Glad I grabbed mine when I did, I saw this coming for years... I feel like this will the the start of the end... no more manuals in regular vehicles and then soon after the specialty vehicles with manuals will probably be obsolete as well.

Sad times

 

I agree with your post.

Knowing that demand for vehicles with a manual gearbox has been waning here in the States for years, I took advantage of purchasing a 6-speed HB XSE before the option is taken away. Hopefully the option will remain for many years, but like you, I’m glad I picked up a manual when I could.

 

I wonder if Toyota USA (and Canada) will also alter their model grades going forward. Once the GR Corolla comes out (Still waitin'), would they kill the SE and/or XSE 6 speed?

#Savethemanuals

 

They'd still need a low end affordable "sporty" variant so I'd doubt it. It's like did Honda get rid of the SI when the mighty Type R come out?

 

And yes forever

#savethemanuals

 

Waiting for:

How Do I Manual Swap my 202X _?

That's a lie, people are already asking that...

 

I doubt this has anything to do with being greener. There's just no demand. The younger gens don't want to fiddle with the clutch pedal.

This is going to make money for all the manufacturers. Used manuals will sky rocket. It seems that Toyota won't blaze their own trail. They're following what every other manufacturer is doing. I wouldn't be surprised if they dropped the SE for base and retain the xse. Though, there's nothing in between.

That beater just went up in value to save the manuals.

 

This is sad indeed. It is unfortunate that majority of the general car buying population has no love for the MT. The dealers are not helping either for not bringing them in, judging from the posts here that many people cannot get their hands on MT even they really wanted one. The manufacturers have no choice but make the products that they can sell. It is equally sad that I cannot make myself to love an AT. I tried and the conclusion is NO and really don’t want one again. When I am ready for my next new car, really not sure if any MT will be available.

 

In an ideal world, there would be a Base, a Luxery, and a Sport model. We don't live in that world. We did come close to that in the late 2000s because the Gen 6 Camry was just that but evidently people wanted more so they added more trims.

• 2008 Toyota Camry
  • CE / Base
  • LE
  • SE
  • XLE
  • Hybrid
• 2021 Toyota Camry
  • LE
  • LE Hybrid
  • SE
  • SE Hybrid
  • SE Nightshade Edition
  • XLE
  • XLE Hybrid
  • XSE
  • XSE Hybrid
  • TRD
  • XLE V6
  • XSE V6

 

That's the reason why I ordered my 6MT SE in March. The take rate is so low for this transmission, I wouldn't be surprised to see it disappear after this generation.

 

In the States, the Corolla Hatchback in the XSE trim level is the top tier for this body style, complete with a 7” multi-info display, leather-trimmed seats, and heated front seats (just to name a few features). Well, it’s the top trim level until the GR Corolla is launched (assuming it will eventually be available in this market). I was and am impressed that Toyota even offers a compact car complete with the aforementioned features AND a manual transmission. Note that the manual in the U.S. does not offer the JBL sound system or factory navigation, unlike the XSE with the CVT, which does. Unlike many auto manufacturers that no longer offer a hatchback, especially a hatchback with a manual, Toyota gives buyers a choice. Again, color me impressed! I just hope Toyota continues to buck the trend of no longer offering manuals, but in the end, we know it’s about making profits.

 

Realistically, only Canada and US will be impacted. ROW knows only manual or standard transmissions. Especially in countries like SEAN.

 

But even in the ROW, the manual is slowly but constantly losing ground to automatic… and electric cars.

In North America, a shrinking crowd of enthusiasts still prefer a manual but a lot of people would rather do something else than driving… while driving (phone, fast food) hence a bit of fascination for self-driving cars. Plus the strictly utilitarian perception of cars is growing.

In Europe, manual was never about enthusiasm but economy: cost less, consume less. With modern automatic transmission, the latter isn’t true anymore. And as demand diminish, so goes the cost advantage.

Performance wise, the table is also set. Newer high-end sporty cars not only cost more with a MT (not that it matter much at this end of the market) but their auto version beat them no matter how good the driver. That’s how Aston-Martin justifies their ending of MT…

Those factors may affect less Asian manufacturers as local demand is still high enough to motivate production (with the addition of South America), but still, the same market forces are already changing them as well.

And there is the elephant in the room: most countries plan on phasing out ICE cars in 10 or 20 years from now. Manufacturers won’t invest to develop/produce two versions of models with only a couple of generations left, while spending a lot on electric cars development.

