[Donatello.]

Originally Posted by nicholasn

Looks like the Mini Cooper will be the next to fall. Reportedly no manual will be available on the coming generation.

I hope the Miata never goes to auto only

[3798j]

For a different viewpoint....My Mk7.5 Golf R was chosen because of the MT. I very much enjoy the driving experience. I've no interest owning one with the DSG.

[nicholasn]

Originally Posted by gblansten

For the several thousand people who were glad VW offered a MT and for the eleven people who bought the car with one this is disappointing news.

From what I have seen the Mk7 was about 50:50 manual/DSG.

GTI sales taaaaanked when the Mk8 launched due to production issues as well as its universally criticized interior. I'd be surprised if the manual/DSG ratio has changed substantially, but with far fewer units sold in total it is more difficult to justify building a transmission for a handful of low volume models since the GLI isn't flying off dealer lots either.

[BMWsully]

Originally Posted by gblansten

For the several thousand people who were glad VW offered a MT and for the eleven people who bought the car with one this is disappointing news.

The MT take rate is about 40% if not higher. This isn't a Dodge Challenger.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by BMWsully

The MT take rate is about 40% if not higher. This isn't a Dodge Challenger.

Wow. I thought only eleven people had bought one. Thanks for the update.

[Germanauto]

I hardly see these cars anymore.

VW's days as an enthusiast brand are nearly gone. Everybody who were VW enthusiasts, MT buyers, etc. have grown up and moved on. Younger generations natrually don't feel the same way toward VW or cars in general that Gen X/boomers did.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I hardly see these cars anymore.

VW's days as an enthusiast brand are nearly gone. Everybody who were VW enthusiasts, MT buyers, etc. have grown up and moved on. Younger generations natrually don't feel the same way toward VW or cars in general that Gen X/boomers did.

Agree

[Red Bread]

Love my manual Mk8R, not sure what I’d buy if something happened to it, probably a GRolla if I could get one. Don’t want a car as large as the CTR or ITS.

Stopped buying BMWs because they stopped offering non M manuals and they all got too heavy. VW was the logical move. Thankfully my kid is about to be out of back seat only duty, so really, a Miata is likely next, but just added to the R.

[TheEmrys]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I hardly see these cars anymore.

VW's days as an enthusiast brand are nearly gone. Everybody who were VW enthusiasts, MT buyers, etc. have grown up and moved on. Younger generations natrually don't feel the same way toward VW or cars in general that Gen X/boomers did.

I still see a ton of Mk7 GTIs/Rs, but can count the number of Mk8 models that I've seen in the same area. As much as demographics have shifted I think it has more to do with brand management.

[KevinC]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

VW's days as an enthusiast brand are nearly gone. Everybody who were VW enthusiasts, MT buyers, etc. have grown up and moved on..

I've grown up, haven't moved on. I've had a long line of various GTIs/R's since the original in '83, all manuals. Love my Mk7.5 R, fantastic daily companion for my M2 Comp.

[KevinC]

This is interesting..

[MJBO]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

The "Save the manual" people are extremely vocal but haven't put their money where their mouth is and if nobody buys them, then manufacturers aren't going to make them.

Often it seems there is a significant crossover between the “save the manual” crowd and the “I don’t buy performance cars new” crowd too.

[AmuroRay]

Originally Posted by BMWsully

Their revenue is up almost 100 billion since dieselgate, so I don't think they care much, lol. That said, I do agree with your sentiment.

Man, it's almost as if they receive a lot of money for building them.

[lordnikon]

In a couple of years probably no more ICE GTIs/R as well

[kyriian]

Originally Posted by Donatello.

I hope the Miata never goes to auto only

Rumors seem to suggest otherwise as much as I hate the notion of a PHEV/HEV/EV MX5, though the date of the ND being replaced is still quite far off.

[Red Bread]

Originally Posted by lordnikon

In a couple of years probably no more ICE GTIs/R as well

They’ve already shown the EV concept. Looks pretty good. The DSG folks are busy celebrating their Phyrric victory though.

[Mr Friese]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I hardly see these cars anymore.

VW's days as an enthusiast brand are nearly gone. Everybody who were VW enthusiasts, MT buyers, etc. have grown up and moved on. Younger generations natrually don't feel the same way toward VW or cars in general that Gen X/boomers did.

My man drives an Alfa and says he never sees GTI/Rs anymore? I might see two Alfa's a year, lol.

That said, the VW enthusiast community is insanely large. Second only to maybe Honda, and I'm not even sure about that.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by Mr Friese

My man drives an Alfa and says he never sees GTI/Rs anymore? I might see two Alfa's a year, lol.

That said, the VW enthusiast community is insanely large. Second only to maybe Honda, and I'm not even sure about that.

I'm comparing what VW used to be compared to what it is now. I just don't see the enthusiasm in the brand there once was. Maybe it's just where I live.

Alfa was missing from the US market for like 25 years, always been a niche car.

[blinkme323]

I've owned e92 M3, F80 M3cs, an X3M, etc. etc. and my MK8 R 6MT might be the best of them all.

This thing is incredible... Basically a manual transmission RS3 with a 4 cylinder instead of the 5.

[stein_325i]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

I'm comparing what VW used to be compared to what it is now. I just don't see the enthusiasm in the brand there once was. Maybe it's just where I live.

Alfa was missing from the US market for like 25 years, always been a niche car.

There's still plenty of enthusiasm, they are just less vocal and quieter than the Honda and Subaru crowd. I went to L'oe Show the other week which is a VW and Audi sponsored enthusiast show and it was very busy with tons of enthusiasts.

[gblansten]

Originally Posted by stein_325i

There's still plenty of enthusiasm, they are just less vocal and quieter than the Honda and Subaru crowd. I went to L'oe Show the other week which is a VW and Audi sponsored enthusiast show and it was very busy with tons of enthusiasts.

Enthusiasm has to convert into sales for VW to care.

[Mr Friese]

I'd take the six speed MK8 Golf R over pretty much any car BMW makes right now and I'm a 20 year brand loyalist. It's a fantastic machine if you haven't driven one yet.