So, I've taken a couple of trips with my son in his 2009 Kia Rio5 ,and it's a decent car,but an autotragic. I go looking on Kia's website to see what a new one would go for and I'd want a manual transmission. Surprise,the only one you can get with a manual is the base car. Anything else with options has to be purchased with an automatic. If I want a manual and a few options it's not available, so no power windows or locks, for example. When will the madness end !!!
Modern society is lazy one...
Yeah, I'm right there in the same boat... it's really frustrating to see cars only offered with a 5-speed in stripper models, and anything above that having an automatic standard.
Of course, this is 100% because their sales numbers support the idea that "no one" who buys upper tier models buys them with a manual transmission... at least not here in the US.
Welcome to America. Is this your first visit?
Who wants auto locks and windows? Just more stuff to break, and with a Rio 5 you should be able to reach all doors from the driver's seat to unlock/roll down the windows anyway.
yea, who's the berkeleying genius who decided 5-speeds only need to be in a stripper model
... not that there's anything wrong w/ strippers
actually, there is a "power option" for the LX, just not showing on the "build it" side of the website.
so why would you want power windows and locks. Strip out the radio, AC, backseat, panels and extraneous plastic/ metal -- not a bad car.
Problem one is that you are limited to stripper version for manual.
Problem two is finding a dealer who will sell you a manual stripper version
I have learned in the last few years (more like forgetting then remembering again) that the build my own feature on manufactures websites leave out packages and options actually available on their cars. Technically it's just to get an idea of what there is out there.
why the WRX rules....it is ONLY available in a good old-fashioned three-pedal manual transmission. Can't get an autotragic. Can't get paddle shifters.
CAN get the Limited/loaded versions with a manual ;)
and the WRX comes with mandatory head gasket changes every 100k, premium fuel and roasted clutches for free. 
Bobzilla wrote: and the WRX comes with mandatory head gasket changes every 100k, premium fuel and roasted clutches for free.
abalone, them's the late 90's foresters. If a WRX hasn't been owned by a moron kid (that leaves out about 90% of them), the transmission, clutch, and headgaskets are fine. Cheap as hell to fix, and easy to make fast. I'd say they are one of the performance bargains of our time.
imirk wrote: Who wants auto locks and windows? Just more stuff to break, and with a Rio 5 you should be able to reach all doors from the driver's seat to unlock/roll down the windows anyway.
even in a Rio try that while driving in heavy traffic and be prepared for the resulting accident .... sooner or later...
I'm not much of a Nissan fan, but you can get the Altima, Altima Coupe, Juke, Sentra, Versa, and up until '07-ish you could get the Maxima with a manual, all in just about any trim level.
Bobzilla wrote: and the WRX comes with mandatory head gasket changes every 100k, premium fuel and roasted clutches for free.
you're living about a decade in the past, and relying on the reports of the car forum teenagers who like to do drag launches at every light while running 400whp bad tunes on stock clutches.
I have two friends with Z06's who have replaced their clutches in the first 20k miles. Powerful cars wear down clutches, that's the way it is. If I have to replace a clutch every 100k miles, it's hardly a major sticking point to having a 300hp AWD car.
Premium fuel is true....but there are plenty of other cars not called "WRX" that use premium as well, so unless you're going to discard all of them as worthless, that's not much of a point.
(btw, I have a fuel map that lets me run regular. Only used it once though, because it drops the boost levels, and what's the point in buying a fast car and making it slower?)
Surprised you didn't say transmissions, because that's the fallacy that most people point toward being the weak point of the WRX. Another myth perpetuated by the drag-racing, clutch-dumping kids who think powershifting at 18psi of boost is a good idea.
Grab a chevy cruze eco. 42+ MPG, lighter, lower, big alloy rims, and more aerodynamic (front lip, etc). ONLY comes in a 6 speed manual box, and is only a bit more expensive than the base.
Bigdaddylee,
if you want a Juke with AWD, you have to take automatic. I could be wrong, but I seem to rmember that the 2012 Altima coupe with a V6 is now auto only. The only Sentra models available with a manual are the "base"/stripper model, tho in fairness you can add a few options, and the Spec V (or whatever they are calling the top performance Sentra). Versa is next to impossible to get a manual SEDAN in 2012...if they build it they are making it difficult to locate, the hatchback is also like the Sentra in that the "lower priced" models have manuals as standard while the "high-line" models don't offer it.
Toyota offers manuals on a lot of their cars and trucks, but you are more likely to find a unicorn than a manual transmissioned car or truck at a Toyota dealer.
Do yourself a favor and stick with a used one. New cars make zero sense, especially when you have to start choosing option packages blah blah blah blah...
DeadSkunk wrote: Anything else with options has to be purchased with an automatic. If I want a manual and a few options it's not available, so no power windows or locks, for example. When will the madness end !!!
The new Focus is the same way. My g/f really likes them and one would have been considered if something were to happen to her MINI. But with the way the current packages are sold, not going to happen.
I was impressed that the Ford Fusion used to be available with all the good stuff like leather and climate control (SEL trim level) but still combo'ed with the manual trans and 4 cyl...at least up till 2009. Any more, the manual on only the lowliest of models.
In reply to integraguy:
True, AWD Juke is stuck with the craptacular CVT.
I hate all that is Versa, and all but the SE-R Sentra, seriously who still uses rear drum brakes these days? So I haven't paid that close of attention to them. I know I've seen late model non SE-R Sentras with Nav, and power, with manuals.
We've had some VERY nice, 4 and 6 cylinder, optioned out 6-speed Altimas (Coupes & Sedans) come through the service drive at work. Leather, Nav, Premium Audio, etc. I haven't kept up with the '12 model year models, so if things have changed it's news to me.
I've shopped the new Passat TDI (we own an '09 Jetta TDI) and the only Passat diesel with a manual on the web site is the bare bones, no sun roof, cloth seats, etc. Haven't actually been to a dealer yet.
Twin_Cam wrote: Do yourself a favor and stick with a used one. New cars make zero sense, especially when you have to start choosing option packages blah blah blah blah...
QFT
People who whine about premium fuel are one step above Prius owners.
Seriously, STFU. It's a whopping $4 more per fill-up, and that's not taking the increased performance/mileage into account that higher octane fuel affords (via more advanced timing, increased compression/boost, etc).
Twin_Cam wrote: Do yourself a favor and stick with a used one. New cars make zero sense, especially when you have to start choosing option packages blah blah blah blah...
I find this not to be the case. I usually can get a better deal than the average Joe on a new car. So when looking for a used car 1-3 years old they seem to either be the same price as new or sometimes even more. Mainly because they are upside down on there car loan.
I test drove a one year old used Nissan pickup (because the dealer did not have a new one with stick) and was looking at getting a new one. He asked would you be interested in the used one? I said yes but would have to be significantly cheaper then the new one. He looked it up and could not sell it to me for the price of the new one. (They had a $2000 factory rebate going on).
Not to mention finding a relatively new used car with a stick is getting harder and harder to find.
Some makes this may not be true like Mini (they don't budge much on the sticker price)
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