Weirdly enough we had a lady bring a manual trans patriot into work and it was the first one I had ever seen. She said her and her husband had to drive several hundred miles just to find it because she didn't want an automatic. So there is still people out there who prefer a manual trans appliance.
In reply to dropstep :
There are some other reasons while "people in the know" choose the manual.
For the Patriot, the auto is a problematic CVT and the manual is much less trouble prone. These CVT issues carry over to many Nissan offerings also.
Interestingly, in the Nissan Versa of this body, the high end interior, The SL, got a CVT and the low end S got a 4 speed auto. I find the low end model to be a much better buy for that reason since the 4 speed auto has a better reputation even if a few mpg's lower.
I have 5 vehicles all with sort of different purposes in life. Up until yesterday 4 were manuals and one was an automatic. I sold one manual vehicle yesterday for a new car with a DCT and so far I am really happy. It's my DD and it's a bit of a relief frankly. So alright it's only been one day but as previously mentioned many of the newer automatics are so nice and crisp you don't miss the feel of a manual as much as before. Does this mean I'll be giving up on manuals?....................oh hell no. But for a daily in traffic a DCT seems to work just fine. Still there is nothing like rowing through the gears of a manual on a twisty back road. The times they are a changing.......slightly. Oh ya I should mention I would never buy anything with a CVT. Ever. Never. Or start/stop technology.........oh don't get me started.
Oh good, its time for the monthly manual vs auto vs dual clutch debate....
Make sure your ad lists whether its manual or auto and make sure the interested buyer knows and eventually you'll get someone to buy it.
And then you fly over to Europe where they don't even have automatic gearboxes for the most part. Seen more than one flumoxed tourist when they realized that the rentals are stick shift by default.
Pete
alfadriver said:tuna55 said:In reply to alfadriver :
If I a searching for the next 2K hooptie, I absolutely want a manual, simply because it's far less likely to be neglected and abused.
I agree with your first point, but not the second. I've driven someone else's Miata a long time ago, who didn't know how to shift. What a mess the clutch and trans were. Manuals are far more susceptible to bad drivers- between the clutch and the syncros- they can really be messed up.
On top of that, I find modern manuals have such little feel, that drivers have no idea if they are doing it right or not.
Yep. I'm pretty sure I'll be replacing the clutch in my MINI due to the previous owner not being quite as good with a clutch as he thinks he is. I don't know what the hell I do differently, but the clutches in my cars seem to last forever... my 2003 TDI (an engine known for abusing clutches) has well over 300K on the original clutch and I've beat the snot out of it.
That said, I agree with a manual being less a priority for me than it used to be. I still like having mostly manual cars in the fleet, but right now my primary driver is a minivan with an automatic.
My ex- is one of those "for the sake of driving a manual" types. The Golf Alltrack wagon she just bought has a 6 spd. She has 5 cars and all of them are sticks, which kind of surprised me since once in awhile her back will go out and operating a clutch becomes painful for her. But the last couple of automatic cars she's owned have been problematic, so that may have something to do with it.
So many comments to comment on.
The ad: It says very clearly in both the title, text and Craigslist dropbox it is a manual. I did that specifically to avoid wasting non-shifting drivers time. And I still get calls from people who can't berkeleying read.
When we bought this thing I searched all over to find a 4x4 with a stick. I finally found on an hour and a half away at a dealer. 2wd manuals were pretty easy to find (and in retrospect I should have just bought one of those. We only used the 4wd maybe four times).
The Patriot CVT I actually learned to like. Totally unrelated to buying ours I had a couple for company vehicles (2wd). At first I hated the CVT but by the time I gave it up I actually loved it. My next one was a standard autobox and it SUCKED.
The stick shift beater Focus I sold had a mostly missing 2nd gear syncro. It was forgiveable on a car that had over 200k on it and was not loved much in the last half of its existence. I finally managed to find that ONE buyer who didn't care and had mechanical sympathy. He's probably still driving that little turd two years later.
I'm a bit surprised it has generated so little interest. It looks good, it's a Jeep (thang) and the perfect winter utility beater for someone with a nice car that doesn't want to subject theirs to our horrid salt and brine. A crappy Subaru with the same miles on it goes for over twice what I'm asking for the Jeep and is no more reliable (BTDT, replaced the wheel bearings and HG's to know).
ddavidv said:So many comments to comment on.
The ad: It says very clearly in both the title, text and Craigslist dropbox it is a manual. I did that specifically to avoid wasting non-shifting drivers time. And I still get calls from people who can't berkeleying read.
You mean you still get calls from people who have no idea what a manual transmission actually is, having possibly never seen or driven one didn't even know it was a thing. They've fallen that far out of favor.
I buy manuals to save money. It freaks dealers out when I ask for the the one with the stick. Saved like 3k on swmbos Nissan doing that. I'll row my own boat for 3k in my pocket thankyouverymuch.
Maybe things are different where you are but I've been shopping a few different cars for the last 6 or so months and NOTHING is selling.
