It Had To Happen Someday: Next Gen TT RS Will No Longer Have A Manual Transmission Option

Just so we're all clear, that's not a picture of the Next Gen TT.

Personally, I'm saddened that sports cars are losing their sticks. Even though I've recently switched to an 8-speed auto and love it (in a crossover), I'd miss a stick in a sports car. For *me*, an automatic transmission, no matter how glorious, just feels less sporting than a stick. It's a big part of what says "sports car" to me.

Get with the 21st century.

RIP Manual trannys and Naturaly "Ass"pirated engines.

Turbos and DSGs FTW. Maybe all electric and no trannys FTW 2 !

Things like this do not happen in a vacuum - they are clearly the result of market forces. One force - the gas mileage standards - says that they will have to use the most efficient transmissions. However - that would not matter if the market stated clearly with NUMBERS that a standard transmission was required - but it does not.

The problem is - for the most part - the people who can afford to actually buy these high priced toys - are less likely to be able to actually drive them with a stick. And those people who want the stick wont give up their house for a car. So they don't sell in quantities high enough to be worth the cost - and are abandoned.

Why is Audi bothering? Sales of the TT in the USA and Canada are likely to be double digit and perhaps lucky to break 50 units.

They need to recast the TT as a $30-40K entry level coupe because at the TT's price point there simply are too many better vehicles for the same or less money.

According to this article, "The Final Countdown: The 13 Worst-Selling Cars of 2014" (http://www.caranddriver.com/flipbook/the-final-countdown-the-13-worst-selling-cars-of-2014#11), in 2014, the TT sold 1146 units in the US, but the article goes on to say...

"...With the third-generation 2016 Audi TT slated to hit showrooms in the very near future, it’s no surprise that the sales of the current model have slowed to a trickle. But don’t mistake the model for a slow-seller overall, as Audi has sold more than 500,000 copies of the TT coupe and convertible since the first-gen models debuted."

Other cars included in the Worst-Selling Cars of 2014 list are:
- Mercedes-Benz G-class (2715 units)
- BMW Z4 (1983 units)
- Nissan GT-R (1280 units)
- 2015 Dodge Viper SRT (671 units)
- Porsche 918 Spyder (57 units)
...so it appears to me, low unit sales don't necessarily equate to "crappy car".

TheSteve, Matty never let's details get in the way of being this sits biggest moron. He is forever shooting blanks from the hip. Call him on the table for his out right lies and he either 1) Doesn't respond or 2) Calls you a Obama loving democrat.

Are there better cars than the TT? It depends on how you define better and what you're looking for. We own a 2015 awd Audi TT-S DSG roadster and find it to be a fun car that has good handling, plenty quick, bullet proof reliability and great in snow and rain. The interior and the operation of the roof is first rate. The car cost us just a bit above $50K. Does it have the performance of my 2015 6 speed Cayman GTS with is's sport suspension - no, but it's really a different sort of car. My wife hates the Cayman ("too flashy, too loud, too firm")and loves the TT. Nothing wrong with a Golf R in a dress suit, as far as I can tell.

It's too bad that manual transmissions cannot be developed to perform as well or be as economical as today's autos. One would think that a company would have been able to develop a true hybrid of 3-pedal manual with auto mode or auto with 3-pedal manual option (if that makes sense). I never, ever, wished I had a manual transmission when I had my S5 or even my 350Z before it. But, with my current 435i GC, I almost instinctively reach for the manual gearshift and look for the clutch even though I haven't driven a manual in years. It's actually very strange, but that's the character of the car and how much it just makes me want to truly drive the crap out of it.

BTW, I timed my 0-60 time this weekend and it was about 4 seconds flat in Sport, manual shift. I'll be testing out the launch control for the first time (!) this week.

Actually - it is not the manual transmission that is at fault. It is the fault of the human in the driver's seat. Apparently - they do not have the ability to perform all of the necessary steps to shift gears - in the amount of time that an Automatic can.

Those of you who believe in creators - obviously need to pray for better humans.

Cidflek's comment: "that's the character of the car and how much it just makes me want to truly drive the crap out of it."

Yup, I get it.

My car friends cannot believe that I have more fun with the Cayman GTS (manual) that I did with the 991 turbo S or R8 V10 Plus (automatics). But you've exactly captured the reason why. I drive it so much harder on the street than those two supercars.

Most make it sound a if Manual Transmissions are significantly worse than Autos. The difference in performance is definitely in favor of an Auto. Using an M4 for example, 0-60mph time of 3.9s verse 4.1s for the manual. On the MPH side, it's a different story. For the average M4 driver the difference is 1MPG. Since the Auto M4 cost you $2,900 more than the Manual, assuming 12K miles/year and a average cost/gallon of $3.50, you save $91 per year in gas costs for an investment payback time of 31 years discounting the value of money. Factor in the added 55 lbs for the Auto and the added wear on brakes/suspension, the reality is an even longer payback.

Precisely, pcar4evr.

if its my weekend only car, i think stick is the way to go, if its daily driver being stuck in insane nyc traffic... auto/dct all the way.