No more stickshifts?

[Mischief007]

I've been trying to price out a new GMT900 and it offers no manual whatsoever. Even the smaller trucks only offer the manual with a 4-cylinder but not the 5-cylinder. Why?? Looking at every brand and NOBODY offers a stickshift in a full size truck unless it is a small truck.

This utterly sucks.

[knightfan26917]

My sister is running into the same troubles.

She currently has a 1997 S-10 manual (extended cab). She has decided, as much as she loves her truck, she really wants something brand new. Can't say I don't understand how she feels.

So, she's been shopping. She has tried Chevrolet ... nothing. She has driven (gasp) Ford ... didn't like what they had to offer (believe it was one of the SUVs, but I'm not sure). She has driven Dodge ... and actually liked the Dakota manual she drove (er, I think it was the Dakota). She also has tried Mazda, Saturn, and a handful of others. She is "setting her sights" on an offering of Nissan, believe the Frontier.

She is still disappointed ... because she wants to buy another Chevrolet, but Chevrolet doesn't offer what she needs/wants..... Sadly, I know how she feels.



Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker
PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort
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[HawkeyeOC]

Few people buy manuals anymore I would guess. I was reading somewhere in either magazines or in the forums about the predicted demise of the manual transmission in the no so distant future at least in the US. I love them though. I have a manual in the Mustang for the weekends, but for work it is too much a pain in the rear to drive CA roads without an auto. It's sad

[CobaltSScrazy]

i really like the 5speed Cobalt my bro has, not enough power and i have trouble aggressively shifting 1-2 but its still tons of fun. any advice on how to not "bang" the stick into gear and get a bunch of wheel hop/tire spin which you shift aggressively? Do you slip the clutch a little more or what do you do? B/C i want to know how to shift really fast over WOT!

CobaltSScrazy

[redimpss5]

The new automatics do so well, and with so much to do in the car, who wants a stick? Have you driven the new Allison 6 speed? It does everything for you, including downshifting to 4th and maintaining speed downhill.

[Coville]

Not a big enough market for GM to offer that option on trucks man. They can't afford to have a factory pumping out full sized trucks with sticks, just a poor use of resources...

[Mischief007]

But there are people who still prefer shifting their own gears. Yeah automatics have come a long way in these trucks but just offer a manual as a factory ordered option. Or share the transmission with another manufacturer. I prefer a manual as a daily driver. I need to have some fun on a commute to/from work.

CobaltSSCrazy
I chirp with summer tires on a 1-2 at WOT shift and slightly spin/wheel hop with my winter tires. Best result I found was at the track where it was barely noticable with my summers. Mind you I do have a heavier vehicle than the Cobalt. I hear lots of people with some decent modifications actually drag race from 2nd gear instead of 1st. I don't slip my clutch during any hard shift at WOT. This car likes to be shifted hard and at redline. Never missed a gate. In the quarter I only use the first 3 gears. I'm at redline crossing the 1/4 mile mark.

[TexZR2]

I talked to a guy who works at the Shreveport plant where the Colorado's are built and asked why the 5speed manual is no longer available with the I5 engine.

His reply when he asked around:
------------------------------
This is the only response I could get -

RATIONALE / DESCRIPTION

IN AN EFFORT TO REDUCE COMPLEXITY, DO NOT OFFER MANUAL TRANSMISSION (MA5) ON 5 CYLINDER ENGINES (LLR) ON REGULAR CAB MODELS (S/T 15403), CHASSIS CAB MODELS (S15603), AND EXTENDED CAB MODELS (S/T 15653) FOR ALL COUNTRIES OF SALE. CURRENTLY, THE LLR/MA5 COMBINATION IS NOT AVAILABLE ON CREW CAB MODLES (S/T 15643).
---------------------------------
This could also be the same reason for the GMT900 platforms. My 2 cents.

[mini1]

GM won't even put a rear slider in my regular cab so don't get your hopes up for a manual transmission any time soon!!!

[HoosierRon]

Originally Posted by Mischief007

But there are people who still prefer shifting their own gears.

Hear! Hear!

We WANT manuals. End of discussion. And those of us who want manuals are willing to pay more for them, even though they are cheaper to make. I don't care if GM and Ford (and Chrysler) go together and make them all in one factory to decrease cost. I just LIKE driving a manual. I'll pay for it. Just give me the option.

[rearden82]

Originally Posted by redimpss5

The new automatics do so well, and with so much to do in the car, who wants a stick? Have you driven the new Allison 6 speed? It does everything for you, including downshifting to 4th and maintaining speed downhill.

Training wheels take care of balancing a bicycle for you, but does that make them desirable for experienced cyclists? Personally, I don't want the car to do everything for me. I enjoy shifting for myself. It makes driving much more fun and engaging.

Furthermore, sometimes I want slushy, imperceptible shifts. Other times I want to squeal the tires and get whiplash at every gearchange. I have never driven an automatic that can downshift as smoothly as one can with a manual, thanks to the ability to rev-match between gears. And I already know which gear I want to be in at any given time; I don't want the computer to play guessing games.

So when automatic transmissions become telepathic, I'll give them a second thought. Until then, I prefer manuals by far.

[knightfan26917]

Originally Posted by HoosierRon

We WANT manuals. End of discussion. And those of us who want manuals are willing to pay more for them, even though they are cheaper to make. I don't care if GM and Ford (and Chrysler) go together and make them all in one factory to decrease cost. I just LIKE driving a manual. I'll pay for it. Just give me the option.

My sister shares your sentiment. As I noted earlier in this thread, she wants another manual truck ... currently has a 1997 S-10 and wants to buy something brand new this year. Looks more and more like she is going to go with the Nissan Frontier, but she wishes she could buy a Chevrolet instead, even if it would cost a lot more. But, Chevrolet does not offer what she wants, so she is bummed. While I don't want a manual, I know the feeling of being bummed that Chevrolet doesn't offer what is wanted....



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[thetrick]

Even trying to locate a used manual truck is fairly difficult if you want a GM, they just didn't sell that many.

[Mischief007]

Originally Posted by thetrick

Even trying to locate a used manual truck is fairly difficult if you want a GM, they just didn't sell that many.

Exactly. I've seen one and it was just amazing to look at it. I want it then and there. It was a black regular cab, long bed, 2wd. I want 4 wd though.

[mini1]

Originally Posted by thetrick

Even trying to locate a used manual truck is fairly difficult if you want a GM, they just didn't sell that many.

I had a manual 95 reg cab long bed 4WD 5.7L V8 Silverado that I just sold. It only had 71k miles on it since new. I special ordered it in late 94. I sold it in only 6 days! ...first person who test drove it said, I'll take it! I cannot wait for my new 07 Sierra, however I will miss the manual (to some extent). I've got cars that still have the stick, so I'm happy!