Quote:
Originally Posted by crypticc
I'd read that manual was only an option THIS time around because of the American market. Which is funny because UK has been staunchly manual for a long time and believe it or not USA automatics were a running joke for a long time amongst many Brits. The tide has turned
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Well, it is actually more the irony than anything.
Among 'normal' drivers/driving, the MT usage rate in Europe is much higher than in the USA. But over there, manuals are common in entry level cars, etc.
In the USA, most cars aren't offered as a manual. Entry level, etc, are all autos.
SO on this side of the world, the MT is a niche/enthusiast's feature (for us 'real drivers'...at least that is what we tell ourselves
)
Over there it is much more 'yeah, sure, MT, I could buy a cheap Opel or Renault if I wanted that, a serious driver has the latest/greatest dual clutch gizmo...'
So in the end, we have more manuals where offered in high end cars, but nowhere else. You have more everywhere else, but fewer in high end cars.