I've only owned manual cars for the last 30 years. I tell people I don't even know how to drive an auto
If you drive in real snow, a proper manual gives a huge control advantage, especially in hilly terrain.
dropstep said:Weirdly enough we had a lady bring a manual trans patriot into work and it was the first one I had ever seen. She said her and her husband had to drive several hundred miles just to find it because she didn't want an automatic. So there is still people out there who prefer a manual trans appliance.
Count me in the oddball group who still wants a manual gearbox even in my "appliance". You should have seen the dealer's eyes perk up when I showed up to look at the 4Runner posted on craigslist when he said which one and I said the manual.
Suprf1y said:Maybe things are different where you are but I've been shopping a few different cars for the last 6 or so months and NOTHING is selling.
I've only owned manual cars for the last 30 years. I tell people I don't even know how to drive an auto
I think this is the case.
I just saw one of the local OKC dealers here has a 2018 Mustang GT Performance Pack Level II, Red with Recaro's, it's being ADVERTISED at $3k off MSRP.
I bet I could walk in this evening and get another $2-3k off it.
NOHOME said:And then you fly over to Europe where they don't even have automatic gearboxes for the most part. Seen more than one flumoxed tourist when they realized that the rentals are stick shift by default.
Just because they don't have them doesn't mean they don't want them. In 2010 I bought a Transit Connect. Since they were new to the US I went looking for a forum and found one based in the UK. My first post was an introductory one describing my TC. Every other comment was about wishing that they could get one with an automatic like mine.
Most of those people used their TC for work driving in the cities over there. And they would love to be able to get an automatic. BTW: the TC was my first automatic in 50+ years of driving.
I'm in the process of looking at a brand new Mazda 3 hatch for near the bottom of the NADA range with a 6MT. The deal offered was less than some used automatic ones I've seen.
Appleseed said:There's another point to consider: you can't bump-start an automatic (at least none I've seen.) That little fact might just get you to work for a few days till you can fix the dead starter.
Some that can drive manuals don't know that can be done. I bump started my daughters old Integra once around some of my daughters friends that all drove manuals and they were amazed that could be done.
Actually there are a couple automatics that can be bump started but it doesn't do the trans any good. I bump started a powerglide once when stuck with a bad solenoid. It did do some minor damage to the trans but I got home. Have to get it going around 20 mph so need a push vehicle to do it.
NOHOME said:And then you fly over to Europe where they don't even have automatic gearboxes for the most part. Seen more than one flumoxed tourist when they realized that the rentals are stick shift by default.
Pete
Went to Germany a few years ago and the rental car clerk asked if I could drive a manual. I told him yeah, I have a Miata and on old Opel GT that are manuals. He asked if it was an original Opel GT, I showed him a picture of mine and he told me they are worth some money in Germany now. Told him not really in the states. He disappeared and came back and handed me keys to a C-class Mercedes. It was automatic but still better than the alternatives.
Most of my cars are older than I am, and I don't desperately feel the need to change that. By the sound of things, I may never feel that need.
Not too long from now you will have issues selling a car that does not drive itself or uses that gasoline stuff...
Wait a minute I thought we all drove our cars into the ground around here and those 'what car' threads were just daydreaming. The most I've bought a car for is $1k. Re-sale value is not really a concern for me. Drive it until it dies which at only a few thousand miles a year takes some effort yet I do try and I'll only buy a auto if it's rare ( the SE-R and the S-10 Sport ). 
EastCoastMojo said:
I'm still envious of your awning, Mojo. You've got the only manual 4Runner I've ever seen, too.
This discussion is timely for me. I'm getting ready to buy a new work car through my company car program. Resale is kind of important, as I have to replace it in 5 years or 150,000 mi. The front runner is the Accord Sport 1.5T with a 6 sp. manual. The manual is a bit of a weird choice for a work car, but I'm thinking it won't be long before I won't be able to buy a practical new car with a manual anymore. Resale is not a big part of the equation, but I'd like to be able to sell it when it's time to replace it.
In reply to Boost_Crazy :
I bought new a 2011 Accord 5-speed, sedan for my work sales car - we have to get four doors. 155,000 miles and 6 years later it sold in 1 hour on an eBay listing.
Most customers thought it was odd that you can still buy a stick shift car then asked me why I bought a stick shift car.
I have to believe there's enough of a market for used cars with row-your-own gearboxes that it really oughtn't hurt resale too badly. There's always going to be some chucklehead like the rest of us who goes into Craigslist and ticks the "Manual" box in the transmission option.
I am feeling the pain of this right now, trying to sell my very nice DD Milan with a stick. It would appear no one wants a low end "luxury" sedan with a stick. Even for $2000 I cant move this thing. I don't know if its just a slow economy overall or if the curse of the stick is hurting me pr a combo of both.
One of you wierdos should buy it for a winter beater.
The Mustang I sold with a stick before getting this car, sold very fast even though it was a V6.
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