Can someone tell me what gross injustice just occurred where the automatic transmissions outstrip sticks? Used to be, when you HAD the choice of stick or auto, the stick always had either one more forward gear--if not two--or the same number as the auto. Now, it seem the automakers are souring the milk with MTXs by not offering the most modern gearboxes to us the consumers while touting the latest and greatest in ATXs. Yes, I KNOW autos are far more popular. However... when the lots are glutted with them, and no manuals are represented, people forget they have a choice. So they nod their heads, buy what's there, and demographics state that autos outsell sticks, so automakers offer fewer sticks. It's a Catch-22.

BTW: 6-speeds ARE available for the Duratec 25 and 30. Guess what motivates the Noble M12? A Duratec 30 and Getrag 6-speed.

Black/tan early '98 Contour SE Sport; dead-dead-deadsky (gone, split, outta here, afterlife kids) '05 Pontiac Sunfire; 2.2L Ecotec, ATX, well-equipped Mom also has black/tan '98 Mystique LS; V6, ATX, Alpine CD deck