Hi, I used to be a regular on here, apparently my account got deleted after not being around a few years.

Anyways, I sold my B5 S4 years ago and spent years travelling all around the globe. I've now settled somewhere and plan to get another Audi. A friend was telling me yesterday that he was reading in some magazine that A4's will no longer be offered with a manual transmission. I find this hard to believe but if it's true looks like I'll be getting something used. Although I was considering that anyways since I loved my old S4 so much I'm thinking of looking for another Nogaro Blue B5. It was the perfect car for me IMO, plus I'd have much smaller payments which doesn't hurt.

Nope Audi still builds cars with manual transmissions. Just not as many as before. You can still get the A4 and S4 sedan and the A5/S5 coupe with a manual. And of course the R8, however not many can swing that one!

according to Audi's website there is still a 6 speed manual, but it doesn't look like a 6 speed manual on the fwd models only the 2.0 quattro.. I'm sure all the s models will have it as well, the new s4 is 333 hp 30mpg hwy might be something you might consider if cost isn't that big of an issue.

Many Europeans still prefer manual, so it'll be here for some time. But I bet once the DSG trannys start getting cheaper, a lot of people might opt for that.

Many Europeans still prefer manual, so it'll be here for some time. But I bet once the DSG trannys start getting cheaper, a lot of people might opt for that.

Doubtful that this will happen as Europeans are so attached to their manuals. Personally, so am I. A car just drives better and you feel more in touch with the car and the experience with a manual.

When I bought my current car, it was the first time I went with an automatic with a "manual" feature. It was less than satisfying and I'll be picking up my new A4 with manual in a few weeks and taking a nice loss on the current car.

To me, having the manual is such a better experience it was worth the cost for me.

Doubtful that this will happen as Europeans are so attached to their manuals. Personally, so am I. A car just drives better and you feel more in touch with the car and the experience with a manual.
..
To me, having the manual is such a better experience it was worth the cost for me.

I'm with you 100% but it's not because the europeans like manuals that we'll get them in north america.. just look at all the engine choices they've got there, we barely have any. An even better example is the avant, automatic only in north america. :(

I'm with you 100% but it's not because the europeans like manuals that we'll get them in north america.. just look at all the engine choices they've got there, we barely have any. An even better example is the avant, automatic only in north america. :(

Good point... although as long as one can special order a car I think the manual's will continue to be offered in the States. Then again, perhaps wishful thinking on my part :D.

Manual transmissions are done. People in the past resisted electric starters, electric lamps, hydraulic brakes, air conditioning, and any VW/Porsche with a water pump. I invite anyone who thinks they like throwing gears better than hitting switches to take some instruction on the race track. Your lap times will go down, and your excitement will soar.

An electronically controlled automatic with locking torque converters can shift faster than you can tell your foot to find the clutch. What is putting the final nail in the find'em, grind'em-and-go boxes is the gas mileage. The greens are using bad science to pass laws that insist you save fuel. Audi has no desire to support two tansmission sku's anyhow.

Manual transmissions are done. People in the past resisted electric starters, electric lamps, hydraulic brakes, air conditioning, and any VW/Porsche with a water pump. I invite anyone who thinks they like throwing gears better than hitting switches to take some instruction on the race track. Your lap times will go down, and your excitement will soar.

An electronically controlled automatic with locking torque converters can shift faster than you can tell your foot to find the clutch. What is putting the final nail in the find'em, grind'em-and-go boxes is the gas mileage. The greens are using bad science to pass laws that insist you save fuel. Audi has no desire to support two tansmission sku's anyhow.

I hear ya. I think my new car will be the last Manual Trans for a while... I see a family in my near future :)

I invite anyone who thinks they like throwing gears better than hitting switches to take some instruction on the race track. Your lap times will go down, and your excitement will soar.

Been there, done that and disagree.

I drove the first Audi TT 3.2 DSG to hit the shores (even before the magazines) in the UK on track at Oulton Park and also on the road . The Sport mode was very impressive on track and not too bad on the road.

However at the end of the day I felt I was missing out on something. I think it's that the challenge of hooking up your best lap is all about the challenge and the more you make it easier then the less the rewards. It's the same as ABS. It's much nicer on track to be able to pin a Caterham/Lotus 7 on the maximum braking with even the odd puff of smoke from a momentary lock up than it is just to slam on the anchors and let the car sort it out. I'm glad you like "automatics" (in which I deliberating place the DSG/S-Tronic gear box) but don't be so blinkered to belive that we all share your view.

The manual is not dead. I'm very glad that I was able to purchase a 2.0T A4 Avant 6MT otherwise I'd have been forced to go with another brand.

Manual transmissions are done. People in the past resisted electric starters, electric lamps, hydraulic brakes, air conditioning, and any VW/Porsche with a water pump. I invite anyone who thinks they like throwing gears better than hitting switches to take some instruction on the race track. Your lap times will go down, and your excitement will soar.

