The Elio Automatic Transmission

Elio Motors spokesman said the cost of the auto tranny will be under $1000.
Surveys indicate that very few will go for the manual. Try selling a car with a
manual transmission - it's mission impossible.

ArthurKent said:

Elio Motors spokesman said the cost of the auto tranny will be under $1000.
Surveys indicate that very few will go for the manual. Try selling a car with a
manual transmission - it's mission impossible.

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Unfortunately this is very true. The latest stats I have seen for vehicles in the USA reported that vehicles with a traditional single clutch manual transmissions have only accounted for between 4%-7% of new vehicle sales each year over the last decade. The majority of models sold in the USA today are not even offered with a manual transmission. The only car categories where traditional manual transmissions are still widely available are sports cars and economy cars.

When you look at global numbers things are very different. In the global market traditional manual transmissions account for about half of new vehicle sales and traditional automatics account for about a third with the rest being various other transmission options such as CVT, DCT, AMT, and direct drive electric.

http://www.statista.com/statistics/...ket-share-in-automobile-production-worldwide/

goofyone said:

Unfortunately this is very true. The latest stats I have seen for vehicles in the USA reported that vehicles with a traditional single clutch manual transmissions have only accounted for between 4%-7% of new vehicle sales each year over the last decade. The majority of models sold in the USA today are not even offered with a manual transmission. The only car categories where traditional manual transmissions are still widely available are sports cars and economy cars.

When you look at global numbers things are very different. In the global market traditional manual transmissions account for about half of new vehicle sales and traditional automatics account for about a third with the rest being various other transmission options such as CVT, DCT, AMT, and direct drive electric.

http://www.statista.com/statistics/...ket-share-in-automobile-production-worldwide/

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I would like to see some stats as to how many people in America that can even drive a straight shift. The closest I ever came to divorce was when I tried to teach my wife to drive a stick. 30 years later she still can't drive one. One of my goals as a parent was that my children would know how to drive a stick before they left the house. I succeeded there. I do intend to order a stick with my Elio. On the bright side is my wife won't ask to drive it.

RMClubfitter said:

I would like to see some stats as to how many people in America that can even drive a straight shift. The closest I ever came to divorce was when I tried to teach my wife to drive a stick. 30 years later she still can't drive one. One of my goals as a parent was that my children would know how to drive a stick before they left the house. I succeeded there. I do intend to order a stick with my Elio. On the bright side is my wife won't ask to drive it.

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Some stats would be interesting as I know that out of my group of friends, ages mainly in their late 20's to late 30's, only about half the men know how to drive a manual and about ten percent of the women. Out of those very few actually own a car with a manual transmission.

My father taught me how to drive in a car with a manual transmission. Unfortunately the car I learned in died before my sister needed to learn to drive and my dad was definitely not going to let her learn in one of his restored classics. He had also attempted to teach my mom many years earlier and that attempt apparently did not end very well. Funny thing is that when I was in my mid 20's I owned a 1984 Mazda B2000 that had the most forgiving clutch I have ever seen. I ended up using that little truck to teach my wife at the time, my sister, my mother, two cousins, and several others how to drive a manual transmission vehicle.

The reason I am buying an AMT is that my wife is one of those who never learned to drive a manual transmission. She has had Camero's and Corvette's, all with automatics. It will have to be auto to keep the wive happy and join me on long trips

I have read that the Elio will be offered in two ways. One with a manual transmission. One with a automatic transmission the price will be $6800.00.
No where have I seen that the automatic transmission will be priced higher than the manual.
Yet I keep reading where people think the auto will be more expensive. Has anyone seen any updated information on the two transmission and the subsequent cost of either?

imageon said:

I have read that the Elio will be offered in two ways. One with a manual transmission. One with a automatic transmission the price will be $6800.00.
No where have I seen that the automatic transmission will be priced higher than the manual.
Yet I keep reading where people think the auto will be more expensive. Has anyone seen any updated information on the two transmission and the subsequent cost of either?

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The manual tranny is the base model. The automatic is an option that will have a price tag to go along with it, so it will be more expensive.

imageon said:

I have read that the Elio will be offered in two ways. One with a manual transmission. One with a automatic transmission the price will be $6800.00.
No where have I seen that the automatic transmission will be priced higher than the manual.
Yet I keep reading where people think the auto will be more expensive. Has anyone seen any updated information on the two transmission and the subsequent cost of either?

Click to expand...

This has been a source of confusion for quite a number of people however the information from Elio Motors has been that the manual transmission is standard and an automatic will be available. As so few cars today are even available with manual transmissions I am wondering if people are just no longer used to seeing this anymore.

Standard manual and available automatic is exactly what the marketing flyer Elio Motors released last month says..

http://www.eliomotors.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Elio_3399_One_Page_Sell_Sheet_HR_v5_NOCROP.pdf

When a manufacturer says available rather than standard I get the impression it is going to cost me more. I don't remember where I saw it, "but" If my memory isn't playing tricks on me there was an interview where Mr Elio talked about holding down the cost of the automatic option.

So really to be fair one would think they would say $7500.00 (or what ever) available also with a manual transmission for$6800.00 As I imagine most will want an automatic.
Also the car they have been showing has an automatic in it and they are using the lower price in conjunction - inferring that that is what you get.
MK