is, unless you’re a hobbyist with multiple cars the incentive of getting to shift just doesn’t outweigh the objective benefits of not having to. Heck, I clearly remember that even in the mid-90s when I was starting to drive manual transmissions were already falling out of style with kids my age buying their first cars.