Here's a scary thought for Halloween: between 1980 and 2005 the percentage of cars with a stick shift dropped from 35% to 6%. The rise in gas prices has led to a slight uptick in manual vehicles (7.7% last year), but most cars are still going in the direction of automatic transmissions. You won't be able to get a 2009 F-150 with a manual if you're a truck lover. Even if you want the trickest of trick AMG Mercedes at best you'll have a manumatic 7-speed. The upcoming Chevy Cruze? Supposedly it'll get better fuel economy with an auto tranny. Want a manual transmission? Buy a a Kia Rio. But is this a bad thing? Over at MSN Autos, Lawrence Ulrich makes the point that not all automanuals are that bad. Some people prefer them. Even the Audi S3 will get the Audi/VW 7-speed DSG gearbox, a favorite of enthusiasts. We love the manual transmission. We really do. But we'd be lying if we thought every car actually needed one. Is there a point to a manual Taurus? Sports cars should at least come with a manual option for those who, like us, prefer the feel, but a well-made paddle-shifted transmanual in a grand tourer is a completely reasonable thing. Right? (QOTD is your chance to answer the day's most pressing automotive questions and experience the opinions of the insightful insiders, practicing pundits and gleeful gearheads that make up the Jalopnik commentariat. If you've got a suggestion for a good "Question Of The Day" send an email to tips at jalopnik dot com.)
DISCUSSION
Automatic transmissions now are the norm
But that or a stick shift? my heart is quite torn
When stuck in traffic, a slushbox is great
but when it gets twisty I'd kill for a gate
Many a clutch pedal, it's true I have worn
With so many two-pedal cars on the road
and so few with a clutch now being sold
The day will come, more soon than you know
when no one knows how, the gears they should row
Not even those who are very very old
So when the zombie horde descends on us come revelation
And only an old Chevy stake-bed will be the salvation
But at the last minute, a call emanates out of the crowd
Can anyone drive stick? Don't be shy, don't be proud
Your skill will bring us joy and elation
We need a clutch master
To end this disaster
But sadly that skill has
Gone the way of the Mercury Topaz
And so they'll be eaten, all the faster
But you will escape
Having your brains made like steak
Because you can row gears
Just like ol' Rick Mears
having learned how to do so from books-on-tape
And Darwin will prove right
As the zombies own the night
eating auto-trans users
and sedan-driving losers
While they attempt a gear-crunching flight
So make haste to gain knowledge
Maybe a night class at college
To learn how to operate
A manual transmission before it's too late
Because it's better to live to a ripe old age
If not, zombies just might
come out this all-hollows night
And seek out your gray matter
and your blood they will splatter
But if you can drive a stick, you'll end up alright