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As enthusiasts we lean on our inspiration, creativity, and amazing possibilities to get us through the negativity and help us focus on the reward at the end of the road. It is always nice to hear about something encouraging and that might be directly related to our movement, our communities, and the influence they have on the course of the industry. We can confirm that inspiration is alive and well within the latest industry news feeds where we have recently learned that 8 out of 10 consumers who have purchased the Subaru WRX have chosen one equipped with a manual transmission, not the commonly offered automatic. For lovers of the joyful drive, this is a hopeful and positive reflection of the things we hold so dear. Sometimes a little sliver of light peaks through the dark letting us know that hope is not lost and maybe more people think the same way we do about the pure enjoyment of driving.
As we know, newer vehicles available with manual transmissions have become somewhat of a rarity as the automatic transmission seems to have become the more accepted standard and more popular choice for the consumer who is focused on the daily drive and not the joy of driving. True car enthusiasts live their lives around the art of control which is defined so well within the triangulation of the steering wheel, shifter, and the pedals. This is a joy not experienced within the cockpit of an automatic vehicle which confirms further why those obsessed with performance would choose a manual transmission over an automatic any day of the week. But to some, the fading availability of the manual vehicle causes a doubtful, depressive spirit to grow and quickly lose hope.
If you have had your finger on the pulse of auto news recently, you would have read an interesting and encouraging statistic that would make any fun-loving driver show a fist in the air with satisfaction and hope. Even though it seems like the popularity of the manual transmission is fading, we would encourage you to keep the faith. According to recent reports published by Subaru and confirmed further by both Kelley Blue Book and media outlet Car and Driver , an impressive 83% of Subaru WRX models sold in the U.S. marketplace were equipped with a six-speed manual transmission , which, to most any accountant or sales professional, is a significant increase over the previous year which reported 79% . Again, knowing that 8 out of 10 new drivers of this car prefer to take control of the shift themselves is sweet music to the ears of any enthusiast.
As more economical, commuter-marketed vehicles, sport utility, and some trucks have been swept away by the more accepted configuration of the automatic transmission, it was reasonable to assume that we would soon witness the manual transmission riding into the sunset to become a memory and image seen in old action movie footage. With a smile, we can confirm, according to data from J.D. Power , and reports from CarMax, "sales of vehicles with manual transmissions accounted for 1.7% of total new vehicle sales in 2023, up from 1.2% in 2022 and a low of 0.9% in 2021." Looking at the joyful reality of this news should make our enthusiast hearts thankful for the automakers like Subaru , Toyota, Chevrolet, BMW, and others who still have some performance fueled ponies in their stable. Knowing that the percentages are going up, we can only hope that more like us are being born every day.
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We would be very interested in your thoughts regarding this subject and would encourage your feedback and comments regarding the increasing popularity of the manual transmission for drivers of the Subaru WRX.
Please remember that the Subimods team continues to concentrate on providing aftermarket innovations and products that take the Subaru platform of your choice to new levels in the present and the future, no matter if you choose a more exciting, dynamic daily drive, a more exhilarating weekend on the track, or a more aggressive adventure overland and in the wild. We are always here to listen and to help you reach your goals!
Bryon Turcotte - Marketing Writer/Analyst
Turcotte has worked as a writer, journalist, and digital content developer for 30 years. He began his career in music journalism in 1995 then worked for several years as both a staff writer, managing editor, and a freelancer for both regional and national music publications. Over the next three decades his contributions extended beyond the music industry as he served within the realms of higher education, science and technology, manufacturing, and finance. He has been serving as a content developer and writer on the Subimods Marketing team since August 2023.
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