Thread: Value of Manual Cars

Originally Posted by 4xsama

As far as manual 'boxes go they weren't particularly good. For a Commodore I'd actually go auto too.

The Commodore autos of that era were also crap. Go back a bit and the TH400s were strong but drove terribly by modern standards. Powerglides were even stronger, but also crap behind the terrible 6 cyl engines. The best auto in a local product was given to us by Ford, the ZF 6HP. Well, best by driveability. Thing was awesome, learning your driving behaviour.

Manuals were usually Tremec or somesuch.

Originally Posted by Tombie

Auto licence. Hahahaha

Over here you just get your licence and then go drive what you want

I remember someone asking me ( prospective employer possibly ) asking me if I had a manual licence. Say What?? What's the difference, I asked? Seems Victoria snuck that one in when I wasn't looking. Heaven's sake, teach 'em all manuals, and then let 'em choose after. But I'm getting old and crochetty I guess.

However, I do recall getting my 'Hazardous Area Authority', AKA Snow Licence, on a 'crash box' coach. Blokes with me couldn't use the box, and had "Synchromesh Only" pasted on their licence. If you've ever driven up and down Hotham in the real snow season you'll understand why. Going down Hotham to Harrietville in 'angel' can ruin your whole week.

This thread was a motza to go off topic. Back to the point, as I see Ian tried to do. It will depend on the car. A 15 yo Polo will be worth nothing in any real sense, auto or manual. Nobody cares. OTH, my step daughter recently sold her BA XR8. It was a 6 speed manual, and she got around 2K more than the similar condition autos were getting. But V8 fords ( and Holdens ) aren't the norm in this discussion.

I think you buy the car you want. Seriously, do you care what a "sales guy" says? He has his own agenda, and it isn't to help you.

Originally Posted by johntins

This thread was a motza to go off topic. Back to the point, as I see Ian tried to do. It will depend on the car. A 15 yo Polo will be worth nothing in any real sense, auto or manual. Nobody cares. OTH, my step daughter recently sold her BA XR8. It was a 6 speed manual, and she got around 2K more than the similar condition autos were getting. But V8 fords ( and Holdens ) aren't the norm in this discussion.

I think you buy the car you want. Seriously, do you care what a "sales guy" says? He has his own agenda, and it isn't to help you.

Fair comment on the value of a 15yr old Polo. I think you are pretty close to the point in saying a manual XR8 was worth more than the equivalent auto. In 15 years time I think there will be a market for manuals because all cars will be auto, DSG or hateful CVT's. Whether the market desire is strong for a small, semi disposable car/appliance (albeit with a VW badge on the nose) is up for grabs.

Originally Posted by Bigbjorn

It didn't matter how good or bad the trans was, people simply were not buying them. Most vehicles are sold in the state capital cities. You would be a bloody fool if you are driving a lot in peak hour traffic to buy a manual.

I think there was a train of thought back in the days of earlier Commodores and Falcons that the autos were ok for large engine cars as opposed to smaller cars because the autos sucked a bit of power that would affect the performance of small engine cars. Also agree that nearly all the local autos were rubbish with exception of the ZF's in some Falcons.

As for everyone who drives a manual in a large city between the hours of 7.00 - 9.00 and 3.00 - 6.30 Monday to Friday being a bloody fool I cant vouch for that. Sounds like a gross generalisation.

In 15 years time nobody who lives from the manual era will be concerned with it. Manuals have all but gone the way of the Dodo.

Manuals have a nostalgic notion of speed, performance and “the driving experience”. What is the driving experience? Is the lounge room equivalent getting up to change the tv channel? Is that the real experience?

I am pretty sure the 2019 Honda Jazz manual has a hotter tune than the auto as it’s fuel economy figures are worse and boy does it go.This probably m,at not apply to a Polo but often drive both as many European autos are crap because in Europe and UK they buy more manuals than autos.
regards PhilipA

I looked around the ford caryard a year or so back and looked inside all the new mustangs for sale. The salesman came over and asked if he could help me ..... I said "Yeah, do you have one worth buying ..... who the hell buys a muscle car with a bloody auto in it "....... its a weird world. Someone looking at a "muscle car" .... isnt' going to want a 4cylinder automatic. It doesn't matter if that 4cylinder is a better car in every way. The people that want a muscle car will want a V8 .... and the bigger the better..... and a PROPER GEARBOX..... "stick shift" as the seppo's would say

seeya,Shane L.