From a BMW blog...What's really killing the manual transmission?

[bronsin]

Autonomous cars will be the end of MTs if they ever catchon/prove practical.

MTs are safer because they safely slow down when you take your foot off the gas. ATs keep on going!

I strongly disagree with the article when it says 8 speed trannys get better mpg than say 4 speeds. Not if all things are equal!

[nookandcrannycar]

Originally Posted by bronsin

Autonomous cars will be the end of MTs if they ever catchon/prove practical.

Sadly, this is true....but what an incredible waste....so much missed enjoyment.

MTs are safer because they safely slow down when you take your foot off the gas. ATs keep on going!

Also, although an automatic will rarely not go into neutral when you select neutral, you are much more assured of actually being in neutral when doing so with a manual.