Fabia RS in Australia late 2011.

[Brycem]

I wasn't talking specifically about VAG product but cars in general. All current markets will be dwarfed by China and India and I can't see manuals going down in a big way in those markets as they develop. Cost pressures will also force decisions about single transmission options only.

I think the reason why Euro people historically drive manuals is that the average buyer has only had a small under powered car as the affordable option. Driving manuals wasn't so much a choice as a financial necessity with large automatic cars being the domain of the upper class wealthy. That will now be changing very,very quickly.

Have you ever been to Europe?

[SKODA vRS147]

I wasn't talking specifically about VAG product but cars in general. All current markets will be dwarfed by China and India and I can't see manuals going down in a big way in those markets as they develop. Cost pressures will also force decisions about single transmission options only.

I think the reason why Euro people historically drive manuals is that the average buyer has only had a small under powered car as the affordable option. Driving manuals wasn't so much a choice as a financial necessity with large automatic cars being the domain of the upper class wealthy. That will now be changing very,very quickly.

Sorry K1W1 you are wrong on this one.
Europeans like to drive a car and enjoy the experriance of a manual, it has absolutely nothing to do with cost or class.
And i can assure you that even the biggest car park in the world (M25) does not make people move to automatics. And you can spend along time getting around that car park.

[spellbound]

Sorry K1W1 you are wrong on this one.
Europeans like to drive a car and enjoy the experriance of a manual, it has absolutely nothing to do with cost or class.
And i can assure you that even the biggest car park in the world (M25) does not make people move to automatics. And you can spend along time getting around that car park.

Your right all over europe the manual reigns supreme , even in A8 , 7 series they love a real drivers cars , but the true story is in the taxis , all manuel , its just our stupid love of all things american that drives the auto rubbish in australia .

My lady loves her manual .

[dru]

There is an element of control that is always missing with auto gearboxes, even DSGs. I find it harder to parallel park Octavias with DSG. I thought it was just that mine had sensors where the hire cars didn't but then realised there was a lag particularly when parking on hills.

That element of control is what I missed when I bought my first auto car, decided never to go back to auto after that

[pologti18t]

One particular reason why manuals are popular in Europe.. fuel economy.
Small cars take a drastic hit to fuel economy when fitted with a normal torque converter automatic.