Manufacturers have been prepping for this by simply eliminating all base and entry models. You can’t find compact sedans with cheaper, simpler manual transmissions anymore for a reason. It shifts the overton window of pricing infinitely higher.
I think the choice of automatic-only may be less conspiratorial and more streamlining the product to broad tastes.
If only 10% of buyers choose the manual, it probably adds a fair amount of manufacturing and supply chain complexity to service them, which might drive up the cost for all models.
It’s like how most US carmakers don’t offer many diesel models.
Now, the ratchet of interior features… Plenty of people don’t want a huge monolith of an infotainment system with 14 speakers, but it’s standard and you can then be upsold the premium one with 25 speakers.
I think the choice of automatic-only may be less conspiratorial and more streamlining the product to broad tastes.
Its also fuel economy standards. In the 1990s manuals could give you better mileage but with the invention of 8 and 10 speed autos, they get better mileage than a 5 or 6 speed manual.
I agree that the elimination of manuals likely gives a benefit to the other 98% that chose automatic (though not necessarily passed on 1:1 of course), but I disagree on the diesel. Sure, the market preference is probably poor enough to bar it, but it’s crippled by US efficiency requirements into a non-starter for nearly every make. The US has stricter NOx allowances than the EU while also measuring emissions per gallon, whereas the EU rates vehicles by mile. So yes, NOx is pretty bad, especially when concentrated in city settings, but the pollution of passenger diesel in general is overblown when looking at net emissions over distance.
Well, yes, but also no. They used to get you in the lot by showing you the low prices for base models and then they’d up-price you with the decent trims that were horrendously overpriced - $5000 for a “premium sound package?” did they ship the orchestra with the car?
Now their base models are better specced: they cost more, but they have to compete as the new base, so the prices will have to settle down eventually. Who knows what they’ll come up with for upcharging? My current guess is subscription services for essentials. Buy our Freeway Speed Package for only $30 a month, that unlocks speeds over 45 mph!
I remember the first one I witnessed. We were driving to a wedding in the woods and the thing kept yelling “Return to the mapped territory” in increasingly shrill tones haha
Manufacturers have been prepping for this by simply eliminating all base and entry models. You can’t find compact sedans with cheaper, simpler manual transmissions anymore for a reason. It shifts the overton window of pricing infinitely higher.
No one was buying manuals, and even those weak sales were declining. Modern automatic have more gears and shift more efficiently.
I tried to always buy manuals, then I got married to someone who struggles with manuals. Now we have automatics sad times
I think the choice of automatic-only may be less conspiratorial and more streamlining the product to broad tastes.
If only 10% of buyers choose the manual, it probably adds a fair amount of manufacturing and supply chain complexity to service them, which might drive up the cost for all models.
It’s like how most US carmakers don’t offer many diesel models.
Now, the ratchet of interior features… Plenty of people don’t want a huge monolith of an infotainment system with 14 speakers, but it’s standard and you can then be upsold the premium one with 25 speakers.
Its also fuel economy standards. In the 1990s manuals could give you better mileage but with the invention of 8 and 10 speed autos, they get better mileage than a 5 or 6 speed manual.
I agree that the elimination of manuals likely gives a benefit to the other 98% that chose automatic (though not necessarily passed on 1:1 of course), but I disagree on the diesel. Sure, the market preference is probably poor enough to bar it, but it’s crippled by US efficiency requirements into a non-starter for nearly every make. The US has stricter NOx allowances than the EU while also measuring emissions per gallon, whereas the EU rates vehicles by mile. So yes, NOx is pretty bad, especially when concentrated in city settings, but the pollution of passenger diesel in general is overblown when looking at net emissions over distance.
Well, yes, but also no. They used to get you in the lot by showing you the low prices for base models and then they’d up-price you with the decent trims that were horrendously overpriced - $5000 for a “premium sound package?” did they ship the orchestra with the car?
Now their base models are better specced: they cost more, but they have to compete as the new base, so the prices will have to settle down eventually. Who knows what they’ll come up with for upcharging? My current guess is subscription services for essentials. Buy our Freeway Speed Package for only $30 a month, that unlocks speeds over 45 mph!
I’m not sure they will.
I remember when Nav systems were $3600 and terrible.
I remember the first one I witnessed. We were driving to a wedding in the woods and the thing kept yelling “Return to the mapped territory” in increasingly shrill tones haha
My parents had one with “points of interest” pre-programmed into it. Tried to go to a casino, ended up at an abandoned barn.