An electronically controlled automatic with locking torque converters can shift faster than you can tell your foot to find the clutch. What is putting the final nail in the find'em, grind'em-and-go boxes is the gas mileage. The greens are using bad science to pass laws that insist you save fuel. Audi has no desire to support two tansmission sku's anyhow.
You'd have a point if people's only reason for buying a manual was to maximize their speed or track times. I would guess that I could squeeze marginally better performance out of my car with an auto, but that doesn't mean I'd enjoy myself more. Shifting gears is a huge part of the enjoyment to me.

And while Audi certainly seems headed in the direction of eventually eliminating manuals in the U.S. market, they will still be supporting two transmissions sku's in Europe for many years to come.

How can you:

- Smoke
- Drink your Starbucks
- Eat a Big Mac
- Use your cell phone
- Send text messages
- Put on makeup (the ladies)
- Shave (the guys)
- Whack your noisy kids who are fighting in the back seat

With a manual transmission ?!

Manual transmissions are only "done," kaput or over from a certain point-of-view. Unfortunately, that point of view (in the US, at least) is "customer acceptance."

American customers seem (to me at least) to be unable to drive a stick shift car and/or unwilling to purchase them in any significant quantity to warrant their widespread inventorying (even on the models that offer them.)

Here is the killer (for me at least): if you can find a manual transmission "in stock" it will inevitably be a strippie.

I had to special order my all optioned 2003 Audi allroad 2.7T 6spd manual -- not that I minded, so much. I had to order one because the only one in stock that was a manual was completely optionless.

The reason, or so the dealer claimed, "if you want a stick shift you want the bottom of the barrel in features, functions, options and price."

Bovine scatology -- I thought.

Now, well, manual transmissions are an acquired taste, sort of like, er, anchovies on a salad or pizza.

I give.

Besides, I have now had two Audi tiptronics (6 speeds) and much as I might miss the rowing, I am delighted with virtually every other aspect of the tips (and of course the DSG's when they finally replace the tips.)

I'm tired of being the screaming voice in the wilderness. Besides, giving your manual equipped $50,000 car to a car wash attendant or valet, is trolling for trouble. Half of them don't even know what the third pedal is.

The main point is: "They don't sell well here in the US of A!"

I'm tired of being the screaming voice in the wilderness. Besides, giving your manual equipped $50,000 car to a car wash attendant or valet, is trolling for trouble. Half of them don't even know what the third pedal is.
None of my cars have ever been to a car wash, so that's no problem. But I haven't run into any difficulties with valets either. I usually pay attention as they drive off and they almost always seem to handle the stick fine. Manuals must not be rare enough that valets aren't comfortable driving them.

None of my cars have ever been to a car wash, so that's no problem. But I haven't run into any difficulties with valets either. I usually pay attention as they drive off and they almost always seem to handle the stick fine. Manuals must not be rare enough that valets aren't comfortable driving them.

Haven't had any problems with valets handling stick...but I have had them have issues with the ebrake. I usually stick around because last time the guy had to wave me back to ask how to release it. Minor hassle, but I'll deal with that all the time if I can always have a stick!!

Manual transmissions are done. People in the past resisted electric starters, electric lamps, hydraulic brakes, air conditioning, and any VW/Porsche with a water pump. I invite anyone who thinks they like throwing gears better than hitting switches to take some instruction on the race track. Your lap times will go down, and your excitement will soar.

Take this to the logical conclusion. Not too far from now they can likely build a car that can drive itself around the track using synthetic vision and navigation sensors faster than a human can. Your job will be to sit there and don't touch anything. Technologically superior? Sure. Will you pay the (likely high) cost premium to brag about the faster lap time your car can put in? Will you have as much fun doing those laps?

Some people like manual transmissions -- arguing the superiority of a DSG etc isn't really the point. Are manuals in luxury cars an endangered choice for "luxury" cars in the US. Absolutely.

I'm a fan of the manual boxes -- I like doing it myself, the satisfaction of each and every good shift and the subtle "reminder" of the bad ones -- it keeps you constantly involved in DRIVING the car. The added benefits of a $1200 savings and 90 lbs of weight savings over the already too heavy front axle are gravy.

Some (strike that -- most) don't want that -- I understand, disappointed, but understand :)

I honestly believe that people who can drive stick are better drivers. They need to now exactly how their car behaves. They know the limits of their car. And most importantly, they have to anticipate traffic to plan shifts.

How can you:

- Smoke
- Drink your Starbucks
- Eat a Big Mac
- Use your cell phone
- Send text messages
- Put on makeup (the ladies)
- Shave (the guys)
- Whack your noisy kids who are fighting in the back seat

With a manual transmission ?!

...all at the same time...
(BTW, you forgot about playing the piano on your steering wheel)

8-)

what their car is doing to be able drive it.

But, in my 25 years of driving, I've never seen any indication that people who are driving a manual transmission are actually better drivers on the public roads.

And yes, I've owned many manual transmissioned cars.

