this week's Wrangler rumor: no manual trans for 2017

[haven]

http://truckyeah.jalopnik.com/the-next-jeep-wrangler-might-not-have-a-manual-transmis-1778703485

This article says a marketing company hired by Jeep was asking attendees at last week's Overland Expo if they could do without a manual transmission. Only 10% of Wranglers are sold with manual trans, according to the article.

Of course, the marketing company asked other questions, too. How about a three speed transfer case?

 

[toymaster]

You read the article wrong it says between 10 and 20%. I'd have to have some documentation from a reputable source before I even believe it was as low as 20%.

 

[Omar Brannstrom]

Probably in US there are more % manuals but on the total sales that includes export wranglers many countries dont have manuals as a option. In Sweden there are only automatics. In Germany only automatics http://www.jeep.de/preisliste/665.pdf. In UK I can not find any manuals as a option. In australia it looks like they have manual as a option

 

[kojackJKU]

3 speed transfer case sounds awesome. street, off road, and crawl ratios. very cool@

 

[(none)]

Would be a sad day. I enjoy my manual trans. That being said, a 3-speed t-case does sound interesting.

 

[Hilldweller]

The pussification of a proud breed.
humbug

 

[Mitch502]

Driving any automatic "convertible" would be terrible...embarrassing, lol.

I don't buy 20% or less are sold with manuals. At least not in the US. I'd even go as far as to say more than 50% are manuals...

 

[comptiger5000]

I'd be a little surprised if they actually drop the manual. Especially with Chrysler being the only company that still sells a 1 ton pickup with a diesel and a manual...

 

[Hilldweller]

...

I don't buy 20% or less are sold with manuals. At least not in the US. I'd even go as far as to say more than 50% are manuals...

Out of 580 respondents on this enthusiast Wrangler forum, 50.69% automatics
http://www.wranglerforum.com/f274/poll-do-you-have-an-auto-or-manual-transmission-1561761.html

 

[SSF556]

Manual are a dying breed...it is not only Jeeps. Class 8 tractors are slowly losing the 10 speed manual transmission as well. To meet EPA/GHG requirements truck OEMs are having to transition to Automated Manual Transmissions to maximize fuel economy.

I wonder if back in the day the guy who had a fleet of horses and trailers wondered to himself about the "pussification" of America when the internal combustion engine showed up. :smiley_drive:

 

[Hilldweller]

...

I wonder if back in the day the guy who had a fleet of horses and trailers wondered to himself about the "pussification" of America when the internal combustion engine showed up. :smiley_drive:

Probably called it the unmanlification though...
But think about it. 150 years ago our ancestors walked most places and only hitched up the horses when it was a long trip. They had a 30" waist or smaller, no type-2 diabetes, and had a working vocabulary more than twice that of a modern American.

First we'll lose the manual. Then it will be self-driving cars. Mark my words...

 

[thethePete]

They also died before they turned 60, and never travelled far from home with the exception of those that migrated west to settle. Jus'sayin...

But yes. I think it's horrible that they're considering dropping the manual, for several reasons, and I do think they're fudging the numbers down to try and justify getting rid of it. No doubt it's emissions requirements driven more than anything. Surely the cost to manufacture the manual transmission doesn't outweigh it's portion of the vehicle price.

 

[Buddha.]

I did a search on cars.com for new wranglers. 6500 showed up, after clicking the manual option the results are reduced to just under 1,000.

The results for wrangler unlimited are 21,000 and 2,000.

This must not be the best way to determine how many manuals are sold.

 

[Hilldweller]

They also died before they turned 60, and never travelled far from home with the exception of those that migrated west to settle. Jus'sayin....

Most of my male ancestors lived into their late 70s and 80s, all the way back to the 1500s.
Diet and exercise, sir.


CARB and laziness.
Overall, the "enthusiast class" of consumer is a small demographic. Most people buy a vehicle as a appliance. Those appliance operators want the simplest, cushiest, and most entertaining product for the buck.

Some of my colleagues are working on the self-driving cars. Trust me; it's coming. And there are actually people stoked about it, about not having to do the chore of driving.

 

[Mitch502]

Is it just newer tech that allows automatics to get better fuel mileage? It seems like manuals always get the same, if not better, MPG?