Better recheck your numbers. For Camaros, I get 41% 6 speeds and not 30%.

 

I would add one point on the Mustang GT, Cobra or Mach 1 manual trans numbers. The auto in those cars isn't nearly as fun or fast as the auto in the F-bodies and Vettes. An enthusiast like myself whos had both the 6-speed and 4L60 in the F-bodies the difference there wasn't nearly as much as what the Mustang camp was looking at at their purchase.

 

+1.

 

In 2002, 24,805 Camaros had the LS1 engine.
The only engine you can get the 6 speed manual on was the LS1.
There were 10,188 six speed manuals installed in Camaros that year.
Your 41% overall is correct for overall Camaro sales.

I wasn't very clear in my point regarding my numbers which are accurate.

Here's why:

In 2002, 11,191 Camaro SSs were made.
6,108 had manual tramsmissions.
Roughly 55% of all Camaro SS sales

That leaves 13,614 LS1 powered Z28s.
That also leaves just 4,080 6 speed manual transmissions that went to those Z28s.

4,080/13614= 0.29969

That means only 30% of all Z28s sold in 2002 were manual transmissions.

Compare that to Mustang GT's 60% or GTO's 61%, and suddenly Z28 buyers begin looking like a bunch of wusses using the standard that some people here are using without knowing the actual facts about what people are actually buying.

Even Camaro SS' 55% buyer's rate on manuals looks pretty pale next to the GTO's 61% take rate.... let alone the Mustang Mach 1's 80% take rate.

Sorry for not being clearer.

 

There is a difference between the buyer's preference and what is actually built. How many people bought automatics, but would have preferred a manual?

Most cars are ordered by the dealers, not individuals. The dealers have a misconcieved notion that manuals don't sell. You can see this in the GTO's numbers. In 2004, 53% were manuals. By 2006, they were starting to understand that the manual was more popular with GTO buyers and ordered 10% more.

 

Bingo! You can count me in there... I ordered a 6spd that never got built, ended up with an auto because that is all I could find.
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Here is a little problem I see with some of the manual percentage theory I see posted. Back in the heyday of the 4th gen, 4 speed automatics were practically the only type you could get, and the 4L60E was among the best for performance that you could get from the factory. Not the case for the autos from certain other manufacturers in certain other sporty cars where there was a big penalty for clicking the automatic checkbox. Fast forward 10 years when 5 and 6 speed autos were the gold standard, and the GTO's 4 speed looked antiquated, and the gearing choice didn't help it in the MPG department.

 

Correct me if I'm wrong, but automatic GTOs had a gas guzzler tax, while manuals did not.

 

Yes, but the manual was cheaper. It was priced so that there was no difference in the final MSRP.

 

Actually, it was priced so that you still saved a good chunk of change by getting the Manual.

 

IIRC the manual was a $750 option and the gas guzzler tax was $1000, so $250 difference.

 

That's how i remember it. The M6 was definitely not significantly cheaper on the sticker. And with how poorly A4 GTOs sold, i'd venture the average A4 sold cheaper then the average M6, just because the A4s were the only ones left at the end of each year.

 

Dealers have a misconcieved notion that manuals don't sell??!

Riiight.

By that standard, since Ford dealers order what their customers want on their Mustangs, Camaro fans are so desparate, mindless, and downright stupid that over half of all Camaro LS1 buyers lap up automatics although they really want manuals (based on the percentage of Mustang GT buyers who opt for manuals)?

Sorry, I don't buy it.

If this is true, then either Camaro buyers are retards next to Mustang buyers or Chevrolet not only cluelessly let Camaro crash with the general public, but also let it crash with enthusiasts.

I don't think too many people here would agree with either prospect.

The REAL reason 60% of Z28 Camaros came with automatics is because automatics were standard while 6 speed manuals were a no-cost option. Since autos are extra cost items on virtually everything else with 4 wheels and a choice of trannies, most Z28 buyers opted to keep the auto.

The alternative doesn't say very much about Z28 buyers.

 

I believe the gas guzzler tax was $1300 for the 05/06 models. So it came out to about a $550 difference in the manual's favor.

 

You can play with SS vs Z28 numbers all you want but the fact is that 41% of ALL LS1 Camaros in 2002 model year were 6 speeds.
Autos were standard (free) in the 04,05,06 GTOs but had a $1300 gas guzzler tax. The 6 speeds were a $695 option, got better fuel economy and had no gas guzzler tax.