Do buyers still have a passion for manual transmissions? This question is more relevant today than ever, as most new vehicles are offered with automatic transmissions.
Fortunately, manual transmissions are still available, especially in performance vehicles. This is the case with the Subaru WRX, which offers either a 6-speed manual transmission or a continuously variable transmission (CVT). If you're curious about what proportion of buyers choose the manual transmission, I have the answer for you.
8 Out of 10 Buyers
According to Subaru, more than 8 out of 10 buyers opt for the manual transmission when it comes to the WRX. In fact, we’re talking about a rate of 83%, which is huge. This is great news for manual transmission enthusiasts, as it increases the likelihood that the manual option will remain available for as long as possible.
Fun to Drive
The Subaru WRX is one of the best sports cars you can buy, and this is especially true in Canada. It’s one of the few vehicles that combine all-wheel drive with a manual transmission, making it both fun and safe to drive in summer and winter. It’s also a high-performance car thanks to its 2.4-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder engine. This engine produces 271 horsepower and 258 lb-ft of torque, making the car quite lively, especially with the 6-speed manual transmission.
What About Electric Cars?
Although it may not seem directly relevant, I believe it’s important to talk about electric cars. In my opinion, they won’t replace all gasoline-powered cars, but that’s not the point. The fact is that several manufacturers have started working on developing a manual transmission that can be paired with an electric motor, which I find absolutely brilliant. This shows that manufacturers still see potential in the manual transmission, and there’s a future for it, even if all cars become electric one day.
A Future for the Manual Transmission
The statistic confirmed by Subaru regarding WRX buyers' preference for the manual transmission is impressive. However, Subaru isn’t the only manufacturer in this situation. For example, certain variants of the Porsche 911 leave the factory with a manual transmission 75% of the time. The very popular Mazda MX-5 is sold with a manual transmission 60% of the time. All this to say that the manual transmission is here to stay.
Jean-Sébastien Poudrier
