Damn it!
Looks like Car & Driver’s Save the Manuals campaign isn’t having too much of an affect on automakers as there is now word that Cadillac is considering dropping the third pedal for the 2012 model year of the CTS V6. GM hasn’t specified why dropping the manual is being seriously considered but it’s likely due to slow sales. Apparently people like having a car that drives them, which I don’t understand. If you’re the driver, you should drive the car not the other way around. The way to do that is to have a proper manual transmission.
That said, it’s not like the manual tranny in the CTS is really all that great. In fact, it sucks. Badly. In my review of the 2010 CTS, I wrote:
“…my tester didn’t have was a manual gearbox from this decade. The CTS is the first Cadillac to offer a manual transmission option since the Cimarron, and they either took it directly from a 1988 Cimarron or they just plain don’t know how to make a proper manual. The throws are about as long as a football field and it’s very clunky from shift to shift. On top of that, it’s awkwardly placed. It’s raised too high, the stick is too long and you actually have to bend your wrist back to a 90 degree angle for shifts to 2nd, 4th, or 6th gear because the centre arm rest gets in the way.”
I then went on to suggest that a perspective buyer might be better off opting for the automatic. But back then, I had no idea that Cadillac was seriously thinking of axing the manual transmission option. In light of this news, I rescind my remarks! Despite how bad it is, I still maintain better control and more enjoyability can be had over the boring, gutless 4-speed automatic. I also suggested that the problem with the manual transmission could be easily fixed if they fitted the short throw manual from the CTS-V.
Speaking of, the manual transmission will thankfully stick around for all CTS-V models for 2012.
But yeah, let’s hope GM reverses this decision. All you need to do is make a better manual and you’ll get more sales, GM. Which you are clearly capable of as evidenced in the CTS-V. No need to scrap the manual all together, just use that gearbox (or at least elements of it if cost is an issue) to make it better. Seriously, take my advice on this one, GM.
[Inside Line]
No manual transmission = no sale!