[Car-Addicted]

We Asked Every Automaker How Many Customers Went For Manuals In 2023
Jan 17, 2024
While the manual transmission is not a popular option in the big scheme of things, it seems to have found a comfortable niche.
So we reached out to every automaker that sells a manual car in the US to share take rates for manual-transmission models. Some gave us detailed data, some declined to give anything.

Integra Manual Take Rate: 22%
All in all, 22 percent of the 32,090 Integras sold in 2023 had six speeds and a clutch pedal for a total of 7,060 cars.

M2 Manual Take Rate: 50%
M3 / M4 Manual Take Rate: 20%
BMW it still offers a standard manual transmission in the M2, M3, and M4. They’re popular, too, with over half of M2s sold here so equipped and around 20 percent of M3s and M4s.
The manual has proven strong enough for BMW to put the gearbox into the Z4 M40i in a US-exclusive trim.

Cadillac
CT4-V Blackwing / CT5-V Blackwing Manual Take Rate: Nearly 50%
Cadillac is the only GM brand to offer manual-transmission cars.

Chevrolet
As the Camaro ended production late last year, Chevy no longer has a manual offering.

Ford
Mustang / Bronco Manual Take Rate: Not Provided
While Ford offers a manual on both the Bronco and the Mustang, the automaker declined to provide take rates. A spokesperson simply says the company is “proud to continue offering manual-transmission options on the Bronco and Mustang.”

Honda
Civic Manual Take Rate: 7%
The Integra’s more egalitarian sibling, the Civic, offers a manual on many trims. It’s available on both the Sport and Sport Touring Hatchback, and is the only transmission offered on both the Si and Type R.

Hyundai
Elantra N Manual Take Rate: 25%
Hyundai’s only manual offering in the US is the Elantra N sport-compact, and of all those sold last year, around 25 percent had a manual transmission.

Jeep
Wrangler / Gladiator Manual Take Rate: Not Provided
The Wrangler and Gladiator are among the few trucks that still offer a manual transmission, but Jeep declined to provide figures.

Kia
Forte Manual Take Rate: Around 2%

Mazda
MX-5 Miata Manual Take Rate: 60%
Mazda3 Manual Take Rate: Not Provided

Mini
John Cooper Works 2-Door Manual Take Rate: 51%
Cooper S 2-Door Manual Take Rate: 22%
All Other Models: 11%

Nissan
Versa and Z Manual Take Rate: Not Provided
The new Nismo Z is automatic-only, a decision that’s proved controversial among enthusiasts.

Porsche
718 / 911 Manual Take Rate (On Models With Manual Offered): 40%
the split was generally 40-percent manual, 60-percent dual-clutch on 718 and 911. The spokesperson doubts that has changed much.

Subaru
BRZ Manual Take Rate: 79%
WRX Manual Take Rate: 74%
Impreza/Crosstrek Manual Take Rate: 1.6%

Toyota
GR86 Manual Take Rate: 48%
GR Supra Manual Take Rate: 43%
Tacoma Manual Take Rate: 1.4%

Volkswagen
Golf GTI Manual Take Rate: 50%
Golf R Manual Take Rate: 40%
Jetta GLI Manual Take Rate: 40%
Jetta S/Sport Manual Take Rate: 5%

https://www.motor1.com/news/705017/m...on-sales-2023/

[Efthreeoh]

The Bronco offers the manual only with the 2.3L Ecoboost. As I remember the stats from '21 and '22, the take rate of manuals for the 2.3L was 35%.

[gblansten]

Did MTs for a very long time. They were fun. Not as enthused at this point. I really just need one reverse and one forward gear with a 23,000+ redline.

[kyriian]

Surprised the GR86 take rate is lower than the BRZ

[RM7]

I vote no, since I took it to mean if you are just going to have one vehicle.

[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by kyriian

Surprised the GR86 take rate is lower than the BRZ

I've heard production for the GR86 is substantially higher than the BRZ. Probably harder to get one at all, so might as well hold out for the correct transmission.

[murderspice]

Depends on the car. Some are more suited to MTs; others, AT. For example, I suspect the high MT uptake on the g87 has a lot to do with FOMO on the ‘last’ manual bmw will offer, even though the consensus appears to be that the AT suits the car/engine power delivery better.

[No one]

Originally Posted by murderspice

Depends on the car. Some are more suited to MTs; others, AT. For example, I suspect the high MT uptake on the g87 has a lot to do with FOMO on the ‘last’ manual bmw will offer, even though the consensus appears to be that the AT suits the car/engine power delivery better.