Yes - The Europeans really love their stick shifts! We had some interesting experiences while living in Italy (U.S. Navy assignment to Naples) about 10 years ago. We had an almost new Audi A6 when we transferred overseas and I didn’t want to brave the streets of Naples in that big new car so we sold it. We just figured on buying a small used European car in Italy. We were surprised to find that about 95% of the cars available in Italy were stick shifts! My wife cannot and won’t drive a stick shift. The very few cars there that were auto trans were large luxury Mercedes Benz, Audi, etc. The Italians we met thought the only person who could possibly want or need an auto trans would be disabled! We did find an old used Passat (a giant car on the roads of Italy) with an auto trans but it was ailing. Italians are notorious for not taking care of cars and early Passat auto transmissions were very problematic. The auto trans soon failed and we had to junk the car because repairs would have been much more than the value of the car. Then we found a low mileage MBenz 190E with auto trans and that was very nice even though we paid a whole lot more than we expected we would. Finally, as a second car, we found a used Lancia Y-10 with an auto trans. It was a rare model that had been special ordered from the factory by another American. It had a 1.1 liter engine and a 2-speed auto but it was a real kick to drive because it was so light weight. The best possible car to have in Italy is very small and very fast!

I can't resist, because these are the same statements I used to make. And, while I do NOT disagree with your opinion, I have now come to the conclusion that what you say is only true, for YOU (and maybe me.)

Really, this statement, "And most importantly, they have to anticipate traffic to plan shifts," hardly convinces even me (a manual transmission zealot for years now) that planning shifts, due to my anticipation is a characteristic of that suggests "better driver."

Distracted driver, perhaps.

Look at it this way, I do NOT have to plan my shift, I can plan my escape route, become a more defensive driver if I have to spend any of my brain on the mechanics of driving. I need to spend my time on logitics on defensive measure scenarios and the like.

If I have to "plan my shifts," that simply does not contribute to me being a better driver.

Having said that, stick shift driving, generally speaking can be and often is more fun, can make you, as a driver, feel you have more control -- but these days, even the tiptronics are quick and their programming choices are usually damn near uncanny in their appropriateness to the situation. DSGs are even better.

I'm all for the fun of the stick, I used to buy the better driver argument -- but these days, damn, the technology is usually just as capable if not moreso -- and it frees me up to concentrate on driving strategy rather than driving tactics.

My brain has been sucked out, apparently, for I no longer buy the argument stick shifts make for better drivers. I do, however, still support the notion that driving a stick is often more fun.

"Plan" shifts ???

I haven't driven a stick for almost 20 years but I do recall that it was almost intuitive to drive a stick. A seasoned stick driver doesn’t even think, they develop an almost autonomic function that senses speed, driving conditions, engine speed, etc.

at least the price won't be more for the auto. sort of

"Plan" shifts ???

I haven't driven a stick for almost 20 years but I do recall that it was almost intuitive to drive a stick. A seasoned stick driver doesn’t even think, they develop an almost autonomic function that senses speed, driving conditions, engine speed, etc.

I guess that's very good to hear. I know how to drive stick, but never actually owned a manual car, so I'm not at that level yet where it's second nature.

I guess that's very good to hear. I know how to drive stick, but never actually owned a manual car, so I'm not at that level yet where it's second nature.

It doesn't take long, after a day or two driving stick and going back to an automatic, your left foot is looking for something to do when you start the car. :) I switch between a manual and auto all the time, sometimes one gets confused.

Big stick shift fan here! Then again I do hail from europe haha


It's just more fun to me. Although I have to admit an automatic is nice when you're in a slow moving traffic jam.

Let's not forget that, at least with current model Audis, manual transmissions yield about 10% better gas mileage than automatics. As CAFE standards get tougher, and fuel prices increase manuals could very get a second look from the buying public.

Let's not forget that, at least with current model Audis, manual transmissions yield about 10% better gas mileage than automatics. As CAFE standards get tougher, and fuel prices increase manuals could very get a second look from the buying public.

That gap will be filled with the rolling out of S-Tronic/DSG transmissions across the lineup. The S4 shows that its comparable to the manual in terms of fuel economy.

Let's not forget that, at least with current model Audis, manual transmissions yield about 10% better gas mileage than automatics. As CAFE standards get tougher, and fuel prices increase manuals could very get a second look from the buying public.

Yeah right. My A4 is manual and I'm sure it consumes more than an auto. The driver plays a big part.. with manual, I find you tend to drive it harder since it's more fun.. but that comes at the cost of fuel efficiency.

Yeah right. My A4 is manual and I'm sure it consumes more than an auto. The driver plays a big part.. with manual, I find you tend to drive it harder since it's more fun.. but that comes at the cost of fuel efficiency.

Oh how true it is. With a spirited enough driver even the best fuel-sipper will burn through a tank. Oh well, at least manual gives you a thrill while you're doing it :D

Oh how true it is. With a spirited enough driver even the best fuel-sipper will burn through a tank. Oh well, at least manual gives you a thrill while you're doing it :D

Yeah, Clarkson got better mileage in an M3 than a Prius around the Top Gear track. The M3 just had to keep up with the Prius which was being driven flat-out. You could say that neither car was being driven as they would be in the real world.

@need-TQM

Funny that you mention it, that's what was very subtly referring to. Love that show, but it's true that a lot of it has to do with the driver.