Well you can't really call BS on the simple statistics. The fact is that the VAST percentage of drivers do not want a manual. Heck, the reason the Hummer was spec'ed with an automatic is that the military didn't want to have to train all the soldiers how to drive a stick and the VAST number of recruits didn't know how to drive a stick. Sad but true.
I think a better reason HMMWVs were not spec'ed with sticks is because the stick would've been between the rear seat passengers.
Well you can't really call BS on the simple statistics. The fact is that the VAST percentage of drivers do not want a manual. Heck, the reason the Hummer was spec'ed with an automatic is that the military didn't want to have to train all the soldiers how to drive a stick and the VAST number of recruits didn't know how to drive a stick. Sad but true.
Have you ever seen how long the linkage is on a VW Kombi manual trans...
View attachment 199387
The diesel opt could be a big one though. Nothing else out there to compete.
Is that with or without the extra tax that would be imposed due to it being imported? If it was due to the tax, it could be solved by having production at one of their US plants... not easy work, but doable if they thought sales would be worth it. Which they probably don't; hence why they haven't.The VW would cost as much or more than a fullsize, its just not worth it to bring it in for a few enthusiasts.