Save the manual series – our knob fiddling days are numbered

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Save the manual series – our knob fiddling days are numbered

There’s something changing in the automotive world. A change for the better? Certainly. You don’t need a certain teenage Swede sensation to tell you that we’re in a climate change crisis, and the future of the tiny blue dot is at great risk.

But even though we are fully aware that it’s crunch time to go green and save the planet, a small, tiny part of us just can’t get used to the idea of whizzing about in soundless EVs.

Let me rephrase. A tiny part of us just can’t get used to the idea of whizzing about in EVs with synthetic engine sounds.

But this isn’t about EVs and engines. Well, maybe a bit about engines, but not entirely. With the internal combustion chamber facing the skyfall, so too will it spell the end for the manual transmission gearbox. And that’s what’s worrying.

Why do we like a manual transmission?

There are two kinds of drivers. The first kind only puts tush to cush to get from point A to B. Home to work. Work to home. That’s it. If they could do it in a go kart, they would (not throwing shade at go karts, but if you see one in traffic, let me know).

And then there’s the second kind. These are the ones who have a special relationship with their car. Kind of reminds me of this:

They want to feel the gears changing. They get a kick out of the perfect shift. And they will not rest in peace until they’ve hit Route 66 in a ‘69 Shelby GT500, enjoying the growl of 8 cylinders making love to a modest 4-speed stick shift.

It’s the second kind we’re catering to today. The first kind can enjoy zipping around in whatever Tesla EV they so desire, but for all the petrolheads out there who don’t want to see the end of the stick shift, let’s raise our knobs together and save these hot damn manuals from a sure demise!