I know the American market preferences are pretty clear, but there has to be enough of us to justify fitting a manual transmission model out for North American when the same car is built in volume for Europe and elsewhere.

I can think of range complexity, additional marketing expense and training, etc., but that does not seem compelling. So, for you Real Car Guys, what is the reason? I am already thinking ahead to my next c70.

You missed the big one.........cerification cost. And no, there's not enough of "us" to overcome that cost.

 

Thanks. Doesn't sound like this is an argument I am going to win. Sigh.

 

Because the US is full of lazy people that can't be bothered with shifting a gear on there own. It really sucks if you ask me.

 

+1.

im pissed that drivers ed don't even bother to teach people to drive a manual too. i feel that everyone should get their license by driving a manual. if you don't own one, then you have to pay a premium to borrow one!

 

It costs too much to certify it. The all purpose answer. I am still waiting to see authoritative data on what it costs to certify anything.

Volvo's corporate policy is to narrow the NA offerings, my guess that this is just part of that policy. Now why is that the corporate policy? My guess is that VCNA is capacity constrained and can't handle more.

How much would it cost to certify a VOR edition? Zero. But it would make more work for VCNA.

 

It costs too much to certify it. The all purpose answer. I am still waiting to see authoritative data on what it costs to certify anything.

Several posters (including corporates IIRC) have mentioned a figure in the millions. Even if it was only a few hundred thousand, Volvo would not sell enough units to justify it and few, if any, dealers would want these on the floorplan.

 

Ok, everyone will agree we live in a global economy. Why can't we have a global certification/world standard for vehicle pollution control? If you meet the world standard, the manufacturer can sell cars anywhere in the world. If a developing country, India, China, etc. don't meet the world standard they can only sell vehicles in their own country.I can't believe European standards are any less strict than North American ones. Manufacturers make one car for a global market, we get more choices, and they get lower costs. Heaven forbid we reduce our bloated bureaucracy, or make it easier for industry to compete worldwide or level the playing field. I am not against pollution control, I just think there needs to be a world standard.

 

So write to your Senator and to your Representative... I am not sarcastic as some might think...the USA isolationism and economic protectionism is astonishing in some areas and practically non-existent in the other...go figure...

 

Magoo, I am more than willing to be convinced that it is the cost of certification that prevents Volvo from offering MTs in the US, but until someone puts up some real numbers, it is an urban myth as far as I am concerned. Once we have some real numbers than you and I and the public can form an opinion as to whether or not offering a MT is a good idea or not. Maybe, just maybe, offering a MT is marginal, but then what about the effect it has on total sales. BMW sells a lot more ATs, than MTs, but the fact that they offer MTs validates their Ultimate Driving Machine image and thus sells AT cars. But I would like to move on to my larger concern, which is that VCNA just wants to offer the least possible to NA customers. No wagons, no options, no colors, no performance, no diesels, the shrinking line up of models. All of that can't be explained by the cost of certification. For me the easiest and best example is why no VOR cars, I want to hear one of our VCNA posters tell us that its the cost of certification. Until I hear an explanation, I am going to believe that it just too much trouble to offer VOR cars and all those other things in NA.

 

I thought I read somewhere in SS that Volvo is designing or acquiring a downshift Synchro Rev Matching transmission that blips the throttle while you upshift using paddles mounted on the steering column? The driver can either cruise in automatic mode or flip to manual paddle shifting for spirited driving around town. Thus having the best of both worlds.

 

...Thus having the best of both worlds.

But not the best of both pedals - no clutch pedal.

George Dill

 

First impressions of the Volvo 6 speed manual ...

Ummm for lack of a better description ... it sucks. After driving a brand new C30 R-Design for 40 miles yesterday, i was not impressed. It felt disconnected from the rest of the car. Maybe my old Toyota Celica GT-S had a great 6 speed manual and i have never owned a bad one, Mitsubishi, Subaru all with manual transmissions ... I have driven trucks that shifted better and have a better clutch feel.

If I was purchasing and had the option to get a manual (my wife said no), I would have never wanted a C30 or any Volvo with that transmission. The WRX Sti, A3, and Evo have a way better manual transmission and clutch feel.

