he manual transmission was once the foundation of the automotive industry. But now, manual transmission-equipped cars are hardly selling, and fewer people know how to drive stick than ever before – or so it seems. Is the death of the manual transmission greatly exaggerated, or are we at the end of the line for the manual gearbox? In this month's Roman Report, we discuss the history of the manual transmission, why it was popular, and how it began to decline. We'll also go over some theories as to why this is happening, and why there is reason for optimism.

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Chapters:
00:00 Manuals are not long for this world
01:54 Volkswagen and Honda announcements
03:42 The rise of the automatic transmission

04:29 Why manual transmissions were popular

06:15 The fall of the manual transmission

10:32 The history of the manual transmission

13:04 Why are manuals declining?

15:44 It's a skill issue

16:57 No, it's the cost – but also an age thing


20:52 No, it's the enthusiasts' fault

26:01 Reasons to be optimistic

30:40 A glimmer of hope

31:45 Ending/Sources/Photo Credits


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