That (you chose an AT M2) must hurt, indeed! The cars suited to AT are the cars suited to infotainment - not driver's cars. I "suspect the high MT uptake on the G87 as a lot to do with" it's being the most "affordable" MT BMW (I even thought it was the only one already).

[ppointer]

I have more cars than necessary, all of them having some merit. My go-to is a 2012 e92 335i with MT. That's the one I would keep if I had to sell everything else.

[JayML]

I think the % would go way up for M3/4 if they offered AWD.

An AWD M3 is completely different than an M3 RWD.

Plus they don’t offer the manual in competition mode.

I bet you it would be 50 to 60% if they did both.

[Donatello.]

Surprised the Miata is only 60%. I wouldn't buy a Miata with an auto

[DocL]

My F80 6spd is my daily. My weekend toy is a manual. When it's time to buy my son a car it's gonna be a manual. I've always driven a manual for the past 45 years, and I hope to keep driving one until they take away my license.

[GolfCoyote]

If I could have gotten an xDrive M3 in manual I absolutely would have gone with that over the auto.

[Mason Hatcher]

Your question and the poll don't match. Which one do you want answered?

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

Surprised the Miata is only 60%. I wouldn't buy a Miata with an auto

Totally agree. I owned a miata for almost 10 years before I sold it. I have so much fun with it. Of course it is a manual.

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by DocL

My F80 6spd is my daily. My weekend toy is a manual. When it's time to buy my son a car it's gonna be a manual. I've always driven a manual for the past 45 years, and I hope to keep driving one until they take away my license.

I did to my kids too when they are old enough to drive. Driving a manual make them less likely to txt/check messages, day dreaming, falling asleep....while driving. It is much safer and force them to use the brains while on the roads.

[W///]

Bought my first M with 2 pedals recently, and this is now my personal preference:
Manual with NA, turbocharged with DCT/AT.

Having said that, if I could only have 1 car, it'd still be manual only, but I will reluctantly admit that the DCT pairs better with the S55 than the 6MT. There's still nothing like a high revving engine paired with a manual!

[M2siast]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

Surprised the Miata is only 60%. I wouldn't buy a Miata with an auto

I suspect rental companies inflate the numbers for automatics... All of these Miata rental cars are automatic (as any rental now), so that throws off the number.

I would guess the ratio for actual humans going in and buying a Miata is 90% manual and 10% auto.

[eugenebmw]

Originally Posted by W///

Bought my first M with 2 pedals recently, and this is now my personal preference:
Manual with NA, turbocharged with DCT/AT.

Having said that, if I could only have 1 car, it'd still be manual only, but I will reluctantly admit that the DCT pairs better with the S55 than the 6MT. There's still nothing like a high revving engine paired with a manual!

You remind me about those Honda VTECH, it is like day and night from 6000 rpm and up.

[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

Surprised the Miata is only 60%. I wouldn't buy a Miata with an auto

Retweet. A girl I know has an automatic 2018 Miata and it sucks. Like it's shockingly bad. Everything (especially space and visibility) is so compromised due to the sporting nature of the car, then the soul is completely sucked out of the car due to the wrong transmission. At that point you're left with an anemic-feeling car that is terrible at almost every additional measurable metric. To be fair she bought it used, and I realize that the 2019 models got a notable bump in power, but anyone buying a Miata new, and opting for the automatic, is a literal moron.

[erickonphoenix]

I daily'd an MT 2016 Mustang GT for a few years. I was amazed it had "creep mode" in manual. Which meant in stop and go traffic it just worked like an AMT. No clutch just brake and go with traffic. Only a complete stop you'd have to engage the clutch again. It was pretty genius. I put 100k on that car on the stock clutch so I'm guessing it wasn't overly slipping for me.

[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by nicholasn

Retweet. A girl I know has an automatic 2018 Miata and it sucks. Like it's shockingly bad. Everything (especially space and visibility) is so compromised due to the sporting nature of the car, then the soul is completely sucked out of the car due to the wrong transmission. At that point you're left with an anemic-feeling car that is terrible at almost every additional measurable metric. To be fair she bought it used, and I realize that the 2019 models got a notable bump in power, but anyone buying a Miata new, and opting for the automatic, is a literal moron.

Except for the people that buy auto due to medical reasons of course