The demise of manual transmissions?

[platinumXR]

It's not about how fast a a box/clutch set up can change gears to get the fastest time imaginable, I bet the 458 or the Datsun Playstation can change gears quicker than a Tamagochi can devour a Pokemon and poop a digital nugget...but that's not the point.

It's about disconnection from the machinery and the driving experience, or the journey rather than just simply arriving.

For example; a Datsun Playstation has so many computers, yaw sensors, wiz-bangery and 'press-buttonry' that it really kinda detaches the driver from driving the car. Yes I have driven one too, BTW. Impressive: yes, fast: yes of course, built for outright speed and winning: yes, but boring? well....yes I kinda think so.

Audi & BMW et. al. do not have a manual option on their rocketships because most of the people who buy the cars now...are either not licensed for manual cars or can't (read: never been taught) drive a manual anyway. And more commonly drive to their apartment blocks in Cities and can't use cluthces properly in traffic. Auto's do have a place in cookie-cutter commuter cars, I will concede as all my work cars are auto and as I work in high density / hight traffic...where you can't (read: shouldn't) crank it up and wring it's neck.

Unfortunately, as the majority of a particular city population will live in a high density, therefore high density traffic area...manuals will slowly fade away into the annals of Wikipedia history and sadly, few will understand the imprecise connection that driver / machinery had once relished in order to commune with the universe and God's of gears & oil. Knowing how to drive a manual does make you a better driver, but in a different way that few will ever understand having not gone a certain way to attempting to master it.

True petrol heads will understand, it's not always about the look, it's about the feel, the immersion.

Too many computers can really suck all the fun out of the purpose of the experience.