Originally Posted by Brandon

The 300hp and 400hp V6 and GT Mustangs offer an Automatic. WRX doesn't offer an auto, but the Evo does, and is the fastest version of the Evo (vs the Manual Evo). The actual take rate on Manuals in the GTI is around 50%, not 70%. The 500 Abarth sold the allotment of 3000 total cars, not exactly a screaming number. The previous generation M5 was automatic only, so is the newest one. The M6 is probably what you're thinking of, which is automatic only, but will be offered with a manual option only in the US due to demand. The last M3 even offered an automatic for the first time, and hell didn't freeze over!

The idea is that Ford would try to maximize sales by offering an automatic (preferably a dual clutch automated manual with paddle shifters), just like the GTI, it's biggest direct competition, offers. I understand the point of a manual, and why enthusiasts love it, but to maximize sales (and therefore increase the chances of future high performance Fords in the US), offering an automatic option should have been a no brainer.

Oddly enough, they do offer many automatic cars in Europe... and they even sell a few!

BMW Confirms 6-Speed Manual Transmission for the 2013 M5

The 6-speed manual will be available from the start of production this summer and will be offered as a no-cost alternative to the standard 7-speed M-Double Clutch Transmission (M-DCT). The manual gearbox was a popular choice for U.S. customers of the previous generation M5 and continues to be a unique offer in the segment.

My bad. Regardless, so few M5/M6s sell in the US each year compared to any of the other cars we're talking about that it's inconsequential. The numbers that are far more relevant:

34% take rate on manuals on Minis
50% take rate on manuals on the GTI

The people who bought a DSG equipped GTI are going to skip right past the ST when considering their next car, as is anyone else who simply doesn't want a manual transmission. That equates to lost sales potential, something you'd think Ford would want to mitigate.

Ford will put a Dual clutch autobox in it... eventually. They will see the demand and answer.

Originally Posted by Brandon

Holy misinformation Batman. The Mini take rate on the manual is 34%, which is just a little shy of 90%.

MINI Keeping Manuals Alive with 34% Take Rate | AutoGuide.com News

So um... does that change your opinion at all?

As a former Cooper S owner, I object. We're forgetting that there were 2 versions of MINI out there, base and S. I'm willing to bet that the 30 percent number is close to the Cooper -S ratio. All that I can say is that on Every MINI rally I went to, there would be dozens of Minis there and usually only 1 or 2 manuals. And they were usually made fun of . Just saying that I agree with the statements that the Manual is the enthusuasts choice. For all the Ferrari etc arguments, that will stand when you have 400+Hp.

Real automotive enthusiast row their own!

save-the-manuals-630.jpg

I'm all for having a manual in this car, but I'm advocating the automatic option to increase sales and ensure we get future performance cars from Ford. It would be a tragedy if we missed out on the Fiesta ST and Focus RS because the Focus ST didn't sell well here (not to mention a possible Fusion ST too).

I would love a DSG in the ST. But that being said, Ford isn't going to make one for the ST unless they can use it in other vehicles. Let's say Ford could sell 25,000 ST's world wide and half were auto's. Is it really worth it to Ford to make/buy 12,500 special transmissions as opposed to using a standard "off the shelf" transmission? I would think probably not. Now if they could throw it in the EB Fusion too, it may make sense for them to do it at some point.

Originally Posted by ST?

I would love a DSG in the ST. But that being said, Ford isn't going to make one for the ST unless they can use it in other vehicles. Let's say Ford could sell 25,000 ST's world wide and half were auto's. Is it really worth it to Ford to make/buy 12,500 special transmissions as opposed to using a standard "off the shelf" transmission? I would think probably not. Now if they could throw it in the EB Fusion too, it may make sense for them to do it at some point.

I doubt ford would sell any ST with automatics outside of the States, only hot hatch that comes with an Automatic is the Gti , Renault, Peugeot , Citroen , Vauxhall hot hatches are manual only, thats why i say Ford will not invest in an automatic transmission for the ST , Fiesta ST also will be a manual only car