Why are fewer manual trannys being produced? I realize about the supply chain; however, with the increasing EPA standards, why aren't auto manufacturers exploring developing manual technology to improve fuel economy?
Adam Trebbe
Champlin, Minnesota
Dear Reader,
There are at least two reasons. Fewer people are buying vehicles with manual transmissions -- by some accounts, the sales of new vehicles with a third pedal are less than 10 percent. Also, letting a computer select the optimal gear ratio means an automatic transmission can often beat the fuel economy of a manual. We hope the manual transmission never goes away, but there are a lot of folks out there who prefer not having to shift gears.
Read more about what vehicles are still available with a manual tranny here: Truck Trend's Ultimate Manual Transmission Truck and SUV Guide for 2011.
-Truck Trend
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you have a question or comment about any thing you've seen on TruckTrend.com, please email us at trucktrend@sorc.com.