 

In the 12th gen the manaul was only available in the base-spec Ascent Sport anyway, and considering the hybrid is an option across the whole range rather than being a standalone spec the vaaaast majority of buyers were opting for CVT or eCVT anyway. Even in the 11th gen the manual was only in the Ascent (which was deleted for the 12th gen) and Ascent Sport from the mid-life facelift onwards. Main reason why we ended up buying an Ascent Sport instead of a SX or ZR was due to the manual option (the SX did keep the manual as an option for ~6 months after the facelift but we bought 2 years after that, bugger).

 

Thank you for your post and for lending some perspective. The many reviews of the Corolla I’ve watched online from Australia and the UK only show models baring the CVT, which I always found odd (based on my ignorance of what car buyers want in either country). I do recognize that the waning demand for manual transmissions appears to be global.

I will add that even without the option of a manual, I like the looks of the ZR and am envious that the Corolla line in other markets receive options that we do not have in the States; head-up display, heated steering wheel, and even rear vents. I believe there is even the option of a park-assist feature, as well. It’s unfortunate that there is not a high demand for such features in the Corolla’s class in our market. I’ve always enjoyed driving a well-equipped compact car, but recognize that many Americans still prefer driving larger vehicles.

 

Speaking of cancellations in Australia, looks like Lexus is really going to axe the just refreshed IS, and the RC and CT after this year

Axed: Lexus IS sedan, RC coupe and CT hatch to be dropped from local line-up

Lexus has been forced to discontinue three popular models from its range due to new side impact crash test rules from November 2021.

www.caradvice.com.au

 

We will eventually have lesser options to buy good reliable cars and flooded with Korean and Chinese cars down here instead 😕

 

Hyundai and Kia are sister companies I thought, hopefully the warranties reflect equally. Ever since audis designer went to Hyundai the cars look alot better, I driven several new ones over the years but just feels like somethings missing.

 

Even they are the same companies, I think Kia was slightly considered as a less premium in the past. But prefer Kia over Hyundai somehow, mainly with the design I guess. I used to own a Hyundai, the car was ok, but was far from reliable compared to Toyotas that I've owned. But they are always ahead of Toyota in terms of innovative interior design and inbuilt electronic gadgets. However I think Toyota also start to apply these ideas for their new cars and shifting away from white goods on wheels as they used to be labelled.

 

Okay, we know that we want to save the manuals. Unfortunately, the older models with manual will kind of go up in price. Though, these manufacturers could do something like what was done back in the day. Automatics had a small upcharge on certain models. Or, just make it a special order.

 

My wifes car is a 2007 and it is nicer inside and out since all my kids were grown up and had cars of their own by the time we bought it off my Mom and Dad 2 or 3 years ago. So we take it on most road trips and my 2003 get's left at home.

That said it is almost like I am learning to drive all over again since mine is a manual transmission and I engine break all the time and her Camry is an automatic. My 2003 handles better and accelerates and breaks better. Her 2007 has much much more comfortably seats, is quieter inside and on long straight hwy cruising just is smoother and more comfortable. I always end up carrying more speed into corners and breaking late because I am so used to just lifting off the accelerator and immediately slowing down. My brakes last for ever on my 2003 because I seldom have to use them.

Obviously you can not buy what is not for sale but it is sad that loyal customer that have bought many vehicle's are being left behind. If I had a choice between a Toyota with an automatics and a competitors product with a manual transmission I would be hard pressed to stay with Toyota because I just do not like automatic transmissions for 99% of the driving I do. The only time I have ever pined away for an automatic is when you are stuck in road work on I75S heading from Michigan to Georgia for the Summer! LOL

Good thing I am going to be doing body work and repainting my 2003 Camry this Summer. I need to add foam to the seats or just the drivers seat and get some new cloth seat covers tops and bottoms. She is 18 years old but I just put a new clutch in her 2 years ago so she should be good for another 10-15 years! LOL Might need to get some new floor mates and carpet and just keep the old girl going! They only had 2 manual transmission models on the lot and they wanted to get rid of them both! I bought her new $16,000 in 2003. If not for all the salt we use on the roads she would be like new in every way that matters. The clutch and pressure plate were close to new but the throw out bearing had ran dry the grease had dried out.

 

I predict that another unfortunate effect of the endangered MT is going to be a lack of good MT mechanics. Changing a clutch is not a fun job, but learning how to DIY may eventually become a requirement unless you want to pay a premium for using a mechanic with that uncommon skillset

 

That's the whole idea behind this. The manufacturers are losing out to all DIY's. Nobody willing to pay the labor rates when they can do it all themselves.

They need to levy it somehow. Scarcity is one thing, but to force your consumers to buy what they don't like is a gamble for sure. Almost all owners of current manual transmissions are either going to keep driving them or throw them in storage.