Youtor
WHERE ARE THE MANUALS GOING
>> YOUR LINK HERE: ___ http://youtube.com/watch?v=srbu_uMMtT0
INTRO 0:00 • A BRIEF HISTORY OF MANUALS 0:41 • WHY MANUALS ARE DYING 1:35 • THE NUMBERS, HOW BAD IS IT: 3:10 • WHY ENTHUSIASTS LOVE MANUALS: 3:35 • MANUFACTURERS KEEPING THE MANUAL ALIVE: 4:29 • CAN MANUALS SURVIVE: 5:20 • WHY MANUALS ARE WORTH FIGHTING FOR: 6:00 • THE FUTURE OF MANUALS: 6:28 • • Once upon a time, driving a stick shift was a rite of passage. The clutch pedal, the gear lever—it was the ultimate symbol of driving purity, a way to show the world you were more than just a commuter. But in 2024, manual transmissions are circling the drain, and it's got car enthusiasts wondering: Are manuals dying? Or is there still hope for the third pedal? • Today, we’re digging deep into the history, the decline, and the future of the manual transmission. We’re gonna talk about how we got here, why manuals are disappearing, and whether car enthusiasts can save them. Let’s get into it. • First, a little history lesson. Manual transmissions have been around since the dawn of cars. Back in the early 1900s, they weren’t just an option—they were the only way to drive. You had a gear lever, a clutch, and a whole lot of mechanical connection to the car. If you wanted to drive, you had to know how to shift. • By the mid-20th century, manuals were standard in everything from family sedans to sports cars. But in 1940, Oldsmobile introduced the Hydra-Matic, the first mass-produced automatic transmission. Automatics started gaining traction in the post-war era, and by the 1980s, they were everywhere. Still, manuals held their ground, especially among performance enthusiasts who valued control, connection, and the ability to heel-toe downshift like a boss. • Fast forward to today, and manuals have gone from being the standard to the underdog. Let’s break down why. • Why Manuals Are Dying • 1. Automatics Got Really Good • Back in the day, automatics were clunky, slow, and inefficient. But technology has come a long way. Modern automatics, especially dual-clutch transmissions (DCTs) and torque converters, shift faster than any human ever could. Take the Porsche PDK or the ZF 8-speed found in BMWs—these gearboxes are masterpieces of engineering, delivering lightning-fast shifts and better fuel economy than manuals. • 2. EVs Are Killing the Vibe • Electric vehicles don’t even have traditional transmissions, let alone manuals. An EV’s single-speed drivetrain is smooth, efficient, and completely eliminates the need for gears. With the automotive industry moving toward electrification, manuals are starting to feel like relics of a bygone era. • 3. People Stopped Learning • Here’s a brutal truth: Most people don’t know how to drive a stick. As automatics became the norm, fewer and fewer people bothered to learn how to operate a manual. Today, only about 18% of American drivers know how to drive a stick shift, and even fewer care enough to learn. • 4. It’s All About the Bottom Line • Car manufacturers are businesses, and businesses follow the money. Manuals are expensive to develop, require different tooling, and have limited appeal. Why spend resources on a manual when 99% of buyers are going to choose the automatic? • --- • The Numbers: How Bad Is It? • Let’s put some numbers behind this. In the 1990s, about 25% of cars sold in the U.S. had manual transmissions. By 2020, that number had plummeted to less than 1%. In 2023, the manual transmission was offered in only 30 cars—globally. Compare that to the hundreds of models available with automatics or CVTs, and it’s clear the manual is on life support. • Why Enthusiasts Love Manuals • If manuals are so unpopular, why do enthusiasts fight so hard to keep them alive? Because driving a manual isn’t just about going from Point A to Point B—it’s about the experience. Here’s what makes them special: • 1. Connection to the Car: When you drive a stick, you’re in complete control. You feel the engine’s power through the clutch pedal, you decide when to shift, and you’re physically involved in the process. • 2. Fun Factor: Let’s face it—there’s nothing quite like rev-matching a perfect downshift or banging gears on a backroad. • 3. Simplicity: Manuals are mechanically simpler than automatics, which means fewer things can go wrong. They’re cheaper to maintain and repair. • Can Manuals Survive? • Here’s the big question: Is there any way to save the manual? It’s tough to say. On one hand, the market is shrinking, and EVs are taking over. On the other hand, there’s a growing appreciation for analog driving experiences. Manuals are becoming cool again, like vinyl records or film cameras. They’re not practical, but that’s part of the charm.
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