Do Stick Shifts Have a Future?

[komodo]

I just read this article on BMW's views for the future of manual transmissions. Good read.
http://www.usnews.com/usnews/biztech....htm?track=rss

Do stick shifts have a future? BMW's view

I recently interviewed Tom Purves, CEO of BMW North America, at the German automaker's U.S. headquarters in northern New Jersey. In a couple of weeks, U.S. News will run a feature on Purves's views of the auto industry, the economy, and BMW's future, but I wanted to post a bit of more urgent news: Tom's take on standard versus automatic transmissions. With the advent of new "clutchless" manuals, known by names such as Tiptronic or, in BMW's case, Sequential Manual Gearbox, some purists worry that the old stick- shift-and-clutch arrangement is headed for the finish line. The clutchless manuals, after all, offer almost the same advantages, allowing drivers to shift gears using a special mode on the automatic transmission lever. BMW's SMG also features Formula One-style shift paddles on the steering wheel.
We discussed the virtues of the two transmission types while driving BMW's new M5, a superpowered version of its 5-series sedan with a 500-horsepower V-12 engine. Turns out BMW planned to build only an SMG version of the M5. "But we got many requests to build a [conventional] manual, too," Purves explained. "There's a great affection for the traditional manual gearbox among many enthusiasts. But only in the United States. Europe is more focused on Formula One, with the faster paddle shifters. In the U.S., the pinnacle of motor sports is NASCAR, and they have four on the floor. The Hollywood image of a race car driver is him shifting down here," Purves pointed out, waving his right hand near the M5's shift lever.

So I asked Purves, a Brit who has lived in both Europe and the United States, which he prefers. "If I were really faced with a choice, I'd be swithering," he said—that's a British colloquialism that means drifting from side to side. But when I finally pinned him down, he admitted, "I'd go with the traditional manual gearbox." But it depends on the car. "In the M3, I'd choose the manual gearbox with a stick on the floor. SMGs work better with big powerful engines. For one thing, it's impossible to downshift into the wrong gear."

If only the rest of us could choose between two BMW options. But Purves does offer reassurance to motoring enthusiasts on a budget: Stick shifts, while fading in popularity, will most likely be around for a long time. "In the U.S., the automatic has been the standard transmission for years, and the manual transmission has been something more exotic. It still seems exotic and desirable."

[xsperf]

correction, 500hp v10

[Hoppy]

that article is the biggest pile of crap. who in america is buying a BMW and watching nascar? trying to compare our ( as a BMW market) choice of transmissions to what our nation may watch for racing is rediculous, especialy when the two markets ( BMW buyers, and Nascar watchers) couldnt be any more UNRELATED.

[EnvyM3]

eh?

I am a bmw buyer and occasionally watch Nascar

[TerryY]

I watch every Cup race. I have done so since the 80's

If F1 is on at a reasonable hour, I'll watch that too but 4:30 on Sunday morning is a bit much.

A REAL race fan will watch just abuot anything with wheels turning in competition

Even tractor pulls and lawn mower races

[Dudesky]

I've mentioned this a while back; that I never really saw a reason to have a stickshift on a high output engine. For everyday drivers of course . . just imagine money shifting your brand new M5. I don't give the general public much credit- a lot of people think they know how to drive a manual. But race car or supercar owners would be a different story tho.

[craig]

Originally Posted by TerryY

Even tractor pulls and lawn mower races

guilty


whats money shifting? i dont get it...

[TerryY]

Money shifting is missing a shift and reving past where the rev limiter would save the motor.

Alternatively I have heard it used for those "Early" downshifts where someone finds first instead of third and has the dubious distinction of seeing the tachometer needle out in the blank area past where the numbers stop.

Cubic Dollar$$$$ are the only fix at that point, so therefore "Money Shift"

[Dudesky]

Originally Posted by TerryY

. . . and has the dubious distinction of seeing the tachometer needle out in the blank area past where the numbers stop.

[B_w.]

i hope bmw always offers a stick shift. i can see the advantages of smg but i think that takes away from the driving experience. its not always about going as fast, or shifting as fast as you can.

[drz]

I am certain that the traditional manual will die out eventually. SMG is better. Don't get me wrong -- I like the feel of a traditional manual, and would rather get a manual over an SMG. However, when the technology becomes cheaper, and eventually spreads to all car manufacturers, I believe the top-of-the-line vechiles will start dropping out the manual. We don't have 3-speed or 4-speed cars anymore. Fuel injection took over also. Once the manufacturers are able to define stable firmware -- *giggles* -- I believe they will start pushing for SMG, marketing it as a feature that not only improves performance, but also improves reliability, and who knows what else they will come up with. However, I don't think this shift will happen in the near future. We will be able to find manuals for a while. I believe most manufacturers will first go through a stage of standard 6-speed manual transmissions before everyone moves to clutchless. I doubt you'll be able to buy a brand new car with a clutch pedal 30 years from now.

[catalyst]

Yes they do. Even if they are not standard on a lot of new performance cars in the future, they will always be present because of how cheap they are to make.

They are cheaper than automatics and therefore will always be standard on a lot of european and asian econobox's.

[Numark318i]

Originally Posted by xsperf

correction, 500hp v10

lol i was about to post on that.
for some reason i did not like that article. no reason really..jsut didnt like it
yea i dont think standard manual trannies will be for a while..i personally think it adds to the driving experience.(i have never driven an SMG so i cant compare)

[delmarco]

"do stick shifts have a future?"

WTF!!!!!!!

people are dying from Tornados in Illinios and we are asking this question?

[Storamin]

Originally Posted by delmarco

"do stick shifts have a future?"

WTF!!!!!!!

people are dying from Tornados in Illinios and we are asking this question?

people are driving automatic 318's and you're worried about Illinois!