Maybe they realize how bad it is and know they are better off without it on the option list.

8 days to delivery in Sweden ...

 

mrg_

Interesting observation. I will be looking forward to see if others agree. But it is a plausible explanation. After all, as much as I wished Volvo sold a V70 in the US, I must admit the V70 that was sold here wasn't very appealing. But I am still trying to figure out why no VOR cars, how can anyone get blue wrong. Thanks.

 

The transmission itself is fine, put in a stiffer lower transmission mount and a Snabb short shift kit and you will notice a huge improvement. BTW for comparison, I also drive an Audi A3 with MT(wifes car) I always hated the loose, disconnected feel of the shifter on the Volvo, and the too soft clutch. Now I like it as much or better than the Audi. Pretty easy fix, except for clutch.

 

Fat Americans Cant shift cars .

These types are the ones that buy new cars so they want automatics since even walking is to much do you think they want to shift also ?

 

Exactly, it is so sad. They have no idea what they are missing.

 

Lets see, sloth, gluttony, and craving= automatic. lol.

 

This site is obviously read by Real Car People, and I would love to know why the 6-speed manual is no longer offered on the C70 (like my well cared for and beloved 2008 car) or the new s60. I think I get why it is not an option on my wife's new XC60, although even that vehicle would be more fun to drive with a six-speed or five-speed MT.

I know the American market preferences are pretty clear, but there has to be enough of us to justify fitting a manual transmission model out for North American when the same car is built in volume for Europe and elsewhere.

I can think of range complexity, additional marketing expense and training, etc., but that does not seem compelling. So, for you Real Car Guys, what is the reason? I am already thinking ahead to my next c70.

Unfortunately, it really is a matter of there simply not being enough buyers. It costs a LOT of money for EPA ceritfication. Many on this site don't believe it, but the "T5 Geartronic" and the "T5 M" have to be certified separately. I too enjoy rowing my own gears, but if it were my business, I wouldn't pay for certification of the manual gearboxes on almost all Volvos. C30 seems to sell, but that's an entierly different animal.

 

I believe that it is mostly marketing-related:

In the U.S., Volvo has decided to position itself as an "up-market" car.
According to what seems to be the "rules", Manual Transmission = Cheap, entry-level car
(Unless it's a SERIOUS Sports Car, and Volvo does not want to make those any more.)

Plus, it seems that Volvo is going back to their reputation for "Safety", NOT "Sporty".
I suspect that Geelvo will try to make them the new, safe, Swedish Buick... (The Chinese like their Buicks).

Look how hard it is to find a Japanese or American car with a manual these days...

In Europe, Volvo sells their full spectrum - over there, people want Manuals and they are cheaper.

 

I still think they should at least offer a manual option in there R-Design cars, not just the C30 R-Design.

 

The only other option is to import one on your own if that is possible without running afoul of the DOT

 

I enjoy driving a manual and from time to time I do get behind one. I can understand the preference for an auto. I would be too if I get too many stop and go in the crawling city traffic. The manual is for weekend and open twisty road.

 

Manual gearboxes are actually safer, especially when you consider you can stop the car or slow it down "through the gears" rather than rely on electric systems on board. I love auto boxes but it depends on the type of car. For big cars like the V70, autos are great but for more practical things like the smaller V50 estate or S40 saloon I'd take the manual gearbox.

 

YOu can do the same with today's automanual gearboxes. Actually, you can fly through the gears a lot quicker than with a manual, if you want to downshift from 6th down....

 

The DSGs and similar are getting better, so they wouldn't bother me that much other than the cost to fix them when they go wrong, which they will eventually. Manual tranny's are simpler and easier to repair, and to me that's an advantage they still have.

 

I drove a 2010 C30 with the 6 speed and loved it. Much better responding car that the auto IMO. I thought the gear spacing matched with the torque curve of the T5 a LOT better than the Mazda Speed 3 I drove! What was NOT to like??
I will always take a manual over an auto given the option.

 

Manual is always nice but the closest thing now that most car manufacturers offer is the clutchless box.